Steuart Botchford
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Steuart’s focus is on corporate social responsibility, social impact metrics, and sustainable product development. He is particularly interested in using profit incentives to solve social issues and finding ways for firms to measure and quantify social impact. Since 2007, Steuart has been working with Teach For America. He served as a Corps Member in the Mississippi Delta, teaching math and music to elementary students in Leland, Mississippi. After finishing his two year commitment, he moved into a role as the Director of Workshops and Resources at Teach For America’s Houston Institute. Steuart graduated from Mercer University with degrees in philosophy and economics.
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Graham Brown
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Graham is primarily interested in the connections between sustainable urban development and ecosystem health. Originally from a tiny town in central Maine, Graham hails most recently from Seattle, where he worked in various capacities in residential construction and real estate development, including a brief run-in with self-employment. He is also active as a sixth-generation member of a 150-year-old family business, and recently helped the family foundation establish a new climate-change funding group, which he currently co-chairs. Graham graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Product Design and is a LEED Accredited Professional. When he’s not reading about renewable energy or swinging a hammer, he loves backpacking, playing guitar, woodworking, and making endless minor adjustments to his pizza-dough recipe.
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Daniel Cantor
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Dan is interested in developing new businesses that solve environmental and social needs while engaging communities in areas including renewable energy, local food systems, and the sustainable use of marine resources. Dan has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA coordinating youth entrepreneurship programs in Philadelphia. After AmeriCorps he helped create a program to assist groups of underprivileged high school students to start their own sustainable businesses. Dan has continually pursued a lifelong dream to open a sustainable smoothie truck, but it has yet to come to fruition. Dan is returning to the University of Michigan where he received a BS in Environmental Science.
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Adam Carver
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
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Yih-Weh Chien
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Yih-Wei is interested in corporate environmental strategy and general management. Prior to joining the Erb Institute, Yih-Wei spent six years in the San Francisco Bay Area working as an Analytical Chemist in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. At ALZA Corporation, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, Yih-Wei performed laboratory experiments designed to ensure the quality of three marketed pharmaceutical drugs. He then transitioned to Genentech, Inc. where he developed new manufacturing processes for Pulmozyme, a protein therapeutic used to treat patients with Cystic Fibrosis. Yih-Wei is an avid basketball player, speaks Mandarin Chinese fluently, and graduated from the University of Michigan with Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Economics.
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Quang Do
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Quang is passionate about renewable energy technologies, energy markets, and the behavior changes needed to successfully implement sustainable practices. After graduation, Quang joined Chevron as a member of their rotational finance development program. Since then Quang has been able to gain unique insights into the energy industry through five diverse positions, including a year-long assignment in Maracaibo, Venezuela as a Special Projects Analyst. Prior to starting at Erb, Quang worked as a Financial Analyst in Chevron’s Investor Relations group, where he was able to gain an understanding of how the investment community views the future of energy. At Chevron, he was also an officer of the Hispanic Employee Network and a Lead Recruiter for the finance organization. Quang was born and raised in California and graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2004 with a degree in accounting & finance. Quang enjoys outdoor activities, working out, and alternative rock.
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Emily Dwinnells
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
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Nick Fassler
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Nick is interested in increasing consumer demand for sustainable products and services by helping green brands create compelling marketing campaigns. Before starting at the Erb Institute, Nick worked with M+R Strategic Services, a leading communications and campaigning firm that specializes in working with nonprofits. At M+R, he managed marketing and advertising campaigns for prominent environmental, health, education and human rights organizations. He has also worked crafting online marketing campaigns for green businesses with SRB Marketing, and was the Outreach Director and a Board Member at the George Street Co-op, a cooperatively owned natural foods store in New Jersey. Nick graduated from Rutgers University with a B.S. in Marketing and a minor in Political Science. He enjoys baking bread, fixing his bicycle, and listening to audiobooks.
