WOHESC

Deanna Lloyd (she/her) is a senior instructor at Oregon State University where she teaches both sustainability and horticulture courses. In addition to teaching, she partners with local organizations to coordinate service-learning projects that have resulted in over 4,000 students participating in 15,000+ hours of community-engaged service. Deanna is completing her doctoral degree in Educational Sustainability at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, where her research explores the cultivation of radical imagination in sustainability education.

Ian Maarefi is a Key Account Manager with NW Natural’s Major Account Services Team. He is responsible for cultivating relationships with NW Natural’s largest commercial and industrial customers throughout the state of Oregon and SW Washington. He assists the area’s Colleges and Universities with navigating the complex world of rate schedules, regulations, costs, and sustainability initiatives. In addition, he manages NW Natural’s CNGV Program. Ian is an Oregonian that graduated from Oregon State University. When Ian is not on campus, he can be found spending time with his family, mountain-biking, or woodworking.

Libby Mackin (she/her) works in the Waste Reduction and Reusables program at the University of Oregon Student Sustainability Center. Libby is a junior studying Environmental Science and Math. In her program at the SSC, she works to provide the UO community with access to various reusable goods- including school supplies, clothing, water bottles, and menstrual products- while also mitigating waste going to landfills! Her work seeks to expand beyond the three-R’s into more critical and equitable ways of practicing sustainability.

In his role with the university, Mr. Maddox works primarily on overseeing the campus utility budget and analyzing usage for operational monthly commodity projections. He also works on energy reduction project coordination, reporting greenhouse gas emission inventory, working on the campus metering infrastructure, and a variety of other sustainability projects. In addition to various energy projects, he also sits on the Capital Region climate Readiness Collaborative, the university’s Strategic Planning Taskforce, and leads a Building Decarbonization working group to promote collaboration among community leaders to address decarbonizing and electrifying buildings in the region.

Kort (she/her) is an undergraduate student at the UW pursuing a double degree in Visual Communication Design and Environmental Studies with a minor in Urban Ecological Design. She is interested in using design for environmental justice while learning about the social and political forces that impact the built environment as symptoms of systemic racism. She is passionate about integrating all facets of creativity and storytelling into amplifying BIPOC narratives around justice-centered work. As the CSF Outreach Coordinator, her work focuses on redefining the sustainability narrative on campus away from mainstream environmentalism towards one that integrates the intersections of race, class, and gender. Her work is focused on building connections and having conversations about intersectional sustainability in non-traditional environmental spheres.

In this role, Taylor develops student leaders, helps facilitate student sustainability projects, and develops programming to meet student needs on campus. He is also the co-chair of the Food Security Task Force, which develops and implements programs and strategies to combat food insecurity on campus. He has overseen the development and funding of these programs by requesting the necessary budget from UO’s upper administration and outside sources. He received his PhD from the University of Oregon’s interdisciplinary Environmental Science, Studies, and Policy program, with a focal department of English. His published research addresses representations of environmental justice and the racial components of the Anthropocene. In all areas, his work and research prioritize the intersections of sustainability, environmental justice, social equity, and cultural production.

Ella Meloy (she/her) is a fourth-year studying Political Science and Global Studies at the UO. Ella works as the Student Engagement Lead at the UO Student Sustainability Center. At the SSC, she primarily organizes trainings and leadership development for volunteers that support SSC initiatives by connecting them to projects and programs they are passionate about. She also works with a team of students to expand education surrounding critical sustainability on campus and provides support to other SSC initiatives, such as the Leftover Textover program.

Steve Mital is the founding director of the University of Oregon’s Sustainability Office. He was part of the three-person team that developed the Oregon Model for Sustainable Development, a landmark campus energy policy that required all new buildings to harvest 100% of their energy needs from existing building stock. He also led the initiative to create the Oregon Leadership in Sustainability graduate certificate program that launched in 2011. Prior to this position, Steve was an instructor in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Oregon, where he also studied. While there, he founded and directed the Environmental Leadership Program for graduate and undergraduate students. Steve spent eight years as one of five Commissioners elected to govern the Eugene Water and Electric Board. He is currently on the Lane Community College’s Board of Trustees.

