Meet the Executive Team

Rachel Machi Wagoner serves as CalRecycle’s director.

Prior to being appointed director by Governor Gavin Newsom in December 2020, Ms. Machi Wagoner served as Deputy Legislative Secretary in the Office of the Governor beginning in 2019.

Before that she worked as the Chief Consultant for the California State Senate Committee on Environmental Quality from 2009 to 2018, where she advised state senators on issues related to environmental protection, including waste reduction, environmental justice, pollution prevention, and hazardous waste.

Ms. Machi Wagoner’s experience also includes time as Research Director at the University of Illinois, Chicago School of Public Health and an Advisor at the Department of Environment for the City of Chicago in 2008. Other public service includes consulting for the California State Senate Committee on Environmental Quality from 2007 to 2008 and for the California State Senate Committee on Health from 2004 to 2007, working as Director of Legislative Affairs at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control from 2002 to 2004, acting as a consultant for the California State Senate Committee on Elections and Reapportionment from 2000 to 2002, and as Deputy Legislative Secretary for Governor Gray Davis from 1999 to 2000.

Ms. Machi Wagoner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy with a minor in history from the University of San Francisco.

Mindy McIntyre was appointed CalRecycle’s Chief Deputy Director by Governor Gavin Newsom in February 2022.

Prior to her appointment, she served as a Deputy Cabinet Secretary in the Office of the Governor since 2021. Ms. McIntyre was Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs at CalRecycle from 2016 to 2021, Legislative Consultant in the Office of Senator Lois Wolk from 2009 to 2016 and Water Program Manager at the Planning and Conservation League from 2003 to 2009.

Anastasia Baskerville was appointed CalRecycle’s Chief Counsel by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2020.

Ms. Baskerville has more than 21 years of experience as an attorney in state service. Before joining CalRecycle, she was an attorney at the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Prior to that she served as the chief legal counsel of the Financial Information System of California (FI$Cal).

She also previously worked as senior staff counsel at the Department of Social Services, chief counsel for the Conservation Corps, and staff counsel for the Department of Conservation. Additionally, Ms. Baskerville has more than five years of legal experience at law firms in the private sector. Before attending law school, she worked as a media planner at Foote, Cone, and Belding in San Francisco.

Ms. Baskerville received her Juris Doctorate from McGeorge Law School at the University of the Pacific, and her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Communications and a minor in English from the University of California, Berkeley.

Maria West was appointed CalRecycle’s Deputy Director of Communications by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2019.

Before joining CalRecycle, she served as an information officer at the California Department of Water Resources where she managed Save Our Water, the state’s water conservation campaign. Prior to that, Ms. West worked as an analyst at the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Before serving in California government, Ms. West worked in the private sector as a manager, author, advertising writer, trainer, and marketing project manager.

Ms. West holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Mills College in Oakland, California.

Zoe Heller was appointed CalRecycle’s Deputy Director of the Division of the Circular Economy in May 2023 after serving as the department’s Deputy Director of Materials Management and Local Assistance and assistant director for policy development.

Before joining CalRecycle, Ms. Heller worked at the U.S. EPA’s Pacific Southwest Office for more than 10 years. She was manager for the Zero Waste section from 2014 to 2017, special assistant to the Regional Administrator from 2012 to 2013, and an environmental protection specialist in the Environmental Justice program from 2006 to 2012. From 2004 to 2006, Ms. Heller was a research and policy analyst at the Center for Neighborhood Technology in Chicago, Illinois.

Ms. Heller holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, and a Master of Public Administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois.

Ms. Rodriguez was a California Policy Advocate at the Union of Concerned Scientists from 2019 to 2022. She was a Legislative Analyst CalRecycle in 2018, a Legislative Aide for California State Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman from 2016 to 2018 and a Field Director for Jim Costa for Congress in 2016.

Ms. Rodriguez was a Legislative Aide for California State Assemblymember Henry T. Perea in 2015 and a Political and Legislative Assistant for Blanning and Baker Associates in 2015.

Ms. Rodriguez earned a Master of Science degree in environmental policy management from the University of California, Davis.

Amy Chatfield Cameron was appointed CalRecycle’s Deputy Director of Beverage Container Recycling by Governor Gavin Newsom in August 2021.

