WHY US

Jon Alcock

Sustainability Specialist

Jon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, and studied at the University of Calgary on an exchange year. For his thesis, Jon used climate change forecasts to model impacts of climate change on North American tree resistance to bark beetle attack.

Prior to joining Viresco Solutions, Jon has worked in a range of roles for a variety of employers in the environmental sector. In Alberta, Jon worked as an aquatic biologist, consulting on oil and gas pipeline and construction projects, and as a field researcher for the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI). Both these roles developed Jon’s understanding of the agricultural and environmental regulatory environments in Alberta.

Before moving to Alberta, Jon worked as an Environmental Regulation Officer for the UK Environment Agency, dealing principally with the agricultural industry, impacts on water quality, and implementation of best management practices. Jon also worked as a project manager for an environmental and sustainability charity, and a bio-industrial research company, running an energy efficiency projects for a brewery and for the UK government. As a researcher for the University of Bristol Glaciology Centre, Jon investigated climate change impacts on the Greenland Ice Sheet and assisted in data collection, analysis and presentation of results in three peer-reviewed papers.

Jon’s diverse scientific and research background has given him a well-rounded view of global sustainability issues and solutions, particularly within the fields of agriculture, energy efficiency and climate change. Outside of work, Jon is a keen athlete and outdoor enthusiast, having run the university Triathlon team and coached soccer (football).

Kyle

Chief Technical Officer

Kyle is the founder of EcoPartners, a technical leader in forest carbon projects. Over the last decade he has contributed to more than sixty projects throughout the world. Kyle holds a Ph.D. in Remote Sensing from Berkeley and numerous professional certificates.

Bart Simmons

Chief Operating Officer

Bart was the founder of ERA Ecosystem Restoration Associates, a public company that developed carbon offset projects. Most notably he was responsible for the Mai Ndombe REDD Project in the DRC and securing major off-take agreements with Shell and Entega. Bart has transacted over 2.5 MT’s of offset sales totaling $14, million. After leaving ERA, he undertook project origination in Brazil for Wild Life Works Carbon of Mill Valley California. Bart then worked for the NGO Code REDD advocating for REDD+ to various industry sectors as a tool that they could use to mitigate their carbon emissions. Bart holds a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering.

Sarah K. Mack, MSPH, PhD, CFM

President/CEO

sarahmack@tierraresourcesllc.com

Dr. Sarah Mack, President and CEO of Tierra Resources, is a leader in blue carbon and focuses on innovative approaches to address the global challenges of climate mitigation that reduce climate risks to humans, ecosystems, and infrastructure.  Dr. Mack led the development of the American Carbon Registry Methodology, Restoration of Degraded Deltaic Wetlands of the Mississippi Delta, the first methodology for creating and monetizing carbon offset credits from wetland restoration activities.  Sarah is also leading the development of the first wetland carbon projects in the USA and works alongside state, municipal, and private partners to generate marketable wetland carbon offsets. 

Robert R. Lane, PhD

Chief Scientist

Robert R. Lane, PhD, leads all scientific analyses for Tierra Resources. Dr. Lane was a contributing author on the American Carbon Registry Methodology, Restoration of Degraded Deltaic Wetlands of the Mississippi Delta, and specializes in wetland carbon monitoring and quantification. He is a wetland ecosystem scientist at Louisiana State University (LSU), School of the Coast & Environment, and has published numerous papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals concerning water quality and management of coastal and inland wetland systems. Dr. Lane has extensively studied the impacts of river diversions and municipal effluent application on wetland productivity, elevation, and surface and interstitial water chemistry, as well as the effectiveness of restoration techniques including sediment fences, hydrologic alterations, and municipal effluent application. Dr. Lane received his PhD in Oceanography & Coastal Science at LSU.

John W. Day, PhD

Senior Wetland Ecology Advisor

John W. Day, PhD, is Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, School of the Coast & Environment at Louisiana State University, where he has taught since 1971. Dr. Day has studied Louisiana coastal wetlands for over 35 years, worked with local governments and regulatory agencies regarding wetland restoration, and authored more than 200 articles and books in scientific literature. Dr. Day was a contributing author on the American Carbon Registry Methodology, Restoration of Degraded Deltaic Wetlands of the Mississippi Delta. Dr. Day has extensive experience in the ecology and management of coastal ecosystems in Louisiana and worldwide, with specialization in marsh and forested wetland ecology, wetland and coastal biogeochemistry, and river diversions. He is presently working on using wetlands as a means of removing nitrogen from the Mississippi River and for assimilation of municipal effluents. Dr. Day received his PhD in marine sciences and environmental sciences from the University of North Carolina in 1971.

