Loyd D. Bastin, PhD

Associate Dean and Professor
Widener University

Sustainability in Action -
Interactive Lab

Loyd Bastin is currently a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Associate Dean of Science, and Coordinator of Undergraduate Research at Widener University where he has taught Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Sustainability since 2004. His current area of research is the development of greener methods for synthesizing pharmaceuticals and the development of new laboratory experiments for the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. Since 2000, he has been interested in the development of green chemistry and sustainability materials for the undergraduate chemistry curricula. He has several peer-reviewed articles and book chapters discussing the incorporation of sustainability, environmental justice, political advocacy and green chemistry into the curriculum.  He has co-edited the book Integration of Green and Sustainability Chemistry Principles into Education and two special issues on Advances in Green Chemistry Education in Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews.

 

David Burman

Township Manager,
Haverford Township,
Delaware County

Sustainable Communities Breakout - Session #1

David Burman is the Township Manager of Haverford Township. He and the Township administration work hard to support a passionate and very active Environmental Advisory Committee. Dave has worked in public service for more than twenty years. He started as an analyst for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) before serving a number of communities in the Philadelphia region. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree from Temple University. When he's not working, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

 

Gina Burritt

Director, Delaware County
Planning Department

Sustainable Communities Breakout - Session #2

Gina Burritt is the Director of the Delaware County Planning Department. Gina joined the Planning Department in November 2022 after over two decades in the private sector, where she worked on numerous environmental and transportation planning projects involving water resources, historic preservation, climate resiliency, National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), Environmental Justice and community engagement. She has worked with all levels of government from the Federal level to local municipal level.

Gina is originally from New Jersey and has called Delaware County home for the past 14 years. Gina received her undergraduate degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and her Masters in Community and Regional Planning from Temple University.

 

Steve Clark, PE, PhD

Senior Energy Engineer, ICF

 

Sustainable Living Breakout -
Session #1

After more than 23 years of post-graduate and healthcare industry experience, Steve Clark devoted his talents to the energy conservation & building science engineering sector. Steve has a PhD in Biophysics from U.C. Berkeley, an MS in Electrophysics from NYU and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University. With this expertise, and a powerful work ethic, Steve has dedicated his career to developing practical, cost-effective real-world solutions to a wide range of conservation/engineering challenges, including Building electrification, heat pump engineering, utility program design, and more. Steve currently serves as a Senior Energy Engineer for ICF International where he creates customer-centric engineering energy analyses for large commercial and industrial projects. In addition to this role, Steve volunteers his time by serving on the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Task Force for Building Decarbonization and as a founding member on the Delaware County Sustainability Commission.

 

Linda Coulston, BSN, RN

Master Gardener, Certified Ecological Gardener, Chair, Media Bee City

Sustainable Communities Breakout - Session #1

Since childhood, Linda has been interested in gardening and science. Over the years, she has championed environmental issues. Her passion focuses on the preservation of native species and their habitats. In 2013, Linda became a Penn State Master Gardener. By 2019, she had completed a Certification in Ecological Gardening at Mt. Cuba Center, Hockessin, Delaware, where she volunteers as a gardener. In 2022, Linda spearheaded a Xeroxes Society initiative in Media. That year, Media Borough became the 300th Bee City, USA. She and her co-chair, Julie Smith, sponsor many educational programs, and talks at the Bee City pollinator garden in Media. Linda, and her husband Rich, have earned several awards for their native woodland gardens. Over the past 18 years, they have transformed their once-overgrown acre into a peaceful refuge for both wildlife and humans.

 

Corey Crews-Williams

Energy Engineer, BPI MFBA,
New Ecology, Inc.

Sustainable Living Breakout - Session 1 Moderator

Corey Crews-Williams is a driven green building professional specializing in sustainable design for multifamily affordable housing in the Northeast U.S. With a background in Energy Star, Zero Energy Ready Homes, and Enterprise Green Communities certifications, he analyzes and improves energy efficiency in buildings. Corey's recent expertise includes building sciences, residential energy analysis, and HERS Rating.

Currently, as an Energy Engineer for New Ecology, Inc., he supports the Mid-Atlantic team in enhancing energy efficiency for new and retrofit projects. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Energy Engineering and minors in Sustainability Leadership and Environmental Engineering. Corey is passionate about using his skills to promote social equity and enhance the built environment, making a positive impact in the sustainable building sector.

 

Alex Danovitch

Principal, Nothing Left to Waste

 

Sustainability for All Breakout - Session #2

Alex is a principal consultant at Nothing Left to Waste and Director of Strategy and Business Development for Recycle Ann Arbor. He brings a unique perspective to his work derived from over 25 years of experience in zero waste and social enterprise development, with a strong operational, policy and entrepreneurial background. He utilizes his financial acumen and boots on the ground experience to provide real world solutions that move towards innovative system change. He’s on the board of the Alliance for Mission Based Recycling, is a certified TRUE zero waste advisor with USGBC and was a co-founder of Eureka Recycling. He has consulted with cities, colleges and universities, nonprofits, and businesses around a broad array of zero waste projects. As a passionate advocate for the environment and social justice, Alex prioritizes opportunities to collaborate on creating new models of a circular economy that emphasize reduction, local supply chains and workforce development.

 

Cloë DiFlumeri

Communications and Event Coordinator, Beyond Benign

Sustainability in Action - Interactive Lab

Cloë Di Flumeri (they/them) is a graduate from Widener University, where they received their BA in political science, international relations, and English in Spring 2023. At Widener, Cloë became increasingly aware of environmental justice issues through their involvement in Amnesty International. In the summer of 2023, they worked as an intern at Spec Matters— an organization dedicated to promoting healthier and more sustainable building practices and materials selection. There they learned the deep connections between chemistry, health, and equity. These experiences drove them toward a career and life dedicated to the study and conservation of climate and public health.

 

Bruce Dorbian

Director of Planning,
Marcus Hook Borough

Sustainable Communities Breakout - Session #1

Bruce Dorbian has extensive experience in the municipal sector. He has worked for Marcus Hook Borough for 40 years - 30 years as the Municipal Manager and the past 10 years as the town’s Director of Planning & Development. His previous experience was in state government working 13 years for the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs as a consultant to local governments in southeastern Pennsylvania. During his years of public services, he has been credited with finding unique solutions to complex municipal organizational and financial issues. Mr. Dorbian has been active in numerous professional organizations including service as a member of the Board of the Association of Pennsylvania Municipal Management. In 2010, he was the recipient of the Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence for using innovative approaches and long-term planning to strengthen the community he served.

 

Archibald Filshill, PhD

CEO Aero Aggregates of
North America LLC

Creating Circularity for Recycled Glass in the Delaware Valley

Archie is the CEO and founder of Aero Aggregates and manages the daily operations for the company. He has over 25 years of international experience in the geotechnical and environmental market, encompassing a vast range of experience in executive management, engineering, project management, construction, and manufacturing.

Archie’s focus over the last 15 years has been the beneficial reuse of waste materials in civil engineering applications. His Ph.D. was focused on the use of nanocomposites to improve the properties of recycled plastics to his current business of converting waste glass into ultra-lightweight structural fill.

2023 Delaware Valley, Engineer of the Year - Engineers Club of Philadelphia

2021 Civil Engineer of the Year – Philadelphia Section, American Society of Civil Engineers

2021 E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year, Philadelphia Region

Archie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Temple University and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

 

Micah Gold-Markel, PhD

Founder, Solar States, LLC

Sustainable Career Pathways

Micah Gold-Markel, distinguished as Solar Power World's 2022 Top Solar Changemaker, has established himself as an entrepreneurial force and a community stalwart in the solar energy sector of Philadelphia. His company, Solar States, stands as a testament to his dual mission of addressing environmental issues while revitalizing the local economy with sustainable jobs. Through free training initiatives like the Bright Solar Futures and Find Your Ladder programs, Gold-Markel has seen his students make significant strides, stepping into roles such as Master Electricians, Permitting Officers, and Lead Solar Installers.

