Ivan Urlaub – Board Chair (Urlaub Strategies)
Ivan is CEO of the recently launched Urlaub Strategies, a national consultancy helping business, manufacturers, government, and not-for-profits navigate the wickedly complex challenges and opportunities of the energy and climate transition. He catalyzes industry, investment firms, and nonprofits in energy, climate tech, and digital infrastructure, by helping them find their strategic pathways forward to drive and adapt to market transformation. Ivan’s impact as a serial social entrepreneur and leading southeast clean energy expert has been acknowledged through several business and climate leadership awards. He is a recent SAFE Energy Security Fellow, recent RMI eLab Accelerator coach, and a member of Leadership North Carolina’s Class XVII. Ivan holds a joint masters in public policy and environmental management from Duke University and a dual bachelor’s degree in political science and environmental studies from The George Washington University.
Lance Hardin – Treasurer (Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust)
Lance spent almost 30 years as a financial consultant, primarily with the international “Big-4” firm of Ernst & Young. Lance subsequently earned a graduate degree in Appalachian Studies, focusing on the culture, history, literature, and environmental issues of the southern Appalachian mountains and now works with the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust conserving the region’s natural resources. In addition to serving as Treasurer for EarthShare NC, Lance has been on the board or served with numerous other nonprofits, including Friends of NC State Parks, InterFaith Food Shuttle, BSA Troop #395, Triangle YMCA Y-Guides and Princesses, Leadership Raleigh, Highlands Historical Society, among other organizations. Lance and his wife, Gwyn, now live in the NC mountains where they enjoy outdoor pursuits, including hiking 1,200 miles on the Appalachian Trail in 2021. Lance is an avid researcher of western NC history and loves to combine his passions for the unique culture and natural resources of the area.
Evette Pettus (Thermo Fisher Scientific)
COMING SOON…
Jane Preyer (Former Director, Environmental Defense Fund)
Jane Preyer is former director of the North Carolina office of Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). In that role, she was senior adviser for policy and political strategy on a broad range of issues and on fundraising. She managed EDF’s initiative with national companies to increase the use of environmentally preferable paper. Prior to EDF, Jane coached women’s tennis at Duke University (1985-1993) and had a professional tennis career (world ranking 43rd). She was named ACC Coach of the Year four times and was inducted into the NC Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991.
She received her BA and MPA from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Leroy Fields (Wells Fargo)
Leroy has been a Wells Fargo team member for twelve years. In his current role as a Lead Business Execution Consultant, Leroy supports business continuity planning within Corporate Human Resources. He has over 13 years of experience in human resources. Leroy is an environmentalist and previously supported the Wells Fargo Charlotte Green Team as Chair, supporting various green initiatives throughout the year including paper reduction programs, Shred-It Recycling Events, solar energy programs and Earth Day activities. He is an advocate for addressing the challenges to the Charlotte-area food system. Additionally, Leroy serves on the Transit Services Advisory Committee for Charlotte Area Transit Services (CATS). Leroy is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, with a degree in Communications/Public Relations. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, as well as volunteering.
Vicki Lee Parker-High (NC Business Council)
Vicki Lee Parker currently serves as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Business Council (NCBC), a statewide non-profit business association with a mission to connect, empower, and influence business leaders to build a vibrant economy that protects our natural resources, sustains local communities and benefits all North Carolinians. Prior to joining NCBC, Vicki Lee served as the Development & Communications Director at the Carolina Small Business Development Fund. Through her fundraising, Vicki Lee secured more than $11 million in funding for small businesses in underserved communities across NC. Vicki Lee was also a writer for the News & Observer in Raleigh covering small business, the mortgage crisis, manufacturing, technology, as well as writing for the Black Enterprise Magazine on personal finance issues. Vicki Lee has a Master of Business Administration from Meredith College in Raleigh and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from American University in Washington, D.C.
Yvette Jones (PowerUp NC, NCLCVF)
Yvette Jones has 14 years of experience in non-profit work. She has successfully developed community partnerships, led programs, organized campaigns and projects. Yvette has an additional twenty plus years working abroad for the federal government as a support officer during which she recognized the importance of the development of cultures, informing and educating communities, and taking strategic steps to achieve positive change. In her current position she and her team have organized in underserved communities around environmental issues. She believes that educating and engaging African American, Hispanic, and lowincome communities that are first and worst hit by the effects of climate change is key to achieving a just transition. Yvette is a member of the Surry County NAACP (Scholarship and Events committees), the SEC Democratic Party, and the Sandy Level Community Inc.-Friends of the Historic Rosenwald School (Planning Committee). She attended Surry Community College, The Art Institute of Charlotte and has received numerous awards and credits throughout her career.
Michelle Murrie (RAFI-USA)
Michelle Osborne serves as the Come to the Table Senior Program Manager at the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI-USA). The CTTT program connects faith communities with farmers, farmers market managers, and other community leaders engaged in food access work to increase capacity and promote equity. She has served as a member of RAFI-USA’s equity team for 3 years and currently serves as the staff representative on RAFI-USA’s board of directors. Michelle earned a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School and a Master of Social Work from the UNC-CH School of Social Work and has served in leadership positions in churches, nonprofit ministries, and community organizing groups. In her free time, Michelle performs improv comedy, hikes, and plays with her dog.
Jordan Calaway (Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation)
Raised in North Carolina, Jordan has been lucky enough to call multiple parts of the state home (from the coast to the mountains). Jordan was an undergraduate at Wake Forest University and earned her Masters in Public History from UNCG as well as her Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. Jordan is an active community volunteer and public schools advocate, especially through the NC PTA. She received the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for this work. Since 2015, Jordan has worked for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Having grown up camping on the Parkway with her family makes her current role feel like coming full circle. She now gets to enjoy the same park with her own children and finds great pride in her work and our continued mission to protect this national park.
Anthony Norman (CIVIC Federal Credit Union)
Anthony was born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He earned a B.S. in both Accounting and Business Management at NC State University. He later attained a M.B.A. with a focus in Management Information Sciences at Wilmington University. After a brief stint playing basketball professionally overseas Anthony has cultivated a 20 plus year career in the accounting and financial services industry. The better part of his last decade of experience has been in the Credit Union, not for profit industry. Anthony’s current position at LGFCU/CIVIC is a pivot and has him applying a developing passion for values-based banking, member service and sustainability in innovative ways. During his personal time, you can usually find him spending time with family and friends, working out, or enjoying a good book or movie.
Gerald Babao (CleanAIRE NC)
Gerald is a nonprofit “lifer” and brings a passion for the environment/outdoors and almost 20 years of leadership, management, and support experience. Gerald leads and monitors CANC’s internal operations, works closely with our Executive Director on the execution of strategy, and has complete business responsibility for programs and activities. Before joining CleanAIRE NC, Gerald worked for various emerging, national, and international nonprofits. However, he is most proud of helping athletes achieve their dream of becoming an Olympian/Paralympian. For years, Gerald worked tirelessly with the Olympic movement advocating for accessibility for people with disabilities in sport and the inclusion of canoe/kayak at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. When he is not at work, Gerald loves being active outdoors, traveling, rooting for his favorite Washington, D.C. sports teams, and exploring the craft beer scene wherever his travels take him.
Monica Dozier (Bradley, LLP)
Monica leads Bradley’s Energy Team in Charlotte and is co-founder and co-chair of the firm’s Renewable Energy Practice Group. Monica advises developers, contractors, and engineers in utility-scale, commercial and industrial, and residential renewable energy projects, focusing on risk mitigation and dispute avoidance throughout the development, construction, operation, and maintenance phases of projects. She routinely serves as outside general counsel to clients, including drafting and negotiating project agreements nationwide and internationally. Monica coordinates teams to advise clients on multi-disciplinary industry issues affecting the industry, including rapidly-evolving compliance and regulatory frameworks in tax, international trade, and cybersecurity matters. She is an active member of the NC Sustainable Energy Association, E4 Carolinas, and ABC Carolinas.
Angela Liu (Unity Web Agency)
Angela is passionate about leveraging her diverse skills, experiences, and abilities to support positive, meaningful impacts in the world. She became a versatile generalist through her time in a software consulting company where she took on various roles from technical delivery to project management to business operations. Her diverse professional background includes software implementation for business operations and processes, project management, customer relationship management, scheduling and planning, recruiting and training. She loves walks in nature, meaningful conversations and studying the value of authenticity, balance and communication in life.