Sean Reed, Executive Director
Sean Reed is the Founder and Executive Director of the Clean Energy Coalition. Prior to his work as Executive Director of CEC, Sean worked as a Program Developer and Energy Analyst for the City of Ann Arbor's Energy Office and the joint City of Ann Arbor/Washtenaw County Community Development Department. Sean has also worked for WARM Training Center (Detroit, MI) as a Program Manager, Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation (Detroit, MI) as a Housing Manager, Olkonorei Intergrated Pastoralist Survival Program (Terrat, Tanzania) as a Photovoltaic Systems Installer, and the Japanese Ministry of Education (Imadate, Japan) as a teacher.
Sean has presented on the topic of energy efficiency at numerous statewide and regional conferences and is on the faculty of Washtenaw Community College, Macomb Community College, and Schoolcraft College in Livonia.
Sean has performed energy audits on over 300,000 square feet of residential space and has managed over 14 federal, state, and foundation grants for projects totaling over $2.2 million.
Born in the small African country of Malawi, Sean has traveled and worked widely, having spent five years living abroad in Africa, Asia, and Europe and traveling to more than 50 countries by the time he was 30.
Sean possesses a Bachelors degree (BA) from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania and Masters degrees from the University of Michigan in Social Work (MSW) and Urban Planning (MUP), as well as Certificates as a Housing Rehabilitation Specialist and Home Energy Rater.
Robyn Skodzinsky, Project Manager
Robyn Skodzinsky is a Project Manager for the Clean Energy Coalition. Prior to her work as Project Manager, Robyn worked for two years as an AmeriCorps member with SOS Community Services in Ypsilanti, MI. Robyn also worked for six years with the Ginsberg Center of Community Service and Learning where she managed the transportation program and subscriptions for the Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning. She is also a former President of the Inter Co-operative Council at the University of Michigan, a member cooperative with 18 group houses, one apartment house, and an annual budget of $1.7 million.
Robyn possesses a Bachelors degree (BS) in Public Administration and Urban Planning (summa cum laude) from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Public Administration (MPA, summa cum laude) with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Eastern Michigan University.
Greg Vendena, Project Manager
Greg Vendena is a Project Manager for the Clean Energy Coalition. Prior to his work as Project Manager, Greg worked as a Designer and Project Manager for co-lab studio in Detroit, for Crossings Architecture in Ferndale, MI, and for Cheng Design and Construction in Berkeley, CA. Greg has also worked as an Adjunct Professor of Architecture for the University of Michigan, Lawrence Technical University, and the University of Detroit – Mercy.
Greg is a co-founder and board member of co-lab creative, an educational organization based in Detroit and is a co-founder and co-organizer for o2 Michigan, a local chapter for international ecological design work.
Greg possesses a Bachelors degree (BS) from Arizona State University, a Bachelors degree (BFA) from California College of Arts and Crafts, and a Master of Architecture from Cranbrook Academy of Art (with distinction). He is also a LEED Accredited Professional and a Charrette Facilitator for the Green Communities affordable housing program of the Enterprise Foundation.
Chris Petit, Project Manager
Chris Petit is a Project Manager for the Clean Energy Coalition. Prior to his work as Project Manager, Chris worked as a Research Assistant for the Center for Sustainable Building Research at the University of Minnesota, as an Environmental Studies Educational Associate at Carleton College, and as a Sustainable Design Researcher at Carleton College.
Chris possesses a Bachelors degree (BA) in Biology (cum laude) from Carleton College and is completing his graduate studies for a Masters of Science in Architecture (Sustainable Design) from the University of Minnesota.
J.D. Lindeberg, Board Chair
Mr. Lindeberg is a COO and Principal of RRSI (Resource Recycling Systems Inc.). As an RRSI co-owner, Mr. Lindeberg manages RRSI consulting operations and serves as Project Director for RRSI engineering projects. He has directed, designed and managed the construction of major environmental engineering projects including recycling, composting and waste transfer facilities. He has worked in commercialization of innovative environmental technology and green technology, including project startup, financing, due diligence assessment, and market development. Mr. Lindeberg has performed financial and economic analyses of waste disposal and resource projects and also has substantial international engineering and planning experience. Mr. Lindeberg holds an M.P.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University and an M.S. in Civil Engineering (with honors) from Stanford University.
Claudia Rast, Board Vice Chair
Claudia Rast is a principal at Pear Sperling Eggan & Daniels, P.C., where she specializes in Business, Technology and Environmental law. Prior to joining Pear Sperling in 2001, Ms. Rast was a Member at Dickinson Wright PLLC, where she served as the Director of Dickinson’s eBusiness Group (1998-2001) and Manager of its Environmental Practice Group (1997-1998). Ms. Rast attended the University of Michigan (B.S.) and the University of Detroit School of Law (J.D., cum laude), where she was the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Immediately after law school, she clerked for Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice and former Michigan Governor, G. Mennen Williams. Her association memberships include the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan.
David Miller, Board Secretary
David Miller has been the Director of Parking and Transportation Services at the University of Michigan since 2003. Employed with the University since 1991, prior experience has been in Bus Operations, Parking Operations and as Patient Parking Coordinator at the Health System. A staunch advocate of public transit, alternative modes of transportation, and clean fuels, David has been active in forming and promoting programs such as the MRide program with AATA, expansion of University bus services, and utilizing alternative fuels such as E85 ethanol and B20 biodiesel in University fleet vehicles.
Prior to coming to the University of Michigan, David spent nearly 20 years with Bell Telephone Laboratories, Michigan Bell and Ameritech. At the telephone company, David was involved in quality control systems, network services, systems planning and financial analysis.
Kathy Carmody, Board Treasurer
Kathy Carmody is a senior accountant with Wright Griffin Davis, and Co., PLLC, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firm based in Ann Arbor. Kathy has also worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Salamonie Reservoir in Indiana and as a Veterinary Assistant in Lafayette, IN.
Kathy holds a Bachelors degree in Accounting from Purdue University and is a licensed CPA. She is a member of the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce Morning Edition Committee.
Paul Cumming, Board Director
Paul Cumming is a Purchasing Manager for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn. Paul has worked at Ford for nearly 33 years in a variety of Purchasing assignments. During the last seven years, Paul has been involved with several of Ford's alternative energy programs, including hybrid, fuel cell, battery electric, propane and natural gas vehicles. Paul managed the procurement and supply of fuel cell system components for Ford's Focus fuel cell vehicle, one of which is being leased to the city of Ann Arbor. He also was responsible for the hybrid transmission in Ford's current Escape HEV.
Paul earned both his Bachelors and Masters degrees in business administration from the University of Michigan and has lived with his family in the Ann Arbor area for over 35 years.
Yoshiko Hill, Board Director
Yoshiko Hill is Manager, Electrical Engineering and Energy Management at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Prior to her work at the University of Michigan, Yoshiko served as a Project Manager at the US Army Corps of Engineers and as an Electrical Engineer at the Illinois Power Company. Yoshiko attended the University of Illinois - UIUC where she studied English and earned a Bachelors degree in 1974. She also attended the University of Illinois - UIUC where she studied Electrical Engineering and earned a Bachelors degree in 1981. Yoshiko's core expertise includes electric utility power systems, electric utility power contracts, electric utility rates, and project management.
Janette Lutz, Board Director
Janette Lutz founded Natural Profit LLC in 2002, to provide innovative environmental management system consulting and auditing services. Her practice aims to integrate natural reality with intelligent and sustainable business performance. She has a deep interest in climate change response and the employment of clean energy, and is qualified as a greenhouse gas emissions inventory verifier. Previous experience includes serving as an Industrial Ecologist/ISO 14000 Program Manager at the Industrial Technology Institute, and several years working as a Project Manager within the consulting engineering industry.
In her formative years, Janette earned a BS/MS in Civil/Environmental Engineering at Michigan Technological University, and later a Master of Liberal Studies in Interdisciplinary Technology Management at Eastern Michigan University. Janette is a licensed Professional Engineer, an RABQSA-certified EMS Lead Auditor, a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, and a Certified Stormwater Operator. She has lived in Ann Arbor with her family and peculiar collection of certificates since 1990.
Daniel Bedore, Board Director
Daniel Bedore is currently the National Manager of Public Relations for Hyundai Motor America. As a public relations strategist since 1995, Daniel has created and executed internal communication activities and external PR plans and programs for Ford, GM, and Hyundai. While working at GM, he generated positive support for ethanol as the company’s Biofuels Communications Consultant. He has experience working with leading media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Motor Trend, WIRED, and Esquire.
Daniel completed his BA in Journalism from Eastern Michigan University.
Aaron Witalec, Board Director
Aaron Witalec is Vice President of O'Keefe & Associates, a premier financial consulting firm located in Bloomfield and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mr. Witalec specializes in mergers, acquisition and strategic and valuation advisory transactions.
Prior to his work at O'Keefe & Associates, Mr. Witalec was a Senior Associate at Brown Gibons Lang & Company in Cleveland, OH and a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance and Transaction Service group in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China and Detroit, MI. Mr. Witalec also has experience as a product design engineer for a Japanese automotive supplier located in the Detroit area.
Mr. Witalec holds a Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mathematics from the University of Michigan. He received a Masters of Science in Finance (high distinction), Accounting (high distinction), and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Additionally, Mr. Witalec has passed the Fundamentals of Engineering examination and the qualifying test to become a Professional Engineer (PE).
Dave L. Konkle, Honorary Board Director
David L. Konkle has served as Energy Coordinator for the City of Ann Arbor since 1988. He has been Project Manager for numerous City energy projects, many funded through State and Federal grants, including: a $2.5 million Landfill Gas to Energy Project, a $1.4 million City Facility Energy Improvement Project, and a $360,000 City Hall Performance Contracting project. He currently oversees all municipal energy issues including $4.5 million in energy purchase, local energy policy, and facility and vehicle energy use. He manages an innovative $100,000 per year City facility energy improvement fund and serves as staff liaison to the Ann Arbor Energy Commission.