The CMS Forum is a project of the Chemical Strategies Partnership and both are staffed by managers and scientists from California Environmental Associates in San Francisco and others.


Jill Kauffman Johnson, Director
Jill Kauffman Johnson currently heads up the CMS Forum where she works closely with the members to design and guide the vision for the organization. In addition, she serves as the Executive Director of the Chemical Strategies Partnership. She worked with the Pew Charitable Trusts to create CSP and establish the organization in 1996. She led the effort to initiate the membership-based, CMS Forum, which was launched in 2000 with the support of several CMS providers.

Ms. Kauffman Johnson also serves as a Principal at California Environmental Associates with policy and operations experience in environmental strategic planning and hazardous materials issues. She helps clients strategically assess their manufacturing operations to improve environmental and chemical management, reduce the use of hazardous materials, and reduce costs.

Prior to joining CEA, Ms. Kauffman Johnson was the founding Director of the Pacific Coast Regional Office of the Center for Marine Conservation. She also served as a market analyst for recycled plastic at the US Environmental Protection Agency. She has published several reports and papers on issues of reducing marine pollution and markets for recycled products.

Ms. Kauffman Johnson holds an M.A. in Public Policy from Harvard University and a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University.


Laura Keller, Program Manager
Laura Keller serves as the Program Manager for the Chemical Management Services Forum and the Chemical Strategies Partnership (CSP). Ms. Keller manages industry research and outreach as well as consulting project planning and analysis.

In addition, Ms. Keller serves as an Associate at California Environmental Associates.

Prior to joining the CMS Forum, Ms. Keller was with the Sustainable Business Institute, a nonprofit organization promoting socially and environmentally responsible practices in business.  She has also supported work in environmental and land use law.

Ms. Keller holds a B.A. in Economics and Environmental Studies and a minor in Legal Studies from Washington University in St. Louis.

Aarthi Ananthanarayanan, Communications Manager
Aarthi Ananthanarayanan serves as the Communications Manager for the Chemical Management Services Forum and the Chemical Strategies Partnership (CSP). Ms. Ananthanrayanan assists in coordinating the Forum and related activities.

In addition, Ms. Ananthanarayanan serves as a Research Associate at California Environmental Associates.

Prior to joining the CMS Forum, Aarthi worked in marketing and operations at a start-up in San Francisco that provided an online platform and metrics for philanthropic and political giving.

Ms. Ananthanarayanan has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations (summa cum laude) from Tufts University with a focus on environmental studies and South Asia. She recently earned LEED professional accreditation