Eloise Navarro is a Filipino-American climate organizer who recently graduated from the University of Oregon with degrees in Global Studies and Romance Languages as well as a minor in Environmental Studies. She is the National Fossil Fuels Organizer at 350 PDX where she works with the People vs Fossil Fuel coalition to end new fossil fuel infrastructure, both locally and nationally.

Dain Nestel is the Director of Sales at Portland General Electric where he oversees the development and implementation of energy programs that give customer choices in their energy use. He also oversees commercial and industrial customer outreach teams and PGE's partnership with Energy Trust of Oregon. He's worked in the energy sector since 2008 and has personal mission to decarbonize the world with Energy.

Mr. Emmanuel Nwodo is GEC’s Senior Manager, Global Relations. In this role, he drives engagement with stakeholders to stimulate the demand and supply of sustainable IT products and services. He is a project management professional with over ten years of experience in government affairs and business operations. Emmanuel is based in Washington, DC, and holds a master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from American University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Howard University. Emmanuel is also a Certified Prince2 Practitioner in Agile Project Management.

Austin Nunis (she/her) is the Food Justice Lead at the University of Oregon Student Sustainability Center. She is a fourth year majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Food Studies. The Food Justice program at the SSC aims to increase access to healthy, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for UO students. Through initiatives like weekly Produce Drops we hope to connect students to their local food systems while instilling them with the knowledge and autonomy to make informed decisions about the food they source and consume.

Rebecca Ocken is the Interim Director of Planning and Capital Construction for Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon. She oversees college capital work for the 1,500 square mile district, which recently passed a $450 million bond measure. Prior to her director role, Rebecca served as Planning Manager and completed the college’s first comprehensive facilities plan. She was also the project manager for a new workforce training center that includes service partnerships and affordable community housing and oversaw the expansion and renewal of PCC’s Cascade Campus totaling $60 million. Along with project management, Rebecca’s work with the college includes commercial/retail assessments, transportation demand management, and project engagement with a focus on equity and belonging.

Riley O'Connell (she/her) works as the Environmental Justice and Climate Resiliency Lead at the University of Oregon Student Sustainability Center. She is a fourth year majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Biology and Science Communication. At the SSC, she primarily organizes climate resiliency activities (bike rides, crafts, yoga classes, etc.) to spark discussion on climate anxiety and help students expand their self-care toolkits. This is nestled within the SSC's broader environmental justice initiatives, which seek to build students’ capacities to address environmental and social issues through centering hope, mindfulness, and community as forms of resistance.

Joe O’Donnell has been focused on the energy and renewable business for over 20 years in the Pacific NW. He has a passion for helping clients solve their business challenges that include infrastructure modernization, their climate objectives, and the funding mechanisms to implement them. Joe takes a hands-on approach when working with various stakeholders in the organization to make sure the results are impacting their organizations in a way that creates value for them. He covers the Pacific Northwest for McKinstry and leverages the various competencies in his organization to provide solutions that the clients need.

Lynn, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, is a highly accomplished professional with extensive experience in education that spans over 40 years. She also has diverse experience as a Tribal leader and has served in various tribal governance roles, most notably as executive director. Lynn is committed to making space for Indigenous knowledge in teaching and learning institutions. In her current role, she promotes meaningful government to government relationships between Sovereign Nations and public education institutions. These relationships go beyond land acknowledgements, creating authentic partnerships with local Tribes.

Jarrod Penttila is directly overseeing the Academic Building 2 and other onsite development for the University. Jarrod has a Bachelor's degree in construction management and previously managed up to 3000 trades building out semiconductor facilities on a 700-acre campus. In that role, Jarrod was responsible for logistically integrating 5 General Contractors and up 40 multi-tier subcontractors while executing $1 billion of work per year covering more than 2.5 million SF of manufacturing space.

Lisa Petterson has dedicated nearly 30 years to managing complex projects that support and enhance our region. She is respected for her integrated design solutions, strength in leading collaborative teams, and depth of experience in higher education projects. Her approach to design relies heavily on performance studies, post-occupancy data, and insight gained throughout her long, focused career. Lisa's current work on net-zero energy buildings such as the Academic Building 2 has led her to develop energy modeling tools that predict the amount of energy saved from lighting, early in the design process, thus providing design and development teams with critical information regarding both proposed space design and equipment and fixture selection.

Daryl M. Pierson leads Portland State University’s Office of Campus Sustainability working across the institution to advance sustainable initiatives that will enhance environmental awareness and understanding; achieve efficiencies that will preserve natural resources while reducing campus costs; support and engage in environmental education and research; increase opportunities to drive environmental stewardship; and engage the surrounding community through sustainability activities. In his previous role at Wayne State University, he completed two Sustainability Strategic Plans, annual greenhouse gas inventories that have helped inform actions leading to a reduction of over 50,000 MTCDE. He also developed and implemented an innovative compost program that created a collaboration among students, staff, faculty, and community organizations to capture campus organics, haul the organics to a local urban farm, and return the finished compost for use around campus. His other work activities include LEED certification, stormwater management, sustainable food systems, sustainable transit and mobility, and circular economic initiatives.

Kimberly Reeves is the Executive Director of the Center for Sustainability at Agnes Scott College, a women’s liberal arts college located in Decatur, Georgia founded in 1889. Named the most innovative liberal arts college in the country by U.S. News and World Reports five years (2019-2023) in a row, Agnes Scott is a regional and national leader for achieving ambitious carbon reduction goals. Kimberly has been employed in the sustainability field since 2008 with the majority of her experience in higher education. She leads a collaborative and engaging Center to develop leaders that strengthen community, protect our natural environment and address social challenges of our time. She earned her Masters in Environmental Planning + Design from the University of Georgia and is a graduate of Agnes Scott College with a B.A. in Sociology & Anthropology with a minor in Environmental & Sustainability Studies.

Maya Revell is a 2nd-year PhD Student in UO’s Environmental Studies, Science, and Policy program with a focal concentration in Critical and Sociocultural Studies in Education. Her research focuses on disrupting antiblackness in environmental education and exploring how frameworks like Black Ecologies can transform environmental education curriculum.

Danáe, a Walla Walla descendant from Oregon, is a project architect who is passionate about integrating many voices and perspectives into designs that respect the community and natural environment. Danáe has experience with engagement in a variety of settings and communities. She has spearheaded an effort to create a firm-wide process at Hennebery Eddy Architects to consistently promote DEI through all work, from academic and cultural to commercial and aviation projects.

Megan Schneider (she/her) works as the Program Coordinator for the Student Sustainability Center at the University of Oregon. Megan holds a master’s degree in Leadership for Sustainability Education from Portland State University and has worked in various capacities in the field of sustainability in higher education for years. When she’s not writing or studying for her EdD in critical sustainability, you can find her hanging out with her cats, nosing around urban green areas, or skiing.

Dr. Irene Shaver serves as the Program Manager for the Climate Solutions Program at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. She has worked in Washington higher education for 6 years, supporting and evaluating experiential, high impact, teaching and learning and managing systemic change processes to increase equity in our community and technical colleges. She believes education is for transformation and to create a better future. Dr. Shaver holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, and masters and doctorate degrees in Enviornmental Sociology

William Silva is a seasoned construction veteran who manages all aspects of design and preconstruction management for Swinerton Builders in Portland, Oregon. A graduate of Oregon State University with a B.S. in Construction Management, William has 30 years of well-rounded experience throughout the West Coast markets, having worked both in project development and self-perform heavy civil, concrete, and mass timber operations. William joined Swinerton in 2004 and returned to the Portland market in 2014. He is a passionate advocate for mass timber buildings with a knack for finding efficient and eloquent solutions to project challenges, having applied those skills to successfully deliver numerous projects.

Jill (she/her) has worked as a Student Affairs professional at Southern Oregon University since 2014,. She leads the Social Justice and Equity Center's Student Sustainability Team, serves as advisor and administrator for the SOU Green Fund, and contributes to sustainability and social justice efforts throughout campus. Jill has an MS from Oregon State University in Geography and a BS in Sociology from SOU. Prior to her Student Affairs career, Jill served as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia, was a Regional Supervisor with the Montana Conservation Corps, and spent a number of years doing seasonal conservation and trail work around the western US.

