Connecting funds to projects for a greener Montgomery County.
Making a green dream a reality.
The Montgomery County Green Bank is a publicly chartered 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to accelerating energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean energy investment in Montgomery County, MD. We partner with the private sector to provide more affordable and flexible financing options for County residents and businesses for clean energy and climate-resilient projects. These projects save energy, lower greenhouse gas emissions, create healthy living and working environments, foster a more resilient economy and environment, and help the County achieve its environmental goals.
Our Mission
To help Montgomery County achieve its climate goals by leveraging capital and innovative partnerships to make clean energy and climate-resilient solutions more accessible and affordable for all residents and businesses.
Our Vision
A prospering, sustainable, and healthy Montgomery County where everyone participates in and benefits from clean energy and climate-resilient solutions.
The Team
Stephen Morel
Chief Executive Officer
Stephen Morel
Contact: info@mcgreenbank.org
Stephen Morel is the Chief Executive Officer and was formerly the Chief Investment Officer of the Montgomery County Green Bank (MCGB). He comes to the Green Bank with a professional background in corporate and project finance, with a particular interest in the use of public and private funds to fill market gaps and catalyze investment into high impact sectors. Stephen brings his strong skills in financial management and project-related investment to the MCGB in order to accelerate the deployment of programs and products towards achieving the Bank’s clean energy and energy efficiency objectives.
Prior to the MCGB, Stephen led a financial consulting company dedicated to connecting infrastructure developers with debt and equity financing sources. This role followed almost a decade of experience as an investment officer and project finance specialist for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Stephen began his financial career in investment banking at Taylor-DeJongh and Friedman, Billings, Ramsey. He lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife and two dogs.
Rokas Beresniovas
Sr. Director, Commercial Business & Investments
Rokas Beresniovas
Rokas Beresniovas is the Director of Commercial Business for the Montgomery County Green Bank. He has over 20 years of experience in business to business, community, and retail environments where he managed teams, built relationships, monitored market conditions and expanded client assets. He also has numerous appointments to nonprofit boards for corporate stewardship and community building.
Born in Lithuania, Rokas emigrated to the U.S. in 1998. He has worked predominantly in the financial services sector, where he served as a Vice President of Business Development and Commercial Banking for Bank of America, Eagle Bank, HSBC Bank USA, State Bank of India USA, and the National Institutes of Health Federal Credit Union.
Rokas has served on the boards of various community organizations, including the Georgetown Business Association (GBA), Kids 4 Peace International, End Violence Against Women International, and The Embassy Series.
Rokas was awarded the 2016 SmartCEO Washington DC Executive Management Award and was a finalist for the 2015 SmartCEO Washington DC Money Manager Award. He also won a Global Tassels Community Innovator Award (2015) and The Eurasia Center Golden BRICS Award (2014).
Rokas is the founder of the Lithuanian nonprofit organization Global Lithuanian Leaders (GLL) and was recognized by the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2015 for outstanding leadership for mentoring the next generation of business leaders.
Tyniah McDuffie
Director, Communications and Community Engagement
Tyniah McDuffie
Contact: info@mcgreenbank.org
Tyniah McDuffie is the Director of Communications and Community Engagement at Montgomery County Green Bank. As an innovative, dynamic, and results-driven visionary, she brings 10 years of experience in communications and community outreach to the Green Bank.
Working primarily in the non-profit sector, Tyniah has managed the development and implementation of successful communications and marketing strategies for organizations, such as American Society for Microbiology and American Association of Blood Banks. With expertise in social media management, media relations, digital marketing, public relations, event coordination and project management, she adds a unique dynamic to the Green Bank team.
Jean Moyer
Sr. Director, Finance & Administration
Jean Moyer
Contact: info@mcgreenbank.org
Jean is a long time Montgomery County resident and has been an environmental supporter since she was a teenager. She is thrilled by the opportunity to bring her professional experience full circle to supporting the environment and the work of the Green Bank as it enables County residents and businesses to achieve energy savings and deploy renewable energy products.
Before joining the Green Bank, Jean utilized her accounting degree and CPA experience in various capacities in multiple non-profit organizations. She has a long background in auditing, compliance, grant management, and finance, primarily in the conservation arena. As the Director of Business Operations, she is excited to be leveraging her experience and skills to ensure that the Green Bank’s activities are effectively and efficiently run with best business practices and sound internal controls.
