We could not run the annual NH Social Venture Innovation Challenge (SVIC) without the distinguished Preliminary Round and Final Round judges, who lend valuable time and expertise to the process. Their feedback and encouragement to our students is an incredible asset in their educational experience.
Join us December 1 for a day of inspiration and ideas!
9:00 - 9:15 a.m. Registration
9:15 - 9:30 a.m. Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:30 - 11:30 a.m. SVIC Final Round Presentations
12:40 - 2:00 p.m. Social Innovator of the Year Award, Keynote Address, & Announcement of SVIC Winners
Thank you to our 2022 Final & Preliminary Round Judges!
Final Round Judges
Kaeleigh Barker
Kaeleigh Barker has been connected to cooperative business for over a decade. Currently Barker serves as the Director of Cooperative and Special Projects at CCA Global Partners, managing the cultivation of new ideas both inside and outside of CCA. Before that she started and directed Cooperatives for a Better World, still serving a strategic role with the organization. Through all her work, she dedicates herself to elevating awareness of and utilization of cooperative and shared ownership business models. She is well versed in the diversity of business today and the evolving global influences on community economics. She looks to actively connect what individuals can do together to enhance sustainable business development and equitable community growth. In 2020, she was recognized in the Union Leader’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2020.
Barker grew up in New Hampshire, where she first interned at CCA Global Partners in 2005, working thereafter to conduct research for the purchasing cooperative that would lead to multiple expansions of the business. Today CCA Global Partners consists of 14 divisional businesses under one cooperative umbrella. Subsequently her background also includes rural & urban teaching experiences in special education and competent communication. Barker’s passion for learning, communication, and storytelling has compelled her involvement with Toastmasters International, a global public speaking program, in which she was recognized in 2016 for her accomplishments.
Ed Farrington
Ed is Head of Distribution, North America at Impax Asset Management LLC, the North American division of Impax Asset Management Group and investment adviser to Pax World Funds. Based in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire office, Ed is responsible for leading the firm’s institutional and intermediary sales and client service efforts in North America.
Before joining Impax in 2021, Ed served in key roles at Natixis Investment Managers, most recently as Executive Vice President (EVP) of Institutional and Retirement and previously as EVP of the firm’s global wholesale unit and its Senior Vice President of National Sales. Before Natixis, Ed served as National Fundraising Manager for Fidelity Charitable Services and as Vice President of Advisory Sales for Pioneer Investments.
Ed serves on the Travis Roy Foundation board of trustees as well as the World Surf League advisory board and the Sustainability Advisory Board at the University of New Hampshire.
Ed earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of New Hampshire. He holds the FINRA Series 6, 7, 24 and 31 registrations.
Jared Fuller
Jared joined Prime Buchholz in 2007 and has more than 24 years of investment industry experience. As Co-Head of Research, he provides day-to-day management oversight of the research team.
He serves as co-director of the Research team and co-chair of the Mission-Aligned Investing Committee. He is a member of the Real Assets and Private Capital Asset Class Committees and is a member of the Investment Committee.
Jared has expertise in private capital. His previous experience includes various roles at Harvard Management Company, where he served as an external management investment associate focused on real estate. He also held roles as a senior financial analyst and portfolio controller.
Jared earned his B.A. in Communications from the University of Massachusetts and is a member of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association.
Greg Jansen ‘81
Greg serves as Managing Member of Terrain Private Capital, a private capital investment and strategic advisory firm. Prior to Terrain, he was Managing Director at Commonfund Capital, a private capital investment firm, where for over 20 years he focused on leading portfolios and investments in private equity, natural resources and venture capital. Greg was a member of the firm’s Investment Committee as well as dozens of private capital advisory committees/boards. Prior to the investment business, Greg worked in the banking industry in New York City. Before graduating from business school, he was an Exploration Geophysicist.
Greg obtained an M.B.A. from Tulane University Freeman School of Business and a B.S. in Geology from the University of New Hampshire. He has served on the board or in leadership positions of several non-profit organizations.
Harry Lamberton
Since January of 2022, Harry has served as the President of Yellowstone Landscape, the second largest commercial landscaping company in the United States. Yellowstone operates fifty-five branches in 13 states.
Prior to entering the commercial landscape business, Harry spent thirty-one years in the waste and environmental business, spending the prior twenty-one years at WM. Up until January of 2022, Harry spent three years as the Area Vice-President (AVP) of the Heartland Area where he led WM’s collection, recycling, transfer and landfill businesses in the states of Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and northwest Indiana.
Joining WM in 2000 Harry served as Vice-President of Energy & Environmental Services, Vice-President of the Southern Group, Vice-President of the Manufacturing & Industrial Segment and Vice-President of Sustainability Services prior to the AVP role. In these roles his responsibilities spanned sustainability, operations, sales and finance. Harry has been working in roles related to sustainability and ESG since the late 90’s.
Harry currently serves on the Board of Friends of the Chicago River and the Conference Board’s Global Sustainability Advisory Board.
Harry earned a BA from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA from the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University.
Atlanta Mcllwraith
Atlanta McIlwraith is the director of global community engagement and activation at Timberland. She leads the brand’s efforts to bring its Purpose to life for internal and external stakeholders through authentic and purposeful activations. Atlanta drives Timberland’s global community engagement strategy, leads the NGO partnership strategy, pilots innovative ways to engage consumers in the brand’s values, and directs the Global Stewards program to ensure the company’s service and corporate social responsibility (CSR) agendas play out with consistency and impact worldwide. Atlanta also leads the Community Pillar of ‘The Work’ -- Timberland’s ongoing commitment to advance racial and social justice.
Prior joining Timberland, Atlanta's professional roles included political and community organizing, leading consumer engagement campaigns for The Body Shop, program management for an international NGO, grant writing, and more.
In her free time, Atlanta enjoys being outside with her family and tending to the trees at the organic cut-your-own Christmas tree farm that she and her husband have owned since 2013.
Andy McMillan
Andy is Chairman of the Board and Acting Chief Marketing Officer at Cirtronics. Andy has a broad professional background including executive leadership, management and key contributor roles in both commercial and not-for-profit organizations. He has worked in high tech and manufacturing companies ranging in size from startups to global industry leaders. Andy has founded several companies and holds a dozen patents in sensors, systems and software. Currently, Andy serves as President and Managing Director of a global data communications trade association enabling intelligent buildings and smart cities. He also maintains an independent business strategy and marketing consulting practice.
Throughout his career Andy has built strong, collaborative relationships crossing commercial, geographic and cultural boundaries. He has been an invited speaker on innovation, automation, cybersecurity, and open systems at numerous conferences around the world. Andy has been involved in a variety of business-education partnership programs involving classroom interaction with students at all levels, from elementary school through university. His formal education includes engineering and business degrees from the University of Michigan.
Jim Pellerin
Jim Pellerin is a Senior Account Manager for Cirtronics Corporation, an Employee-Owned contract manufacturer in Milford, NH. Jim joined Cirtronics in 2004 and is responsible for fostering and maintaining relationships with key customers, helping them transition their designs to a manufacturing environment. His expertise of nearly forty years spans the areas of Material Management, Operations, and Engineering/Product Support, for both Government Contract and private sector companies, and has provided Jim with a solid foundation for serving customers in a business development role.
In addition to his primary role, Jim is an active member of various employee committees supporting Corporate Responsibility. He served as Chairman of Cirtronics’ Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) Committee for 14 years, in addition to his membership on the company’s Community Outreach Program (CCORP) Committee. Jim continues to enthusiastically participate in non-profit partnerships and volunteer opportunities at Cirtronics, driven by his strong belief in sustainability and social responsibility to the community and the environment. In his free time, Jim loves traveling with his wife in their converted van to enjoy camping, mountain biking, and kayaking.
Jason Phelps
Jason Phelps is the Director of Human Resources with Pete and Gerry’s Organics, the nation’s leading specialty egg producer committed to advancing sustainable farm practices through partnerships with small family farms and promoting the humane treatment of hens in a business dominated by industrial scale farm practices. With over 20 years of experience in the field of Human Resources, Jason brings a passion and commitment for ensuring a welcoming, inclusive environment focused on the well-being and respect of employees, our communities, and the planet.
In addition to leading Pete and Gerry’s human resources efforts across their growing operations, Jason serves as a member of the Pete and Gerry’s B Corp certification team and the DEI Working Group with the New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility. He is a graduate of Saint Michael’s College and lives in Franconia, New Hampshire with his wife Irene and two children.
“I grew up in local Vermont. My father worked for 30 years as a millwright in the local unionized papermill before it was shuttered due to waning economic conditions. I learned the importance of hard work, integrity, and compassion for people. Today I feel blessed to be a part of a successful mission driven organization. It is compelling to witness a business back up its words with action. We are innovators and disruptors in our industry. I try to bring that same passion and commitment to my work and my life. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to witness that same drive in the competitors in this year’s Social Venture Innovation Challenge. There truly are no losers in this competition.”
Sara Sankowich
Sara Sankowich is the Director of Sustainability and Shared Services at Unitil where she oversees the development and implementation of the company’s sustainability initiatives and reporting, the vegetation management program, and the company’s fleet and facilities department. She has been working in the utility field for 21 years. Sara has a BS in Forest and Natural Resource Management from the State University of NY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She serves on many industry committees and is committed to advancing corporate social responsibility, environmental stewardship, diversity, equity and inclusion, and workforce development and retention. She is the chair of the Board of Governors of the Utility Vegetation Management Professional Development Program partnered with the University of Wisconsin. She was president of both the Utility Arborist Association in 2018, and the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture in 2021.
Liz Torrance
Liz Torrance is the Community Relations and Social Responsibility Manager for Kennebunk Savings. She drives the strategic direction and execution of corporate social responsibility initiatives and corporate philanthropy, through which the bank annually donates more than $1 million to local nonprofit organizations. She leads the Community Relations team, overseeing grants and sponsorships, the Kennebunk Savings Foundation, the corporate volunteer program, and the Community Reinvestment Act program. She serves as an advisor on the Kennebunk Savings Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council.
Liz studied Environmental & Resource Economics at UNH. She serves on the UNH Sustainability Advisory Board, the Hope on Haven Hill Board of Directors, and the Local Community Impact Committee for the Greater Seacoast Region of Granite United Way. She is a strong believer in the business community’s power to be a force for good and she is proud to be a part of a purpose-driven organization like Kennebunk Savings. Liz lives in Kittery, Maine with her partner Dave and their rescue dog, Jenny.
Preliminary Round Judges
Jeff Ashe, Author and Research Fellow
Ted Barber, Co-Founder, Prosperity Candle
Lisa Berghaus ’95, Director of Marketing Communications, Monadnock Paper Mills
Bryan Bessette, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Freedom Café
Jessica Blasko, Owner, The ReFill Station
Attessa Bradley, Chief Marketing Officer, Helpsy
Torey Brooks ’19, Engineer & Sustainability Coordinator, Oak Point Associates
Meagan Burger, Marketing Manager, Cirtronics Corporation
Michael Burns ‘86, Experiential Sustainability Educator
Rebecca Darr Litchfield, Co-Founder, BIG Acts
Ashley Davis, Senior Manager of Global Corporate Responsibility, Cole Haan
Andrew DeMeo ’18, Associate, Client Services & Business Development, Impax Asset Management
Susan Dewhirst, Deputy Director, NHPA and NHDF
Matthew Doubleday ’15, Director of Interconnection, ReWild Renewables
Kayleigh Erwin, Assistant Branch Manager – Berwick, Kennebunk Savings Bank
Jessica Forrest ‘19G, Independent Environmental Consultant and Writer for Chesapeake Conservancy
Ron Giuntini, Senior Partner, Avrogan
Sarah Glatt, Founder & Principal Consultant, Paper Crane Associates
Nathan Gray, Founder, House Factory Foundation and Plastic Recycled
Shaye Hardner, Sustainability Manager, Worthen Industries
Joe Harrison, VP of Project Development, ReWild Renewables
Eric Holstein, COO, Streetlight Ventures
Heather Iworsky, Solar Foundations Coordinator, ReVision Energy Inc
Christina Johantgen, Head of Marketing and Creative, Walden Mutual
Chandler Jones, Managing Director, CEI Ventures, Inc.
Sandra Klausmeyer, SVP, Corporate Communications & Strategies Manager, Bangor Savings Bank
Jeffrey Kohn ’92, Supervisory Team Lead, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency
Kristi Leclerc, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Kennebunk Savings Bank
Zachary Little, Digital Content Administrator, Kennebunk Savings Bank
Anh-Dai Lu, Educator & Independent Social Innovation Consultant
Raili Marks, Independent Consultant, Strategy & Scale
Julie McBride, Founder and CEO, Stage Six
Mark McPeak, Senior Advisor, Kuja Kuja
Beth Meadows, Founder and CEO, Supply Hope
Deanna Moran, Vice President, Healthy & Resilient Communities, Conservation Law Foundation
Christine Morin, Retired from Mascoma Bank, Chief Risk and Loan Operations Officer
Brigid Murray, Investor, Vested for Growth, NH Community Loan Fund
Nikhil Nadkarni, Energy Planner, Cambridge Community Development Department
Mark Newton ‘87, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Samsung Electronics North America
Casey Otis ’97, Director, Harvard Business School, Health Care Initiative
George Parmenter, Sustainable Retailing Manager, RBS
Mikey Pasciuto ‘21, Co-Founder, Scrapp
Brett Pierce, Executive Director, Meridian Stories
Kevin Porter, VP of Loan Originations, ROC USA Capital
Tara Reardon ’89, VP of ROC-NH and External Relations, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund
Anne Richardson, Owner & Media Director, Richardson Media Group
John Rodat, President, Public Signals, LLC
Chris Rooney ’10, Head of Intermediary Sales, Impax Asset Management
Rachel Rymaszewski ’20, Mission Aligned Research Support Analyst, Prime Buchholz
Laura Schaffer, VP Conservation & Sustainability, Orvis
Maggie Schmidt, JD, MPH | Staff Attorney, Maryland Legal Aid
Todd Selig ’94, Town Manager, Town of Durham
Bill Seretta, Executive Director, Fork Food Lab
Melissa Skarupa, Community Relations Manager, Dartmouth Health
Doug Smith ’04, Community Relations Coordinator, Kennebunk Savings
Keegan Smith ’17, Recycling & Redemptions Specialist, Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages
Greg Starbird, Principal, Starbird Consulting
Zoila Stokes, Senior Solar Advisor, SunCommon
Robin Tindall, Environmental Stewardship Team Leader, Hypertherm
Christina Traurig, Principal & Financial Planner, Cornerstone Financial Planning
John Van Dis, Director of Education and Teacher Professional Development, Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership
Stephen Weisbuch, Founder, The Recycled Planet
Tricia Wheeler, Vice President, General Counsel & Compliance Officer, Kennebunk Savings Bank
Joe York, VP of Product & Impact Strategy, Walden Mutual Bank
Mary Zwolinski, Executive Director, Wayside Food Programs
