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.
Bridget Gibbons, Board Chair, HVRC
Bridget Gibbons is the Director of Economic Development for the County (She has served as Deputy Director since January 2018 and was appointed Director in October 2018).
Gibbons heads the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and Westchester County Local Development Corporation (LDC). The two agencies offer business resources, financial assistance, and a wide range of related services and incentives to help businesses and not-for-profits expand through construction and permanent jobs.
Gibbons was the founder and owner of Gibbons Digital Consultants, a digital marketing agency. The company helped various industries in the tristate area leverage social media as a business development tool, providing a full range of services from comprehensive, long-term strategy to daily social media management on Facebook and all other platforms.
Before launching her digital business, Gibbons spent 15 years as a Senior Consultant and Project Manager for Towers Watson, a global human resources and benefits consulting firm. She managed extensive multinational project teams to implement complex, web-based systems. Her clients included JPMorgan Chase, IBM, Molson Coors, and Accenture.
Gibbons, a resident of Bronxville, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies from American University in Washington DC and certificates in computer technology from Columbia University and Social Media from New York 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.
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.
Douglas Upright
Douglas Upright is the Regional Materials Management Engineer for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) in Region 3. Douglas manages a team of engineers and scientists providing regulatory oversight for solid waste management facilities, including transfer stations, waste to energy facilities, organics recycling facilities, and illegal disposal sites throughout the seven counties of region 3. Having been appointed to this role in 2024, he brings prior experience and knowledge from the Division of Water and Private industry. Douglas holds a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Clarkson University and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of New York.
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
Sarah Guthridge
Sarah is a consultant at RRS with 15 years of experience in waste management, sustainability consulting, and relationship building. She got her start in Beacon where she founded Zero to Go, a small company providing recycling and composting services at local events. She grew the business to include a bike-powered compost pickup program for the city, and Beacon now has an established municipal compost program. Sarah later worked at two waste brokerage firms, managing industrial waste, recycling, and organics for clients such as Mars' confectionery and petcare, and overseeing the waste needs of a national client with hundreds of locations and an ambitious zero waste to landfill goal. Recognized as an EPA Environmental Champion in Region 3, Sarah is dedicated to advancing sustainable waste practices through collaboration and innovative solutions.
Marc Rider
Marc Rider has spent the last 13 years in various roles in public service. He enjoys finding innovative solutions to complex issues, which is what drew him to a career in waste management. He started as Executive Director of the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency in March of 2024. Prior to joining the amazing team at the UCRRA, he spent 18 months as General Counsel to Access: Supports for Living Inc., a behavioral health nonprofit. Before that, he spent 10 years in Ulster County Government working as an Assistant County Attorney, Director of Purchasing, and Deputy County Executive. The last position gave him the opportunity to lead Ulster County’s efforts to combat COVID-19.
When not working, Marc enjoys spending time with his wife & two daughters. He coaches soccer and is President of the Kingston City School District Board of Education. He loves playing and watching sports, hiking, camping, & spending time outdoors.
Timothy Weidemann
Over the past two decades, Tim Weidemann has worked closely with local governments, nonprofits, and businesses in the Hudson Valley to create stronger, more prosperous communities and deliver effective public services.
After earning degrees from SUNY New Paltz and Carnegie Mellon University, Weidemann joined Deloitte Consulting’s Change, Leadership and Learning practice, managing large-scale organizational efforts for public sector agencies. Returning to the Hudson Valley in 2006, he built a municipal consulting practice, establishing Rondout Consulting in 2011.
In 2016, Weidemann joined Ulster County government, serving as Senior Economic Developer, Assistant County Executive, and Director of Innovation, where he led COVID-19 data operations and constituent services. In 2021, he was appointed Director of Economic Development, spearheading major projects including the public-private partnership to redevelop the former IBM campus (iPark 87) and attracting major investments to the region. His work drove over $500 million in economic development initiatives across Ulster County.
After serving as special advisor for economic development in NY’s 18th Congressional District, Weidemann returned to private practice in 2023 to support regional sustainable economic growth. He currently serves as the Coordinator of Organizational Performance and Development for the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency, and is a member of Ulster Strong, the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Council of Industry.
Workshop
HVRC's Clean Energy & Sustainability Team will lead this year's workshop. 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.