Gold-Markel’s collaborative efforts with organizations like PowerCorps PHL, Philadelphia OIC, the Energy Coordinating Agency, and the Philadelphia Energy Authority have led to the creation of numerous educational pathways, from hands-on installation training to solar technology sales and design, ensuring that the solar workforce is as diverse as it is skilled. Gold-Markel’s insistence on collective involvement underlines his belief in collaborative progress and has solidified his position as a leading figure in solar education.

 

Jeremy Hancher

Program Manager
of the EMAP

Sustainable Businesses Breakout - Session #2

Jeremy Hancher is the Program Manager of the Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) located at the Widener University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Widener's School of Business Administration (SBA). He has over 20 years of experience in environmental compliance & technical assistance, environmental policy, sustainability, and program management. He is proud to be the team lead of the award-winning EMAP program which provides free and confidential environmental assistance to the Pennsylvania small business community in fulfillment of the requirements of the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act and Section 507 of the federal Clean Air Act. In 2015, Jeremy was part of the team effort when EMAP was recognized by US EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy for Outstanding Accomplishments by a State Small Business Environmental Assistance Providers in Providing Technical Environmental Assistance to the Small Business Community.

Jeremy is an adjunct faculty member at Widener where he teaches a course entitled "Sustainability, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship." Jeremy is also a current member of Pennsylvania DEP's Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee as well as EPA's Clean Air Act Advisory Committee.

 

Tom Hill

Senior Energy Efficiency
Program Manager, PECO

Sustainable Living Breakout -
Session #1

Tom Hill is a Senior Energy Efficiency Program Manager at PECO. Tom is responsible for the oversight and delivery PECO’s Residential Single-Family Income Eligible and Multifamily programs. With 15 years’ experience as a residential contractor, 13 years’ experience in building science as well as program and operations management, he has achieved measurable energy efficiency savings targets for residential customers through comprehensive scopes of work and by ensuring that necessary measures and resources are dedicated to meeting all program goals.

Before joining PECO in 2020, Tom was a Program Manager at CMC Energy Services responsible for the administration and support of the PECO LIURP, PECO Health and Safety and PECO Defacto programs. As a subject matter expert specializing in residential energy savings for low-income households, Tom performed energy and financial analysis throughout PECO’s service territory.

Outside of work, he enjoys home improvement projects, playing music and spending time with his wife and son.

 

John K. Jackson, PhD

Senior Research Scientist,
Stroud Water Resource Center

The Importance of Community-Based Organizations as Watershed Stewards

John Jackson is a stream ecologist and aquatic entomologist with 42 years of experience studying stream and river habitats that range from hot deserts and cold alpine mountains to wet tropical forests and hardened urban corridors. At the Stroud Water Research Center, he leads pioneering research into the effects of human activities on pollution-sensitive freshwater species like mayflies. His research team at the Stroud Water Research Center takes an empirical approach to understanding streams and has sampled aquatic macroinvertebrates from about 100 sites per year over the last 20 years. The restoration experiments his team is conducting now span 10 to 25 years in duration. Student interns and volunteers have contributed greatly to many of these efforts. He holds a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.S. in zoology from Arizona State University, and a B.S. in biology with honors from the University of Notre Dame.

 

Steve Jacobs

Parks and Recreation Director, Concord Township

Sustainable Communities Breakout - Session #1

Steve Jacobs is the Parks & Recreation Director for Concord Township. He is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP), park champion and advocate for sustainable land management. A previous supervisor with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Steve has over 10 years of experience organizing communities. He is a passionate, inclusive-minded, public servant who enjoys the work he does in the community. Recently, he took the steps to apply for and have Concord Township qualified as a Pennsylvania Bird Town. Additionally, in March, his department was awarded an "Excellence in Programming" honor at the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society's annual conference for their work with the Newlin Grist Mill on watershed education & preservation via the 'Race for the Watershed: 5K and Rubber Duck Regatta.' Currently, Steve's green-initiatives include a wildflower meadow conversion in a Township-owned open space, community tree plantings, and park clean-ups. Steve also sits on the 'Walk, Roll, Delco Steering Committee.

