Some of us get paid to keep the lights on

(but we turn them off when we leave the room)

Our staff is focused on building and maintaining the infrastructure for collaboration—the bones of NESEA. They work at our home office in Greenfield, MA. To reach them, see the Contact page.

Mary Biddle

Director of professional development
Role: Mary joined NESEA in July 2008. She is responsible for the planning, marketing, staffing, and on-site operations of NESEA’s annual BuildingEnergy conference. She also supervises the Green Buildings Open House program and the on-line Building Energy Masters Series.

Background: Before joining NESEA, Mary spent many years working in live television production, earning three Emmy Awards as production supervisor with the NBC Olympics. She has training as a residential energy auditor and has studied renewable energy technology applications.

It was because of NESEA that I joined my local energy committee and did a deep energy retrofit on my home. Actually, I learned about the National Grid Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot Program from Dave Legg at the BuildingEnergy conference in 2010. The best thing about NESEA is that you meet people and make connections, and only good comes of it!”

Rayna Heldt

Membership coordinator
Role: In addition to some administration of membership, Rayna focuses on member recruitment (join campaigns), benefit fulfillment, chapter support, and member/chapter events such as the annual meeting.

Background: Rayna came to NESEA first as a BuildingEnergy volunteer, in 2010. She became the BuildingEnergy registration coordinator in January 2011 and joined the staff full-time in July 2011. She holds a master of science in anthropology and development, with a focus on the relationship between culture, environment, and development.

I love getting to know the members one by one and putting faces to names when I meet them at events. My favorite thing is connecting NESEA members to each other, helping to facilitate new business connections, mentorships, and friendships.”

Jennifer Marrapese

Executive director
Role: Jennifer takes care of the big picture: How do we make NESEA’s multidisciplinary network of practitioners bigger and better? She works with the board of directors and the membership to establish NESEA’s strategy and to ensure that the members and their staff have the resources to execute it. She practices a philosophy of openness and collaboration. She’s known for her strategic sense and for her ability to forge strong partnerships among staff teams and collaborators alike.

Background: Before joining NESEA, Jennifer served as vice president of regulatory affairs for Cox Communications and as executive director of Social Venture Partners of Rhode Island. She earned her BA in journalism from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, her JD from the University of California, Berkeley, and her MA in organizational management and development from Fielding University.

This is the first job I’ve ever had where my extreme impatience has been an asset. There is no shortage of projects to undertake, and every day is different. I love the challenge! One of the things I love most about working at NESEA is seeing the members and volunteers in action. They make it clear that this is their organization! It’s so energizing to be part of the BuildingEnergy planning committee, to see the BE sausage being made. We have lots of cooks in the kitchen, lots of disparate voices in the choir . . . but the result is like nothing I’ve ever seen. I also love the fact that NESEA members are equally comfortable sharing and learning from not just their successes, but also their failures. There’s a real unvarnished authenticity at work within this organization!”

Travis Niles

Manager of communications and information technology
Role: Travis handles much of NESEA’s outreach and marketing efforts. When he’s not busy updating the website, managing social media campaigns, or writing newsletters, he assists the executive director with fundraising and other development work.

Background: Travis joined NESEA in July of 2011. Before NESEA, he did nearly two terms as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in a human services position where he used traditional and digital marketing to connect professional volunteers with high-level volunteer roles. He also coauthored a white paper titled “Volunteer Connectors as Relationship Brokers” with several colleagues and the Massachusetts Service Alliance. He holds a BA in history from Wells College.

My most exhilarating moment at NESEA was when I first got to sample the passion of the BuildingEnergy planning committee. The power of this network is nothing short of astounding, and it is a great privilege to be able to work with the people who are securing our nation’s energy independence one step at a time.”

Gina Sieber

Business manager

Role: Gina is responsible for all the accounting functions that keep things going, from paying the bills to seeing that grant guidelines are met. Some of her other duties include building facilities management, maintaining federal and state reporting records, and trademark registration. She is also the personnel director and administers the retirement plan and other employee benefits.

Background: Gina started at NESEA in July of 2012. Before joining NESEA, Gina was the Business Manager for the Mary Lyon Foundation of Shelburne Falls, the Treasurer for the Charlemont Sewer District and the Grants Manager Assistant for the Greenfield Public School System. Gina’s background consist of an Associates Degree in Accounting from Newbury College and 25 working years in accounting positions.

I love working with everyone at NESEA, from staff to volunteers to conference attendees. Everyone is very committed to what they do. I also enjoy learning more about renewable energy through this organization.”

Jennifer Spencer

Trade show manager, BuildingEnergy conference
Ad sales, BuildingEnergy magazine
Role: Jenny joined NESEA in September 2008. She is responsible for contacting potential BuildingEnergy exhibitors and, once they sign on, for handling their contracts—which generate over a quarter of a million dollars each year. She also encourages new exhibitors to become NESEA members. In addition, she sells advertising for NESEA’s magazine, the BuildingEnergy.

Background: Jenny’s background in architectural drawing, fine art, space planning, and advertising sales make her very helpful to exhibitors. She and her husband purchased their first solar hot water system in the Berkshires in the 1980s. Their current Vermont home is comfortable and efficient thanks to a solar system and window quilts purchased from a Vermont company.

The highlight of each NESEA year is to meet my new and returning exhibitors at BuildingEnergy and know that I have played a major role in helping them promote their products or services. Our dedicated staff and volunteers work very hard each year to pull off another great show.”