The SGA Team
Experts in their fields, SGA team members are crucial to the success of SGA’s work. The team’s sincere dedication to the planet is reflected every day in the essential work that they so thoughtfully and skillfully do.
Experts in their fields, SGA team members are crucial to the success of SGA’s work. The team’s sincere dedication to the planet is reflected every day in the essential work that they so thoughtfully and skillfully do.
Amy Lee serves as SGA’s finance manager.
Amy has handled SGA’s overall bookkeeping for over a decade, including financial reporting, forecasting and cash flow assessment, audit process and tracking of SGA’s revenues and expenses. An independent consultant with Availite LLC, Amy has worked in various capacities with major firms over the years in the roles of audit manager, auditor, and financial accountant.
Although Becky Brodsky began her career in graphic design and Spanish language education, a deep love of nature and a sense of responsibility to preserve it for future generations have always been core values.
It was 2008, on her son’s first day of Kindergarten, when her green schools career pivot began. She was struck by the immense amount of waste at the new parent coffee event. A few weeks later, Becky organized a parent-led school Green Team to address zero waste opportunities. Beginning as a parent leader and later as a Zero Waste Schools professional, this initiative led to years of in-school sustainability projects, education, and advocacy that were executed district-wide and beyond. Since 2019, Becky has had the opportunity to bring her experience and passion for green schools to SGA. She loves that her work allows her to engage and utilize all of her past experiences working in the classroom, collaborating with school staff, implementing zero waste initiatives, designing resources, and even speaking Spanish!
When she’s not talking about reducing waste, Becky enjoys dancing, working out, hiking, gardening, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.
Caroline has a background in Communications and Nonprofit Management from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
During her time there, she managed the school’s greenhouse and served as the lead engagement intern for the school’s sustainability office, focusing on increasing student involvement in event waste reduction and educating her peers on campus-wide sustainability practices. Since then, she has continued to champion environmental causes as part of SGA’s Zero Wasted Food team. Caroline plays a key role in initiatives like the Wasted Food Action Alliance, the Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition, and the C4, Cross Community Climate Collaborative. She enjoys collaborating with colleagues and mentoring interns, fostering a supportive environment for skill development. Outside of work, Caroline finds joy in creative pursuits like sewing and knitting and loves exploring nature through hiking and relaxing in her hammock under the trees.
A trained photographer, Colleen has always had an eye for detail.
Colleen has always had an eye for detail. She began her career in the automotive field rising to the role of Director of Operations and Strategy. However, the industry’s impact on the environment brought her to a career pivot that better reflected her passion for environmentalism. Colleen segued into working on national shared vehicle programs as well as directing and growing sustainable deconstruction efforts. She co-founded a nonprofit that implemented tree planting projects via crowdfunding, and spent three years as the Executive Director for Green Economy Chicago. Her work there resulted in the launch of the City of Chicago’s plastic and single-use bag ban. Before working at SGA, Colleen served on its board of directors.
Colleen loves to cook and be outdoors. She is an accomplished sailboat racer and once managed a Beneteau 40.7 yacht, during a seven month ocean campaign in and around the Bahamas, Cuba, and Florida.
As the Farm to School program manager, educates and trains school food service staff, farmers, and other food system stakeholders, expanding farm to school participation in Illinois.
Prior to SGA, Diane had a career in food service that spanned thirty-two years, the last fifteen committed to school nutrition. She developed successful farm to school programs, building relationships with farmers and producers across the midwest. In 2011, Diane was the first Operations Manager for the newly created Fifth Season Cooperative, in Viroqua, WI. She built the six-member class co-op from the ground up, aggregating products from twenty-eight individual farms, three farm co-ops (totaling 200 farms) and multiple processor members. Utilizing returning trucks and existing distribution routes with co-op member Reinhart Foodservice, and later Sysco Foods, she successfully backhauled locally grown foods into broadline distributors. When she’s not working to grow the Illinois local food infrastructure, Diane is filling canvas after canvas with stunning landscapes in the Driftless Region of Wisconsin.
Gary Cuneen is the Founder and Executive Director of Seven Generations Ahead (SGA), a non-profit organization formed in 2001 with the mission of promoting ecologically sustainable and healthy communities in the Chicago area and Midwest.
Gary designs and manages SGA’s initiatives, while consulting directly with municipal, business, and community decision-makers to facilitate sustainability planning and implementation. Prior to founding SGA, Gary was the principal of his organizational development and leadership firm, which worked with top-level government, judicial, human rights, and university leaders from Guatemala and El Salvador, and with Chicago area corporations and public sector institutions. His interests outside of work include wilderness travel, backpacking, canoeing, fishing, cooking, gardening and woodworking. One of Gary’s favorite places in nature to explore is the state of Alaska.
Jen joined SGA in 2012, bringing with her 17 years of experience in healthcare strategic management, program development, and grant writing.
She was excited to join an organization that shares her commitment to building healthy and sustainable communities. Jen focuses on sharing practical solutions to reduce wasted food by rescuing food to feed people and composting what cannot be eaten. Everyone should take action since food is an important piece of every community…and we all eat. She knows that reducing wasted food is a key solution to the climate crisis that everyone can work on together. In that spirit, Jen participates in several national and state collaborations. She is a founding Board member and Chair of the Education Committee for the Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition, helped found and leads the Wasted Food Action Alliance, is on the national planning team for Food Waste Prevention Week, and is a member of the national Zero Food Waste Coalition.
When not enjoying meals with friends and family, she loves travel, hiking, long walks with her dog Coconut, and playing cards. Jen invites you to come to the table for some leftovers and an invitation to join the clean plate club.
Liz has nearly two decades of experience in the fields of social and environmental innovation, communications, and climate advocacy.
She began her career as a project assistant to the in-house counsel for a Chicago-based wind energy company, and from there has held a variety of roles in law, program development, and communications for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Prior to SGA, she taught social entrepreneurship, business ethics, and business communications at Northwestern University. She holds a JD from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, with a focus on environmental law and policy and entrepreneurship law. She also holds a master’s in journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, where she received a Comer Scholarship for climate and environmental reporting.
Liz tends to be reading two or three books at any given time and is always on the look out for a new favorite band or musician. She also enjoys growing food and native plants in her yard. If she’s not in her garden, you can probably find her at a local forest preserve or on a beach with her family somewhere on the Leelanau Peninsula in Michigan.
Mark began his career in sustainability working on a crew installing solar water heaters in New York and New Jersey during the 1979 Iran oil crisis, after years of construction and community organizing work.
The combining of a solution addressing environmental, economic and geopolitical issues inspired him to finally finish college in Michigan in renewable energy and conservation technology. Mark moved to the Chicago area in 1985 to work on the Chicago Energy Savers Fund program, rehabbing low-moderate income housing on the West Side. He continued a varied career in the US Department of Energy, then in a marketing position with a solar manufacturer in the Chicago Solar Program. Following that, Mark consulted with overseas solar manufacturers looking to establish operations in the US, then a stint directing an energy assistance program. He has been consulting with SGA 2016, doing his part in accelerating solar and related program development, as well as participating in activities like the Microbrew Review. Mark is a history buff, enjoys the jazz, rock and related music scenes, and tries not to brag too much about his grandchildren.Pem Hessing has spent the last 18 years juggling interconnected roles behind the scenes in operations, logistics, and partnerships for fashion brands, the luxury event industry, and small businesses.
A self-described helper, she has been a successful organizer for local causes and nonprofits in her Oak Park, Illinois community. She believes that incremental changes can lead to big changes in culture and policy and is proud that her current work supports that. Pem is passionate about making connections, global travel, and the arts. Her favorite remote work space? On a blanket, in the park under a tree, with the warm sun on her face and arms, and a really good hotspot connection!As a career educator and naturalist, and as a parent, Rachel cares deeply about young people and about the natural world, two entities most impacted by the climate crisis.
She is deeply grateful to spend her days empowering young people in advocating for climate justice. Rachel holds a Masters in Instructional Leadership and has extensive experience teaching and developing curriculum in formal and informal settings as a classroom teacher and a Program Naturalist. Trained by former Vice President Al Gore, Rachel is a Climate Reality Leader and Mentor. She is the past President of the board of Climate Action Evanston. She is certified in Seeking Equity in Educational Diversity (SEED) and an alum of Leadership Evanston and strives to center justice and equity in all of her endeavors which includes working to ensure that It’s Our Future is a welcoming space for all youth. Rachel loves exploring the great city of Chicago, especially the magnificent Lake Michigan where she immerses herself at every opportunity.
Rebecca is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, where she earned a B.S. in Environmental Science.
During her time at LUC, she gained valuable experience within the Office of Sustainability and the Urban Agriculture Department, as well as interning with WasteNot Compost. These roles have given her valuable insight and knowledge into the world of waste and sustainability. Currently, she’s a Program Associate for the Zero Waste Schools Program at SGA, where she helps schools initiate zero waste initiatives to reduce waste and increase awareness for better practices. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and baking. One of her favorite places to go in nature is Loyola Beach during the summer.
Alan Shannon has worked in the areas of food access, nutrition programs, the intersection of nutrition and health, and local sustainable food systems for nearly 40 years.
As public affairs director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Midwest, he led communications and event-planning and founded four networks which focused on support for local food systems, food as medicine, excellence in school meals, and nutrition security. He retired from USDA in 2025, and now provides consulting services for businesses and organizations interested in food as medicine, nutrition assistance, and excellence in school meals, including robust farm to school programs.
He has written about food, restaurants, sustainability, and travel for Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times publications, Viva Magazine, AAA Living and many other publications..
Amy Antoniolli is an attorney at the national law firm of Schiff Hardin LLP where she practices in the Environmental Law Group.
Amy routinely advises clients on compliance with environmental laws and regulations and represents clients before the Illinois Pollution Control Board. Prior to Schiff in 2007, Amy served as an attorney at the Illinois Pollution Control Board for five years where she advised board members on interpretations of Illinois environmental statutes and regulations, served as a hearing officer in regulatory matters, and wrote legal opinions in enforcement cases, permit appeals, and requests for relief from regulations. Amy has a B.S. in Ecology, Ethology and Evolution from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law. She volunteered with the Illinois Solar Energy Association from 2013 through 2016. Amy, her husband, and two kids live in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago.