 

Paul K. Johnson, MBA

Chair, Delaware County Interactive Gaming Revenue Authority

Closing Remarks

Paul K. Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Marketing and Management at Montgomery County Community College. He also teaches Entrepreneurship and Sports Marketing. Johnson earned a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and a Masters in Business Administration from Drexel University where he serves as an emeritus member of the Drexel Alumni Board of Governors. He serves in numerous capacities throughout the region including as chair of the Delaware County Interactive Gaming Revenue Authority, president of Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania, member of Delaware County Authority, and several more. Johnson enjoys coaching youth baseball for over 30 years and volunteering in the community.

 

Dominique London

Executive Director of UC Green

Sustainable Career Pathways

Dominique London is a multi-disciplinary artist and organizer from West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a songwriter, performer, and photographer. She has written music for Netflix, and Hulu and is streaming on the world-famous wake-up show on Sirius satellite radio. Dominque received her formal education from Rosemont College, where she received a bachelor's degree in English literature and communication. She also holds a Master's degree from Temple University in City and Regional Planning and is pursuing a second Master's in Ayurvedic and Integrative medicine. Dominique has been involved in organizing against displacement. In 2020, she wrote and introduced Legislation to City Council to seal evictions and it was passed in October 2020. Dominique currently serves as Executive Director for UC Green, the largest and oldest tree tender group in Philadelphia. In her spare time, she stewards her community garden in Cobbs Creek, left by her grandmother, and holds volunteer days for neighbors looking to grow fresh produce.

 

Jen Malkoun

Delaware County Director of Programs and Partnerships, Greener Partners

Sustainable Living Breakout
- Session #2

Jen Malkoun is the Delaware County Director of Programs and Partnerships at Greener Partners. Led by a desire to advance an equitable and environmentally sustainable alternative to our industrial food system, and a need to reconnect with the earth, Jen found her way into organic farming in 2011. Along the way she discovered the power and transformative joy of community-grown food. Jen broke ground at the Deaver Wellness Farm in 2014 and has been growing with Greener Partners ever since. Although she loves growing nourishing food for all humans, Jen’s secret pleasure is flower gardening.

 

Carol Martsoft

Chair, Delaware County Sustainability Commission

2024 Sustainability Awards and Sustainable Communities Breakout - Session 1 Moderator

Carol Martsolf, PE, PMP, CPTD, LEED AP is a licensed professional civil engineer in PA with 30 years of experience in transportation. She is Chief Learning Officer of Urban Engineers, Inc. where she creates leadership and career development programs. Carol is a member of Lansdowne Borough Council where she is Chair of the Environment and Parks committee. She is also a member of the Infrastructure and Community Development committees. Carol is the 2020 Delaware County Engineer of the Year and is Region 2 Director of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Carol is past chair of the Lansdowne Environmental Advisory Council and current co-chair of the Delaware County Sustainability Commission. Carol has a great passion for protecting the environment, especially through the lens of equity. She is a member of the PECO Environmental Justice Advisory Committee and is the recipient of the 2022 Diversity Award by the Philadelphia Chapter of Women’s Transportation Seminar.

Carol is a member of the Equity, Diversity + Inclusion (EDI) Committee for WTS International and also serves as the past chair of Members of Society Advancing an Inclusive Culture (MOSAIC) which is the international board-level council for diversity, equity, and inclusion for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The board-level committee is charged with “providing the society with leadership in all matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the civil engineering community.” Additionally, Carol has facilitated over 60 courses, workshops, and presentations on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) and other related topics to ASCE audiences, private firms, and clients, to help expand the understanding and importance of these critical concepts.

 

Miranda Moore
EIT, ENV-SP

Miss Pennsylvania 2023

 

Keynote Speaker, Take Action in Fashion and Sustainable Career Pathways

A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Miranda Moore, is an Environmental Engineer, Sustainability Professional, Accomplished Clarinet Player, and Miss Pennsylvania 2023.

Miranda graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Georgia (UGA), in 2021, where she was also a member of the Red Coat Band. She is currently enrolled in the Social Impact Strategy certificate program at the University of Pennsylvania.

Miranda is a fierce advocate about the environment and how our choices impact it. She is currently traveling across the state providing people with the resources to make a difference. Miranda is a huge proponent of women in STEM and is an advocate for Take Action in Fashion. Her goal is to change how we buy, wear, and think about fashion by raising awareness about the environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry, and respect for people who make the garments.

