Board Members
Naomi Cobb
ICL Board Chair
Naomi Cobb is a self-employed consultant and program designer, bringing integrated ecology and art education programs to low income schools in the Milwaukee area. In addition, she has committed her working career to advocating for the emotional and physical wellbeing of children. Her past employment history includes maintaining a private practice as a Child, Adolescent and Family, providing psychotherapy treatment and consultations to schools and community organizations, and working as an environmental educator. Her board experience includes The Institute for Conservation Leadership, Congregation Sinai, and she served as the Board President for The Counseling Center of Milwaukee.
Mauricio Velásquez
ICL Board Vice Chair, President and CEO of The Diversity Training Group
The Diversity Training Group
Mauricio is President and CEO of the Diversity Training Group, based in Herndon, VA. Mauricio started his firm specializing in Diversity Assessment, Design, Diversity Training, and Executive Coaching. In the 20 years of operation, Mauricio and his team have expanded into that nexus of where Respect in Workplace, Engagement, Trust, and Higher Performance meet. Mauricio also conducts Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, Mentoring Training, and all related employee retention related services (exit interviews, post-exit interviews, survey, focus groups, etc.). Mauricio earned a BA in Economics and Psychology (double major) from the University of Virginia and an MBA in Human Resource Management from the George Washington University. DTG past include National Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, Department of Interior and other “Green Organizations.” Past clients also include HP, Black & Decker, NASA, Visa USA, The White House, law enforcement, Native-American tribes, military and other organizations. Son of immigrant parents, Mauricio is bilingual and his work and life have taken him to every state but North Dakota and nearly 70 countries.
John Eben
ICL Board Treasurer, Vice President - Business Operations
Hunter Business Group
John Eben is Vice President – Business Operations for Hunter Business Group, a consulting company. John has over 25 years experience in leadership of professional services companies providing consulting, training and other services to clients. John has also served as Chairman of the Board of Second Harvest of Wisconsin, Treasurer of The Counseling Center, and Treasurer of Victory Gardens Initiative, all based in Milwaukee, WI. His experience includes financial management and other leadership roles. John is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a MBA from The University of Chicago.
Brandon Hayes
Founder
Bold Bison Communications and Consulting
After 20 years in the non-profit sector, Brandon Hayes launched Bold Bison in 2019 to provide forward-thinking communications services, strategy consulting, and facilitation support to the conservation movement. Brandon was Director of Communications at Openlands, Chicago’s regional land trust and leading conservation organization, where he directed all aspects of external communications, including messaging, printed pieces, website, traditional and digital media, creative design, and photo and video content. Brandon was Manager of Communications and Development at Marwen, which provides high-quality visual arts training to underserved Chicago youth. He was a publicist at Goodman Theatre, Chicago’s leading regional theater. He has also directed operas and plays in Chicago and metropolitan Detroit.
Brandon regularly presents workshops and trainings at national and regional venues. He is an essayist and photographer who has written extensively about the National Parks on AsTheyAre.org, where he chronicles his and his husband’s journey to visit all the US National Parks. His photographs of the National Parks are available on OutInTheParks.com, with a portion of proceeds benefiting each park’s associated friends group. Brandon has a BA in Humanities with concentrations in Art History, English, and History from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. He has a certificate in Training, Facilitation, and Consulting from the Center for New Leadership at Marlboro College. He serves on the boards of the Institute for Conservation Leadership and Chicago Artists for Change.
Julian Keniry
Senior Director
National Wildlife Federation
Kevin Mills
Vice President of Policy
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Kevin Mills is Vice President of Policy at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, based in Washington, DC. He leads a movement to create routes that make walking and biking safe and convenient for everyday travel to elevate active transportation as essential to America’s mobility, public health, environmental and economic development goals. He also serves as President of the America Walks Board of Directors and founded the Partnership for Active Transportation.
Kevin previously worked for the Environmental Defense Fund, directing programs to reduce the climate and health impact of automobiles and to promote sustainable transportation, manufacturing and communities. He founded or played a key role in launching many innovative collaborative ventures—including the Partnership for Mercury Free Vehicles, the Great Printers Project and the Pollution Prevention Alliance—often with the assistance of ICL. Kevin is a graduate of Michigan Law School and began his professional career as an environmental advocate in Michigan.
Madeline Fleisher
Of Counsel
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Madeline Fleisher is Of Counsel in the Columbus, Ohio office of Dickinson Wright PLLC. Since graduating from Yale University and Harvard Law School, Madeline has spent over a decade practicing as an environmental and energy attorney, starting at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. She began her Ohio career as an attorney for the Environmental Law & Policy Center, a Midwestern environmental non-profit, advocating for clean energy and clean water.
Over the last several years she has represented clients in a range of public utilities commission and court proceedings, and handled a number of regulatory, legislative, and transactional matters in the energy and environmental fields. Madeline is also a parent to two delightful children and serves on the Board of Trustees and as Social Action Committee co-chair for Congregation Tifereth Israel. She lacks the photography skills to join Instagram but does enjoy the occasional bracing debate on Twitter as @CleanEnergyNerd.
Malav Sheth
Assurance Director
BDO USA, LLP
Dr. Marissa Jablonski
Sustainability Consultant and Advisor
Dr. Marissa Jablonski is internationally recognized for her work in water engineering, international development, and plastics reduction. She is known for her ability to clarify complex scientific ideas and help people make simple but effective environmentally informed, socially inclusive choices. Organizations she has worked with include USAID, Phuket Hotels Association, and Engineers Without Borders. The actions she offers combined with her engaging authenticity make her an extremely sought after consultant and public speaker. Be sure to follow her @PlasticsWithMarissa