Our Team

Smita Chandra Thomas is a recognized expert in the decarbonization of the built environment through demand-side management (DSM). Ms. Thomas is the founder and principal of Energy Shrink — a certified woman-owned small business (WOSB) based in Washington, D.C. and Virginia that provides decarbonization strategy, technical, and energy modeling services to public and private sector clients. Ms. Thomas consults to IFC (World Bank)’s Climate Business Division and is a Visiting Scholar at the George Washington University where she is teaching a course on Decarbonizing Buildings. After a brief stint as architect, and with a Master’s in Building Science from the University of California (LA and Berkeley), Ms. Thomas has spent the last 24 years focused on the intersection of building science and market transformation including at some of the premier US consulting firms. Experienced in business development and leading cross-disciplinary teams, Ms. Thomas is also a published author and invited speaker on decarbonizing buildings.

Michael specializes in analyzing social and community impact assessment for NEPA compliance for some of the nation’s most complex and controversial projects for a wide variety of federal agencies. He is a member of the Interorganizational Committee on Guidelines and Principles for Social Impact Assessment, a group of academic and federal agency specialists tMichael specializes in analyzing social and community impact assessment for NEPA compliance for some of the nation’s most complex and controversial projects for a wide variety of federal agencies. He is a member of the Interorganizational Committee on Guidelines and Principles for Social Impact Assessment, a group of academic and federal agency specialists that produced the most widely-used guidance document for NEPA social impact assessment procedures in the United States. In addition to over a decade of consulting experience, he is a past recipient of a Science & Technology Policy Fellowship with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) at EPA’s Office of Water and Office of Federal Activities in Washington, DC., and was previously an Associate Professor of Environmental and Natural Resources Sciences at Humboldt State University, where he taught courses conducted research in environmental impact assessment, environmental planning, land use planning, and community development. He frequently leads training workshops in social impact assessment and environmental justice for numerous federal agencies and through several universities throughout the U.S.

Ms. VanBuggenum is a public health professional with over thirteen years of experience in program development, policy analysis and project management in university, nonprofit and for-profits settings. She has supported environmental policy and public health initiatives addressing sustainability, health disparities, community planning, resource management, and environmental protection at the local, state, and federal level. She also has experience working on environmental sustainability projects at the nexus of agriculture and environmental sustainability including the development of metrics to measure the environmental, social, and economic impact of the US Dairy industry across the supply chain and relationship building among environmental and agricultural groups to advance public policy and produce environmental and public health benefits through business and program performance.

Mr. Taube is an experienced leader in developing cleantech companies with extensive expertise in shaping environmental partnerships, policy and education. Ben served as the founding executive director of the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), an Atlanta nonprofit aimed at implementing energy efficiency across 11 Southeast states. He has held several key posts, including as the Environmental Manager for the City of Atlanta with the responsibilities of developing and enhancing environmental initiatives and policy for one of the largest cities in the U.S. He has worked as the Director of Government Affairs for EcoSMART Technologies and as Public Affairs Manager for the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, where he was responsible for planning, coordinating and communicating GREENGUARD’s activities, goals and priorities to a variety of audiences.

Ms. Searight is a highly experienced project architect, project designer, and energy consultant. She specializes in Building Envelope Analysis and Behavioral Analysis, and is currently providing consulting services for commercial and residential energy auditing. Prior to that, Juliette was a project leader, architect and designer for Gensler, a global architecture, design, planning and consulting firm, where she was responsible for developing design and coordinating construction contractors across projects at every scale, from light industrial facilities to high-end commercial and governmental. In 2012, she earned her Energy Engineering and Management Graduate Certificate.

Mr. Cameron’s expertise in conflict management, community outreach and interest-based negotiation strategy were developed during his tenure as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Dispute Resolution Specialist under the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act and complemented by his tenure as the Assistant General Counsel at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He also served as the General Counsel’s liaison and advisor on Tribal Law. He currently works on risk communication issues as a member of the Program Action Committee (PAC 7) on Risk Communication of the National Conference on Radiation Protection.

Ms. Rigley is a wildlife biologist with expertise in avian and bat biology and field-based research. She has an extensive background with threatened and endangered species, including compliance with ESA Section 7 and 10. She recently relocated from Southern California where she provided consulting services for a number of state and federal agencies, including CBP, USACE, FWS, and military installations. Ms. Rigley has a Master of Science degree in Natural Resource Management from Unity College and a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology from SUNY Cobleskill.

Mr. Thomason is an environmental consultant with experience as a principal-level environmental and land use planner, with additional skills in CEQA/NEPA/SEPA, land use, contract planning, AQ/GHG/Noise studies, and stormwater/SWPPP. He has managed complex projects for both private-and public-sector clients, as both a traditional consultant and on-/off-site extension of agency staff.  Mr. Thomason has served as the Associate Director for ELMT Consulting and is the Founder of Wolf Environmental. His experience includes managing high-profile Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) across Southern California, for projects ranging from General Plans, Specific Plans, Area Plans, Master Plans, and Long-Range Development Plans to urban infill, large scale transit, residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Mr. Thomason has also assisted the planning department staff for various cities in California. Mr. Thomason is a certified storm water practitioner (QSP/D, CESSWI/CPESC) with significant experience writing, implementing, and monitoring SWPPPs for clients ranging from large construction firms to Caltrans. He has performed several AQ/GHG/Noise studies for a wide variety of projects as well as peer reviewed studies prepared by other firms.