 

Melissa Muroff

Program Coordinator,
Chester Partnership for
Safe Neighborhoods

Sustainable Career Pathways Moderator

Melissa is an Assistant District Attorney serving as both Chief of Environmental Crimes and Program Coordinator for the Chester Partnership for Safe Neighborhoods, the DA’s $2 million grant-funded gun violence prevention initiative. Prior to joining the DA’s Office, Melissa managed Roofmeadow (now, Studio Sustena), a sustainable green infrastructure design firm, where she served as President and CEO during the last two years of her 20-year tenure. At that time, she also served as Board Chair of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia. Melissa is a member of the League of Women Voters and the International Society of Sustainability Professionals. She earned her law degree at the Illinois Institute of Technology – Chicago, Kent College of Law; her M.S. in Medical Genetics at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and her B.A. in Psychology and Biology at the University of Notre Dame. Melissa lives in Marple Township with her husband, Dan.

 

Devi Ramkissoon

Executive Director, The Sustainable Business Network
of Greater Philadelphia

Sustainabable Businesses Breakout - Session #1

Devi Ramkissoon comes to SBN with 15+ years of experience in international development, specializing in working with sustainable businesses for economic growth and poverty reduction. An immigrant and social entrepreneur herself, Devi has worked tirelessly to advance the work of small businesses from underrepresented communities across Latin America, Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East. For nearly the past decade at USAID, she led multimillion dollar food security, environment, and private sector development projects around the world, managed the Agency’s premier knowledge-sharing platform for market development, and advanced the US Government’s sustainable development goals at multiple international market development fora. She has won numerous awards from the US Government and the private sector for her leadership navigating global humanitarian crises.

Devi holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English Literature from Swarthmore College.

 

Jaclyn Rhoads, PhD

Vice Chair, Delaware County Sustainability Commission

2024 Sustainability Awards

Jaclyn Rhoads holds a Doctorate Degree in environmental policy from Drexel University. She is currently the president of Friends of Heinz Refuge and the president of Darby Creek Valley Association. She works as Assistant Executive Director at the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and teaches environmental classes at Drexel University and Widener University. She is a member of Norwood's Environmental Advisory Committee and appointed public member to the Delaware County Sustainability Commission. Jaclyn received Environmental Advocate of the Year Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners, South Jersey Chapter in 2017 and the PennFuture Woman of the Delaware River Watershed Award in 2018.

 

Stacey M. Robertson, PhD

President of Widener University

Welcome and Introductions

Since July 2022, Stacey Robertson has served as the 11th president of Widener University. Robertson is an accomplished leader passionate about inspiring a culture of belonging, where students, faculty and staff thrive in an atmosphere of caring and mutual respect.

Prior serving at Widener, Robertson was the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs and a professor of history at SUNY Geneseo. She also served as dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Central Washington University and as the Oglesby Professor of American Heritage and interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Bradley University.

Robertson is also a distinguished author of four books on women abolitionists and equality, co-editor of the book series Perspectives on Early America with a London-based publisher and has co-directed the national nonprofit Historians Against Slavery.

She earned a PhD in history with an emphasis in women’s studies, from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Bachelor of Arts degree in social history and social movements from Whittier College.

 

Stefan Roots

Mayor of Chester City

Welcome and Introductions

Stefan is a Chester native and 1978 graduate of Chester High School who earned an electrical engineering degree from Villanova University in 1982. He was on the Chester Biddy Basketball League national championship team in 1974 and was named as an All-American on the 1975 team.

Stefan worked as an engineer for Philadelphia Gas Works and Delcora and management positions with IBM, MCI, and the Delaware County Daily Times. He spent 6 years as a process operator at the Marcus Hook Sunoco refinery and a year as a substitute teacher in the Chester Upland School District. In 2006, Stefan launched the Chester Spotlight community newspaper that in 2010 morphed into the multiple award-winning Chester City Blog, which is still active (ChesterBlog.com).

