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.
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.
Crystal Jennings
Senior Manager of Youth Leadership Programs
National Wildlife Federation
As Senior Manager of Youth Leadership Programs for the Education and Engagement team at the National Wildlife Federation, Crystal has over 11 years of experience educating youth from communities of color on environmental issues and inspiring them to take action to ensure environmental justice for all.
Crystal has led Earth Tomorrow, an environmental education and leadership development program providing all youth—Black and Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) – equitable access to nature, career and leadership opportunities, and environmental advocacy. Through Earth Tomorrow, Crystal found her passion working with youth from frontline communities and inspiring them to be agents of change. Crystal also has experience implementing NWF’s Eco-Schools USA, an international K-12 school-wide greening program and EcoLeaders, a leadership and career development program for college students and young professionals. Crystal has a BS in Environmental Science from Spelman College in Atlanta and enjoys spending time in nature with her husband and three kids.
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
Thu Pham
Chief of staff
Defenders of Wildlife
Thu Pham has worked for over 20 years on national efforts to advance women’s leadership, environmental protection, progressive movements, and strategic philanthropy. She currently serves as chief of staff at Defenders of Wildlife, a national organization dedicated to the protection of wild animals and plants in their natural habitat. Before becoming chief of staff, she served as secretary and in several leadership positions on its Board of Directors.
Thu spent much of her career at Rachel’s Network, an influential network of women funders who work at the intersection of women’s leadership and environmental philanthropy. She is a lifetime member of Rachel’s Network. Thu currently serves as a board director for The Boat Company, Institute for Conservation Leadership, the Eastern Market Main Street, and CRYSP DC.
As a 20+ years resident of Capitol Hill, Thu has served as a volunteer in a variety of roles including the Capitol Hill Cluster School PTA, a team manager for a travel soccer club, and a coach for Capitol Hill Little League. She also volunteered with Calvary Women’s Services and Dress for Success-DC, two women services organizations.