Delta Staff

randerson@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x 14

Ryan manages Delta’s portfolio of carbon and agriculture initiatives, focusing on business services, emission reduction incentives, and market infrastructure development. Responsibilities include providing technical assistance on corporate reporting initiatives, creating conservation opportunities for farmers and forest owners, and identifying strategies to expand access to emerging markets. He also develops new projects and partnerships to advance Delta’s mission, particularly around urban agriculture and climate change. While at Delta, Ryan has worked on a wide range of issues related to environmental markets, business development, land planning, green procurement, energy management, and local food systems. He is a member of the Chicago Advocates for Urban Agriculture Steering Committee and holds a B.S. in Finance from North Park University and a M.A. in Ecological Economics from the University of Leeds.

acorso@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x 25

Abby oversees Delta’s sustainability services, including green building, green purchasing, sustainability planning and certification, and green business development services. Abby brings a unique combination of private and non-profit experience in the areas of toxics, pollution prevention, energy efficiency and brownfield remediation.  Abby has worked closely with industry and community groups on both the policy and technical aspects of pollution source control and energy efficiency.  While at Delta, she designed the investment-grade audit program that focused on identifying and financing high-quality energy efficiency and pollution prevention projects as well as developing an energy efficiency financing project for the State of Michigan.  She also has expertise in implementing LEED for existing building projects, including the Merchandise Mart, Prudential Plaza and NBC Tower as well as one of the first residential high-rises to achieve LEED certification.

Abby currently serves on the board of the U.S. Green Building Council Illinois Chapter. She is a fellow of the Sustainability Institute’s Dana Meadows Fellows Program. Abby holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Drexel University, a Masters in Business Administration from New York University, and is a registered professional engineer.
 

vcouto@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x 19
 

Victor works primarily on the Delta Weatherization & Energy Efficiency Program, directly interacting with Delta Institute weatherization partners who provide energy audits, as well as energy efficient retrofits and installations in low to moderate income households. Victor also provides support for Delta Institute’s other energy efficiency programs.  Victor came to the Delta Institute with a history of managing a small business and non-profit office. He holds a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences from the University of Washington.

tcushing@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x22

Thomas Cushing has joined The Delta Institute as Director, Strategic Partnerships and Policy.  He will be responsible for building Delta’s private sector consulting and advocating for policies that further the mission of environmental sustainability and economic development.   Mr. Cushing comes to Delta Institute from his own work in sustainability and business development, including an assignment with the Clean Energy Trust.  He spent four years with the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), the world’s pioneer in emissions trading, where he served as Senior Vice President for Membership.  At CCX he promoted the development of market based tools to measure and reduce harmful emissions.   He has been a strong voice in academic and industry settings on environmental policy and market mechanisms for emissions reductions, and has worked with the electric power industry, manufacturers and NGOs.  For eighteen years prior to joining CCX, Mr. Cushing practiced as a civil trial attorney in Cook County, Illinois, recording dozens of verdicts and appeals and distinguishing himself in the legal community. He was an invited member of the Chicago Society of Trial Lawyers and the Loyola University School of Law’s Circle of Advocates, and taught as an adjunct professor at the Loyola’s law school and in various professional education settings. He earned his JD from Loyola University School of Law and his BA from the University of Notre Dame.

(517) 482-8810
cdmauriac@delta-institute.org

Caroline provides program support to Delta Institute’s Michigan Saves Energy Loan program from the Lansing, Michigan, office.  She most recently worked for Michigan Audubon as Information Services Director and also served for a period as their Interim Executive Director and Membership and Chapters Liaison. Previously, Caroline has worked as both Director and Curator for museums in Minnesota and Michigan. She continues online operation of an out-of-print book business, specializing in nature and children’s books, which she opened in 1990. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies and Non-profit Management from the University of Illinois, Chicago and a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology from Michigan State University.

kdick@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x30

Kevin is the Project Manager of Certifications Programs, a portfolio that encompasses LEED EB O&M and C&I certifications, and other emerging standards.  With more than ten years of experience managing and implementing energy efficiency and green building projects, Kevin has a wide experience in many aspects of building and operations. Previous to his current role, Kevin managed implementation of the residential programs for the Chicagoland Natural Gas Savings Program and Nicor Gas Efficiency Program, founded and directed the Delta Institute Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Program, and managed over four million square feet of LEED for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance certified projects for the Delta Institute, including Silver Certification of NBC Tower and Gold Certification of Prudential Plaza in Chicago, Illinois. Kevin has presented on, published, and provided trainings on a variety of topics, including energy efficiency and weatherization, green cleaning, native landscaping, best management practices for stormwater, urban forest diversity, and endangered species management. Kevin has a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Cincinnati, and a M.A. in Geography & Environmental Studies from Northeastern Illinois University.

dducharme@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x 12

Donna has long been committed to designing programs to bring economic development opportunities to underserved communities. A co-founder of the Delta Institute, Donna also founded and served as the executive director of a local economic and employment development council and has held leadership positions in nonprofit organizations and consulting groups dedicated to those issues. She also served as Deputy Commissioner for Industrial Development with the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development, where she worked with the Department of Environment to create the city’s $50 million Brownfield Redevelopment Initiative. She established the Model Industrial Corridors Program and was involved in efforts to promote retail development in underserved areas, negotiate redevelopment agreements, supervise infrastructure improvement programs and establish site assistance services. She has developed and managed brownfield site redevelopment strategies, secured pre-development, development and technical assistance funds, facilitated the creation of numerous community, redevelopment, sustainable development and strategic plans, and designed and managed a collaborative public policy forums. Donna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Carleton College and a Masters in City Planning from MIT.

kfarley@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x11

Kelly provides the Delta Institute with over 10 years of experience in non-profit and small business administration. As Operations Manager, Kelly keeps the office running by managing human resources, office operations, and accounting responsibilities. She also oversees administrative support, quality assurance, and file management. Kelly recently received a Bachelor of Arts degree at DePaul University with a focus in Nonprofit Leadership and Development.

lgeglio@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x 33

Lucy works with staff on grant reporting, research and applying for new sources of funding. She holds degrees in Sociology and International Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame.  She has five years of experience working at nonprofit organizations and most recently worked for Neighborhood Development Associates writing grants for low income housing developments.

agore@delta-institute.org
312-554-0900 x17

Hailing from North Lawndale in Chicago, Gore brings more than five years of experience in administrative operation and public relations to the Delta Institute. Her responsibilities include general office duties and departmental support. She has completed work programs with the Carole Robertson Center for Learning, the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation, Gallery 37 and the HOI United Way.  She holds a first honors diploma from St. Ignatius College Prep and a Bachelors of Science in Communications with a focus in Public Relations and a minor in Economics from Bradley University.

gregg@rebuildingexchange.org
(773) 252-2234

Gregg manages the operations of Delta Institute's ReBuilding Exchange, the leading resource for salvaged building materials and deconstruction training and education in the Chicago region. His responsibilities include developing strategic sourcing initiatives of salvaged building materials from around the region, establishing partnerships with associations, contractors, architects, designers, developers and other non-profits to source materials and identify opportunities for volume resale. Gregg will also lead a marketing and communications program to reach new audiences, oversee the job training program, and lead growth initiatives for the organization in-line with the organization's strategic plan.  Prior to joining the ReBuilding Exchange, Gregg managed real estate development and market expansion initiatives for WW Grainger, Inc, in the northeast United States and select domestic and international markets. He also has worked in public facilities and residential development. Gregg is a graduate of Loyola University School of Law and the University of California Davis and is a board member of Urban Gateways, an arts education organization based in Chicago that provides arts programming for children.

tparker@delta-institute.org
(517) 482-8810

Todd Parker is a Project Manager for the Delta Institute, a non-profit organization whose mission is to be a center of innovation that creates market opportunities to achieve environmental sustainability and economic development. Mr. Parker joined the Delta Institute in 2006, bringing a unique combination of natural resource management experience and environmental law. In addition to managing Delta’s Michigan office, Todd develops projects in the areas of pollution prevention, energy efficiency, sustainable development, and ecosystem services. Mr. Parker was also part of the team that created Michigan Saves, a non-profit organization dedicated to making energy improvements easy and affordable. He served a 1 year term as a Director on the Michigan Saves Board and now staffs Michigan Saves as the Manager of Contractor Services. Todd holds a Masters degree in Environmental Law from the Vermont Law School and a Bachelors degree in Forestry from Michigan State University.

jpogge@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x31

Jean Pogge is CEO of Delta Institute, a center of innovation that creates market opportunities to achieve environmental sustainability and economic development.  Pogge is known nationally as a leader in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors with a particular expertise in building triple bottom line institutions.  Pogge spent 18 years at ShoreBank, the first and largest community development and conservation bank in the U.S.  At ShoreBank, Pogge served as Executive Vice President of the Community and Consumer Banking Group and was a member of the bank’s Executive Leadership Team.  Prior to joining ShoreBank, Pogge served as President of the Woodstock Institute, a national non-profit research and policy organization working in the areas of fair lending, wealth creation, and financial systems reform policy. She also has served as curriculum consultant and adjunct professor for the Certificate in Non-profit Management through the Great Cities Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Jean holds a Master’s degree from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a Bachelor’s degree from Barat College.