On January 3, 2022, Stefan began his journey as an elected official serving as a Chester City Councilman directing Public Property and Recreation. In 2023, Councilman Roots was moved to direct Public Safety which includes the Fire Department, License and Inspection, and the Health Bureau. Mr. Roots was inaugurated as the 33rd Mayor of Chester on January 1, 2024.

Mayor Roots is married with a combined 7 children and 10 grandchildren. He loves the arts, music, playing guitar, travel and watching sports at all levels.

 

Elaine Paul Schaefer

Delaware County Council

Welcome and Introductions and Closing Remarks

Elaine was elected to Delaware County Council in November of 2019 and sworn in on January 6, 2020 to serve a four-year term. She is an attorney with a background in non-profit management and environmental advocacy. Elaine received her undergraduate degree from Boston College and her law degree from William and Mary.

 

Scott Sidlow

Owner, Solstice
Home Performance

Sustainable Living Breakout -
Session #1

Scott Sidlow, owner of Solstice Home Performance is a home Energy Auditor and Energy Rater with 18 years of professional experience using building science to improve the indoor environment of people's homes. He is a certified Building Analyst Professional from the Building Performance Institute and a RESNET certified HERS rater. He is passionate about helping everyone make the home they live in more comfortable, efficient, healthy, sustainable, have lower utility bills and better indoor air quality. A 20-year resident of DelCo, Scott has served as member of the Delaware County Sustainability Commission, a Councilmember in Parkside Borough and an Assistant Scoutmaster in Troops 495 and 2019.

 

Michael Skuja

Executive Director,
Tyler Arboretum

Sustainable Organizations Breakout - Session #1

Mike Skuja is an ecologist with more than 20 years’ experience leading and growing organizations in the conservation field. He is currently the Executive Director of Tyler Arboretum, where he has the honor of connecting the public to Tyler’s fantastic 650 acres of gardens, woodlands, meadows and streams. Mike has worked for a variety of environmental organizations, both in the US and abroad, including Defenders of Wildlife, the United Nations Environment Program, and Pew Charitable Trusts. While directing Tualatin Riverkeepers, a Waterkeeper Alliance organization in Oregon, Mike led work in climate change adaptation as well as environmental jobs training with social justice organizations. This work included partnering with ranchers on environmental restoration as well as installing the first Arabic and Spanish stormwater murals in the country. At Pew he spearheaded partnerships with seven Tribal nations in the Chesapeake Bay focused on Indigenous led conservation. Mike has a master’s degree from the University of Oxford (UK) in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management and a double major from the University of Wisconsin in Geography and Zoology. He lives in Rose Valley with his wife and two kids.

 

Julie Smith

Co-Chair, Media Bee City

Sustainable Communities Breakout - Session #1

Julie Smith is the co-chair of Bee City Media, a committee member of Bird Town Media, leader of Media Tree Tenders, a Media Borough Shade Tree Commission member, and organizer of the Green Wagon Project – Media Goes Native. Julie has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Geoscience and a Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification in Earth and Space Secondary Education (both from West Chester University of PA). Julie lives and breathes her love for the natural world. She was taught at a young age the value of our natural world and the importance of loving and protecting it. She lives by the quote she learned at a young age, “We protect what we love”. She works every day to inspire and excite her neighbors and community to also love our natural world in the hope they will join her quest to protect it.

 

Cathy Spahr, AICP

Transportation Planner, Delaware County
Planning Department

Sustainable Communities Breakout - Session #2

Cathy Spahr, AICP, is an Infrastructure Planner for the Delaware County Planning Department. Cathy is currently the project manager for the Delaware County Vision Zero Action Plan and Safety Ambassador Program. To expand on the Vision Zero Delco initiative, she also secured $261,000 for a U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to conduct demonstration projects in two underserved school districts in Delaware County. Recently, Delaware County secured a $2.5million Reconnecting Communities grant from the US DOT in which Cathy was an integral team member in writing the grant. Cathy received her master’s degree in Geography from West Chester University and her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Dickinson College. It is this combination of disciplines that informs Cathy’s planning perspectives and goals. Her objective as an Infrastructure Planner is to get people out of their cars and safely connected to other modes of transportation to reduce our carbon footprint.

 

Robert Thomas

Partner, Campbell Thomas & Co.

