2024 Program Agenda & Video Highlights

The President of the Board of the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative (the Collaborative), Savarese is former CEO and Executive Chair of Cape Cod 5, recognized as a leading bank and top employer.  She recently stepped down from her position after leading the community bank for nearly 20 years, during which time it grew to  more than $5 billion in assets with 550 employees in 26 locations. Savarese formalized the integration of environmental stewardship into the “5 Ways” the Bank serves the community and expanded it to include mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. Savarese extends her commitment to combating climate change and building resiliency to her volunteer and community activities, in addition to her service to the Climate Collaborative. Just recently, Savarese was appointed by Governor-Elect Maura Healey to the Climate Readiness, Resiliency and Adaptation transition policy committee. Previously, she was appointed by the former governor of Massachusetts to the Clean Heat Commission. She traveled with a Massachusetts group to Denmark in June 2022 to learn more about the country’s clean energy transformation. 

Savarese has also been recognized for her efforts in the banking industry, being named to the list of 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker Magazine for 11 consecutive years, was the chair of both the American Bankers Association and the Massachusetts Bankers Association and has been named to committees advising the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and the FDIC. She is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Suffolk University and recently joined the Board of Trustees. In addition, she has served on a number of local boards serving the region and has received numerous awards and recognitions.

Details about Rob Brennan will be updated shortly.

Peter is the founder of the technology consultancy NeuEon Inc. He specializes in guiding and advising organizations, building and leveraging technologies to meet their business goals. Over the past three decades, Peter has played diverse roles in the business world. He has been a founder, re-founder, co-founder, investor, and advisor to dozens of companies, showcasing his versatility and depth of experience. 

Peter has a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Northeastern University and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he is also an adjunct faculty member of the Charlton College of Business and an advisory board member. Most recently, he was a founding board member of the Massachusetts Housing and Climate Innovation Center on Cape Cod.

Janet Williams is the Board Secretary of the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative, and Coordinator of the Chatham Climate Action Network. She brings a deep background in environmental law, education, and consulting to working in climate action on Cape Cod.  She spent a dozen years as an environmental wetlands enforcement attorney with the EPA, five years providing legal counsel to commercial real estate developers and lenders, and several years building an online sustainability planning program platform for small businesses. She is also a Member of the Chatham Conservation Commission and the Conservation Law Foundation.

Dr. B.R. Balachandran (Bala) is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Solutions Lab (SSL) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. SSL is a collaborative research institute focused on climate change resilience for historically excluded communities. Bala is developing SSL’s five-year strategic plan and oversees research projects, including a Massachusetts Department of Transportation project for the resilience of the rail line to Cape Cod. His research examines disaster-induced displacement in coastal Louisiana and wildfire resilience in California. 

Dr. Balachandran is a certified urban planner and international development consultant with over 30 years of experience. His expertise includes post-disaster recovery, resilience, and adaptation planning; land use and transport integration; affordable housing policy; and sustainable water management. He has advised organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank on climate-resilient urban planning. Dr. Balachandran has also served on governing boards of consulting firms and non-profits focused on sustainability and resilience in India.

Greg Berman (PG/CFM) is the Director of Natural Resources for the Town of Chatham. He has a diverse background, having held roles such as Hydrologist, Environmental Scientist, Professional Geologist, and Coastal Processes Specialist. For the past fifteen years, he has focused on fortifying coastal community resilience on Cape Cod by providing direct technical assistance and extension education programs on topics including shoreline change, erosion control alternatives, coastal hazards and hazard mitigation analyses, sea level rise, storm surge, dune restoration techniques, and other coastal management issues.

Tim Famulare has served as the Town of Provincetown’s Community Development Director since January 2023, and prior to that, he served as the Town’s Environmental Planner and Conservation Agent since 2017. Tim has developed and managed several climate change resilience initiatives, especially with respect to impacts associated with sea level rise and increasing coastal storm damage. Presently, Tim is coordinating a comprehensive planning process to develop a Town-wide Coastal Resilience Plan. Other projects include the MVP community resilience building process; design and permitting of an outfall relocation and dune enhancement project to protect downtown Provincetown from coastal storm flooding; and the planning of an Eversource battery storage facility to provide backup power to Outer Cape towns. Presently, Tim and his counterparts in Truro, Wellfleet, and Eastham have collaborated since 2020 to develop a regional shoreline management framework to address common floodplain and coastal impacts due to sea level rise. This joint initiative has been supported by CZM Coastal Resilience grants, the first of their kind to include four communities working together to address regional coastal resilience.

Prior to his tenure with the Town of Provincetown, Tim was a practicing attorney in commercial real estate and environmental & land use law as an associate at Burns & Levinson and Goulston & Storrs, and as in-house counsel at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Tim holds a J.D. from Boston University School of Law (2007) and a B.S. in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of New Hampshire (1997).

Heather McElroy is a planner at the Cape Cod Commission, working to develop appropriate tools and policies to help address the region’s natural resource and land use challenges. Her work has contributed to many regional projects, focused on improving communication, knowledge, and action on natural resource and climate change issues on Cape Cod.

Paul Speer is recently retired as the Chief Operating Officer of the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole. He is continuing his affiliation with MBL as a part-time senior advisor. Before arriving at the MBL in 2014, Paul was President of the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) in Arlington, VA. CNA is a non-profit research and development organization that provides applied research and analytic support to the Department of the Navy.

Paul received a BA in Geosciences from Williams College and a PhD in Oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in Oceanography.

Paul Niedzwiecki assumed the role of chief executive officer of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce on July 1, 2021.

Niedzwiecki, of West Barnstable, is a public policy professional and attorney with more than two decades of experience in public administration and crafting environmental and economic policy on Cape Cod.

As former executive director of the Cape Cod Commission, Niedzwiecki worked to reorganize the region’s planning and regulatory agency to reduce red tape and assist communities to balance protection of the natural environment and fuel economic growth, while increasing transparency and community engagement.

Niedzwiecki has also held senior positions with Southfield Redevelopment Authority and Cape Cod Healthcare. In addition, he served as the assistant town manager in Barnstable, the Cape’s largest town, where he established the Cape’s first Growth Incentive Zone to bolster downtown Hyannis small business and was the first chairman of the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative.

Niedzwiecki holds a bachelor of science degree in public administration from Suffolk University and a juris doctor from Suffolk University Law School.

Mr. Thomas S. Cahir commenced his political career by winning election to the MA House of Representatives in 1985, representing the 3rd Barnstable District. His tenure spanned 14 years until January 1999. During his legislative service, Cahir was deeply engaged in transportation matters, notably as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation. He played pivotal roles in initiatives such as commuter rail expansion across the Commonwealth and infrastructure projects like the Sagamore Rotary grade separation. In addition, he spearheaded significant legislative efforts, including the 1996 Seaport Bond Bill and multiple Transportation Bond Bills.

Transitioning to the Executive Branch in 1999, Mr. Cahir assumed the position of Deputy Secretary for Transportation Programs at the Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works (EOTPW). There, he managed a substantial budget of $140 million, offering oversight and support to the Commonwealth’s fifteen Regional Transit Authorities.

Since 2009, Cahir has held the position of Administrator at the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, overseeing transit operations across all 15 Cape Cod communities. He is credited with conceptualizing the successful seasonal CapeFLYER train service, aimed at improving transportation connectivity to Boston.

Additionally, Cahir actively contributes to various organizations, serving as Corporator for the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod and Cape Cod Healthcare, and as an Advisory Board Member of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Cahir’s commitment to combating climate change is evident through his leadership in implementing sustainable practices at CCRTA. Initiatives such as wind turbine installation, solar panel integration, and the deployment of EV charging stations underscore his dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He champions a transition to zero-emission and low-emission vehicles, emphasizing the importance of public transportation in mitigating environmental impacts.

Robert B. Davis has served as the general manager of the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority since 2017. He joined the Authority in 1986 and held several positions of increasing responsibility, including treasurer and comptroller, before being elevated to the general manager position. Davis received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Dayton in 1981 and attended its graduate school of business.

Amy Findlay, P.E. oversees demand response and managed charging programs at Eversource. Amy leads a team focused on creating and executing programs that incentivize customers to reduce demand on the grid during peak times while providing a great customer experience. In her 10 years at Eversource, she has held various roles within Energy Efficiency, including evaluation, digital customer engagement, and managing behavioral programs.

Prior to joining Eversource, Amy worked as a professional engineer in the real estate development and construction industry, designing and monitoring construction of building foundations. Amy holds a BS in civil engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

David Lewis is the founder and CEO of MoveEV, an EV transition company that helps organizations electrify fleet and commuter vehicles faster with accurate home charging reimbursement. Dave is an experienced B2B software executive with significant experience systematically creating value through new product offerings, M&A, and transforming tech-enabled services to SaaS. In his former role as the Vice President of Strategy for Motus, a fleet reimbursement mobile software platform, David led corporate and business development as part of the core senior leadership team. He has expertise in mobile workforce management, expense management, and fleet services.  David received an MBA from Columbia Business School.

State Senator Susan L. Moran proudly represents the Plymouth & Barnstable District. Her district is made up of Bourne, Falmouth, Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth, Sandwich, Mashpee and Plympton.  Having lived and worked for decades on the Upper Cape, Senator Moran is well-versed in the everyday experiences of her neighbors and the issues they face. 

On Beacon Hill, Senator Moran brings her extensive experience as a lawyer in the sectors of real estate and local governance to advance initiatives to ensure safe, affordable housing for all families in the district, as well as to enhance access to quality childcare services for working families. Additionally, Senator Moran is committed to fostering local economic growth by supporting small businesses, creating job opportunities, and promoting sustainable development through the region’s most precious resource, its oceans, or the “blue economy.”

Senator Moran currently serves as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue, as well as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Steven Tupper joined the Cape Cod Commission in 2009 and is currently serving as Deputy Director. Steven has contributed to development of regional plans including the Cape Cod Regional Transportation Plan, Climate Action Plan, and Regional Policy Plan and leads a multi-disciplinary team working develop solutions and identify funding to address the regional priorities identified in these plans. A registered professional engineer, Steven also provides technical assistance to Cape Cod municipalities looking to tackle local challenges in a way that is compatible with community character. Steven received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Dan Wolf founded Cape Air in 1989 and served as the company’s Chief Executive Officer from its founding through 2021. Dan continues to serve the company as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and stays current with his Air Transport Pilot license. Dan was elected in November 2010, 2012, and 2014, respectively, to represent Cape Cod and the Islands in the Massachusetts State Senate, where he served from 2011 through 2016. Each term, Dan was appointed as the Senate Chair of the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, focusing on legislation around labor, workplace safety, and workplace development. As a business and community leader, Dan continues to serve on many of the region’s most important non-profit and civic organizations, including on the Board of the Collaborative, as Chair of the Governance Affairs Committee.

Larry Chretien is the executive director of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance. The organization was founded in 1982, serves Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and has a mission to empower consumers and communities to speed a just transition to a zero-carbon world. Larry has been director for 25 years. Previously he was energy director at Quincy Community Action Programs Inc. and he served 8 years on the Quincy City Council.  Larry holds a master’s degree in economic policy.

Ms. Downey is the Administrator for the Cape Light Compact. Prior to serving as the full-time Cape Light Compact Administrator, Maggie served as both the Assistant County Administrator and Compact Administrator for 17 years. The Cape Light Compact service territory consists of Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, approximately 205,000 year-round residents. The Cape Light Compact is the first municipal aggregator in Massachusetts. Ms. Downey is responsible for management and direction of the Cape Light Compact’s electric power supply aggregation program and energy efficiency programs. Ms. Downey has been working on energy-related issues for over 20 years.

Maggie earned her Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington at Seattle and holds a Graduate Certificate in Management from Harvard University Extension School.

 For over thirty years, Judith Holt has coupled her technical background in energy management and solar energy, with education and training to teach what it is we need to do to curb climate change.

She’s worked with hundreds of homeowners, designed net zero buildings, presented before the US Senate, the American Institute of Architects, national museums and gardens conferences, and was appointed a Smithsonian Associate for her work in solar.  She wrote the first national installation standard for solar thermal applications with the Department of Energy and the American Testing of Materials. Her work with Buckminster Fuller as Executive Director of World Game reached thousands across the US.  

Since her retirement, she has analyzed 58 of the Mass Audubon bird sanctuaries with 250 buildings, created and carried out a sustainability strategic plan for Heritage Museums and Gardens, and worked with over 15 churches across Cape Cod to help them become more energy efficient and deploy solar.  She wrote 75 articles for Climate Action. a column for the capenews.net/Enterprise system on Cape Cod and won an award for Environmental Writing from the New England Associated Press for a news column in the Andover Townsman.  She has had her work published in the Boston Design magazine, the Boston Globe, and Cape Cod Homes. She won the Cape Cod Technology Council’s Award for Sustainability in 2024, the Caring for Cape Cod Award for Environmental Impact in 2023, and several churches have won awards for their work with Judith.   

She is passionate about climate change, she is a thought leader and dynamic project manager, and she does not comprehend the word retirement.

Pastor Russ Norris has over 20 years of parish ministry experience.  He served for four years as Executive Minister of the South Carolina Christian Action Council, coordinating interchurch cooperation for 19 different denominations.  For six years he was a professor at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, where he was responsible for internship, field education and clinical pastoral education.  In 1998 he was called as President and Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Social Services of Metropolitan New York, where he directed services for more than 500 children in foster care and group homes. After leaving LSS, he worked for the Salvation Army, directing services for homeless American veterans; and for the Bay Ridge Center in Brooklyn, New York, coordinating Meals on Wheels and other programs for senior citizens. Following retirement in 2006, he has served as interim pastor for congregations in southeast Massachusetts.  Russ and his wife, Dixie, live in West Hyannisport. He is an avid model railroader and is active in various community organizations.

As Director for Sustainability at Cape Air for the past 14 years, Jim’s focus has been to answer the question: What does it mean when an airline goes green? From building the then largest solar system in southern Massachusetts atop corporate HQ in 2010, to the company’s active pursuit of a fully electric fleet replacement aircraft, Jim has led the company’s award-winning sustainability agenda through initiatives involving operations, employee benefits, and community engagement.  Early adoption of new technology has been a key strategy for keeping these initiatives in the color black on the bottom line. Jim is recently retired from Cape Air as of April of 2024.