BCONE is seeking applications for nominations from BCONE members in good standing for positions on the Board when the current terms expire in December 2024.

Specifically, we are seeking dedicated individuals with experience in various aspects of BCONE who are passionate about supporting our mission and driving the organization's growth through active involvement.

The BCONE Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying, recruiting, and certifying a properly selected slate of candidates to be placed in nomination before full Board.

Up to three (3) Board positions may be available.

The committee has formalized a set of the nominations metrics that will be used in the selection process. The basic requirements are as follows:

• Nominees must be a member of BCONE in good standing; self-nominations from BCONE members who are in good standing are permitted.
• Nominations must be received by 5:00pm on Friday, December 6, 2024.
• Sitting Board Members who intend to run for another term must renominate and submit a completed application by the deadline.
• All nominees are subject to conflict of interest verification.

If you are interested in nominating yourself or another individual to become a member of the BCONE Board, please download this form and email it when complete to Christine Stokes, CStokes@scsengineers.com.

After reviewing the above information, one or more members of the Nominating Committee will further vet potential nominees via e-mail and/or telephone to complete the selection process.

By Jeff Campbell, Peak Environmental and BCONE Marketing Committee Chair

BCONE is pleased to announce that Steve Zemba, Cailyn Locci, and Michael Tyszko recently joined the organization's Board of Directors. Melina Ambrosino, President of BCONE, welcomed the new members, stating, “I look forward to our new members’ contribution to the mission of BCONE, and extending the reach of the organization into new geographic areas and new industries.”

Steve Zemba – Voting Board Member

Steven Zemba is a Project Director at Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc., where he provides health risk assessments and air quality services from their Randolph, VT office. He is a Mechanical Engineer by degree (Carnegie Mellon University and MIT), forming a basis for decades of experience as a risk assessor with extensive technical expertise in the areas of air pollution and fate and transport modeling. His current focus is on qualitative and quantitative assessments of health and environmental risks, with emphasis on pollutant migration modeling, including application of these tools to contaminated waste disposal sites.  He is also a Lecturer at UMass Lowell and Tufts University.

Caillyn Locci - Scholarship Committee Chair (non-voting member)

Ms. Locci is a Senior Project Manager at Weston & Sampson, providing site characterization and remediation services out of their Ballston Spa, NY office. She is graduate of Tulane University and she holds a Professional Geologist license in the State of New York.  In addition to her Board responsibilities, for BCONE, Cailyn will serve as the Scholarship Committee Chair, contributing to the educational goals of the organization, and supporting the development of future professionals in the redevelopment industry.

Michael W. Tyszko - Education Committee Chair (non-voting member)

Michael W. Tyszko is a Member of Bousquet Holstein PLLC in the firm’s Syracuse office. Mike’s legal practice focuses on economic development incentives, including brownfield and other tax credits, in addition to a broad range of business matters. Mike is an honors graduate of Syracuse University College of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Syracuse Law Review. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he was a member of Michigan’s inaugural class of Stamps Scholars. In addition to his work with BCONE, Mike serves on the board of directors for the Redhouse Arts Center and the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble in Syracuse. He resides in Syracuse with his family and two goldendoodle dogs. 

We are excited to see the contribution these members will lend to the board and BCONE's mission.

About the Author:

BCONE would like to thank everyone who attended the October 18th Tour and Pour Event in Jersey City. We had over 40 people in attendance and think you will agree it was a great success! 

While this was a team effort, we would like to extend a big thanks to Katie Patel for her idea and Jersey City connections! The tour covered some of the site’s history and remediation techniques used to accommodate the clean-up.  

After the tour, we all enjoyed some brews at The 902 Brewery. It was perfectly located with a view of the Jersey City PPG Chromium Site to the west and NYC skyline to the east.

Posted October 24, 2023

By Steve Dwyer

David Foss has worked to bring people together for more than two decades -- now, the newly appointed Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) Board Member is eager to become one more “new voice” within BCONE to help shape and refine the organization’s ambitious agenda led by its executives, who are also new to the group this year. 

