MEET OUR PEOPLE
CTSBC Founder, CEO
Heather Burns
Heather is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the Connecticut Sustainable Business Council.
Before CTSBC, Heather spent ten years as a CSR consultant to business leaders across sectors and the world. She is a former Vice-Chair of NSF 391.1, the first ANSI Sustainability Standard for Professional Services, and has been an advisor to USEPA and GSA in the development of a methodology to identify sustainability standards and eco-labels to be utilized in US government procurement decisions. Heather has contributed to the development of several sustainability standards and certifications including USGBC Green Garage Certification and Sustainable CT.
In 2008 she founded Fairfield County GreenDrinks, business networking events for professionals in Fairfield County. Over the course of five years, thousands of people connected to advance sustainable business practices, and several events were covered by television and in The New York Times.
Heather first became interested in sustainability in business in 1999 while living in Koh Tao, Thailand, and working as a Dive Master. Diving every day in the same waters, she became aware that the two interconnected economies of fishing and tourism could benefit from understanding sustainable business practices. In 2000, she co-founded Save the Reef foundation, a non-profit organization educating local fishermen on environmental impacts.
“The Council also affords an opportunity to professionally network and support each other in the pursuit of action. This is easily one of the best professional organizations that I have participated in during my 20-year career”.
Nathan Strong, Loureiro Engineering
Board Of Directors
John Lyons,
Board Chair
John Lyons is President of Symbiosis a consultancy that collaborates with individuals, businesses, and communities to demonstrate sustainable practices that are replicable, sustainable, reduce energy consumption and utilize renewable energy sources. Symbiosis focuses on the main components of our daily lives; home, work, and transportation. Symbiosis champions a collaborative project management approach often leading public/private demonstration projects, working with; private businesses, governments, non-profit organizations, and community groups. Prior to founding Symbiosis, Lyons was President and CEO of MetroPool for 17 years. Metropol, a founding member of CTSBC, delivered sustainable transportation services to commuters in CT and NY for 38 years.
TJ Clynch,
Vice-Chair
TJ Clynch founded Civic Mind in 2011, a social enterprise specializing in community development, strategic partnerships, and impact investment. He works to create dynamic, sustainable progress while connecting organizations to their audiences in exciting new ways. He has previously served on the City of Hartford’s Clean Energy Task Force, the REACH Coalition (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health), and as the President of Business for Downtown Hartford. He received his B.S. in Business Management at Westfield State College.
Suzanne Huminski,
Secretary
Suzanne Huminski is Southern CT State University’s first Sustainability Coordinator. In 2010, she proposed to the university’s administration that she serve in this role for a pilot semester as her Master’s capstone project, and she has been there ever since. Working across almost all sectors of SCSU’s operations, Suzanne helps plan and implement projects in energy and other resource efficiencies, renewable energy, waste reduction, curriculum development, experiential learning, community outreach, land stewardship, and strategic planning. She oversees SCSU’s involvement in the national Climate Leadership Commitment for colleges and universities and created an award-winning interdisciplinary internship program for undergraduate and graduate students with sustainability-focused career goals.
Matthew Burry,
CPA, Treasurer
Currently, an audit associate with Whittlesey Advising in Hartford, CT, Matthew combines his experience in accounting and not-for-profit management with a passion for sustainability. Graduating from the University of Connecticut MBA program in 2018, he was a founding officer of UConn’s Graduate Net Impact Chapter. As a member of UConn’s Graduate Consulting Club, he led consulting engagements for clients such as Commercial Solar Works, a start-up solar developer based in Hartford. In his second year of the MBA program, he also completed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Prior to starting his MBA, he was executive director of the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, the state’s premier professional chamber orchestra, and Connecticut Lyric Opera, the state’s largest professional opera company.
Rodrigo Castro,
Board of Director
Rodrigo Castro is Managing Director at ESG COMPASS, a new software-based evaluation methodology that helps companies to anticipate risks of fraud and improve organizational performance over ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). Before joining ESG COMPASS he worked at Nielsen and Grupo Security, where he served as HR Director overseeing the ESG Strategy for more than 7 companies. Before joining ESG COMPASS he worked at Nielsen and Grupo Security, where he served as HR Director overseeing the ESG Strategy for more than 7 companies. He has been an advisor for companies such as Unilever, Kellogg’s, L’Oreal, Ohio National, Swissôtel, Mall Plaza, Komatsu, among others, including the industries of financial services, retail, hospitality, metallurgy, real estate, health, and mining.
Sheilah Crowley,
Board of Director
Sheilah is the Co-Founder of CSR Talent Group (CSRTG), the first on-demand, talent platform for companies seeking highly skilled experts in CSR, ESG, and Sustainability to achieve their corporate citizenship goals. CSRTG was founded on the wave of companies seeking more options – beyond the traditional consulting model – to meet their unique needs while the demand for specialized talent continues to grow. Sheilah serves as head of marketing and strategic partnerships. Prior to CSRTG, Sheilah worked for over a decade in non-profit management at City Harvest in New York City.
Mackey Dykes,
Board of Director
Mackey joined the Connecticut Green Bank in 2012, where he leads the Commercial and Industrial Programs. In that role, through programs such as C-PACE, he helps commercial and industrial building owners, non-profits, schools, and hospitals access affordable capital for clean energy projects. Before taking over the Commercial and Industrial portfolio in 2016, he served as the Green Bank’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In that role, he helped lead the transformation, development, and implementation of the Green Bank’s clean energy financing mission as well as running its day-to-day operations. Prior to joining the Connecticut Green Bank, Mackey was the White House Liaison at the U.S. Department of Energy. He has also held leadership positions in several political campaigns. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Vanderbilt University.
Kenny Green,
Board of Director
Kenny Green is a CPA and has dedicated his work to social and environmental advocacy. He has conducted trainings and consulted with the Stamford Police Department to promote positive engagement with communities of color. Kenny serves as the Co-chair of the Law Enforcement Action Committee for Stamford Stands Against Racism, and on the boards of the Jackie Robinson Park of Fame, and The Carroll Family Foundation founded by NBA player DeMarre Carroll. Kenny has held several corporate leadership roles, including Chief Financial Officer of Access for Life, a medical device start-up and as the Global Head of Accounting and Reporting for Arch Wood Treatment, a multinational manufacturer.
Silvina Skverer,
Board of Director
Silvina Skverer is the co-founder of Thinking Beyond Business, a sustainability advisory firm focused on helping companies grow while doing good. She is a financial professional with over 15 years of experience in finance, auditing, and accounting, and specializes in strategic planning with a lens on sustainability. She is passionate about generating a positive impact in this world and she is actively involved in her community and regularly participates in events that connect her with more vulnerable communities locally and internationally. She serves as a volunteer on the Town of Greenwich Sustainability Committee and on several nonprofit boards to help drive positive change from within organizations. She holds a BA in accounting from the University of Buenos Aires and is trained in ESG strategy development. She is an avid reader and her dream is to build a better world and publish a novel based on her grandfather’s story of immigration to Argentina.
Joel Kopylec,
Board of Director
Joel is responsible for the commercial and industrial energy efficiency and demand response portfolios for Avangrid’s Connecticut and Massachusetts companies. In addition to being an active member of many industry groups in the demand side management space, Joel serves as a board member of the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board, helping to shape the state’s energy efficiency policy and priorities through collaboration with its many stakeholder communities. In addition to energy efficiency programs, Joel also helped develop the Energy Storage Solutions program, a statewide battery storage incentive program born from CT PURA’s Equitable Grid Modernization proceedings.
Joel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Bio-Molecular Science and a Master of Science degree in Technology Management, both from Central Connecticut State University, and is a veteran of the United States Army.
John Oldi,
Board of Director
John Oldi is the Manager of Environmental Programs for ConEdison Clean Energy Businesses (CEB). ConEd CEB is the second-largest solar power provider in North America with solar installations in over 20 states in the US. Prior to working at ConEd, John was a Technical Director in the Environmental, Health & Safety Division of Loureiro Engineering Associates. John is a licensed Professional Engineer with over 20 years of experience in the manufacturing sector. He specializes in environmental compliance and sustainability programs, with an emphasis on air pollution. John spent the majority of his career working at General Electric. At GE he held various EHS roles throughout the organization, including as an executive in the corporate environmental group. During his tenure in the corporate office, he was responsible for the development of the 2020 GHG goal and created a company-wide sustainability engagement program.
Ryan Polizzo,
Board of Director
Ryan Polizzo is a Senior Vice President with Loureiro Engineering, a 100% employee-owned Design/Build Engineering and Construction Firm. With offices throughout New England, Washington DC, North Carolina, and Missouri, Ryan is responsible for Customer Experience and Employee Excellence under Loureiro’s brand. He also directs the Environment Health and Safety Division and the Industrial Services Division which consists of (26) professionals across three geographic locations.
Ryan began his career with Pratt Whitney a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies. He spent (6) years as a Health and Safety professional in both the East Hartford and Middletown Connecticut plants, (3) years in Mechanical Maintenance in East Hartford and (6) years in OEM Operations in both East Hartford and North Berwick Maine. While with Pratt and Whitney, Ryan was recognized with numerous Leadership Awards and also was recognized by Boeing for his team’s work in Repair and Overhaul.
Ryan holds two degrees from the University of Idaho including a Master’s of Education in Industrial Technology. He has been an active First Responder, a Hazardous Materials Technician, and is a staunch advocate for the Connecticut Humane Society.