Executive Director, Dona Neely
Dona Neely has over 20 years of experience facilitating the integration of waste reduction programs, energy saving measures and other sustainability initiatives into the daily operations of manufacturers, service providers, non-profits, and government entities. In2016 she became certified as a Zero Waste Business Associate with the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council.
Dona has played a key role in the transition of the former Fort Devens (MA) military base and Priority Superfund site into an internationally-recognized eco-industrial park since 2004. She began promoting sustainable development practices with the launch of an innovative voluntary stewardship program, EcoStar. In response to a growing interest in corporate responsibility and cost saving waste reduction initiatives, she established the award-winning non-profit Devens Eco-Efficiency Center in 2007 to provide educational programs, technical assistance, networking forums, and partnership opportunities that help institutions achieve economic and ecological efficiencies.
She also engaged and led mangers of nine municipalities in the designing, funding, building and opening of a first-of-its-kind regional household hazardous waste collection center located in Devens. The facility now serves as a model for towns across the state.
Earlier careers include working on EPA’s voluntary Performance Track program, researching industry initiatives with Ceres, and consulting on renewable energy and green building technologies. Dona earned her Master of Arts degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University and has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Bryant University.
Amanda Lansing, Program Manager
Amanda began her career in environmental services working as an environmental consultant. For the first decade of her career, she worked on projects involving soil/groundwater remediation, environmental testing, environmental permitting and wetland/waterway protection. Her career also brought her to the Gulf of Mexico to work on research projects for NOAA after the BP oil spill.
As a Recycling Supervisor for the Town of Lunenburg, she assisted the Town Manager in educating residents about the importance of proper recycling habits by implementing and enforcing the MassDEP’s Recycle Smart program. By taking this targeted approach, she was able to assist the Town of Lunenburg in decreasing the amount of contaminated material in their municipal recycling stream by almost 15%.
Amanda earned her B.S. in Conservation Biology from the State University of New York at Cortland and is currently working towards a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Business Practices through USC San Diego.
Daphne Sroka, Program Assistant
Daphne recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Environmental Studies. She was inspired to pursue this field of study after seeing the terrible fires in the amazon rainforest in 2019. She was determined to follow a career path that allowed her to give a voice to the environment
She is excited to make changes within the environmental and sustainability realm. Her main objective is to create transformation within discourse, education, and policies regarding the environment. Prevention of waste and the ability to reuse are major factors of sustainable living which Daphne hopes gains more footing and a larger platform in the future.
Board of Directors
President Neil Angus, Director, Devens Enterprise Commission
Secretary – Marty Poutry, Treasurer, Devens Enterprise Commission
Treasurer – Debra Rivera, Owner, Little Bee Bookshop