Scott Dicke
Director of Clean Energy Programs
Scott Dicke
Contact: info@mcgreenbank.org
Scott Dicke is the Director of Clean Energy Programs at the Montgomery County Green Bank (MCGB). Scott’s 20+ year background spans the energy, consulting, and software industries and public-private partnerships (https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthunterdicke). He comes to the Bank with an interest in integrating Montgomery County property owner and community needs with the Green Bank’s energy objectives to design, implement, and scale innovative C&I sector programs.
Prior to the MCGB, Scott’s recent work centered on using software and services to advance building sustainability in the mid-Atlantic region. In 2015, he launched West Arlington Analytics, a consulting business dedicated to accelerating energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in support of governments and private sector clients. In 2017, he partnered with Sustainable Real Estate Solutions (SRS) to launch and administer Virginia’s first Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing program in Arlington County, and subsequently led SRS’s regional marketing strategy for integrating its cloud-based SAAS product into government-sponsored, commercial sector energy efficiency programs. Scott holds bachelor’s degrees in finance and management science from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in applied economics from John’s Hopkins University. He lives in Arlington, VA.
Mariann Zylstra
Director of Underwriting
Mariann Zylstra
Contact: info@mcgreenbank.org
Mariann Zylstra is the Director of Underwriting of the Montgomery County Green Bank. Mariann comes to the Bank with over 20 years of progressively responsible positions at commercial banks in various cities across the U.S. Her most recent leadership role was as Senior Vice President and Commercial Banking Market Leader for KeyBank in Seattle, where she also led a Business Banking team. Over the years her community service has included board and committee roles with a number of non-profit organizations including The MS Society, the Economic Development Council serving greater Seattle, United Way, and several smaller organizations. Mariann has an MBA from Indiana University and a BS from Central Michigan University.
Since relocating to the DC area, Mariann has focused her efforts on non-profit roles with a variety of organizations. She most recently served as the Washington DC Chapter Chair for SCORE, a nationwide non-profit serving small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs, and is a certified SCORE business mentor. Mariann resides in Gaithersburg with her husband, daughter, a dog and two cats.
Cindy McCabe
Director, Renewable Energy
Cindy McCabe
Contact: info@mcgreenbank.org
Cindy McCabe is the Associate Director of Renewable Energy Programs for the Montgomery County Green Bank, joining the team in September of 2020. Cindy comes to the Green Bank after working as Residential Solar Sales Manager with Tesla in Maryland and as Residential and Commercial Solar Project Manager with Ipsun Solar in Washington, DC and Virginia. Cindy brings a wealth of experience in solar customer acquisition, contract management, and utility relations, as well as high level knowledge of solar project design, operations and maintenance.
Originally from New Jersey, Cindy attended the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University. After graduating from Rutgers, Cindy served in the Peace Corps in Bolivia where she became fluent in Spanish and completed a successful large environmental project for her site and for the surrounding areas. Cindy later attended the School of Public Affairs at American University where she studied Environmental Policy and Statistics. Cindy lives in Rockville with her two rescued cats and she fosters dogs from a local animal shelter.
Myra Cobb-Davis
Sr. Manager, Portfolio Administration
Lucy Chihandae
Contact: info@mcgreenbank.org
Myra Cobb-Davis is the Senior Loan Administration Manager for the Montgomery County Green Bank. She has over 20 years of experience in Loan Portfolio and Risk Management in the non-profit and for-profit sectors. Myra’s work in the non-profit sector consisted of managing teams, building relationships, and managing grant programs for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as well as providing technical assistance and training for HUD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development programs.
Josh Myers
Production Specialist
Josh Myers
Josh Myers is the Production Specialist for the Montgomery County Green Bank, he joined the team in March of 2019. Josh comes to the Green Bank having interned at Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain as an Advocacy Intern where he worked on Capitol Hill and authored blogs and advocacy materials submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Josh began his career working as an Administrative Assistant at the Upper Occoquan Service Authority. Josh lives in Frederick with his wife and two dogs.
Lucy Chihandae
Administrative Specialist
Lucy Chihandae
Contact: info@mcgreenbank.org
Lucy Chihandae is the Administrative Specialist for the Montgomery County Green Bank, she joined the team in August of 2022. Lucy comes to the Green Bank having worked in several corporate offices as an administrator.
Before moving to the United States, Lucy worked as a multimedia journalist, in Kampala, Uganda, dabbling as a radio show host, television news anchor, show producer, reporter and Freelance Newspaper columnist.
Lucy also founded a Spelling Bee company called FUNsBEE (First Uganda National Spelling Bee) to tackle the problem of low grades amongst school going children due to a lack of proper comprehension of examination questions executed in English amongst children aged 10 to 18 years old. In this role, she worked at making learning enjoyable and purposed to instill a sense of corporate social responsibility in elementary school going children through fun social activities.
She was also instrumental in working on an educational school series with Fountain Publishers, a Uganda publishing house, for Primary School Children on the dangers of HIV/AIDS through storytelling, and released a book called ‘Brave Kemi’ for the syllabus series.
In 2022, Lucy self-published and released her debut novel, ‘The World is Ours’ internationally.
She currently lives in Germantown where, in her free time, she indulges in many bookish activities from blogging, hosting a podcast for book lovers and scouting bookstores for new stories to read.
Brianna Bolen
Digital Marketing and Communications Specialist
Brianna Bolen
Brianna Bolen is the Digital Marketing and Communications Specialist at Montgomery County Green Bank. She is a recent graduate from The University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, with a concentration in Creative Media.
She has over 5 years of experience in Graphic Design, Video Editing, and Social Media Management. While in college she was the Social Media Manager and Graphic Designer for 6 student films, a small black owned business in Maryland, an apartment complex, and a Youtuber who has reached over a million views. Her advanced computer skills, photo and video editing knowledge, creativity, and eye for detail make her a great addition to the MC Green Bank Team.
Laura Mondragon
Director, Climate Resilience
Laura Mondragon
Contact: info@mcgreenbank.org
Laura Mondragon is the Director for Climate Resilience of the Montgomery County Green Bank (MCGB). She comes to the Green Bank with a professional background in international climate finance, with experience in designing, assessing, and implementing climate and sustainable finance programs with public stakeholders in emerging economies.
Prior to the MCGB, Laura worked at an international development bank supporting Public Banks in their actions transitioning to a net zero business model. She coordinated the technical assistance program related to climate risk management. She also supported the design and preparation of regional green bonds programs and worked with international climate funds and donors. Laura is from Colombia, South America and has lived in Montgomery County for 15 years.
Join the Green Bank team
Board of Directors
Bonnie Norman
Chair
E3 International, LLC
Bonnie Norman
As President of E3 International, LLC, Bonnie Norman directs strategic energy advisory services, sustainable energy project development, capacity building, and financial solutions—resulting in over $500 million in clean energy and energy efficiency investment in developing and transition countries. She was a Co-founder in 2010 and CEO of E3’s U.S.-focused affiliate, EnerCon Solutions, LLC. Both in her current roles and formerly as a corporate real estate services executive with JLL and management with IBM, Norman has lead transformative transactions and initiatives, launched and grown enterprises, and built partnerships with businesses, governments, and donors at a senior level to achieve shared objectives. She is passionate about innovation to improve environmental quality and health for all.
Since 2006, Norman has served as a Board Officer at Children’s National Health System. She is a Past President of Children’s Health Board, a 501c3, and a founder of a Kenya-based women’s microfinance nonprofit. A LEED AP, she received both her BA and MBA from Harvard University.
Marcene Mitchell
Vice-Chair
World Wildlife Foundation
Marcene Mitchell
Marcene D. Mitchell is a seasoned financial professional with over 30 years of experience in international corporate and project finance with a specialty in clean energy. Ms. Mitchell has provided funding and assistance to companies who are reducing their global carbon footprints by investing in clean technologies, energy efficiency and supply chain management. Marcene has deep experience in the energy industry and scaling clean energy technologies in the emerging markets.
Ms. Mitchell is currently Senior Vice President for Climate Change at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). In this role, Marcene is working at the intersection of conservation and climate change where she is expanding finance for nature-based solutions to address global warming. She works with corporate leaders and Governments in building new markets for renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, the blue economy, and sustainable forestry. She is innovating and expanding the use of climate finance instruments including green and blue bonds, blended finance, and carbon credits. As WWF’s champion on climate change, Ms. Mitchell leads the organization’s climate agenda across organization’s corporate network, philanthropic and government partnerships, and impact investing portfolio.
Previously, Ms. Mitchell was Global Head of Strategy and Business Development for the Climate Business Department of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank. Marcene was responsible for growing IFC’s investments in sustainable business with an emphasis on renewable power, industrial energy efficiency, green buildings, electric vehicles, climate-smart agriculture, and nature-based solutions. She was responsible for the growth of IFC’s climate volume reaching 30% of IFC’s total annual investments.
In addition to her work in climate business and sustainability, Ms. Mitchell has substantial international investment experience in corporate and project finance. Before joining IFC, Ms. Mitchell was a Finance Manager with BP and was responsible for financial transactions for BP’s Power and Petrochemical divisions.
Ms. Mitchell sits on the Boards of the Green Bank of Montgomery County, the Center for Resource Solutions, the Steering Committee for the UN Sustainable Energy for All Building Efficiency Accelerator and the Renewable Energy Committee of the World Business Council on Sustainable Development.
Ms. Mitchell holds an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Brown University.
Robert Sahadi
Vice-Chair
GreenSpace Investment
Robert Sahadi
Bob Sahadi is a recognized contributor to national initiatives to incorporate energy efficiency into real estate finance. He is currently managing principal of GreenSpace Investment, a green residential financial advisory service. GreenSpace’s mission is to provide financial leadership in sustainable residential investment by working with local governments, developers, builders, and lenders to create projects that meet workable standards for green and sustainable development.
Previously he led the Institute for Market Transformation’s (IMT) work to develop and expand energy efficiency financing solutions for homes and commercial buildings. IMT is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization promoting energy efficiency, green buildings, and environmental protection in the United States and abroad. IMT’s work addresses market failures that inhibit investment in energy efficiency and sustainability in the building sector.
He has held senior positions at Fannie Mae, where he was vice president of product development and vice president of mortgage-backed securities. While at Fannie Mae, Sahadi oversaw the development of the corporation’s energy-efficient mortgages and green innovations, including Smart Commute for location efficiency, HomeStyle for renovation lending, and a patented protocol to measure residential energy efficiency. He has developed customized housing strategies for over 65 cities while at Fannie Mae and previous positions.
Sahadi has held multiple positions in the federal government at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in the Executive Office of the President, and at the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, where he was chief economist. He has an MBA in finance and an M.A. in economics from the University of Cincinnati.
Kyle Danish
Vice-Chair
Van Ness Feldman, LLP
Kyle Danish
Kyle Danish is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Van Ness Feldman, LLP.
He advises a range of clients on environmental and energy matters, with a special focus on regulation, permitting, enforcement, and legislation under the Clean Air Act and corporate climate strategy, and development of major infrastructure projects. Kyle’s clients include energy companies, manufacturers, financial institutions, think tanks, NGOs and coalitions.
He has been recognized by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, the International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America.
Kyle is a Senior Associate (Non-Resident) in the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Energy and National Security Program. He is also on the editorial board of the Carbon & Climate Law Review.
Kyle has a J.D. from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law and a Masters in Public Affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. He is a graduate of Haverford College.
Marissa Ramirez
Vice-Chair
Natural Resources Defense Council
Marissa Ramirez
Marissa Ramirez is the Director of Community Strategies for the Equity, Environment, and Justice Center at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Since coming to NRDC in 2010, Marissa has worked with neighbors and local leaders, primarily in underserved communities of color, on revitalization efforts by providing best practices and tools for a more equitable and sustainable future. She believes that meaningful change happens locally.
Marissa is co-author of “4-Steps to a Climate Savvy Community,” which is designed for communities to find solutions to climate, health, and racial equity issues. She is also author and co-author of “Green Neighborhoods: Advancing Strategies that Create Strong, Just, and Resilient Communities” and “The Sustainable Square Mile Handbook: Cultivate Your Green Village with Community-Based Principles and Practices.” Marissa takes great pride in leading new research to uncover the links between climate change, displacement, and gentrification in U.S cities.