Late 2022 proved to be a transitional time for the veteran environmental consultant, who joined MassDEP as Statewide Brownfields Coordinator in October and subsequently became affiliated with BCONE. 

Now, Foss is eager to integrate his skills and knowledge into the group, serving on the regulatory committee. One of his core tenets is this: “You can go fast alone; but if you want to go far, you go far together.’ You need people working together towards a common goal,” Foss revealed to me in late June.  

An environmental consultant on the private side for 25-plus years (CPG and LSP), Foss has worked both with and for municipalities and regional planning commissions, including more than 40 cities and towns in Massachusetts, with an emphasis on best-practices of brownfield redevelopment. 

A career shift occurred last fall when Foss accepted the position as Statewide Brownfields Coordinator for MassDEP. “My approach now, within the public-side capacity, is that I treat all Massachusetts communities as ‘clients’ -- as if I’m their consultant, advising them on everything, from the front-end identification and assessment of sites to helping identify funding streams and financial incentives.”

When Foss joined the MassDEP team, his association with BCONE effectively commenced as well. As is the case with many BCONE private-corporate or public-governmental affiliates, employees are encouraged to get involved -- all to lend a voice to enhance the brownfield redevelopment narrative in the Northeast. 

Enter Foss, who has made quick work of things -- becoming BCONE-affiliated and now Board member within the regulatory committee. What he has long mastered -- and BCONE can expect to reap in return -- is a prioritization of communication and collaboration.

Brings People Together     

Foss’s first event as a representative of BCONE occurred last fall during the September 2022 Northeast Sustainable Community Workshop (NSCW) conference in Connecticut. (See upcoming BCONE Events). “I arrived and announced myself as the new Statewide Brownfield Coordinator. I enjoy bringing people together to get projects done, acting as a translator/communicator, which has been honed over my years as a consultant. Two parties, such as the private-public partnership, have to be on the same page to make projects a reality -- from assessment to the cleanup phase to the final redevelopment,” he says.

Speaking about some front-burner issues he is eager to champion this year and next within BCONE -- all to move the needle forward on best-practices brownfield redevelopment -- Foss cited several issues. 

Speaking about some front-burner issues, he is eager to champion this year and next within BCONE -- all to move the needle forward on best-practices brownfield redevelopment. Foss has long believed that enhancing community engagement can’t be underestimated, from hosting public meetings to talking about pertinent issues and gathering input from neighbors and residents in Brownfields communities. That speaks to the engagement needed to win over local residents when it comes to setting straight their perceptions, and reconciling their misconceptions, about brownfield remediation and end use development. In short, highlight that projects in their communities are intended to work for them and not against them.  

Foss draws on experiences he’s had when state regulators and private-side developers sat down to discuss projects at the front end of the process. Within that, Foss worked to help foster the “common” to build the “ground.” “I have long worked to bring many entities together,” he says.  

On community engagement, Foss strives to create a working environment that’s “friendly and open,” and, of course, results-driven. Environmental justice is a topic that most BCONE participants have on their front burners, and Foss is in lock-step with that critical topic. “We can’t just ‘check a box’ and obtain feedback from local residents,” but understand that it is mission critical to make sure locals get a seat at the table, and that residents reap end-use benefits. 

A third key platform Foss advocates for is the green energy movement, across wind, solar, anerobic digestion, geo-thermal and more. Matching green energy components such as a solar array where it’s most amenable as an end use -- think solar on contaminated land or a landfill. “We have great opportunities in Massachusetts to promote solar on previously-used properties and prioritize these parcels rather than clearing a forest. I am always working to get creative and identify the practical incentives that can promote green energy,” he says. 

A fourth goal is branching out to academia -- getting students stoked about brownfield redevelopment careers in the environmental industry. “I have spoken to Earth Science classes at UMass-Amhurst and Northeastern University to promote environmental science careers,” says Foss, a Colgate University grad. “I’m happy to show environmental or engineering students that there’s a pathway in this industry that can lead to great career satisfaction. We get to make a real difference in peoples’ lives.”

Looking Forward 

Looking ahead to his work with BCONE, Foss says “one interesting aspect of being in the private sector for so long is that I worked on projects in multiple states and crossed paths with counterparts in New York, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut and more.” Translated, that means that while he operates in Massachusetts, Foss doesn’t operate in a silo, having broadened his geographic horizons over the years.  

In singling out relationships he has forged with BCONE board members John Gross in Pennsylvania and Mark Lewis in Connecticut, Foss is also eager to establish a rapport with Regulatory Committee colleagues Karen Cahill and Mike Deely, who also recently became BCONE Board members. “I’m eager to get started, to offer my vision and a fresh perspective.” 

Collaboration is the “water that I swim in, and frankly I enjoy meaningful engagement with people. For brownfield redevelopment to work, particularly for the types of projects that face hurdles, you need to get out in front of the process. Get people in the room, at the table early—make it so it’s very organic and productive.” 

Posted July 5, 2023

By Anne Lazo, BCONE Executive Director

What are the odds that the 2023 EPA Brownfield Grants notice came out while attending my first BCONE Regulatory Committee meeting as the Executive Director? It was exciting to hear how each state would benefit from these funds. This year’s grant awards were the most significant investment ever made in brownfield redevelopments! 

Undoubtedly, the funds for all the states will provide the added financial assistance to revitalize our communities. I see these projects creating more affordable housing along with job growth. I envision the start-up of new business enterprises. Most importantly, I see greener, healthier spaces for those in these areas.

The members of BCONE’s Regulatory Committee will undoubtedly be busy implementing these grants in their respective states. These awards are a true testament to the commitment the states in EPA Regions 1, 2 and 3 have made toward cleaning up brownfields. 

Here is a listing of the funding breakdowns:

• Brownfields Multipurpose Assessment & Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup (MARC) Grant: 262 communities were selected to receive 267 grants totaling more than $215M; the highest funding level ever announced. You can find out more here: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-fy-2023-brownfields-multipurpose-assessment-revolving-loan-fund
• Non-Competitive Supplemental Funding through the Existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant Program: $45M in non-competitive supplemental funding was given to 22 successful RLF program grantees. Read more here: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-fy-2023-brownfields-multipurpose-assessment-revolving-loan-fund
• Brownfields Technical Assistance Providers (TAB) and Research Grants: 5 TAB providers were awarded $53M in grants. Among those, the University of Connecticut (UCONN) received $5M in funding as the Region 1 TAB provider, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) received $10M in TAB funding for Regions 2 and 4, and the West Virginia University Research Corporation received $5M in TAB for Region #3.

In closing, I would like to mention that the 2023 Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop Planning Committee will be working with the Regulatory Committee to hold a virtual “Ask the Regulator” session as a pre-Conference program. We should be opening registration this month and hope you will join us for what is shaping up to be one of the industry’s best Conferences focused on brownfield redevelopment and sustainability. 

Posted June 20, 2023

By Steve Dwyer 

This is a narrative about a professional career with countless contributions to her industry as a regulator with the NJDEP, an industry expert at GEI Consultants, and a manager providing steadfast and effective service to not-for-profit brownfield entities.

Susan Boyle is retiring, doing it “cold turkey-style,” resting comfortably that “all the pieces are in place” for her successors. Sue is also pleased to know she can now consume a cup of hot coffee before it becomes iced coffee.  

Sue, first and foremost, is retiring from her “day job” as an Senior Environmental Practice Leader at GEI Consultants Inc. But that retirement has a domino effect, as she’s also stepping aside from her dual roles as contracted executive director of both BCONE and the New York City Brownfield Partnership. Both not-for-profit duties over time became part of her“day job” too. 

These affiliations lasted longer than Sue had originally anticipated. Sue spent 27 years on the public side of the environmental remediation sector with the New Jersey Hazardous Waste Facilities Siting Commission and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), where she advanced all the way to Assistant Commissioner.  Sue then entered the private sector in 2008 when she joined GEI Consultants. 

Summing up the career ride, Sue told me that she is tinged with a “bittersweet sentiment because I love running organizations. But there are other things in life,” that Sue can’t wait to start pursuing.

“I plan to go ‘cold turkey’ and totally step away for at least six months. I can’t wait to not have to set an alarm clock—and I’m thrilled about the idea of drinking a cup of coffee before it gets cold!” 

Read ahead for a recent conversation with Sue on the past, present and future. 

Q: Take us back to the beginning and your recollection of joining BCONE?

SB: I helped shape the BCONE mission, bylaws, policies and procedures—I had a voice in all that from the outset. This was different than the Partnership, which had already established them. Similar to the Partnership, the group needed an executive director and, knowing how busy everyone was, I approached them about becoming ED, under contract with GEI. 

Looking back, BCONE grew out of  the National Brownfield Association [the “other” NBA];  NBA had established unique, autonomous chapters. Three chapters on the East Coast banned together to create  the Tri- State Brownfields Conference for a number of years, where someone from each of the three states [New York, New Jersey and Connecticut] broached the front-burner brownfield issues for their respective states that needed to be addressed—maybe it was environmental liability or insurance challenges. Pennsylvania was brought in, too, making it a four-state conference. Over time it was clear that the separate chapters were not beneficial to the members who worked in multiple states, especially those in real estate regions that crossed state borders (think Metro NY).  So eventually BCONE established an operating structure that would be more holistic and seamless. 

Over time, I was proud of helping with several evolving organizational polices, including having board term limits established, so new professionals would have a seat at the table, bringing new voices and new perspectives. 

Q: While at GEI, how did BCONE involvement go over and be accepted?

SB: It was a non-issue since BCONE was a GEI client at the outset of the group’s charter, so GEI participants agreed, whether as Board members or regular members, with the BCONE agenda. 

Q: What was the early reception of non-for-profit brownfields organizations among those professionals in the Tri-State area and, by extension, the Northeast region? 

SB: I think it was well received, and the missions and bylaws of both organizations  were very clear and stated. With both non-profits, the language was specific about the overall composition of the board and the overall membership. We wanted a blending of both public and private professionals and also wanted to establish an eclectic balance across all professional capacities, such as environmental consultants, attorneys, environmental insurance professionals, lenders, architects, and others. It’s been an ongoing mission—and challenge—to engage with and bring in some of these professional capacities to a greater degree outside of the core environmental consultant world. But both the Partnership and BCONE have made great strides in effecting that. 

Q: At the outset of your affiliations with BCONE, and even into 2023, what are some areas you’d like to see improved upon? 

SB: One of the frustrations I’ve always cite is that BCONE offers excellent pro bono services to both public and private sectors—it was very frustrating that more organizations didn’t take advantage of those services. It was a question of, how do we reach them in the first place? 

What has also been challenging is getting information out—spreading the word—about successful brownfield projects that go live in the BCONE geography. We have so many environmental consultants who are involved on the front end of a project cycle, but unfortunately many gone by the time development projects go live. We want to shine a light on so many of the success stories, but need a better mechanism to do so. At the Partnership, the Big Apple Brownfield Awards serve as a great vehicle to help shine a light on ‘success stories.’ I think the annual NSCW event can serve as that vehicle for shining a brighter light on more of these winning projects; over the past few years, a project of the year has been recognized at NSCW.

Also within BCONE one vital stride that needs to be made is growing the membership rolls—I think it’s experienced slower growth than we had anticipated. BCONE has such a large geographic footprint, so the question is ’how can we offer more compelling services to states from Maine to Maryland?' The organization has long been environmental consultant-heavy in representation, and we’ve always strived to branch out and be more inclusive.

Q: What is one evolving initiative at BCONE that you have seen build and grow over time?  

SB: The BCONE scholarship program has evolved more and more each year to where we now recognize student projects in a way that it really helps prepare them for their professional futures. We’ve had affiliations with professors from UCONN, CCNY, Lafayette, Stevens  and more. I’m proud of the way they award the scholarships. The NSCW, and its predecessor Tri-State Conference, have been huge successes. Both groups are building stronger alliances with universities and getting involved as guest lecturers. And, it was amazing that both BCONE and Partnership had excellent response to online events during Covid, and this remains a strength. With BCONE, this is a game-changer because of the wide geography, and with it, the logistical challenges. 

Q: What are some personal and professional aspects about new BCONE executive director Anne Lazo that allows you to step way confident about the future—and also as it relates to new Partnership executive director Laura Senkevitch?

SB: They both know their respective organizations very well. Anne Lazo has been BCONE’s webmaster for quite a while, and has literally read every word about BCONE—she’s probably the only person besides me who has. Anne knows the organization so well, and I know she’s eager to balance live and virtual events, including Regulatory Roundtables and Hot Topic events. With NSCW, Anne is also eager to establish a more diversified geographic balance of cities and states that have the potential and desire to host events like NSCW. 

Laura knows so much about taking non-profits forward, having held leadership roles in both fundraising and program development at Human Rights First and Fortune Society. She has significant experience across such areas as donor cultivation, program development, strategic partnership management, non-profit board governance, and more. She’ll work extremely well with the Partnership leadership team.

I’m also very heartened that both BCONE and the Partnership have hired administrative assistants in Michele Hurley [BCONE] and Marianne Leone [Partnership]. I think we have grown the professional services area to where you have the right mix of staff—and that all the piece are in place. Finally, the two organizations collaborate often on events of interest to both memberships—the Women in Environmental Professions webinar series and the Back to the Burbs? Back to the Office? webinar series we did during Covid to name a few.

Q: As you step aside from the day-to-day grind, what kind of inroads will you be most eager to see accomplished at BCONE? 

SB: I’m super excited about the inroads made in Upstate New York. Both Nancy [board member and VP Struzenski Farrell] and [board member] Linda [Shaw] are looking to grow membership there...it’s an important geographic area. Selfishly, I’m happy about this development because I spent a lot of my life in Upstate New York, it’s close to me. Plus, the expansion occurring in Massachusetts and Connecticut have been very encouraging, in the context of hosting the first full-day NSCW Conference to take place outside of New Jersey or New York City. 

Posted May 9, 2023

The Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast (BCONE) Board of Directors has named new executives to lead the organization through 2023 and beyond. The change process was completed pursuant to organization articles, leading to the selection of Melina Ambrosino as President, and Almariet Roberts and Nancy Struzenski-Farrell as Vice Presidents. In addition, the Board of Directors has appointed Anne Lazo as the Executive Director and Michelle Hurley as the Assistant to the Director. Rick Shoyer, the BCONE’s outgoing President, said “This succession of leadership demonstrates the strength of the organization, which has so many dedicated and experienced professionals that are willing to commit their time to leadership roles.”  

Melina Ambrosino thanked the Board of Directors, and said “I am excited for the opportunity to lead BCONE, and look forward to fulfilling its mission. The new leadership team considers benefits to our members to be of primary importance, and we will continue to engage them to ensure BCONE provides high value webinars, seminars, networking events and trade shows, such as our annual Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop (NSCW), which was a great success last year.”

BCONE is a regional non-profit organization promoting the successful redevelopment of underutilized properties to the benefit of local economies. Our membership includes individuals from private companies, government agencies and academic institutions that are active in the real estate, lending, legal, insurance, engineering, environmental, contracting and other sectors that support redevelopment projects.

You can view our list of Directors and Officers by clicking here.

Posted May 16, 2023

By Steve Dwyer 

To Joseph Kraycik, environmental-oriented “north stars” keep him both personally and professionally motivated. It’s a vision that will serve BCONE quite well. 

Kraycik, (P.G., CQA), Senior Consulting Geoscientist at Environmental Standards Inc., Valley Forge, PA, was elected to the BCONE Board of Directors last fall, along with Andrea Poinsett, Senior Professional at GEI Consultants, Inc.

Kraycik was raised on the outskirts of Allentown, PA, in a rural area. “The community where I grew up expanded rapidly -- it was an example of growth not well planned, and it epitomized urban sprawl. It’s important to preserve green space while also fostering economic growth. The key is identifying brownfields for re-development over greenfields.”  

For Poinsett, a north star is a recollection of her mother avoiding swimming in the Atlantic Ocean “because she wanted to ‘see her toes,’” says Andrea, referencing pollution-laden waterways, both large and small. 

“It was an experience that drove me. I have always been eager to stay on top of an environmental and sustainability focus and do so by taking a holistic focus on the process. Professionally, we can get very narrow with our focus, so it’s important to be able to look at the larger picture. It’s what I consider vital,” says Poinsett, a Penn State University grad with a Master of Science (M.S.) in Geosciences.

Both new BCONE board members are eager to get started with their service, all to make BCONE even stronger with the unique professional lens they offer for additional perspective. “I’m excited to be part of the BCONE board and share my experiences and successes with others,” Joe says.  

A Robust Wish List 

As a board member, Kraycik is eager to use the platform to foster more effective environmental justice in the redevelopment process, all to identify areas within the BCONE footprint that are in dire need of revitalization and flip the script for the local neighborhood fortunes. 

Using predictive modeling, identifying technology and tapping existing databases can make a clear difference in pinpointing smart neighborhood revitalization, all in the name of best-practices environmental justice. 

“How can we help the urban areas in need obtain state, local and national funding? That’s the question. And then, how do we convert these blighted properties into productive resources? Community involvement is a vital part of the process,” Joe says. 

Kraycik has been involved with BCONE for five years, an introduction that started when Environmental Standards established a corporate membership and encouraged their employees to jump aboard. “We had been collaborating with former board member Brian Clark for years. Eventually, I became a member of the Pennsylvania expansion committee,” he says. 

Kraycik says that BCONE amasses “a pretty expansive footprint, so it’s incumbent to drill down” and establish a way for people to engage with BCONE in ways that make a difference. One way is to schedule smaller state satellite events where people can more easily mingle and interact.   

“It can be intimidating to join a larger group where you see so many people at once,” which makes it hard to have quality networking. “Starting small on the state level with workshops is one solution.” 

On inroads made with the Pennsylvania expansion committee, Kraycik wants to establish better organization representation in western Pennsylvania. He also spoke about the effectiveness of what he calls “Tour and Pour” events—field trips that allow people to see first-hand the compelling results being made within urban redevelopment. Western Pennsylvania communities are one example. 

“The Tour and Pour events have gone very well, so we want to push westward and also move to the north part of the state -- to areas like the Lehigh Valley and Harrisburg,” Joe notes.   

“Sharing our experiences is important. He says that speaking at events and writing blogs are ways to carry this out,” he says. “We also want to drive the group's visibility and show the experience we have to promote and execute responsible and sustainable development: we need to take the lessons we have learned -- good and bad -- and share them with others.”

Kraycik says he’s closely attuned to the mission-critical nature of solid and thorough grant proposals that can resonate with the U.S. EPA when they are doling out grant money. 

“EPA’s focus on grants always seems to shift its priorities from year to year: maybe one year the emphasis is on promoting green space, another year it’s environmental justice or jobs creation. Grants that resonate with EPA are so important -- it’s part of the job description that I am passionate about,” he says.  

BCONE Roots Trace A Decade 

About Poinsett’s affiliation with BCONE, the relationship began as a volunteer in support of NSCW years ago, such as setting up in advance of the event plus day-of obligations. She also provided content to the website on occasion. 

“That volunteering work resonated with me and continues today -- you can get involved in brownfields in so many different areas, as BCONE brings all types of professionals together. I look forward to working with others in BCONE and hope to help connect people through BCONE,” says Andrea.

Andrea has an expansive affinity for “problem-solving and research -- finding that ‘one’ little detail that someone else might have missed. I perform a lot of front-end due diligence and love new green and sustainable technologies -- innovations that have emerged. At GEI, I developed a niche for conducting historical reviews of former brownfield properties through information gathering.” 