Henry Visser Melville is an associate in the law firm Sidley Austin LLP, where he practices in the Financial Institutions group.
His practice focuses on counseling clients on matters involving the insurance industry. Prior to joining Sidley’s Chicago office in 2022, Henry earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Colorado Boulder and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. In his free time, Henry likes to cook, box, and read.
Joey Rath is a brand marketer with extensive communications experience in the consumer-goods industry.
She is a recent MBA graduate of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. During her graduate studies, she participated in a 2015 exchange program with the Copenhagen Business School where she visited corporations such as Novo Nordisk and Maersk to learn more about Scandinavian strategies and practices on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. She has a BS from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington. She lives in Oak Park with her husband.
Liz Dunne is a seasoned market research strategist with over a decade of experience addressing complex communications challenges in the issue advocacy, political, and corporate sectors.
As the lead research consultant for Global Methane Hub, Liz oversees public release and messaging research conducted around the world to assess public opinion on methane mitigation efforts. She also provides advisory and coaching support to insights professionals on the client and supplier sides. At Benenson Strategy Group, Liz’s work in polling included developing data-driven messaging frameworks to build bipartisan support for U.S. inclusion in the Paris Climate Treaty and to protect Alaska’s Bristol Bay from industrial mining. Liz’s expertise in communications strategy stems from her time with a top political direct mail firm, working with clients like Sierra Club, NEA, and Rock the Vote. At Uber, Liz led the company’s first U.S. corporate reputation study and expanded it into a global initiative that continues to guide leadership today.
Liz also serves on the Board of Trustees at VanderCook College of Music and volunteers with The Neighborhood Bridge, a new non-profit serving Chicago’s Austin community. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Peter Case is a Wealth Management Advisor with the
Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. He is C.F.P / CERTIFIEDFINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.
Pete and his team take pride in knowing he is helping his clients prepare for a financially stable future. Over the past 22 years, Pete has received different company awards and accolades for his work within the industry. For more information about Pete professionally, please visitpetercase.nm.com.
Pete earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Bloomington. His adventurous personality has taken him to different parts of the world. In addition to travel, Pete participates in triathlons and has also completed an Iron Man distance race. Pete is thrilled to have been an integral part of Seven Generations Ahead for close to a decade while holding different executive roles within the organization. Pete has been an engaged member of the Oak Park community since 2002.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
In 2016, Rowan founded Assemblize, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on Impact Investment opportunities in Chicago.
Rowan continues to lead the growth and focus of the firm. Rowan’s impact work extends past Assemblize including the recent development and implementation of a business coaching platform for Accion Chicago. Rowan also taught a Personal and Career Development class at Roosevelt University. Much of Rowan’s experience in the social impact space came from launching The Stewards Market in 2006 and leading it full time since 2010. Prior to 2010, Rowan was a senior trader at Marquette Partners, L.P., with nine years of experience in the domestic and international futures industry. Before joining Marquette Partners, he played minor league baseball with the Texas Rangers organization for four years, following a successful collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame. Rowan graduated with a business administration degree in Marketing. Rowan remains committed to volunteer public service and is actively involved in several local community organizations and justice based initiatives.
Tom is a commercial real estate consultant at CBRE and focuses on serving organizations throughout the US in the healthcare and financial services sectors.
In addition to ensuring his clients have optimized real estate portfolios, Tom’s work focuses on helping organizations reduce commute times, energy consumption, and their overall footprint. He previously helped organize Sugar Beet Co-Op, an Oak Park grocery store that focuses on providing sustainable, locally sourced organic grocery items, serving as its first Board President. Tom has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a degree in finance from the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University. He has been a volunteer with SGA for the last 12 years and lives in Oak Park with his wife and three sons.
Tracey Anne Nicastro is a partner in the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP, where she practices in the Global Finance Group.
Her practice focuses on secured lending, structured finance, and acquisitions of financial asset portfolios. Tracey joined Sidley’s Chicago office in 1996. Prior to joining Sidley, she clerked for Justice Robert C. Buckley of the Illinois Appellate Court. Tracey has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law. Tracey has been a member of the Illini Leadership Council since its formation in 2006 and is currently serving on the Executive Committee as the Development Committee Chair. The Illini Leadership Council is a group of University of Illinois alumni who serve the University to advance its goals by raising visibility and support. Tracey and her husband, Ross Roloff, live in River Forest with their two children.
Treijon Johnson is currently the Director of Sustainability at the API Group, which includes the subsidiaries Accredo Packaging US, Accredo Packaging Asia, and Advance Polybag, Inc.
He is responsible for building upon the sustainability foundation at API Group by refining and delivering the company’s sustainability strategy. Prior to API Group, Treijon spent the previous 7 years developing breakthrough sustainable packaging between Mars Wrigley and Unilever Global R&D. In both experiences, Treijon worked to develop and deliver key innovations necessary to drive these brands toward their respective 2025 sustainable packaging goals.
