Staff and Board

Alane Humrich, Program Director, Community Weatherization Coalition  Alane has over 17 years of nonprofit sector experience, and has been with the CWC for 9 of those. She manages three staff and all day-to-day operations and programs at the CWC to expand our resource-saving services to more of our Alachua County neighbors. Alane also leads the marketing and fundraising efforts for the team, oversees the budget, and ensures all contractual goals are met. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Michigan State University, she worked as a biological technician studying sea turtles for several seasons before finding her calling in nonprofit work.  Being a part of this impactful organization, and working alongside individuals who love to make a positive difference for the planet and in the lives’ of our neighbors, makes her heart happy.  

Belina Meador, Community Engagement and Special Projects Coordinator, Community Weatherization Coalition Belina works to make CWC programs accessible to our most energy-burdened neighbors, strengthen the bridge between the CWC and community groups, and develop organizational capacity through partnerships and strategic projects. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a social focus from the University of Kentucky and brings experience reaching back to 2011 working in coalition settings at the local, state, and national levels to advance all three pillars of sustainability. She is humbled to work in the CWC’s long legacy of helping our neighbors to feel more confident and capable in their homes while tending to the ecological health of our community.

Katie Greene, Energy Tune-up Technician, Community Weatherization Coalition Katie joined the CWC team in Spring of 2023 after volunteering as an energy coach since 2019. She is excited to be a part of this local nonprofit, assisting others and learning more about equitable housing and sustainability. As a University of Florida (UF) graduate with a major in Sustainability and the Built Environment and a minor in Innovation, she enjoys collaborating on creative ways to support our community and planet. In her free time, Katie can be found reading, wandering around the swamp, and working on various crafts.

 

Jason Fults, CWC Advisory Board President and Instructional Technologist, University of FL Jason is a longtime volunteer for the CWC who has worked extensively in the nonprofit and education sectors, serving most recently as Coordinator of the Alachua County Labor Coalition and Office Manager for United Faculty of Florida at UF.  Jason currently serves as the Recording Secretary for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1205 and formerly as the Vice-Chair of the Gainesville Regional Utilities Utility Advisory Board.  He has served as an adult educator and has taught for the Adult Education Program at Santa Fe College as well as IBEW’s local apprenticeship program. Prior to entering the education field, he was an electrical worker and solar installer.  In 2023, Jason completed his master’s degree in Educational Technology from UF and received his bachelor’s degree in Biology/Sustainability from Berea College in central Kentucky.

RD Bonnaghan, Executive Director, Rebuilding Together North Central Florida RD is an advocate of safe, healthy, and affordable housing for all people. He currently holds his dream job–Executive Director at Rebuilding Together North Central Florida, the fiscal sponsor of the CWC where he serves as treasurer. Armored with his BA in English, and his nearly ten years of experience in the nonprofit housing arena, RD is proud to be growing a team and a movement to address housing safety and affordability, as well as utility burden and energy conservation.  When he’s not repairing homes, revitalizing communities, and rebuilding lives, RD spends his time with his partner Meaghan, his son Jaxon, and his cattle-dog mix, Harriet. He loves thoughtful conversations, eating donuts, reading, and playing and listening to music. RD believes we can all make the world a better place by having integrity, being authentic and kind, and loving people.

Matt Williams, Director, UF Office of Sustainability Matt Williams serves as the Director of UF’s Office of Sustainability. Matt has worked in sustainability on southeastern university campuses for 17 years; 9 of those in his current role at the University of Florida.  He is proud to lead a talented and diverse team of sustainability professionals for the benefit of the UF campus and surrounding community. Matt’s approach emphasizes the combined roles of individuals and institutions in creating a sustainable future, and the need for higher education to take a leadership role in educating students for sustainability, researching sustainable solutions to global issues, and incorporating sustainability practices into day-to-day campus operations. 

 

Barry Jacobson, PhD, PE, President of Solar Impact, Inc.  Barry is president of Solar Impact- a local residential and commercial solar design and installation company.  He co-founded Solar Impact with his wife, Elaine Jacobson, eleven years ago with the goal of spreading the adoption of solar through quality and affordability.  This year, they are converting the company to an employee-owned cooperative. Barry has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from University of Florida and a PhD from North Carolina State University.  He is a Florida licensed professional engineer and solar contractor.  He is also a member of the City of Gainesville’s Utility Advisory Board.  Barry has expertise in developing computer simulations and decision support systems for water quality & quantity and energy.  He is passionate about the need for renewable energy and for improving energy efficiency.

 

Matt Cirafice, Realtor, EXP Realty Matt is originally from New York, and has a BA in Economics from the University of Buffalo, SUNY. He was a US Navy Officer active during first Gulf War campaign, and possesses 12 years experience as financial advisor, stockbroker, trader.   Matt also began working in energy industry in 2010 for the natural gas supplier Infinite Energy.  He is currently an independent contractor for United Energy Services (energy brokerage) and a Licensed Realtor since 2015. He is an active agent with EXP Realty LLC. Matt also created Gainesville Alachua County Heroes, which provides incentives for military, veterans, police, fire/rescue, teachers, & nurses buying or selling real estate.   He is an active member with the  Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal charitable organization, is a volunteer with the Fisher House (Dept of Veterans Affairs), volunteers with Alachua Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, he is an Annual Fundraiser for the Annual Fundraiser for American Heart Association.

 

Jennison Kipp, Ecological Economist and Sustainable Floridians State Coordinator, University of Florida PREC  Jennison has worked with the University of Florida’s Program for Resource Efficient Communities (PREC) since 2006 to promote the adoption of conservation, efficiency, and green stormwater infrastructure practices among Florida’s land developers and practitioners. Jennison holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Allegheny College and master’s degrees in Environmental Economics and Environmental Pollution Control from Penn State University. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya (way back in the 20^th Century!), is co-founder of the National Extension Climate Initiative and Florida Extension’s CIVIC Program, and currently serves on the Alachua County Citizen Climate Advisory Committee and UF Climate Action Plan Energy Working Group. Jennison loves traveling, hiking in the mountains, playing the piano, baking pies, and hanging out with her husband, two boys, and three wiener dogs.

Pastor Timothy L. Jones, Sr., Senior pastor of Open Door Ministries of Gainesville, FL. He is a graduate of the University of Florida Warrington College of Business and a Masters of Theology from Liberty University. Pastor Tim’s community involvement is extensive and includes Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, ACTION Network, Focus on Leadership, the BLAQUE Board of Directors, Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentorship Program, appointment to the 5th Avenue/Pleasant Street District Community Redevelopment Agency Board of Directors, Take Stock In Children Mentor and Greater Duval Neighborhood Association Board of Directors.

Betsy Riley, Sustainability Manager with the SEEDS Team (Sustainability, Equity, and Economic Development Strategies) at Alachua County  Betsy is a Florida transplant, having lived all over the country before settling down, from Oklahoma to Massachusetts, to Michigan, to New Jersey, to Iowa. Betsy has accumulated several degrees along the way, starting in Psychology at Wellesley College and finishing with a PhD in Environmental Science and Policy at Michigan State University where her focus was on community-engaged scholarship. She has mixed academia with public service, having worked for the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and as a contractor with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Betsy has a strong dedication to translating science into policy for the common good, and trusts communities to choose their own path when given the opportunity. She is an avid bicyclist, kayaker, and birder and knows there is simply no better place to be these things than Florida. 

William Hasell, Residential Energy Conservationist, Gainesville Regional Utilities Will is a passionate advocate for driving community-oriented change towards more affordable and sustainable systems, specifically within the energy and food sector.  He recently graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Sustainability and the Built Environment and a B.A. in Political Science and is now working as a Residential Energy Conservationist for GRU. When he is not showing Gainesville residents how to lower their utility bill, Will enjoys tending to his garden, playing and recording music, and volunteering with other Gainesville initiatives such as the CWC and the Gainesville Giving Garden.

 

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Emeritus Board – Former Board members who are still actively involved with the CWC:

Dr. Wendell Porter, Lecturer and Undergraduate Advisor, University of Florida Dr. Wendell Porter is with the Agricultural & Biological Engineering Department of the University of Florida. Dr. Porter teaches many energy related courses, one of which; Global Sustainable Energy, is available as a Coursera massive open, online course platform (MOOC) and is currently being taught to over 60,000 students. Dr. Porter has been a registered professional engineer since 1987 and has worked as an engineer for over 30 years. His energy engineering work includes water and wastewater facilities, renewable energy systems, food processing and residential housing. Outside of his University work, Dr. Porter helped to organize the Community Weatherization Coalition, and was the group’s first President. He holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Mechanical Engineering and received his PhD in Agricultural and Biological Engineering in 2003.

Dr. Marianne Schmink, Professor Emerita, University of Florida Marianne is a founding member and active Energy Coach with the CWC, and helped lead the organization as our Volunteer Advisory Board President from 2015-2023. She is a member of the Alachua County NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Committee and of the board of directors of the Greater Duval Neighborhood Association. She is Professor Emerita and Distinguished Teaching Scholar of Latin American Studies and Anthropology at the University of Florida, where she served as Director of the Tropical Conservation and Development (TCD) program from 1988-2010.  For over 40 years she worked on conservation and development issues in the Amazon region of South America.

Theresa Spurling-Wood, CEM,CIE,GGP, LEED AP, Director, Energy Systems, Alachua County Public Schools   A Mechanical| Technical| Energy Conservation Specialist, Theresa has over 35 years of experience spanning the HVAC Service Industry, K12 Facilities Maintenance & Operations, and Utilities and Energy Conservation fields. Her recent work has led to recognition for Alachua County Public Schools from the US Department of Education as a 2016 US Green Ribbon School District, a 2015 Florida Green Schools Gold District, and an EPA as 2013 Top Performer School District due to their districtwide energy, water, and waste consumption decreases. She holds several Journeyman licenses and Certifications, and previously served as the Program Manager for Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) award winning Home Performance with Energy Star Program and their Low-income Energy Efficiency Program which assisted GRU customers with home improvements that improved comfort while also reducing their energy use and lowering their electric bills.

Mark Spiller, Utility Analyst, Gainesville Regional Utilities – Retired    Prior to retiring, Mark performed energy surveys for commercial, industrial and residential customers in the energy community for over 35 years. Throughout this time he frequently served as staff liaison to the environmental advocacy community. Mark started with a utility evaluating and improving low-income households, and after thousands of residential, commercial, and industrial energy analyses, he is again enjoying assisting those in greatest need during his retirement. His other hobbies include writing fiction, gardening, playing guitar, kayaking, and rock collecting.

 

Hal S. Knowles, III, Ph.D., Lecturer and Change Agent, University of Florida, College of Design, Construction & Planning Dr. Knowles is an experienced commercial and residential construction project engineer, and business development manager. Hal holds a Ph.D. from the University of Florida School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE). As a Graduate Research Assistant with UF’s Office of Sustainability, he helped coordinate a campus-wide Carbon Inventory and Climate Action Plan as part of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Dr. Knowles promotes the adoption of best green design, construction, and operation practices in community development, monitors and measures comparative urban development impacts, creates extension education materials, develops and deploys energy efficiency building retrofit and financing programs, and fosters public/private partnerships that pursue sustainability in Florida’s built environment.

Matt Bruce, Matt remains an active Energy Coach and valuable member of our Training Team. While serving on our Board, Matt was the Residential Efficiency Program Coordinator for Gainesville Regional Utilities, where he worked closely with low-income homeowners as GRU’s LEEP^plus program manager.  GRU’s Low-income Energy Efficiency Program^plus (LEEP^plus) assists low-income customers with home upgrades that improve both efficiency and comfort.  Matt also conducted home energy surveys, irrigation surveys, and air conditioning duct tests through his work at GRU. Prior to working at GRU, Matt enlisted in the Navy and worked in nuclear power production as an electrician. He also attended the University of Florida where he received a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Conservation.

Anna Grace Sampson, Director, We Are Neutral  Anna Grace Sampson is the Director of We Are Neutral, an environmental non-profit that creates industry leaders through their local carbon offset and carbon reduction initiatives. We Are Neutral hopes to quantify the carbon sequestration resulting from the work of the CWC. Anna received her Masters in Architecture from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2009 and has since completed all 5,600 Intern Development Program hours to become a licensed architect. After graduating, she worked with Rebuilding Together and the CWC, where she became a trained energy auditor and assisted with volunteer recruitment and program execution. Over the past 8 years in Gainesville, she has assisted multiple non-profits with designing efficient systems and strategies.

Stacie Greco, Water Conservation Coordinator, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department Stacie currently serves as the County’s Water Conservation Coordinator with the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department, where she has worked to protect our water resources for the past 14 years.  She received a B.S. in the Environmental Sciences from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC prior to obtaining her M.S. in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida. In 2010, she received a graduate certificate in Social Marketing at the University of South Florida to learn how to apply traditional marketing tools to change behaviors for protecting our water. Stacie enjoys exploring Florida’s natural areas by kayak, foot, and bike, while camping in her vintage trailer.

Byron Flagg, Attorney, GrayRobinson Byron grew up in Gainesville and has deep roots in Alachua County.   A licensed Florida attorney since 2005, Byron started his legal career as a criminal prosecutor for the State Attorney’s Office in Gainesville, later earned an LL.M. Degree in Environmental and Land Use law from UF in 2011 and since then has worked in the private, public, and non-profit sectors across the state, including for the St. Johns River Water Management District and Alachua Conservation Trust.  He is experienced in land use, environmental, real estate, and local government legal matters.  Byron currently works with GrayRobinson and is closely affiliated with the University of Florida Law School’s Conservation Clinic. Byron is also a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard.