BERC’s staff and board embody a wide range of relevant professional experience and expertise, including biomass fuel systems, environmental policy and management, forestry, and project and program management.

Deborah Barney, P.E., Project Manager

Deb Barney joined the staff of BERC in April of 2009 as project manager. For the past 20 years, her work has included designing heating and cooling systems for industrial, commercial, institutional, and high-end residences. She has been involved in power conversion from gas and oil for remote areas lacking reliable electricity and in the design and implementation of the next generation of wind towers in Alaska’s Toksook Bay. Barney has worked on projects in both Burlington, Vermont and Lebanon, New Hampshire that have achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) qualifications. She has an associate’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Vermont Technical College, where she has been teaching in its Vermont Plumbing Apprentice Program for the last 10 years.

Andrea L. Colnes, Policy and Development Director

Andi Colnes has spent much of her career working on natural resource public policy and coalition building throughout New England and elsewhere in the country, where she has held a variety of positions focused on large-scale land conservation, sustainable forestry, and energy issues across the Northeast. Her background in energy issues began with her work on Vermont's first Comprehensive Energy Plan under Governor Madeleine Kunin, and more recently working closely with BERC and partners in launching and implementing the Northern Forest Biomass Energy Initiative. Colnes was founding executive director of the Northern Forest Alliance, policy director of the Northern Forest Center, and deputy director of the Vermont Natural Resources Council. She co-founded Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation and the Eastern Forest Partnership and helped launch the National Rural Assembly. Immediately prior to joining BERC in February of 2009, Colnes served as the policy leadership director for the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire, where she worked with nonprofit leaders throughout northern New England. Colnes has a master’s in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Maine and a BA in Political Science from Williams College.

Kamalesh Doshi, Program Director

Kamalesh Doshi serves as BERC's program director. Before coming to BERC in 2004, he was the deputy director for the Gujarat Energy Development Agency involved in the promotion and development of renewable energy-based projects including biomass. He has more than 27 years of experience in engineering and management consultancy for various renewable energy projects. Doshi is currently responsible for the gasifier-based small- and medium-sized combined heat and power (CHP) demonstration projects using sawmill waste and the biomass-based central boiler heating systems on university campuses. He holds a BE in Chemical Engineering from MS University of Baroda and a post-graduate diploma in Industrial Management from the Indian Institute of Science, India.

Hillary Emick, Program Assistant

Hillary Emick performs data collection and analysis, site assessments, and research for projects, programs and policy initiatives. She joined BERC in 2005, committed to thinking globally and acting locally to impact climate change. Emick holds bachelor’s degrees in Integrated Environmental Science and Political Science from Johnson State College, Johnson, Vermont.

Sarah Galbraith, Assistant Program Manager

Sarah Galbraith assists with the development of biomass heating programs and projects, both in Vermont and nationwide. She has completed more than 30 biomass heating project feasibility studies, conducts fuel supply assessments, and has helped with the development of 'Fuels For Schools' initiatives in Vermont, South Dakota, and New Hampshire. In addition to conducting feasibility analyses, Galbraith is BERC’s mapping specialist and has worked on project commissioning and air-quality issues. Before joining BERC in 2005, Galbraith worked with the Institute for Sustainable Energy, a Connecticut-based nonprofit focused on renewable energy policy development, load management, and energy conservation. She holds a BS in Biology from Eastern Connecticut State University.

Nikola Janjić, Project Assistant

Nikola Janjić supports BERC’s work through data collection and analysis, site assessments, and research. Prior to joining BERC in May of 2009, he gained experience working on renewable energy initiatives through cooperation with the University of Vermont’s (UVM’s) Office of Sustainability as well as Vermont Energy Investment Corporation’s College and University team. He co-authored UVM’s Clean Energy Fund proposal and served as president of the Campus Energy Group and on numerous committees including the Socially Responsible Investment Working Group and the Environmental Council. Janjić graduated from the University of Vermont in 2008 with a BS in Environmental Studies with a focus on Sustainable Community Development and Applied Economics, receiving both academic and service leadership awards.

Anna Kovaliv, Project Assistant

Anna Kovaliv assists with the compilation and analysis of data, feasibility studies, and report completion for BERC’s initiatives around the country.  Before joining BERC in May of 2009, she worked at the University of Vermont as a team leader with the 'Greening of Aiken' committee, whose goal is to earn the highest possible LEED-certification for the new Aiken building.  Kovaliv graduated from the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont with a BS in Environmental Science and Geospatial Technologies.

Anthony Mennona, Office and Finance Manager

As BERC’s office and finance manager, Anthony Mennona works with the executive director and staff in the financial management of the organization in such areas as fiscal planning, project finances, budget oversight, and federal grant reporting.  Additionally, he oversees the general management of the office, including human resources.  Previous to joining BERC in July of 2009, Mennona was the controller at the Central Vermont Community Land Trust, an affordable housing organization.  He holds a BS in Business Management from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

Pamela A. Porter, Midwest Office Director

Pam Porter is Midwest office director in Madison, Wisconsin, where she leads BERC's efforts in the lake states region. She is an agronomist with 25 years of experience in research and public policy, government relations, and business development. She served as product development manager for Agrecol Corporation, the Midwest’s largest producer of native plants and seeds, initiating their native seed nursery. She was the south-central regional agronomist for the University of Wisconsin’s Nutrient and Pest Management Program, setting up farm demonstration programs in eight counties and the Executive Director of Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade (now Clean Wisconsin), the state’s largest environmental organization. She has served as senior aide to Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster, and Governor Jim Doyle. Porter holds a BS in Agriculture Education and an MS in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin, where she studied Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.).

Christopher Recchia, Executive Director

Adam Sherman, Program Director

Adam Sherman is BERC’s fuel supply expert. In this capacity, Sherman has conducted numerous studies that quantify and characterize the biomass resources and markets within various geographic areas. He is responsible for several program areas—regional assessments of biomass resources, developing new strategies to increase the sustainability of biomass fuels, and identifying new ways to accumulate and process low-grade wood and other biomass residues for community and institutional energy users. In addition to his work on fuel supply, Sherman frequently works with the rest of the BERC technical staff on energy projects. Before joining BERC over three years ago, Adam was general manager at Intervale Compost Products in Burlington, Vermont for 10 years. He transformed the small recycling project into a thriving composting business. Sherman holds a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont.

Cindy Wyckoff, Communications Director