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Colm Fay
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Colm is interested in triple bottom line reporting, agriculture and water policy and the economy of conservation and specifically how the convergence of these concepts can contribute to sustainable economic development. Colm spent 6 years with Accenture, a leading technology and management consulting firm. During this time he worked with clients in the financial services sector and specialized in grass roots organizational change and operational efficiencies through the application of lean process methodologies and systems. Colm achieved his BA in Information and Communications Technology from Trinity College, Dublin. In his spare time he enjoys cooking, triathlons and photography.
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Brian Hartmann
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
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Christian Hicks
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Chris is concentrating on renewable energy production technologies, policy, and business development. In particular, he hopes to study the use of venture capital and public-private partnerships to implement scalable clean energy projects in developing countries. Prior to Michigan, Chris worked as a management consultant for CRA International in Boston. In this role Chris spent a significant amount of time in the Middle East where he worked on strategies for industrial diversification in Saudi Arabia and natural resource development in Jordan. Chris received a B.A. in Economics from Middlebury College in Vermont. He is an avid skier, traveler and outdoor enthusiast, and speaks Spanish and Italian. |
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Meredith Irwin
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Meredith is interested in clean technology and environmental strategy; specifically how existing businesses can transition to “greener” and more efficient operations. Prior to her studies at Michigan, Meredith worked for The Cadmus Group, Inc., an environmental consulting firm in Arlington, VA. While at Cadmus, Meredith supported the development and implementation of drinking water regulations for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water. Meredith holds a BA in Biology from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. |
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Michael Kassameyer
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
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Christina Kothari
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Prior to attending the University of Michigan, Christina spent four years as a marketing manager at Verizon Communications in NYC holding a variety of roles including sales channel management, sponsorships, promotions and strategy. In the months leading up to school, she spent her summer in Boston working for Ceres, a network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups collaborating with large organizations to address sustainability issues. Christina hopes to combine her marketing expertise and experience at Ceres into a career helping companies commercialize products with minimal impact on the environment and society. She is a Michigan native and attended Michigan State University where she discovered her curiosity for mass communication strategies and earned a BA in Advertising with a specialization in Public Relations. |
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April Lacroix
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
April is interested in corporate environmental strategy and organizational development. Before graduate school, April assisted in launching Interface’s corporate sustainability consulting firm, InterfaceRAISE. In that capacity, she managed the successful delivery of multiple client projects in areas such as renewable energy, leadership development, associate engagement and other sustainability-related initiatives, mainly for Fortune 500 companies. She also played a key role in building the firm’s internal organizational structure including the development of products, partnerships, marketing strategy, customer relationship management systems and intellectual property. Previously, April held positions at the Foreign Agricultural Service at the US Embassy in Lima, Peru and at the League of Conversation Voters Education Fund in Washington, DC. As a Fulbright Scholar, she completed a MA in Geography focusing on water resources at the University of Toronto. April received her BA in Economics and Sustainability (Summa Cum Laude) from Alma College and is a 2004 Morris K. Udall Scholar.
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Michelle Lin
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Michelle sees endless opportunities for organizations to not just minimize their environmental impact, but to contribute positively to both the environment and community through improved design and strategy. Prior to Erb, Michelle was a consultant in the Sales Executive Council (SEC) Solutions practice, a part of the Corporate Executive Board, where she partnered with Fortune 500 companies to enhance the productivity and effectiveness of their sales organizations. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys being an active member of her community. She has provided pro-bono consulting to Ashoka in order to understand how it can best support its US Fellows. Additionally, as a founding member of Gather and Give, a giving circle composed of young professionals in Washington, D.C., she was thrilled to see the group featured on NPR and the Wall Street Journal. Michelle holds a B.A. from Brown University in Economics and Computer Science.
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Marcos Mancini
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Marcos joined the Erb institute to pursue a career in carbon finance and corporate sustainability strategies. He is particularly interested in developing carbon markets that will address Global Climate Change in the post-Kyoto world. He would like to explore the roll of renewable energy clean tech as carbon offsets, and the implementation of these offsets as a tool for sustainable growth in developing countries.