Before joining CalRecycle, Ms. Cameron served as Chief Deputy Director of the California Conservation Corps since 2015. She was Education Administrator for the California Department of Education from 2013 to 2015 and Senior Administrative Analyst for the City of West Sacramento, Port of Sacramento from 2007 to 2012. She was Education Programs Assistant and Special Programs Coordinator at the California Department of Education from 2003 to 2007.

Ms. Cameron was Associate Governmental Program Analyst at the California Department of Education from 2001 to 2003. She was Aide to Yolo County Supervisor Mike McGowan from 1999 to 2001. Ms. Cameron was Office Manager at Sacramento Loaves and Fishes from 1994 to 1996.

Ms. Cameron holds a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration from California State University of Sacramento and earned her Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.

Mark de Bie serves as CalRecycle’s Deputy Director for Waste Permitting, Compliance, and Mitigation.

Mr. de Bie joined CalRecycle 1990 after working for Stanislaus County Environmental Health. Mr. de Bie has also worked as a high school science teacher in California, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Sierra Leone, West Africa.

During his time with CalRecycle, he has worked as a facility inspector, and as a supervisor for inspections, CEQA, and permitting, and the Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency training program.

Mr. de Bie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in biological sciences from Humboldt State University and a Master of Science degree in marine science from California State University, Stanislaus, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.

Brandy Hunt serves as CalRecycle’s Deputy Director of Administrative Services. Before joining CalRecycle,

Ms. Hunt served in various roles at the California Air Resources Board (ARB). Her most recent role was chief for ARB’s Contracts, Procurement and Grants Branch. Prior to that, Ms. Hunt was Chief of ARB’s Business Management Branch and worked as a Staff Services Manager over Budgets, Fees, Federal and State Funded Grants.

Before serving in California government, Ms. Hunt was the Business Services and Fiscal Supervisor at the Yolo County Department of Child Support Services and she spent eight years in the U.S. Navy as a Personnel Specialist First Class.

Ms. Hunt has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from California State University, Sacramento.

Cara Morgan became CalRecycle’s Deputy Director of Materials Management and Local Assistance in May 2023 after serving as the branch chief of the Local Assistance branch, providing technical assistance for over 614 jurisdictions and 200 state agencies in California. Ms. Morgan also helped lead CalRecycle’s adoption of Senate Bill 1383 legislation into regulations and other recycling initiatives. Cara now leads SB 1383 teams providing compliance assistance, implementation tools, and training for jurisdiction, state agencies, school districts, federal facilities, and food recovery organizations. Cara has many years of experience successfully implementing and building the Circular Economy in California.

Ms. Morgan holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from California State University, Sacramento.

Heather Geldart was appointed CalRecycle’s Deputy Director of Disaster Debris Removal Operations in April 2023.

Ms. Geldart brings to CalRecycle more than 15 years of experience in debris removal and emergency management services, including as a debris removal consultant at the Camp Fire cleanup project in Paradise, California, alongside CalOES and FEMA.

Most recently Ms. Geldart served as the Integrated Program Manager at Arlington County Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management where she led the shared service model within the department and steered the budget, contract management, engagement, and strategic progression of the department.

Ms. Geldart’s career spans the public and private sectors where she has partnered with local, state, federal, and international agencies to help people prepare, respond, and recover after disasters. She has demonstrated expertise in emergency management, disaster response and recovery, and operational planning.

Ms. Geldart earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia, where she played collegiate softball. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center of Homeland Defense and Security.

Ms. Geldart is a California native, hailing from Lincoln, just 30 minutes north of Sacramento. She recently moved back to California with her husband, two toddlers, and a golden retriever.

Zoe Heller was appointed CalRecycle’s Deputy Director of Policy Development by Governor Gavin Newsom in June 2021 after serving as the department’s assistant director for policy development since 2017.

Before joining CalRecycle, Ms. Heller worked at the U.S. EPA’s Pacific Southwest Office for more than 10 years. She was manager for the Zero Waste section from 2014 to 2017, special assistant to the Regional Administrator from 2012 to 2013, and an environmental protection specialist in the Environmental Justice program from 2006 to 2012. From 2004 to 2006, Ms. Heller was a research and policy analyst at the Center for Neighborhood Technology in Chicago, Illinois.

Ms. Heller holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, and a Master of Public Administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois.