CET Staff Profiles

John Majercak, Executive Director

Mr. Majercak has overall responsibility for leading the organization including strategic planning, program development, program and operations management, fundraising, outreach and communications. He has worked for CET for nearly 20 years in a variety of positions and brings a positive vision, strong background in environmental science, broad experience, and a highly successful track record to the Executive Director position. CET’s ReStore Home Improvement Center in Springfield came to fruition through his vision and leadership. He is currently overseeing a $3.1 million expansion that includes a deep energy retrofit of an older commercial building that will house the expanded ReStore.

Mr. Majercak's work in organic waste composting has garnered national recognition as a model for building a market-based system for diverting commercial food waste from disposal. Project work includes green job training for weatherization workers and public education on energy efficiency, radon and recycling.

He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the national Building Materials Reuse Association, and has recently served on the Springfield 2030 Vision Advisory Committee, The Pioneer Valley Green Economy Task Force, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Organic Waste Advisory Committee.

Mr. Majercak’s past experience includes work in quality assurance and technical service in the bio-technology industry in Cambridge, MA; as a National Park Ranger in Wyoming and Hawaii; and canvassing for an environmental organization in New Jersey. He received a B.A. in Biology from Cornell University.

Nancy Nylen, Associate Director

Ms. Nylen has been employed by CET since 1982. She has developed and provided a variety of successful solid waste and energy education and technical assistance programs for residents, municipalities, businesses and institutions. Ms. Nylen has conducted teacher training workshops and community service learning projects and coordinated a series of environmental teleconferences among schools in Berkshire County. Ms. Nylen has a M.Ed. with a concentration in Environmental Studies from the University of Washington.

Mark Newey, Director of Green Building and Training Programs

Mr. Newey came to CET in July 2005 from Southface Energy Institute in Atlanta, GA. He manages CET’s diverse energy programs. Mr. Newey brings to CET extensive knowledge about energy efficiency and green buildings. He is certified as a Home Energy Rater Trainer and Quality Assurance Designee, and has taught over 100 workshops on energy efficient and green building for builders, architects, heating contractors, and real estate agents. Mr. Newey’s technical expertise includes energy modeling, duct system design and pressure diagnostics. Mark has a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Outside of CET, Mark plays contradance music on his flute, makes soft and hard cheese, and bicycles around town.

Charlie Browne, C.P.A., Fiscal Manager

Mr. Browne has been responsible for overseeing the fiscal administration for CET since 1999. His responsibilities include control of the general ledger, payroll and quarterly tax returns, monthly and annual financial reports and preparation for CET's Annual Fiscal Audit. He also takes a lead role in CET human resource management. Mr. Browne received his Certified Public Accounting License in 1997. He received his B.S. in Business Administration from North Adams State College, B.A. from Holy Cross in 1981 and M.S. from Wesleyan in 1987.

Robin Savery, Office Manager

Ms. Savery came to CET in May 2003. Her responsibilities include accounts payable and accounts receivable. She also handles ReStore sales reconciliation. Ms. Savery manages our Bio-Heat Oil Co-op memberships, all CET bank deposits, employee time sheets--which is no small task since employee days are parsed by program (renewables, recycling, energy... etc.) and there are close to 40 CET employees. She does much more to facilitate all day to day operations at CET. Currently she is working on CET's collective carbon footprint, as a member of the in-house Green Team. She has an Associate's in Business from Berkshire Community College. When she's not doing all this work, she enjoys gardening and going for long walks.

Alyssa Nelson, Rebate Administrator

Alyssa served as an intern with CET while receiving her B.S. in Natural Resource Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She then worked for CET in 2003 conducting after school recycling and pollution workshops for elementary school children and assisting with administrative work for the CET's energy efficiency programs. She is currently responsible for administering the Berkshire Gas Rebate program which encourages the installation of high efficiency heating systems, water heaters, windows and thermostats in residential and commercial buildings. Outside of CET, Alyssa is certified as a 200-hour Kripalu trained yoga teacher.

Peggy MacLeod, Green Building Services

Ms. MacLeod is responsible for marketing New England GreenStart and EnergyStar for New Homes in western Massachusetts, and has been a clean energy advocate in the Northeast for more than twenty years. Peggy was a board member of Peoples Action for Clean Energy in Connecticut and a founder and board member of the Connecticut Energy Cooperative, the first supplier in the Northeast to offer 100% renewable, green-e certified electricity. Ms. MacLeod draws inspiration from helping others channel their enthusiasm for clean energy into motivating others to take steps for reducing their climate footprint or finding local solutions for sustainability. A past chair of the Northampton Energy Resources Commission, Peggy now serves on the Sustainable Northampton Taskforce, an advisory body that helped craft a new comprehensible plan for the City of Northampton. In her non-work hours, Peggy enjoys bird-watching, yoga, playing the piano, and learning permaculture techniques.

Megan McDonough, Green Building Services Manager

Ms. McDonough facilitates applications, inspection scheduling and communication with builders in the Energy Star Homes and LEED for Homes programs. Ms. McDonough has a BA from UMass Amherst in Arts-Based Community Development and a master's degree in Regional Planning from UMass. She's worked in the past as a labor union president, office manager, family advocate, teaching assistant and at variety of non-profit office jobs. She lives with her family in a pilot zero-net energy house in Colrain, MA.

Jamie Cahillane, Recycling Services and Waste Reduction Program Manager

Mr. Cahillane's responsibilities include providing technical assistance to towns, schools and businesses that are beginning and/or strengthening recycling programs. He is the Director of CET’s Recycling Services, which serves more than 150 Berkshire businesses. He manages recycled copy paper sales through the Recycled Products Cooperative. Mr. Cahillane worked as Recycling Coordinator and Resource Conservation Manager at the University of Chicago for seven years before joining CET in July 1998. He received a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Columbia College.

Cynthia Grippaldi, Education Coordinator

Ms. Grippaldi recently returned to CET after a 15-year absence. Cynthia holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. She has years experience in environmental education, energy conservation and energy efficient building. Cynthia has managed an education and research field station in a National Park, and more recently assisted the Timber Framers Guild with office operations.

Lorenzo Macaluso, Greening Your Business Program Manager

Mr. Macaluso works to increase composting, recycling and reuse of business, municipal and residential wastes. In 2002-03, he set up a composting program at 25 area restaurants and coordinated a day-long tour and workshop to educate others about the project. Since 1997, he has also worked at University of Massachusetts Office of Waste Management as Special Projects Coordinator, managing grant funded projects to reduce waste and increase recycling at the University. His work entailed set up of electronics recycling, food waste composting and office waste reduction. Mr. Macaluso received a M.P.H. in Environmental Health and B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Massachusetts.

Lisa Kohler, Administrative Services Manager

Ms. Kohler joined CET in December 2006 as a receptionist and administrative assistant. But it wasn't long before her supervisor Mark Newey saw that she could do alot more for us. In her new (as of June 2008) role as assistant manager of audit services, Ms. Kohler will be taking on a greater level of responsibility for scheduling customers, managing inventory, arranging contractors, performing quality control, and other activities in CET's energy and utility programs. In her down time she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and cooking.

Bill Lafley, Energy Analyst, Instrumented Air Sealing

Mr. Lafley is a certified Home Energy Rater (through RESNET) and a certified Building Envelope Improvement Specialist (through the Building Performance Institute.) He came to CET in 1991. Mr. Lafley works on the Energy Star New Home Construction program, and manages the utility-funded multi-family residential energy conservation program in western Massachusetts. He conducts plans analysis, building testing, quality control inspections and educational seminars for architects and builders. He also serves as a field technician for numerous electric and gas utility sponsored energy efficiency programs. He conducts site visits, collects data, prepares bid specifications and inspects completed work. He conducts combustion safety testing and performs instrumented air sealing. He has a B.S. in Natural Resources from University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Beth Paulson, Trainer

Ms. Paulson conducts energy and green assessments, blower door tests and air sealing. Ms. Paulson is a certified Home Energy Rater and performs inspections for the Energy Star Homes program and the LEED for Homes program. She has worked on various energy initiatives at CET since 1991, including the MECO EnergyWise High Use Program and Residential Electric Space Heat Program, SPECTRUM Electric Heat Program and the Berkshire Gas DSM Program. Ms. Paulson received her M.A. in Landscape Architecture and a B.S. in Environmental Design from University of Massachusetts.

Don Riggins, Information Technology Manager

For 18 years, Mr. Riggins has worked in the field of energy efficiency and conservation. He has conducted thousands of ECS, DSM, and RCS audits for a range of utility sponsored efficiency programs. Mr. Riggins also writes, implements, and maintains software for DSM audit data collection and processing, quality control, backlog management, program assessment and reporting, Tier 1 tracking, Tier 2 tracking and invoicing. Mr. Riggins is responsible for ensuring that field and administrative staff understand how to use software. He maintains and oversees CET’s computer, networking, and DSL hardware for three offices. Mr. Riggins has a Bachelor’s Degree from Eckard College in Florida.

Renee Schmidt, Energy Advisor

Ms. Schmidt has been employed by CET since 2000 as an Energy Advisor. She is a certified Massachusetts Energy Auditor since 1987 and has attended numerous additional training sessions in heating systems, building science, moisture through Affordable Comfort and Berkshire Gas Networks. She inspects approximately 500 - 700 homes annually. Prior to working at CET, Renee was employed by MassSave and DMC Honeywell for 5 years. Ms. Schmidt received her Associates Degree in Science from Greenfield Community College.

John Saveson, Energy Analyst (Pioneer Valley)

Mr. Saveson lives in the Rocky Hill Cohousing development in Florence and has a degree in Architecture from M.I.T. and a masters degree in Landscape Architecture from the Conway School of Landscape Design. He has experience as a construction worker, as a manager at a energy efficient post and beam building company, as an architectural designer, and as a landscape architect. John has been working at CET since spring of 2008.

Harper Vinkemulder, Energy Advisor

Harper jumped on the CET bandwagon in September 2008 where she is working in the field as an energy advisor and air sealing technician. She has long explored how people create, relate to, and move in physical space -- and she is very excited to help them do so more comfortably, affordably and with environmental efficiency.

Matt Turcotte, Energy Analyst

Matt has a BA in political science from Connecticut College where he specialized in environmental policy. He brings a diverse set of environmental expeiences to CET, where he has been working as an Energy Advisor since fall of 2008. He has been involved in political organizing for cleaner water in California and cleaner cars in NJ, was the Environmental Coordinator at Connecticut College, and has built straw bales houses all around New England. In his spare time, Matt likes to play guitar and brew his own beer.

Jenn Cranshaw Parsons, RCS Program Project Manager

Ms. Cranshaw joined CET in November 2008 as an Energy Advisor and Administrative Assistant and has since been promoted to Project Manager for the Residential Conservation Services Program. She graduated in May 2008 from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine where she earned her B.S. in Environmental Science. She has also completed a few courses through Greenfield Community College in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program. Outside of CET, Jenn enjoys spending time with her family and friends and working on her fiancé’s farm.

Josy Taylor-Raycroft, Green Rater, LEED AP

Ms. Taylor-Raycroft has a BS in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Massachusetts as well as years of graduate work in residential green design and sustainable architecture. Josy's experience in the residential construction world includes not only her design background but also years of on site building in new construction and renovations. She has been on staff at CET since April of 2009 working within the Residential Conservation Services program. She has been trained in Home Energy Ratings and will be providing ratings for buildings in the LEED for Homes program as well for Massachusetts New Homes with ENERGY STAR. Josy is a member of ADPSR (Architects, Designers & Planners for Social Responsibility) as well as VGBN (Vermont Green Building Network). Josy loves western MA for the endless road biking opportunities and hiking trails for running with her dogs.

Ethan Jackson, Course Developer

Mr. Jackson joined CET in November of 2008 as a home energy auditor three days after riding a bicycle across the Mojave Desert into Tucson. He has a civil engineering degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is a certified engineer-in-training. Ethan is currently earning accreditations through the Building Performance Institute as a Building Analyst and Envelope Specialist as well as becoming a certified Home Energy Rater. He works with the utility-sponsored Residential Conservation Services Programs in the Pioneer Valley. In his spare time he bakes his own bread, rebuilds junked bicycles, and spends as much time outdoors as he can.

Find out about the staff at the ReStore Home Improvement Center.