Having a very strong background in the social sector, he has co-founded a non-profit Catholic organization that works with youth in several regions of Argentina, his native country. Prior to joining the Erb Institute, he worked as an Associate for Ecotecnica America Latina S.A, an environmental consultancy firm in Argentina. There, he coordinated multidisciplinary teams to develop, among others, the environmental impact assessment study for a 1350 MW wind farm, the largest in South America. Marcos holds a masters degree in Environmental Management .
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Sara Mills
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Sara plans to focus on corporate strategy, sustainable enterprise, and international development in the context of upcoming U.S. and international limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Before joining Erb, Sara worked on energy, environmental, and natural resources public policy for government relations firm Cassidy & Associates in Washington, D.C., where she analyzed climate legislation and electricity policy proposals and created strategies for private and nonprofit clients to engage in the policymaking process. A native Nevadan, Sara previously worked for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for five years. She would like to incorporate her loves of writing and travel into her career and also enjoys cooking and yoga. Sara holds a B.A. in American Studies from Georgetown University. |
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Neesha Modi
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
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Brian Moss
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
![]() Brian is entering the Erb program with a focus on the intersection of economic and environmental sustainability, particularly the role that small business can play in remaking the world economy. Before attending the University of Michigan, Brian worked for an environmental consultancy specializing in soil stabilization and erosion control techniques in the Sierra Nevada. Prior to consulting, Brian spent several years in experiential education, guiding wilderness expeditions in the US, Europe, and South America. When not in the classroom, Brian can be found playing outdoors. Brian holds a bachelors degree in Economics and History from the University of Virginia. |
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Laura Palombi
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
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Michelle Quibell
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Michelle is interested in pursuing a career in clean energy and carbon market strategy, specifically as it relates to the energy sector’s long-term investment patterns under federal climate and energy legislation. Prior to matriculating at Michigan, Michelle served as a research assistant and later as the climate field director for the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington, DC. She worked closely with climate, communications and campaign experts to build momentum, visibility and support for sound environmental and economic policy addressing climate change. Michelle graduated from Yale College in 2006 with a B.A. in Environmental Science. Outside of school, Michelle enjoys biking, tennis, travelling and cooking.
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Jennifer Ritchey
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Jennifer is interested in many aspects of environmental science and policy, particularly climate change research and policy, green building, and energy policy. She is actively interested in business applications of these topics. Jennifer graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BS in environmental science. She then worked for 2 years in the West African country of Benin as a Peace Corps Volunteer, focusing on environmental education. Most recently, Jennifer lived and worked in southern France as a high school and middle school English teacher. |
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John Seaver
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
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Allison Shapiro
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Allison is interested in the intersection of business and sustainability with a focus on energy and climate change. She is particularly interested in corporate engagement with environmental markets to help make resource-efficient and low-carbon activities more economically viable. Prior to attending the University of Michigan, Allison worked for Ecosystem Marketplace as a carbon market analyst and for ICF International as an environmental consultant, specializing in environmental impact assessment of government-funded transportation and energy projects. In addition, she serves as co-director of a non-profit CSR platform that links coffee companies with small charities around the globe through the development of specialized philanthropic products. Allison received her B.S. in Science, Technology and International Affairs with a concentration in Environmental Studies from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
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Lauren Start
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
Lauren is focusing her studies on sustainable systems and corporate environmental strategy. Prior to attending the University of Michigan, she worked for the Nielsen Company. While at Nielsen, Lauren consulted with consumer goods companies primarily in the soft drink, software and telecom industries. Leveraging consumer research, she helped her clients optimize new products and understand the market potential for new ideas. Moving forward, Lauren would like to help these same consumer goods companies develop and implement sustainability strategies. Lauren graduated magna cum laude from Colgate University with a concentration in economics. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, hiking, running, backpacking and traveling. |
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Christopher Zwicke
MBA/MS Program 2012 |
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