mrenas@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x13

Margaret administers the Cook County Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, which provides grant funds to eligible commercial and industrial facilities in Cook County for services related to energy efficiency audits and energy retrofits. She conducts research and analysis for LEED green building design, green certification and sustainability planning. She also provides analysis and implementation assistance for renewable energy projects.Margaret holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Purdue University, a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering from IIT and is a LEED Accredited Professional.  She is a member of both the Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals and Women in Environmental Management, and she volunteers with the Chicago Chapter of Engineers Without Borders.

vroanhorse@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x 10

Vanessa is theproject manager of the Delta Weatherization Energy & Efficiency Program, which provides grant funds to eligible homeowners in the City of Chicago and Lake County for services related to home weatherization, energy efficiency services, and EnergyStar appliance retrofits. Delta is at the forefront of weatherization implementation in the greater Cook County area, having doubled the scope of the program each year for the last three years. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Media Arts from the University of Arizona.  She volunteers with the Fire This Time Fund, Rebuilding Together Chicago, and the American Indian Center Chicago.
 

wschleizer@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x 24

Bill leads the Climate Change and Natural Resources work at Delta.  The mission of the program focuses on creating innovative solutions that reduce the impacts of climate change, value ecosystem services, and protect and enhance the natural resources of the Great Lakes, while also creating economic development opportunities. Bill has overseen the creation of replicable and transferable implementation strategies based on on-the-ground work in carbon markets and water quality management. Bill and the Delta team are utilizing the lessons learned and its broad network of partners to create new solutions to protecting and enhancing environmental quality including the development of strategies and policies that create real value for ecosystem services. 

Bill also provides expertise and technical assistance to a variety of Delta’s other programs including sustainability planning, environmental management, carbon footprinting, energy efficiency financing, sustainable agriculture, protocol and policy development and analysis, pollution prevention, brownfield redevelopment, green economic strategies, data analysis and modeling. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology and Environmental Studies from Tulane University  and a professional Masters of Science degree in Environmental Analysis and Decision Making from Rice University.
 

dswick@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x21
 

Dan Swick is a technical associate at the Delta Institute. He provides programmatic and technical support for many of Delta’s programs, including carbon market initiatives, waste diversion, energy efficiency, data analysis and modeling and ecosystem services initiatives. Dan has a background in geospatial technology, specifically remote sensing, environmental management and ecosystem services applications. Before joining the Delta staff, Dan was a project coordinator for the Chicago Department of Environment’s Sustainable Backyard Program, a rebate program designed to incentivize small-scale ecosystem services on residential property. Dan holds a BGS in Environmental Studies from the University of Kansas.

sterry@delta-institute.org
(312)-554-0900 x32

Sean Terry is a Technical Associate of Community & Economic Development at the Delta Institute who provides programmatic and administrative support for the Green Job Training Program. His responsibilities include overseeing the marketing, recruitment and retention of trainees and placement assistance.  Sean utilizes his background and experience in residential construction and building performance to support Delta’s Weatherization Technician training program. Sean also conducts research on such relevant green economy topics as renewable energy policies and incentives, deconstruction, and green retrofitting as an adaptive reuse strategy. Lastly, Sean currently provides additional outreach and staff support on multiple South-Chicago & South Suburban initiatives, emphasizing such sustainability measures as Urban Agriculture, Bio Mass facility development, and Brownfield Redevelopment.

B.S., Community Planning & Urban Studies, Alabama A&M University, M.A., Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago.  

ezelechowski@delta-institute.org
(312) 554-0900 x 20

Elise is managing director of ventures innovation at the Delta Institute. In that role, she leads the development of ventures that address pressing environmental and social issues. In 2009, Elise founded the ReBuilding Exchange, a non-profit venture affiliate of Delta with a mission to reduce waste, create jobs and build a market for sustainable building deconstruction.  She also launched the region’s first deconstruction job training program, with a focus on providing opportunities for people from disadvantaged communities.  Prior to that, Elise consulted on a number of high profile sustainability projects including the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid, and was Project Manager for the LEED-EB certification for the 4.2 million square foot Merchandise Mart in Chicago, the largest commercial building in the world. Before joining Delta Institute, Elise was the Project Coordinator for Chicago Center for Green Technology, a former brownfield site turned LEED Platinum business incubator and project of City of Chicago, Department of Environment. Elise is a Board member of the Building Materials Reuse Association.