Sustainability for All Breakout - Session #1

Bob Thomas is a founding partner of Campbell Thomas & Co. Architects, founded in 1976 and a firm noted for affordable housing, historic preservation, energy conscious design, community development, trails and greenways, accessible design and appropriate technology. He has been Partner in Charge, of numerous architectural, planning, greenway, solar, bicycle, trail and public transportation projects.

In addition to his architectural skills, Mr. Thomas previously worked as a planner for SEPTA. His knowledge and use of public transportation is invaluable in planning sites to be accessible by all sectors of the population.

He is an expert, as well, in historic preservation and handicapped accessibility, particularly in regard to historic buildings and sites.

Bob is currently serves as Chair of the Philadelphia Historical Commission, the Co-Chair of the Valley Forge to Heinz Refuge Trail Alliance, and on the boards or as an advisor to the Philadelphia Parks Alliance, The Circuit, the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance, and the Tookany -Tacony Frankford Watershed Partnership.

 

Richard M. Tralies, PLA

Senior Director of Planning, Natural Lands

 

Sustainable Organizations Breakout - Session #2

Richard M. Tralies, PLA, Senior Director of Planning at Natural Lands holds a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture and has over 20 years of professional experience. Mr. Tralies acts as a municipal planning and landscape architecture consultant and provides technical assistance to municipalities and landowners in need of open space planning, trail design, and stewardship services. Prior to joining Natural Lands in 2008, he was a Planner/Landscape Architect at a local engineering firm, acting as a planning and landscape architecture consultant to Wrightstown, Doylestown and Newtown Townships in Bucks County, Montgomery Township in Montgomery County and Lower Saucon Township in Northampton County. He is currently the planning consultant to East Coventry and East Vincent Townships, in Chester County, where he works closely with the Township Planning Commissions, staff and elected officials. Rick also works on all aspects of Natural Lands’ Growing Greener: Conservation by Design program.

 

Kearni Warren

Delaware County Outreach Coordinator, Clean Air Council

 

 

Sustainable Career Pathways

Kearni N. Warren is an enthusiastic and dedicated environmental justice, climate, and healthcare activist from Chester, Pennsylvania. With her background as a union member, a former member organizer and political organizer with SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, and the former Harrisburg Political Coordinator for One Pennsylvania, she has been instrumental in developing and advocating for government policies and regulations on the local, state, and federal levels. She is deeply committed to promoting community engagement and creating a sustainable future. She is a certified Zero Waste Associate and a 2022 Environmental Leadership Program Fellow who uses her expertise to train and educate others about the detrimental health impacts of air pollution and the importance of green infrastructure. She was a contributor to Delaware County's Sustainability Plan and is currently the Delaware County Outreach Coordinator for the Clean Air Council and a member of PECO's Environmental Justice Advisory Committee.

 

Rebecca Wetzler, AICP

Senior Transportation Planner, DVRPC

Sustainable Communities Breakout - Session #2

Rebecca is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in planning and community engagement. She is currently a member of DVRPC’s Office of Safe Streets focused on projects related to traffic safety and the regional vision zero goal. She also chairs the American Planning Association, PA Chapter Healthy Communities group. Past endeavors include working in emergency management for the City of Philadelphia, transit safety and security for transit agencies (or their state oversight) nationally, and supporting county, state, and federal mitigation planning. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys hiking, planting trees, and recently graduated from the PHS Tree Tenders program.

 

Rebecca Yurkovich

Sustainability & Resilience
Manager, Delaware County
Office of Sustainability

Sustain Delco: A Sustainability Plan for Delaware County Update and Closing Remarks

Becca Yurkovich joined the Delaware County Office of Sustainability, in June 2022, serving as the Sustainability and Resilience Manager. Becca brings passion and experience to this role, previously serving as an Environmental and Community and Regional Planner in the Delaware County Planning Department, followed by three years as the Assistant Manager of Bethel Township, Delaware County, PA.

Prior to accepting the role in the Office of Sustainability, Becca was actively involved with the Delaware County Sustainability Commission serving as a municipal representative for 2.5 years. Becca holds bachelor's degrees in Environmental, Geographical, and Geological Sciences and Communication Studies from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.