The NEBRA Board of Directors is responsible for NEBRA's general policies and fiscal health.  The Board hires and oversees NEBRA's Executive Director, provides guidance on NEBRA activities and priorities, and responds to the requests and needs of NEBRA Members.

The NEBRA Board meets the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 11:30 am EST. Use this link to join the Zoom meetings.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING between NEBRA and the Mid-Atlantic Biosolids Association regarding Membership Pricing for Biosolids Related Training.

See heartfelt tribute to retiring NEBRA Executive Director, Ned Beecher, at the October 15, 2020, Membership Meeting: video or slide show.

(The year in parentheses, below, designates the year in which the Board member's term expires; terms end at the Annual Meeting in the fall.)

Michael Carignan (27)
President
Agresource, Inc.
Rowley, MA
office: 978-388-5110

Mike Carignan is the President of Agresource Inc, an environmental services company focused on organics diversion based in Massachusetts. Mike got his start in the Green Industry with over ten years of experience in high intensity golf course grounds management. Mike joined Agresource in 2015 focusing on end uses for organic residual products. His scope of work has broadened to include all activities at Agresource including organics diversion and conversion.

Mike earned a B.S. in Sport Management from Colby-Sawyer College and a MPS in Turfgrass Management from Pennsylvania State University.

Eryka Clive (26) — President
Lead Dispatcher
Resource Management, Inc. (RMI)
Holderness, NH
office: (603) 536-8900

Eryka (Reid) Clive graduated from Plymouth State University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. While in college she spent two summers as an intern with NEIWPCC as their Youth and Environment Coordinator.  Since March 2016, Eryka has been working with Resource Management, Inc. (RMI) as a Project Assistant for their Compliance and Marketing departments and is currently the Lead Dispatcher for RMI’s fleet of tractor trailers.
 

Patrick Ellis (27)
Director of Organics
Casella Resource Solutions
Portsmouth, NH
office: 603-290-5819

Patrick Ellis has worked in world of Biosolids and Residuals since 1994. Originally hired to market Biosolids and residual derived Products, Patrick was responsible for driving value of these materials in central New England. Patrick moved on to lead Casella’s efforts to sell the services of the company to municipalities, and industrial producers of organic residuals. Patrick’s efforts expanded Casella’s foot print into New York, and allowed Casella to more than double the volume of material that they managed. Patrick now leads Casella Waste Systems biosolids business, overseeing the development of additional biosolids process capacity, and the efforts to provide service to additional customers.

Patrick thinks of himself as a true New Englander having been born in Massachusetts, raised in Connecticut, and now living in New Hampshire. He attended the University of Maine where he obtained a B.S. with a focus on Environment Sciences. He has been elected and previously served on the Portsmouth, NH School Board for 9 years, serving as Board Chair during his final two years.

Aaron Fox (27) — Treasurer
Operations Manager
Lowell Regional Wastewater Utility
Lowell, MA
office: 978-674-1604

Aaron Fox is the Operations Manager of the Lowell Regional Wastewater Utility, LRWWU. His career has been dedicated to public service and encompasses over 20 years of operational and management experience in the municipal wastewater field. This includes planning and supervisory work in wastewater utility collections, maintenance, operations, and engineering divisions. Aaron holds a MS in Civil Engineering from University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He is also a Licensed Grade 7-C Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator.

Lise LeBlanc (26) — Past President
B.Sc., M.Sc., B.Ed., P.Ag., CNMP
Principal
LP Consulting
Halifax, NS
office:  902-256-2636

Lise LeBlanc is a nationally recognized leader in biosolids reuse, nutrient management, and regulatory strategy. A Professional Agrologist with over 30 years of experience, she began her career with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture before founding LP Consulting, a firm known for delivering science-based solutions that connect agriculture, industry, and resource management.

Lise has led the development of land application programs for biosolids and other non-agricultural organic wastes across Canada, working with clients in the municipal, industrial, and agricultural sectors. Her expertise spans Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) fertilizer registrations, regulatory compliance, market development, and public education. She has helped transform organic residuals, including biosolids, digestate, wood ash, and paper mill sludge, into valuable soil amendments and climate-smart agricultural tools. In addition to her service to NEBRA, Lise is a member of several CFIA working groups. In 2019, she was inducted into the Environmental Hall of Fame in recognition of her leadership in sustainable waste management.

Arthur Simonian (27)
P. E., Executive Director
The Mattabassett District
Cromwell, CT
office: 860-635-5550

Mr. Simonian is a Registered Professional Engineer and has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has been the Executive Director of The Mattabassett District since June 2015, where he directs and supervises the operation and maintenance the Mattabassett District trunk line sewer and right of way, outfall, the ash landfill and incidental facilities connected therewith; plans for short and long range needs of the District; recommends need for contractual services for Board approval; coordinates District projects and plans with outside consultants and public agencies; and prepares the annual budget and calculates user fees. From 2006-2015 he was Director of Public Works & Town Engineer for the Town of Berlin, CT and responsible for the Water Sewer Commission, Engineering, Highways, Facilities/Building Maintenance Departments with 39 personnel. From 2000-2006 he was Senior Project Manager for Diversified Technologies Consultants – overseeing the design and construction of two public school projects (26 million dollars and 60 million dollars) and two design/build dormitory projects (50 million dollars combined) overseeing Civil, Environmental, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing design groups. Arthur’s awards and achievements include: Editing Board of a Public Works Journal; Implemented LEED and Clean Energy Resolutions for the Town; Member of ASCE, America Public Works Association; Lincoln Arc Welding Award for Parking Garage Design; ACEC Engineering Excellence Award on behalf of the Mattabassett District for the WPCF Upgrade; and AGC Build CT 2016 Award for Construction Manager/General Contractor Large Renovation for Facility Upgrade.

Philip Tucker (26) - President-Elect
Superintendent
York Sewer District
York, ME
office: 207-363-4232

Phil Tucker started his career in 1998 at the Bar Harbor Wastewater Treatment Department during which time he acquired his Grade 4 Wastewater Operators License, a Grade 4 Collections certificate, and a Grade 1 laboratory analyst certificate. In 2009, he took a position at the Waste Management Leachate Facility in Rochester, New Hampshire, where he upgraded to a Grade 2 lab analyst. In 2013, he took a position at Sanford Sewerage District as the Collections System Foreman and earned his Grade 5 Wastewater Operators License for the State of Maine. In 2017, he became Assistant Superintendent at the York Sewer District and has since been promoted to Superintendent. Phil is very active with the Maine Water Environment Association, serving as President in 2021, and also serves on the Executive Committee of the New England Water Environment Association.

NEBRA Staff — Janine Burke-Wells, Executive Director

Janine became Executive Director in May of 2019. She is responsible for achieving NEBRA’s vision and implementing its strategic plan through work with the Board of Directors and the various committees. She has twenty years’ experience in wastewater operations and also worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a decade. Janine has an MPA from Northeastern University and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. She is a licensed wastewater operator in Rhode Island.