“We all talk about all the different aspects of brownfields and how BCONE’s geographic footprint can connect people in the region in all different corners of the brownfields world. I am excited about the expansion areas geographically and also about working to bring other brownfields practitioners together,” she closes. 

Posted March 20, 2023

Well-qualified BCONE webmaster, and more, eager to take the baton from Boyle this spring…and run with it. 

By Steve Dwyer 

The only constant in life is change, which happens to be afoot at BCONE with the installation of Anne Lazo as executive director-elect and Michele Hurley as assistant to the director. 

Lazo has accumulated years of experience with BCONE, as she’s been a part of the working team since almost the organization's inception. During this time, BCONE has benefitted from her years of results-driven experience as the Chief Executive Officer at Eagle Soars Consulting and Motorhead Advantage. 

It's within these CEO positions that Anne directly manages the building of brand awareness for clients, with a focus on creating greater loyalty with employees, vendors and customers. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. 

Her more than 36 years of professional experience will permeate the BCONE organization as Lazo prepares to succeed outgoing Executive Director Susan Boyle, who announced her retirement in 2022 and is effective this spring. 

One word for the transition is “bittersweet” to Anne and the entire organization. To Lazo, Sue has been a friend and a mentor, and her imprint on BCONE operations will be lasting. On the flip side, Anne knows the show must go on and is excited about this golden opportunity. And why not: it was Sue who tapped her to take over the post. 

“Sue approached me earlier in 2022 and asked about my interest in the ED post,” recalls Lazo, who was officially appointed during the Fall 2022 BCONE Board of Directors meeting. “At first, I thought she was kidding.” 

It's no joke, and one key reason is this: “I’ve worked with BCONE since almost the start, know the organization, I’ve read every word ever e-blasted or put on social media about BCONE, and know the lay of the land. I have such a passion for the organization,” says Lazo, who, among other roles, has been BCONE’s webmaster. She also is closely affiliated with the New Jersey Licensed Site Remediation Professionals Association and the New York City Brownfield Partnership. 

“What’s exciting is that BCONE gets stronger each year -- and I can’t wait to form an even closer relationship with our new leadership team:  President Melina Ambrosino and VPs Almariet Roberts and Nancy Struzenski.” 

Turning A Page 

Anne Lazo will be ably assisted by Michele Hurley, a 1992 Boston College alum with a degree in business management and marketing. Regarded as “a very detail-oriented and organized person, Michele has worked in the marketing department for an environmental company and as an administrative assistant for a stock brokerage firm. After a few years, she told me that she opted to pursue a career in education as she had always dreamed of becoming a teacher. 

“I’ve also been told that my patience and ability to multitask -- think 15 preschoolers at once -- will serve me well. I am excited to be part of this innovative team,” she notes. 

Meanwhile, Anne looks forward to working with Melina, Almariet and Nancy, adding that “my goals are aligned with the leadership team. I was able to see their leadership and organization styles when Tiesha Green and I worked with them on the 2022 NSCW. One way I can complement the strengths of the leadership team is with my skills that have been cultivated on the business end of the equation.”

Melina, on the other hand, had established an affinity for financial services, tax credit strategies and serving in consulting mode for developers. Anne says she’s eager to use her business acumen to build membership and recruit a new breed of professionals to join BCONE, starting with engagement at live or virtual events. 

“One goal is to break out our messaging. Find out why our members joined BCONE and use it to make BCONE appealing to others. Everyone joins for different reasons. We want to engage our members and get them to articulate their ‘why.’” We aim to attract more professionals across different industry groups like attorneys, architects, lenders, insurance companies and more. We’re eager to hone our messaging to accomplish that goal. It would also be ideal to have more of our members write stories for our digital platform.” 

Hurley landed at BCONE in early 2023, as “a friend of a friend of a sister-in-law mentioned that she had heard of an opening at BCONE and that it was a very flexible position -- she thought of me.” 

