BEC’s new boss

The Butte Environmental Council has hired an executive director, Robyn DiFalco, who for the past six years has served as the sustainability coordinator for Chico State’s Associated Students.

BEC, which was formed in 1975 and advocates, among other things, for the protection of open space and wetlands, was caught up in some controversy back in June 2009 when then-Executive Director Barbara Vlamis, who had overseen operations for 18 years, was dismissed. Vlamis resisted the move and was fired by BEC’s board at the time. Vlamis is now the director of the water-protection group AquaAlliance.

The directorship was split into two positions, one administrative and the other for advocacy, but both were eliminated last year. Now the executive director’s job has been restored. BEC also has a new board of directors, including one of its founders, former Chico mayor and the present-day director of the ARC of Butte County, Mike McGinnis.