Welcome to the
Commission on the
Environment and Sustainability

One of County Executive Ken Ulman's Administration’s signature campaigns is the bold and innovative protection of the environment in Howard County. Step one, according to Ulman, was the creation of the Commission on the Environment and Sustainability.

“The individuals on this Commission represent the best environmental experts in the County, and I look forward to their assistance in making Howard County a true model green community,” said Ulman. “The Commission will be looking to identify the best environmental practices for integration into county government operations and into all aspects of every day life in Howard County.”

The Commission

Co-Chairs

Elizabeth Singer – Vice President of the Howard County Citizens Association and Director, Office of Communications and Public Liaison for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of NIH. Click for .pdf bio

Dr. Mark Southerland – Principal Ecologist for the global project management company, Versar. Mark is a specialist in biodiversity conservation, environmental impact assessment, and habitat restoration. He has represented the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) across the country and is frequently cited as the primary author of CEQ guidance documents on considering biodiversity under the National Environmental Policy Act. Click for .pdf bio

Commissioners

Ken Boras – CEO of BCS Incorporated, a Howard County-based consulting firm specializing in energy, the environment, and health. Click for .pdf bio

Jim Caldwell – Former Director of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection. Click for .pdf bio

Dr. Chein-Chi Chang – Senior Engineer, DC Water & Sewer Authority Click for .pdf bio

Richard Deutschmann – Principal Partner of Howard County based business – Chesapeake Wind & Solar, LLC. Click for .pdf bio

Candace Dodson-Reed – Associate Director, the Columbia Foundation Click for .pdf bio

Ian Kennedy – Information Specialist for Enterprise Community Partners, founder Save Merriweather. Click for .pdf bio

Alex Kopicki – Developer with Manekin, Inc., a commercial real estate company leading the way in the region on green building Click for .pdf bio

Laura Lee – Teacher at Glenelg Country School and environmental and education community advocate Click for .pdf bio

Wanda MacLachlan – Senior Agent, Maryland Cooperative Extension specializing in urban nutrient management, creator and manager of BayWise program Click for .pdf bio

Betsy McMillion – Former recycling coordinator for Howard County known as “Blue Bag Betsy” and current consultant to The Friends of Patapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway Click for .pdf bio

F. Fenby Moore – Local farmer, owner of Larriland Farms Click for .pdf bio

David Pratt – Owner of Lorax Partnerships LLC, a local consulting firm and current President of the Baltimore Chapter of the US Green Building Council Click for .pdf bio

Jennifer Sharp Seinfeld – Principal at Zephyr Environmental Corporation specializing in air quality Click for .pdf bio

Zack Shariff – CEO of Allen & Shariff, an engineering design firm and an expert in green building design and LEEDS certification Click for .pdf bio

Richard Thometz – Manager, Hailey Development, LLC Click for .pdf bio

Ned Tillman – Partner, Growth Adventures and Chair of the Howard County Conservancy Click for .pdf bio

Lee Walker-Oxenham – Conservation Co-Chair, Howard County Sierra Club Click for .pdf bio

Bert Wilson – Principal of South River Consulting which is an independent energy advisor Click for .pdf bio

Shari Zaret – Kings Contrivance Village Board member, community advocate and independent organizational development consultant Click for .pdf bio

Ex Officio Members

John Byrd – Recreation & Parks Department, Chief, Bureau of Parks and Program Services Click for .pdf bio

Mina Hilsenrath – Department of Planning & Zoning, Chief, Division of Environmental & Community Planning Click for .pdf bio

Evelyn Tomlin – Department of Public Works, Chief, Bureau of Environmental Services Click for .pdf bio

Bob Weber – Health Department, Chief, Bureau of Environmental Health

Executive Director

Joshua Feldmark
Josh Feldmark has been a resident of Howard County his entire life. He previously worked at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in the Tributary Strategies program working to reduce nutrient pollution in the rivers and streams that feed into the Chesapeake Bay. He later served as the Executive Director on an environmental nonprofit, the Center for Environmental Citizenship (CEC). While at CEC, he oversaw campaigns with colleges and universities to dramatically improve their environmental purchasing and create sustainable campuses. He successfully coordinated the purchases of over $10 million in renewable energy on campuses ranging from Western Washington University to Tufts University. He has also consulted for Dismantling Racism Works and trained or guest lectured at over 35 colleges and universities with topics ranging from “Clean Energy Initiatives on Campus” to “Anti-Racist Environmentalism.”

In addition, Feldmark served five years on the Columbia Association Board of Directors (2 as Chair), where he promoted such environmental initiatives as transitioning to chemical free pools and environmental certification of their golf courses. He has served on the Wilde Lake Village board, the Board of Vision Howard County, and as an activist with the Sierra Club and the Bike/Pedestrian Advisory Group. He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology from Rutgers University.