Marissa’s work enables community stakeholders to obtain the knowledge and power to adapt to climate change and collectively design solutions to advance local priorities. She knows building communities that are green and provide opportunities for everyone involves bringing thought leaders together from diverse fields and perspectives. Forming these intersecting and innovative ideas is what inspires her daily work to bring positive and lasting change. Her work has advanced policies and investments for creating communities that are walkable, green, healthy, and just.
Prior to coming to NRDC, Marissa was a Science Researcher at Albert Einstein College of Medicine focused on developing novel cancer therapies. Marissa holds a Master of Environmental Management degree from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, where she focused on Urban Environmental Economics. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Yale University. Marissa continues to bring both her passion for human and environmental health to her professional work.
Bert Hunter
Secretary
Connecticut Green Bank
Bert Hunter
As Chief Investment Officer of the Connecticut Green Bank, Bert Hunter leads the finance team’s development of new and innovative financing programs that attract more private capital to scale-up the state’s clean energy investments, including energy efficiency, renewables and alternative fuel vehicles and associated infrastructure.
Hunter was Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Spectrum Capital, Ltd, an investment bank focused on commercial aircraft finance and investment in U.S. electric power generation. He was accountable for all financial control and served as the company’s senior risk officer, overseeing all extensions of credit and investment of the firm’s capital. Prior to Spectrum, Hunter was the treasurer of the international leasing company of Chemical Bank, where he managed the funding for a ion-dollar portfolio of aircraft and equipment loans and leases outside the United States.
Hunter is an alumnus, a former Trustee and former member of the Board of Visitors of Wake Forest University (BS) and received his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jon Monger
Member
Montgomery County
Jon Monger
Jon I. Monger serves as the Director of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, appointed by County Executive Elrich and confirmed by the Montgomery County Council in June 2023.
Jon has dedicated his career to addressing significant environmental issues, including serving as Counsel to the presidential commission formed to investigate the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, White House Liaison, and policy advisor to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Barack Obama, and as Oversight Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce. Prior to joining the Department of Environmental Protection, Jon served in the administration of President Biden as Assistant Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where he oversaw agency policy, management, and operational priorities.
Jon received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and graduated magna cum laude from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. During law school, he clerked for the U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division and the Honorable James J. Brady of the Middle District of Louisiana.
Jon is an avid naturalist and boater on the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.
Brian Marconi
Member
Cohn Reznick LLP
Brian Marconi
Brian Marconi, CPA, is a member of the Firm’s Renewable Energy Industry Practice and has more than 11 years of public accounting experience with 8 years specialized in the renewable energy industry servicing closely held and publicly traded clients.
Marconi has led the audit of various renewable energy developers, project entities, tax equity investment funds and engineering, procurement and construction contractors. In addition, Marconi has provided accounting consulting services to renewable energy companies assisting them with developing accounting policies and writing technical accounting positions on various topics impacting the renewable energy industry such as hypothetical liquidation at book value, asset retirement obligations, variable interest entities, and various commodity contracts. Marconi has completed numerous cost certification examinations of eligible basis on both Investment Tax Credits under IRC Section 48 and US Treasury Grants under Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science, Accounting from the University of Delaware.
Andrea Longton
Member
Opportunity Finance Network,OFN
Andrea Longton
Andrea Longton, CFA, brings over 15 years of experience in community investments, banking and lending, fund management, and climate finance to Montgomery County Green Bank.
Andrea is a seasoned financial professional who has raised over $500 million for community investments in the United States and has advised on over $1.5 billion in sustainable finance campaigns worldwide.
Her experiences and relationships enable her to translate the needs of multiple stakeholders – communities, investors, and government leaders – to deliver tailored solutions that tackle complex issues.
Andrea is currently Senior Vice President of Development & Capitalization at Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), a trade association of community lenders focused on driving affordable capital to low-wealth communities across the country. Prior to OFN, Andrea held positions at Freddie Mac, Capital Impact Partners, and Delphos International.
She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder designation from the CFA Institute, a BA from Centre College, and an MA from The George Washington University.
Andrea and her family are proud to reside in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve.
Zachary Marks
Member
Housing Opportunities Commission
Zachary Marks
Zachary Marks is the Director of Development at the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC). Marks is directly responsible for the execution of the acquisition and development activities of the Real Estate Division at HOC, which currently has nearly $1 billion of active real estate development transactions in the pipeline. He has over ten years experience in real estate acquisition and ground-up development preserving and delivering a combination of market rate, mixed-income, and affordable housing in more than a dozen major markets throughout the United States.
Marks has seasoned expertise with multiple financial instruments and structures including tax-exempt bonds (both publically sold and privately placed), 4% and 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Payment in Lieu of Taxes, Tax Increment Financing, HOME funds, Total Return Swaps, hedges, conventional private equity and debt, mezzanine financing, and many other sources of soft funding.
Marks received his MBA from UNC Chapel Hill with a concentration in Real Estate. He also holds a master’s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University and an undergraduate degree in Journalism from the University of Richmond.
William Bumpers
Member
Boards of ERT, ART & Neighborhood Sun
William Bumpers
William Bumpers practiced environmental law for over thirty years, focused primarily on Clean Air and Climate Change issues. Mr. Bumpers withdrew from the practice of law in 2018 but continues to be actively involved in climate change markets both domestically and globally.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of ACR, the premier CO2 offset registry in the US.
He is WinRock International’s representative on the Board of Directors for the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (“ART”), the leading registry in the world for jurisdictional-based reductions in deforestation and degradation.
He is the Chairman of the Board of Neighborhood Sun, a community solar marketing and management company in Maryland and runs Antietam Community Solar, a small community solar company in Hagerstown, Maryland.
Stacy Swann
Member
Climate Finance Advisors, Benefit LLC
Stacy Swann
Stacy Swann is the CEO and Founding Partner of Climate Finance Advisors, a benefit LLC based in Washington, DC recently acquired by WSP, a global sustainability, engineering, and design firm.
She has more than twenty-five years’ experience in finance, banking, impact investment, climate change, and sustainability. Her executive experience includes building and shaping organizations, leading teams, and delivering practical approaches to organizational and operational management. As CEO of Climate Finance Advisors, she managed the firm through its early establishment, achieving more than 100% average annual growth since its founding in 2015, and in 2022 she shepherded the firm through a successful acquisition.
During her career, Ms. Swann has held senior and executive positions with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), as well as with the US Department of Treasury, Enron Corporation, and other organizations. More recently she has worked with financial institutions, investors, corporations, and policymakers develop climate investment strategies, and operational approaches to mainstream climate considerations across investment and portfolio management. Key experience through her career includes blended finance, project finance, impact investment, fund management, as well as financial policy and regulation that underpin and accelerate net-zero, climate-resilient investment.
In addition to leading Climate Finance Advisors, Ms. Swann currently serves on several Boards including the Montgomery County Green Bank where she is a Board Director and Chair of its Investment Committee. She is the Chair of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank)’s Climate Council, and is a member of the Design Funding and Investment Committee for Convergence Blended Finance, an organization supporting blended finance approaches globally, with a goal of increasing private sector investment in developing countries. She also sits on the Board of the Global Water Partnership, an international NGO with goal to advance investment, governance and management of water resources for sustainable and equitable development.
Hope Brown
Member
Calvert Research & Management/Calvert Funds.
Hope L. Brown
Hope L. Brown serves as Executive Director, Legal and Compliance and Chief Compliance Officer for Calvert Research and Management/Calvert Funds. In this role, she is responsible for all aspects of the firm’s and fund’s compliance programs including the development and administration of the policies and procedures and the oversight of the primary service providers. She has worked in the financial services industry for over 23 years, and has experience in corporate governance, fund and adviser compliance, and risk management. In addition, Hope is also the Global Head of ESG Compliance Advisory for Calvert’s parent company, Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM). In this role, she is responsible for supporting the global ESG compliance program for the broader MSIM organization. Prior to joining Calvert, Hope was associated with Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors, Inc. where she served as Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer for the Wilmington Funds. Prior to that, she spent five years as an Assistant Vice President, Risk Management and Compliance, at T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
In addition to her compliance responsibilities at Calvert and MSIM, Hope is actively involved and passionate about advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the financial services industry. Hope serves on the board of the National Society of Compliance Professionals, where she is co-chairs its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee and a member of the nominating, governance, and strategic planning committees. Hope currently serves on the board of the University of Maryland System Foundation, where she is a member of the Governance Committee and Chair of its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Committees. She is also a member of the Investment Company Institute, Black Women in Asset Management and the National Association of Black Compliance and Risk Management Professionals, Inc. Hope holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Julie Abrams
Member
NatureVest, The Nature Conservancy
Julie Abrams
Julie Abrams has more than 30 years of experience as an impact investing expert. She is Managing Director, Impact Investments, NatureVest, The Nature Conservancy.