Joao Vilca Soto (he/him) is an environmental activist, entrepreneur, and founder of Ruta Verde Nonprofit. Joao has experience working in nonprofits focused on supporting socially disadvantaged groups and studying sustainable development in places like the Amazon Rainforest, Iceland, and the Pacific Northwest, earning a Bachelor's of Sustainable Practices at Cascadia College. Joao was born in Peru and is a descendant of the Indigenous Peoples of the Andes, this fostered an interest to learn more about Indigenous Andean Culture as it focuses on the relationship that humans have with the natural world. Using his skill and experience, Joao is developing programs aimed at strengthening and bringing increased recognition to the messages of the Andean Culture of Reciprocity through the recovery of natural environments, sustainable food systems, and sustainable fashion trends.

Monica J. Stenzel founded the Spokane Falls Sustainability Center and is on the history faculty at Spokane Falls Community College, where she researches historical models of sustainability. A dedicated proponent of interdisciplinary collaboration, she incorporates traditional materials and craftsmanship in coursework, as well as a focus on the destructiveness of empire and consumerism. Stenzel has prioritized the partnership of faculty, facilities, students, and staff to build a sustainable culture through campus and community action.

Dr. Valerie Sundby serves as the Director of Transfer Education at the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. She has worked in Washington higher education for more than 20 years. In her current role at the SBCTC, she provides policy leadership for academic and transfer education, as well as community and technical college bachelor degree programs. She has a passion for the open access community college system and the work that occurs in this space to transform the lives of students.

Erica is a project architect and manager who leads her firm’s net-positive design efforts across a range of project types including commercial, academic, historic, and mixed-use. She is committed to a holistic, integrated design approach based on values of sustainability, passive design, equity, and occupant health and wellness. Erica is Vice Chair of Portland's Planning and Sustainability commission, where she advocates for policies and urban planning that advance equity, resilience, and climate solutions.

After earning a degree in environmental science and working in OSU's Government Relations office, Brandon helped create the Sustainability Officer position in 2005. His primary duties include setting OSU's strategic sustainability direction; tracking and reporting institutional progress toward sustainability; fostering student, academic and community engagement; and scoping, funding and implementing infrastructure projects. Brandon chairs OSU's Transportation Committee and Sustainability Advisory Council, and volunteers extensively with several government and community organizations. In 2010, Brandon was recognized by 1000 Friends of Oregon as one of the state's 35 Innovators Under 35.

Claire (they/she) is an undergraduate student at the University of Oregon studying environmental science. They became interested in pollinators their freshman year after learning about the UO Bee Friendly Committee, a student club that promotes pollinator diversity and awareness on campus. Claire took an active role in the organization, leading “Bee of the Week” presentations over Zoom and acting as a liaison between the committee and the university’s Student Sustainability Center. Now a senior, Claire leads the SSC's new Pollinator Program, promoting pollinator diversity and awareness through restoring native habitat and offering educational opportunities to the UO community and beyond.

Peter (he/him) currently serves as a Program Coordinator in Community Engagement & Leadership (CEL) at Oregon State University where he coordinates experiential, community-engaged leadership development programs including leadership workshops, retreats/summits, and the Alternative Spring Break program. He is passionate about asset-based leadership development and team-building, and strives to build inclusive community to help students find a sense of belonging and self-worth. Peter obtained his BS in Environmental Conservation & Sustainability from the University of New Hampshire in 2015.

Beth Filar Williams (she/they) is an Associate Professor and User Experience Research Librarian at Oregon State University Libraries, with more than 20 years of experience in many types of libraries and locations. She applies this experience and an evergreen curiosity to understanding our users' needs, connecting people, and empowering libraries as societal strongholds.

Graham Yotsuya (he/him) is a fourth year working as the Habitat Restoration Lead for the Student Sustainability Center at the University of Oregon. Graham has worked to design a structure for this program to meet the needs of the Eugene community and UO students. His work includes planning one-off and regularly scheduled volunteer events that aim to restore or improve natural areas around campus, as well as coordinating and training volunteers in proper restoration methods and sustainability leadership practices. Some of the events he runs include an ongoing site restoration in Hendricks Park, river clean-ups on the Willamette River, and urban farming at GrassRoots Garden.

