2026 Presenters
Conference Opener
HVRC Executive Director Carla Castillo and CEC & CSC Coordinator Brandon Toye will provide opening remarks.
Carla Castillo, Executive Director, HVRC
Carla Castillo serves as HVRC’s Executive Director, implementing the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration Partnership Planning Assistance Program. She also oversees staff implementation of various New York State and Federal contracts. Castillo and her team have been instrumental in bringing over $30 million to date in funding to the Region’s counties and local governments. Previously, Castillo led the transformative sustainability and neighborhood revitalization efforts of NKCDC, inspired city-wide residents to recycle more through Philadelphia Recycling Rewards while at Recyclebank, and stabilized distressed neighborhoods through the development of 550+ homes as an affordable housing lender and technical assistance provider to community development corporations while at the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and the Reinvestment Fund. Also at the Reinvestment Fund, Castillo worked with internationally based microfinance CEOs to advance the micro-finance industry. Castillo received a master’s degree in City & Regional Planning and an MS in International Development & Appropriate Technology from the University of Pennsylvania. She received a BA in Latin American Studies from UCLA. She serves on the boards of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council, the Hudson River Estuary Management Advisory Committee, and the Orange County Municipal Planning Federation. Castillo chairs the Town of Cornwall’s Conservation Advisory Council and has been on the Town’s Comprehensive Plan Committee.
Brandon Toye, CEC & CSC Coordinator, HVRC
Brandon Toye joined HVRC in December 2025. He works on the NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program, providing support as a Clean Energy Communities Coordinator to communities working to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of cost-saving clean energy projects. He was previously a Climate Corps Intern with Ulster County’s Department of Environment, where he supported projects related to greenhouse gas inventories and climate action planning at the government operation and community scale.
Mr. Toye received his Master of Science in Sustainable Systems from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and his bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Science and German from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Waste Management Challenges
Presenters will share an overview of Statewide & Regional challenges related to Waste Management and set the stage for conversations throughout the conference.
To Be Announced
Presenter biography coming soon.
To Be Announced
Presenter biography coming soon.
Dr. Sehrish Asghar
Dr. Asghar joined HVRC in 2025 and leads HVRC’s Landfill Biofilters Project as Principal Environmental Scientist / Manager. Her work integrates technical expertise, project management, and cross-sector coordination to advance practical, cost-effective strategies for reducing methane emissions from closed landfills. In this role, she oversees landfill gas monitoring and data analysis, supports the design and deployment of biofilter systems, develops quality assurance and emissions monitoring protocols, and manages project implementation across 13 landfill sites. Her responsibilities also include consultant and vendor oversight, coordination with municipalities and regulatory agencies, stakeholder engagement, and project staff supervision. She also supports broader HVRC environmental and sustainability efforts.
Before joining HVRC, Dr. Asghar worked as an Environmental Scientist at Winward Environmental LLC (now Barr Engineering Co.), where she analyzed and interpreted environmental data for regulatory compliance and risk assessment.
Dr. Asghar earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho, where her research focused on optimizing sequencing batch reactors for nutrient removal from dairy manure. She also holds a Master of Philosophy in Microbiology from Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan.
Waste Management Solutions
Presenters will share current and potential Statewide & Regional solutions related to the Waste Management challenges our Region faces.
Ermin Siljkovic
Ermin Siljkovic has 21 years of experience in sustainability, with the last 18 years working in Materials Management.
- 2005 – Office of Congressman Maurice Hinchey - Orange Heritage Trail
- 2005 to 2008 – Organized Workshops on Permaculture Design
- 2008 to 2016 - Zero Waste Programs funded by DSNY (formerly OROE)
- 2016 to Present – OC DPW, Division of Environmental Facilities & Services – O.C. Recycling Coordinator
To Be Announced
Presenter biography coming soon.
To Be Announced
Presenter biography coming soon.
Workshop
HVRC's Clean Energy & Sustainability Team will lead this workshop. More information forthcoming. HVRC staff will facilitate small-group conversations.
HVRC Clean Energy & Sustainability Team
Left to Right: Brandon Toye, Evelyn Laferriere, and Liz Sun
Liz Sun, Senior CEC & CSC Coordinator, HVRC
Liz Sun joined HVRC in March 2023. She works on the NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program, providing support as a Clean Energy Communities Coordinator to communities working to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of cost-saving clean energy projects. She previously was a Legislative Fellow for Citizens’ Climate Lobby, providing technical and research support to promote sustainable environmental policies.
Ms. Sun received her master’s degree in Public Health with a certificate in Environmental Health Policy from Columbia University and her bachelor’s degree in Biology and Public Health from The George Washington University.
Brandon Toye, CEC & CSC Coordinator, HVRC
Brandon Toye joined HVRC in December 2025. He works on the NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program, providing support as a Clean Energy Communities Coordinator to communities working to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of cost-saving clean energy projects. He was previously a Climate Corps Intern with Ulster County’s Department of Environment, where he supported projects related to greenhouse gas inventories and climate action planning at the government operation and community scale.
Mr. Toye received his Master of Science in Sustainable Systems from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and his bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Science and German from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Evelyn Laferriere, CEC & CSC Coordinator, HVRC
Evelyn Laferriere joined HVRC in January 2026. Ms. Laferriere (La-ferry-err) works on the NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program, providing support to communities working to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of cost-saving clean energy projects. Previously, Ms. Laferriere was the Acting Sustainability Coordinator at Clarkson University. She has served as an AmeriCorps Climate Action Leader in Canton, NY, worked with the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, and was a merchandise cast member at Walt Disney World. She is also a self-published author.
Ms. Laferriere received a master’s degree in Environmental Policy from Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY, and her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science & Policy from Clarkson.