Michele contacted Melina, and “we had a fantastic initial conversation. She set up an interview with the board. I did some homework of my own and learned about brownfield redevelopment. Some of the names, both individual and company, sounded familiar; in fact, one of the companies was a client of my late husband. (Tragically, Michele lost her husband in March of 2020 “very suddenly and unexpectedly.”) 

“BCONE is something he would have supported and maybe even been a part of,” says Michele.  “When offered the job as an executive administrative assistant, it was a very easy decision for me. I look forward to learning more about the industry he was passionate about and working with an incredibly talented and diverse team of professionals.” 

BCONE is “not only supportive and encouraging but makes me feel like an integral part of the team. I am especially interested in the Education & Scholarship committee and hope to become more involved in that aspect,” she says.  

Committees, Events Power Up 

BCONE committees and events are poised to become even more comprehensive and formidable each year, and Anne plans to work with Almariet to continue cultivating that effort. 

With oversight from the Executive Team, the Marketing Committee, for instance, is crafting BCONE-specific messaging as a recruitment mechanism, honing in on ways to enlist additional members and sponsors across all industries that participate in redevelopment projects. Almariet plans to work with all the committees to ensure they are supported,” Anne says.  

Examples would be to recruit municipalities that have properties for redevelopment. In addition, attorneys, architects, developers (without brownfield-specific expertise), property owners, environmental insurance companies and lenders may not be aware that BCONE, and brownfield redevelopment, is a niche opportunity to ply their craft. Many banks, for instance, don’t grasp the mission of brownfield redevelopment and, as such, might take a pass on extending financing. If they become better educated about the industry, some might take a different approach. 

One new opportunity for BCONE is partnering with Alvernia University in Reading, PA. Board member Joe Kraycik and the Pennsylvania Expansion Committee have been working on an educational and networking event called the “CBCL Conference.” Planned for April, the conference is sponsored by the College of Business Communication and Leadership (CBCL) and focuses on sustainability and other vital issues. Joe thought it would be a good partnership and brought members of BCONE in as part of the conference agenda, with Rick Shoyer (immediate Past President of BCONE) and Mary Ann Manley (BCONE member and speaker at prior NSCWs) speaking at sessions. BCONE will also sponsor a networking event for faculty and students at the end of the day. 

Within the Marketing Committee, Jeff Campbell has launched an initiative to post content to the BCONE site on a more regular basis, and Lazo is eager to coax members to prepare articles for the digital platform to share their industry expertise. 

Speaking about BCONE events, Lazo is eager to work with the Executive Team and Expansion Committees to balance live and virtual events, including Regulatory Roundtables and Hot Topic events. The goal of NSCW, the organization’s annual conference, is to establish a diversified geographic balance of cities/states that host the event, such as the 2022 conference in Stamford, Connecticut event, which went off increasingly well. NSCW is booked for Worcester, Massachusetts, in September of 2023, and will build on the success of previous events. 

Looking back, Anne pointed out how former BCONE president Rick Shoyer established a blueprint for “getting more people involved in committees. Volunteers are important, and Rick was great at getting volunteers on board.”

Lazo sums up her new executive director post opportunity: “I’m excited for the year ahead and am grateful for the opportunity and the trust people have had in me over the years. I will miss Sue terribly and wish her the best in retirement, but also can’t wait to dig in with the leadership team and get started!”

Posted March 16, 2023

On February 3rd, BCONE hosted an evening of axe throwing and networking at a Stumpy’s Hatchet House in Fairfield.   This event was sponsored by SESI Consulting Engineers, APL-PACE LABS, ESA Environmental Consultants, GZA, Triumvirate Environmental, 

Resource Options, and YORK Analytical Laboratories.  This fun and stress-relieving activity was enjoyed by a group of more than 30 environmental consultants, subcontractors, engineers, and attorneys who connected with old friends and met new ones -- all while burying the hatchet.

A quote from attendee Jack Lennox, "The event was great - we shut the place down. We should have T Shirts made that say 'I Survived BCONE Axe Throwing.' It's fun, but definitely dangerous." Don't worry, Stumpy's Hatchet House makes sure that all are safe.

Posted February 14, 2023