Gulsima (she/her) is pursuing a double degree in Environmental Studies and Informatics at UW. She is passionate about learning how to evaluate and develop policy to address structural inequalities, build resilient communities, and advocate for environmental justice. As the CSF Project Development Specialist, Gulsima helps prospective project teams navigate the grant application process and supports active project teams through check-in meetings, partnership building, and resource sharing. She is also responsible for collecting and analyzing project metrics to evaluate student engagement and impact. Gulsima is excited about the CSF’s commitment to justice-centered sustainability and enjoys speaking with students about their experiences, ideas, and projects that enrich environmental stewardship, equity, and well-being efforts on campus and beyond.

Originally from St. Louis Missouri, Miriam Yousaf is now based in Eugene, Oregon as a student at the University of Oregon. She is a junior pursuing a bachelor's degree in Global Studies with minors in geography and dance.

Alan focuses on adaptive reuse of older downtown buildings and sustainable infill commercial construction. He does only one major project at a time but handles all aspects from engineering to manual labor with one or two local assistants or interns. The construction crew commutes by bicycle, recycles 95% of construction waste, sources most building materials within a 15 mile radius, and incorporates a significant amount of recycled or repurposed material in each project. At least 50% of crew members are women and/or other minorities under represented in the construction industry and all members are taught to handle all aspects of construction and design. The projects are geared to help promote the success of locally owned sustainably minded independent businesses and are often designed from the beginning for a specific tenant, but with built in flexibility for future uses without significant remodeling wastes. Raw structural beauty is emphasized in these buildings. Remodeling and end of life recycling are planned into each project. Most materials are bolted or screwed together in a way that can be deconstructed and repurposed. The majority of these systems are kept exposed in the building in a way that they can be easily modified, expanded or updated without the deconstruction of wall finishes or building structure.

Eric is an Energy Advisor with Energy Trust of Oregon’s Existing Buildings program. He has nearly eight years of experience helping customers utilize Energy Trust energy efficiency offerings. In his role, Eric works with higher education customers primarily, providing them with energy-saving solutions and recommendations on maximizing cost savings on their campuses.

With nearly four decades of experience in the study, design, and commissioning of mechanical systems, Greg is an accomplished engineer with a reputation to match; his portfolio includes 75 projects at Oregon State University alone. As project manager for OSU’s Cordley Hall and North District Utility Plant, he will present key features and challenges throughout the design of both facilities.

Current Research:

Probing the spatial characteristics of atmospheric water vapor.
Effects of land surface Variability.
Instrument development.
Learn more

Joe has over a decade of hands-on experience in energy efficiency consulting. His knowledge in analysis and modeling of energy-saving measures spans residential, multifamily, commercial, and industrial buildings. He provides real-time energy modeling and integrated energy analysis for high-performance buildings. Collaborating across all of Systems West, Joe and the Advanced Design Team inform solutions to meet project sustainability goals, including LEED certification, Oregon SEED energy conservation, and custom utility-funded energy efficiency incentives. Joe will be the primary tour leader presenting on the North District Utility Plant.

Dorrie has collaborated on projects ranging from fume hood and specialty equipment installations to BSL-3 lab design and full laboratory building renovations, such as Oregon State University’s Cordley Hall. She is an essential member of SWE’s Advanced Design Team, supporting energy analysis and energy modeling. Dorrie will walk participants through key design aspects and challenges of various laboratory spaces.

Nate brings a wealth of knowledge and technical depth to sustainable buildings having two decades of design experience across the United States. For this tour, Nate will highlight key MEP systems in specific spaces.

Beth works with K-12 and higher education customers to help them hit their energy efficiency goals. She has worked in commercial energy efficiency for over a decade, and previously worked for construction related trade publications. Beth has a BA from the University of Wisconsin Madison and an MS from Portland State where she also taught as an adjunct instructor.

Doug brings more than 35 years of experience as a senior project architect and project manager to Hennebery Eddy. His expertise is focused on higher education projects for both public and private institutions, including master planning and a broad range of new and renovated buildings. As a creative problem solver, Doug enjoys building strong relationships with clients and contractors to foster teamwork, achieving a high level of client satisfaction and design quality. As lead architect of the project, Doug will address key architectural elements and challenges.

As a child and young adult Nyaz grew up in American Samoa, an island in the South Pacific Ocean, where her world view and orientations towards space and the built form developed. As adulthood dawned Nyaz moved to the mainland United states and continued to develop a dedication to the progress and wellbeing of humanity. A dedication finding focus in the way people experience and are empowered by design processes, the sacredness of space, and the teaching learning process. Nyaz is now in the process of finishing her Master of Architecture at Portland State University with a thesis aimed at understanding how a design process itself can both be a coherent process with community as well as serve to empower individuals.

A former healthcare account executive turned designer- that’s me. After a successful stint in sales, I dropped the suit and tie for a more creative career and spent the later half of my twenties popping up events, staging homes, designing businesses and getting my hands on any spatial design project that would have me. My most recent design adventure involved pulling countless all-nighters gluing architectural models and drafting plans during my graduate studies at Portland State University. I am passionate about fostering connection, caring and healing for people through my design work and it's my goal to have every space that I create be comfortable, functional and beautiful.

Marilyn Ostergren has worked with UW Sustainability since its inception in 2009. She focuses on transitioning to cleaner energy sources, but has also worked on low-impact commuting, addressing professional travel emissions, and creating impactful visual displays of sustainability-related data and concepts.

Monica J. Stenzel founded the Spokane Falls Sustainability Center and is on the history faculty at Spokane Falls Community College, where she researches historical models of sustainability. A dedicated proponent of interdisciplinary collaboration, she incorporates traditional materials and craftsmanship in coursework, as well as a focus on the destructiveness of empire and consumerism. Stenzel has prioritized the partnership of faculty, facilities, students, and staff to build a sustainable culture through campus and community action.

Claire is an undergraduate student at the University of Oregon studying environmental science. They became interested in pollinators their freshman year after learning about the UO Bee Friendly Committee, a student club that promotes pollinator diversity and awareness on campus. Claire took an active role in the organization, leading “Bee of the Week” presentations over Zoom and acting as a liaison between the committee and the university’s Student Sustainability Center. Now a senior, Claire leads the SSC's new Pollinator Program, restoring native habitat and offering educational opportunities to the UO community and beyond.

Tobi Davies (they/them) is the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator for the Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU). They transferred from Portland Community College and are in their Junior year pursuing a Bachelor of Science in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. They have helped to bring back the eco2go program (reusable takeout containers) on campus and are currently working on establishing a sustainability council. They are also working on reducing SUPs (single-use plastics) from campus and are planning to write an initiative to ban styrofoam from restaurants and businesses in Corvallis.

Marie has had a long and varied career, but her love for nature and passion for beauty have always been constant. She went back to school later in life because she was determined to learn and use knowledge of both visual and written aesthetics to the fullest extent possible for the benefit of the natural world and all its inhabitants. Marie is a writer, a systems thinker, a designer, a storyteller, and an educator, whether inside the classroom or without. Marie sees team collaboration as a source of insight and joy along the journey to create a regenerative world for all generations.

Salah (he/they) is the student policy & planning coordinator at the OSU Sustainability Office. He connects students with sustainability efforts on and off campus and works to hold the university accountable to its climate goals. He also works for the Oregon Just Transition Alliance as an energy justice advocate, where he brings community resiliency to the forefront of Oregon renewable energy policy. Salah is also a community organizer with Sunrise Corvallis, a local climate justice group which practices mutual aid and writes local policy, like the Corvallis Green New Deal for Climate & Housing Justice.

Mary Phillips, Ph.D. is a trained chemist, patent agent, and entrepreneurship coach with over 20 years of experience working in the technology innovation ecosystem. Her passion is helping innovators and entrepreneurs solve the complex puzzle of turning their STEMM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) ideas, inventions, or discoveries into sustainable and profitable businesses that support human health and the well-being of the planet. She is the Founder of STEMMbridge, LLC working closely with numerous start-up companies, and on a mission to close the entrepreneurial gender gap by empowering early-stage entrepreneurs to discover and hone their skills in leadership, team building, mental toughness, intellectual property strategy, research collaborations, and the fine-art of business planning and fundraising.

Sean McGuire is currently a Sustainability Coordinator at Benton County. Sean received a bachelor’s and Master’s in Public Policy and has spent his career in various levels of government. Sean worked in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Chesapeake Bay Restoration Policy Unit, and then he became the Policy Director for Sustainability for six years. Sean began working at Benton County in 2015. Since then he facilitated a public engagement process to identify our communities’ Core Values and how Benton County operationalizes those values into operations.