Her expertise includes designing, structuring, and executing innovative impact investments, due diligence, risk management, corporate governance, environmental and social impact measurement and management, and strategy.
Ms. Abrams’ career spans startups, corporates, and non-profits. She was previously Founder and Managing Director, Impact Investing Analytics, and served as Investment Lead, CATALYZE, The Palladium Group.
She served as Senior Advisor to the Omidyar Network, structuring and executing innovative finance transactions and advising portfolio founders and C-suite executives on finance and investment.
For FINRA broker-dealer impact fintech startup ImpactUs Marketplace, she designed and led due diligence and investment operations.
She previously worked at PwC with Fortune 500 companies and governments on sell-side equity investments, due diligence, strategy, and privatizations.
Ms. Abrams started in microfinance’s early days at Women’s World Banking.
She is an impact investing industry pioneer and thought leader, having authored more than 25 publications and participated in 12 industry standards-setting groups including the inaugural Global Impact Investing Network’s (GIIN) Impact Investing and Reporting Standards (IRIS).
Ms. Abrams sits on Apollo Global Management’s Impact Advisory Committee, MicroBuild Fund’s investment committee, as Black Lab Studio Impact Investing Advisor, and previously served on Calvert Impact Capital’s investment committee, and UNOPS Advisory Group on Investments focused on renewable energy investments.
She served on her local town’s Stormwater Study Committee.
Ms. Abrams earned an MBA from Wharton and an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, as a Fellow at the Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies.
She is a Certified Expert in Climate & Renewable Energy Finance and a Certified Expert in Risk Management from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. She holds a BA from Oberlin College.
David Crow
Member
Montgomery County
David Crow
David Crow has worked for Montgomery County and the Department of Finance since 2012, starting as General Accounting Manager through 2014. He currently serves as Fiscal Projects Manager in the Division of Fiscal Management and also stepped in as the Acting Controller in the Controller’s Division from December 2021 until May 2023. Prior to joining the County, Dave worked as an auditing manager at Clifton Larson Allen. Dave has extensive experience in public and government accounting and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Towson University.
Looking for board member resources?
For Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Notice of Board of Directors Recruitment
Our Funders
The Green Bank leverages funding from the County, public, and private funders to provide County residents and businesses with access to more affordable, flexible lending and investment funds for clean energy projects.
Town Creek Foundation
A private philanthropic foundation that made grants to non-profit organizations that worked to promote ecological sustainability. The Green Bank was a grant recipient in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
The JPB Foundation
A private philanthropic foundation dedicated to transformational initiatives that empower those living in poverty, enrich and sustain our environment, and enable pioneering medical. Environmental initiatives address energy, environmental health, green infrastructure, and environmental justice. We were pleased to be a grant recipient in 2019.
General Motors
A philanthropic funder and global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. The Green Bank was awarded a General Motors Climate Equity Fund grant in 2022 to help increase access to more sustainable transportation, including EVs and EV infrastructure.
Our Partners
Collaboration is fundamental to our work. As a nonprofit corporation dedicated to accelerating affordable clean energy and energy efficiency investment in Montgomery County, MD, the Montgomery County Green Bank partners with lenders, private and nonprofit sector professionals, and funders to promote investment in clean energy projects throughout the County.
This collaboration fuels our work to increase public-private partnerships for the purpose of making clean energy financing more affordable and accessible to residents and businesses throughout the County. We are currently engaging with partners across many sectors within the County and beyond, including lenders, contractors, investors, government officials, developers, nonprofits, and community representatives.