Robin Lewis

Senior Mangrove Advisor

Mr. Roy R. “Robin” Lewis III is president of Lewis Environmental Services, Inc., and Coastal Resources Group, Inc. Robin specializes in the ecological monitoring, management and restoration of mangrove forests and seagrass meadows and has over 125 professional publications in these and other wetland subject areas. He has forty years of experience in the design and construction of wetlands with over 200 completed and successful projects in the USA and overseas. Robin recently completed the design and permitting of a 1,025 acre mangrove restoration project at the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve near Marco Island, Florida. Mr Lewis has worked and taught wetland restoration in twenty-two foreign countries including Guyana, Jamaica, Bonaire, Nigeria, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. Robin is a Professional Wetland Scientist certified by the Society of Wetland Scientists, and a certified Senior Ecologist with the Ecological Society of America.

Laura L. Flynn

Mangrove Scientist

Laura L. Flynn is a Mangrove Scientist for Tierra Resources and the Vice President of Lewis Environmental Services, Inc. Her work as a wetland scientist and practitioner specializes in the restoration and conservation of coastal habitats with a primary focus on mangrove and salt marsh ecosystems. Ms. Flynn assists with evaluation, permitting, implementation and monitoring of mangrove projects. Laura has served as project manager on a variety of projects and has successfully negotiated permitting of ecologically sensitive projects. Ms. Flynn has 15 years of experience working with Lewis Environmental Services, Inc. in coastal conservation and educational outreach programs. Ms. Flynn received her bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Omaha, Nebraska.

Stefano Merlin

CEO and Main Shareholder

•     Bachelor in Economy and Business Administration, currently undergoing a PHD in Biological Sciences.

•      More than 13 years of experience in the fields of Environmental Sciences, sustainable development and climate change.

•      Co-founder and President of the Ecologica Institute, a Brazilian NGO focused on research and development initiatives related to sustainable development and climate change.

•      Co-creator of the SOCIALCARBON® Standard.

Divaldo

Main Shareholder

•     Bachelor in Agronomy and PHD in Sustainability.

•      More than 25 years of experience in the fields of Environmental Sciences, sustainable development and climate change.

•      Co-founder and Counselor of the Ecologica Institute.

•      Co-creator of the SOCIALCARBON® Standard.

Marcelo Hadaad

Technical Coordinator

•     Environmental Engineer. Master in in Environmental Technology with an emphasis on assessing the potential for REDD+ projects in Brazil.

•      Responsible for the carbon and sustainability monitoring of Sustainable Carbon’s portfolio (40+ projects)

•      Marcelo has developed the first REDD+ project certified under the SOCIALCARBON Standard.

Thiago Othero

Senior Technical Coordinator

•     Bachelor degree in Biological Sciences, holds an MBA in Project Management.

•      Experienced in developing emission reduction projects for voluntary and mandatory schemes.

•      Solid experience in the development of Feasibility Studies, greenhouse gas inventories and corporate carbon management strategies.

Cinthia Caetano

Legal Coordinator

•     Cinthia is the Legal Coordinator of Sustainable Carbon, team leader of SOCIALCARBON and Technical Director of the Ecological Institute.

•      Cinthia holds a Juris Doctor from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, with an emphasis on Contracts, Business and Corporate Law.

•      Since 2008, Cinthia has worked in both the private sector and in civil society organizations, tackling climate change via market based mechanisms that value sustainable development and social-environmental co-benefits.

Dênis dos Santos

Technical Analyst

•     Denis dos Santos holds a degree in Environmental Management from the University of São Paulo and is Technical Analyst at Sustainable Carbon. For the last two years, Denis has worked with projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He is also experienced in developing corporate inventories of greenhouse gas emissions.

Karen Haugen-Kozyra

(PRESIDENT) P.AG., M.SC.

Karen has over 20 years of experience in agricultural greenhouse gas measurement and modeling and climate change/environmental policy development – spanning her tenure at the provincial Department of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD), Climate Change Central and now in the private sector.  During her tenure at ARD, Karen was part of the cross-governmental team who developed Alberta’s Bioenergy Policy Framework, which was approved by cabinet in 2008.  This framework set the stage for Alberta’s Bioenergy Program administered by the Department of Energy.  Karen also led ecosystem goods and service policy and program development, in concert with other federal, provincial and territorial governments under Canada’s Agriculture Policy Frameworks.  In her earlier years with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, she conducted research and studies of environmental mitigation opportunities for agriculture in air, water, soil and biodiversity

Her most significant contribution while at ARD and beyond involved her work at a national level, with federal provincial and territorial governments on the Canadian National Offset Quantification Team (NOQT).  Karen, through her capacity on the Team, designed the protocol development process, represented the agricultural sector in Canada, and coordinated the development of several agricultural quantification protocols. In 2007, Karen was seconded to Climate Change Central, a not-for-profit established by the Government of Alberta.  There, Karen led the implementation of the necessary market processes, infrastructure and tools needed to get the Alberta Carbon Offset Market off the ground.  In that role, Karen and her Team leveraged the previous NOQT work to help build sound rules, platforms, quantification protocols, tools and infrastructure (e.g. registry) needed to facilitate the development of a Carbon Offset Market in Alberta.

Currently, Karen is President of Viresco Solutions Inc. – a network of leading advisors making sustainability real for public and private clients in the agriculture, energy and food sectors across North America and globally. Our team of experts enables our clients to meet their environmental, social and economic sustainability objectives by leveraging our knowledge and experience in environmental policy, markets and economics. Viresco Solutions provides clients from across North America with support from strategy and policy development through to project implementation and Measuring, Reporting and Verification plaftorms.

Karen obtained a Biological Sciences Diploma from NAIT, BSc in Plant Sciences and MSc in Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry from the University of Alberta.  Karen is also a registered Professional Agrologist with the Alberta Institute of Agrology.  Karen can be reached at karen@virescosolutions.com.

Candace Vinke

(SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIST) M.A.

Candace has a Master of Arts degree in Geography from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of  Science degree in Geography from the University of Calgary. Prior to joining Viresco Solutions, Candace was the Manager of Agricultural and Social Projects with The Prasino Group. In this role she led a small team of sustainability professionals working on a range of consulting projects related to agricultural offset protocol development, greenhouse gas emission reduction quantification, environmental market policy and opportunity research (RFS2, LCFS, Carbon, Water Quality, etc.) and supply chain sustainability.

Previously, Candace has also worked in the non-profit sector, first as a Business Development Facilitator at Momentum, a community economic development organization offering business training and microloans to individuals living in poverty; and subsequently in Pucallpa, Peru as a Research Fellow with the World Agroforestry Centre / The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). During her master’s she also had the opportunity to intern in the Small Island Development States Unit within the Division for Sustainable Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) at the United Nations Headquarters.

Common themes throughout Candace’s work have included climate change, environmental markets, poverty and inequality. Examples of some of her work can be viewed on IISD’s Social and Environmental Entrepreneur’s Toolkit here. In addition to her home country of Canada, Candace has worked and/or studied in Ethiopia, Egypt, Cameroon, Malawi, Kenya, Peru and Brazil. She can be contacted via e-mail at candace@virescosolutions.com.

Liz Brennan

(SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIST) M.SC.

Liz holds a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Energy Development from the University of Calgary, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science (Biology concentration) from the University of Calgary.  Prior to joining Viresco Solutions, Liz was a Project Analyst at The Prasino Group in Calgary, supporting both the Technical and Business development groups.  In this role, she contributed to the development of organizational sustainability strategies; carbon offset project development, data management, and verification; development, stakeholder review, and validation of offset protocols and methodologies under the Alberta Offset System and Verified Carbon Standard; as well as technical report writing in the areas of upstream oil and gas emissions reductions opportunities, enhanced oil recovery for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide, and peat as a renewable fuel.

Liz’s master’s degree work involved pre-feasibility studies of community-scale renewable energy (electricity) systems for a rural Canadian community, coupled with an engagement process to gauge the social acceptance of various renewable energy systems.  Liz has also served as the Biathlon Director for Foothills Nordic Ski Club in Calgary, overseeing a team of coaching staff, and implementing recreational and competitive biathlon opportunities for a wide range of participants. Liz can be contacted via e-mail at liz@virescosolutions.com.

Tanya Maynes

(SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIST) M.SC.

Tanya has a strong background in environmental science with a Master of Science in Forest and Resource Economics (2003) and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Conservational Sciences with a Specialization in Environmental Economics and Policy (1999 – with Distinction).  Prior to joining Viresco Solutions, Tanya was a Senior Program Manager with C3 (formerly Climate Change Central).  In this role she led a small team of professionals supporting Alberta’s Carbon Offset Market.  She has extensive experience in offset protocol development, greenhouse gas reduction quantification, stakeholder consultations, market mechanisms, policy development, evaluation and implementation, and Offset Registry management.

Tanya has built her career working in the Environmental sector where she has honed her talents as a skilled researcher, proficient analyzer and effective communicator.  She is well versed in climate change policy, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction opportunities, program management and is experienced in ISO standards including standard development, audits, reporting and life cycle analysis.  She is an effective writer and communicator and has written numerous articles, briefings, reports and newsletters, developed infographics and website content and given countless presentations on a variety of environmental related topics.   Key projects include the organization of a targeted stakeholder workshop series called “Broadening Alberta’s Carbon Market” in 2013.  She also ran an on-farm energy efficiency program called On-Farm Energy Management Program for Advanced Education and Technologies (2011-2013.

In 12 years with C3, Tanya developed a strong analytical mind and valuable communication skills.  She has extensive experience in stakeholder consultation, facilitation and has received training in facilitation, project management, media training, RETSCREEN and ISO 14064 related to greenhouse gas inventories, project quantification and verification.  She can be contacted via e-mail at tanya@virescosolutions.com.

Ed Alfke

CEO & CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Ed Alfke is an internationally recognized corporate growth and business turnaround expert who believes companies can be green and profitable. He is passionate about building environmentally conscious companies quickly and efficiently. He has extensive experience in Canada, the USA, and UK. After more than 30 years of experience of growing companies in many different industries, from automotive to finance to technology, Ed has achieved an outstanding reputation for his ability to grow companies by providing effective leadership while being environmentally responsible.

Ed is a Serial Entrepreneur, and Angel Investor. He was a founding director of the National Angel Capital Organization, and Co-chair of the ACA co-investment committee which links up Angel Investor groups in the USA. He has mentored dozens of company CEO’s in the US and Canada. He has a diploma in strategic planning and has used his experience and hands on approach to start and grow companies successfully in Canada, the USA and the UK. In addition he has raised over $50 million in investment capital for worthy companies. He is famous for the founding and expansion of Rent-a- Wreck, Canada’s fastest growing company in the 80’s.

He has been awarded numerous business and environmental accolades over the years in the US, Canada, and the UK. He lectures on Entrepreneurship at US, and Canadian universities and is a case study for MBA and commerce programs.

Ed was keynote speaker for the World Conference on the Environment in Antwerp, was awarded the “Crescordia” the highest award in the SW USA for contribution to the environment as well as the Mayor of Phoenix award for environmental technology. Ed lives in Alberta, is a heli-skier, windsurfer and is now learning kite boarding. He is a member of the Chaine Des Rotisseurs, a food and wine club founded in France that traces its history back to 1248.

Art Froelich

BOARD MEMBER

Art works with a wide variety of industry stakeholders and shares his expertise with private and public sector organizations that focus on finance, processing, research, international marketing and retailing. Art has spent the last 30 years working in primary food production, agri-business and agri-marketing in Canada, United States, Europe, South America and Asia.

As a philanthropist, Art is involved in a developmental initiative in Peru and the Dominican Republic. As well, Art, and a group of business entrepreneurs from the USA, have started a demonstration farm and radio network in Ghana. He also provides financial support to young agricultural scientists from South Africa and other countries in the developing world, allowing them to attend major agricultural scientific conferences. Art works with the Clinton Global Initiative assisting in their agricultural programs in Africa. He has started a number of scholarships for undergraduates at the University of Alberta and Olds College.

Along with his business and professional commitments, Art is still active on the family farm. In addition, he volunteers his time to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and serves as a mentor to young entrepreneurs.

William (Bud) Norris

CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE & BOARD MEMBER

Bud is an experienced serial entrepreneur who has grown 20+ companies in a variety of industry sectors. As Regional Franchisor for Novus Windshield Repair, he built the system from 1 to 45 units. Successfully exiting this venture, he became a partner Glen River Industries, operating one of four plants as General Manager, which achieved $25 million in sales.

As a start-up, Bud served as President of Pillar to Post, a home inspection franchise system that grew to over 400 units across North America. In 1991 he co-founded EXH Engineering which grew into 16 offices with 320 employees and $37 million in sales. EXH was acquired by GENIVAR Inc. in 2008. He now spends his time mentoring and investing.

Alastair Handley

PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBER

Alastair Handley is a recognized leader in the Carbon Offset Market in Canada and is the President of Carbon Credit Solutions (CCSI). CCSI is one of the largest aggregator of small environmental projects in the world, managing carbon for over 6 Million acres (2M hectares) of land. He is a shareholder and board member of Viresco Solutions Inc., a sustainability consulting group. He is a sought after expert and speaker in the fields of sustainability and carbon credit aggregation. His expertise in Spatial Information Systems (SIS) and computer programming led to establishing the leading MMRV (measure, monitor, report and verify) data collection system for Carbon Credits aggregation in North America.

Alastair is past president of COTA, the Carbon Offset Trade Association in Alberta Canada.

KEN HUGHES, ICD.D

SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE BOARD

Ken Hughes is an entrepreneur in both business and public life, with a BSc.(Agriculture) from the University of Alberta, and an MPA from Harvard University. Over more than 25 years, he served in public life in three challenging and accomplished roles. As a Member of Parliament (1988-1993), he served in increasing roles of responsibility, including as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister. Subsequently, the Government of Alberta asked him to lead the creation of Canada’s largest single healthcare delivery service, with a $12 billion budget and over 90,000 employees, as the founding Chair of Alberta Health Services. Finally, he was elected to the Legislature of Alberta (2012-2014) serving as Energy Minister, and Municipal Affairs Minister.

Ken founded Alpine Insurance (2002), and retains a principal ownership position with two other partners in the brokerage, and is the Chair of the Board. Alpine serves approximately 30,000 clients in Alberta and sells more than $70 million in products annually.

SUE FAWCETT, CFA, ICD.D

SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE BOARD

Sue is an associate with Independent Review Inc. and serves on the Independent Review Committees (IRCs) of several of Canada’s top mutual funds, providing oversight on behalf of the public investors on matters pertaining to potential conflicts of interest. As a former Vice President and Advisor at CIBC Wood Gundy, Sue has over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services industry and was responsible for managing $100 million in assets on behalf of her clients.

Prior to CIBC Wood Gundy, Sue was a Sessional Instructor at the Business Faculty at the University of Calgary, where she taught Business Communications 301. Concurrently, Sue was a writer for Bow Valley Resource Services, an environmental consulting firm specializing in emission measurement and management for their clients.

Rob Harding

Chief Financial Officer

Rob has held senior leadership roles in oil and gas, engineering, procurement and construction and transportation companies. He has international experience including three years in Qatar working on multi-billion-dollar LNG capital projects and two years in the Caribbean working on energy projects. Rob’s focus has been on strategic solutions that involve creativity, adaptability and scalability in the areas of strategy, governance, operations, financing, mergers and acquisitions. His depth of experience includes small start-ups, major multi-nationals, public and private companies.He also currently sits on a variety of boards and committees in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

David Marinucci

Chief Operating Officer

David, Senior Operations Executive, has 30 years of diverse experience in strategy, operations and business development, and a proven track record of success at both start-up and established companies, across multiple industry sectors. He has served as a senior leader in the wireless, telecom, energy and retail industries. David is the Chief Operating Officer for CCSI responsible for leading the organization in the execution effort aimed at the achievement of profitability. Primarily, he focuses on strategy implementation, execution, data driven operational optimization, sales and channel effectiveness.

Richard Kennedy

Manager, Special Projects

Richard has managed the development and sale of over $25 million of carbon credits in the Alberta compliance market. With several years of full fiscal accountability, Richard has extensive experience in budgeting and P&L management, strategy, and operational execution. As the leader of CPS’s carbon credit business during the acquisition of Viterra, Richard managed the integration of around 2000 Viterra carbon credit contracts into the CPS business. Richard is currently working as the project developer for an Environmental Defense Fund Nitrogen Management project for corn growers in the US, and with other US partners on developing opportunities for sustainable rice production.
Richard has taken formal training in Business Analysis techniques (BABOK) including business case development, risk management and opportunity evaluation. He has used these skills to inform strategic and operational decisions across carbon credit and cross-functional business units. While at CPS, Richard developed a Sales model from statistical data which was used for sales target-setting for seed, fertilizer and chemical across 60 or more Western Canadian region retail sites. Richard is an innovative problem solver, and brings to bear his broad range of skills and experiences to find effective and elegant solutions.
He has targeted business process improvement in any organization he has worked for. He is a highly literate and agile communicator, skilled at translating complex regulatory methodologies into understandable and effective policies, processes and procedures. He is adept at identifying strategic and operational risk, and mitigating risk through the implementation of robust business processes.

Ryan Hilliker

IT Manager / Software Developer

Ryan was recruited and mentored by Alastair Handley in 2006 as a software developer. He began working closely with the Carbon Credit Solutions team December 2012 and joined full time April 2015. Ryan concentrates his efforts by filling multiple roles in IT and Software Development.