Our Team Members
MaKara Rumley
Founder & CEO
MaKara Rumley, Esq., is more than an experienced community engagement strategist; she is an important thought leader related to the environment, education, the green economy, and public health. She has a knack for identifying what makes each stakeholder successful and leading the charge for how everyone can win. It takes the private and public sector as well as community viewpoints to reach a project’s full benefit potential.
Denise Smith, Ph.D.
Chief Operating Officer
transportation professional who brings years of transportation experience to the team. She has developed an expertise in multimodal transportation planning and travel demand modeling. Dr. Smith is also very knowledgeable on a wide range of topics such as design, traffic operation and management, and autonomous vehicle technology. Her experience in academia, planning, and engineering, equip her with a unique perspective to contribute to projects.
Alex Trachtenberg
director of operations
ALEX TRACHTENBERG is an experienced project management and operations professional with a background in environmental sustainability, policy advocacy, community engagement, communications, data analysis, research reporting, relationship management, and business development. His work experience spans a variety of sustainability and resiliency impact areas including clean energy, energy equity, environmental justice, climate mitigation and adaptation, community resiliency, water efficiency, green infrastructure, sustainable development, green affordable housing, and alternative transportation.
Lindsay Capacio
Executive Assistant
LINDSAY CAPACIO earned her bachelor’s degree, majoring in business administration, and brings over 15 years of diverse professional experience in banking, insurance, and sales. Leveraging her multifaceted background, she excels in administrative functions, fosters adaptability, and is committed to making a meaningful impact in every processional endeavor.
Erin Jones
community engagement
Lead
ERIN JONES is a dedicated professional holding an MPA in Urban Management from Savannah State University. With a wide-0ranging expertise spanning sustainability, green planning, and public health, she has made significant contribution to these vital fields. As a proactive agent of change, Erin leverages her diverse background to spearhead impactful initiatives aimed at driving positive transformation in communities.
Oyemwenosa Avenbuan
Community Engagement
Lead
OYEMWENOSA AVENBUAN is a recent graduate of New York University with an MS in Environmental Health Science. She has years of experience in the field of toxicology and scientific communication, she is particularly adept at communicating with other experts and laypeople. She applies her knowledge of environmental health to create plain language translation during community engagement with marginalized and underserved communities in urban and rural areas.
Marisa Carter
Community Engagement
Strategist
MARISA CARTER is a graduate of Spelman College and holds an MFA in Interior Design from Savannah College Art and Design. She brings years of experience in schematic development and strategic planning by way of her professional design background. Marisa uses her background by helping with phase planning, visual presentation, and graphic design. Her aim is to assist in community engagement through developing presentations and creating informational material that will aid in the process of communication for all.
Rob Friedman
community engagement
STRATEGIST
ROB FRIEDMAN, LMSW, MS is an experienced climate and environmental justice policy professional, leadership coach, and community resilience expert. For over a decade, he has worked with historically marginalized communities to advance environmental policy and public health victories. He has served as a bridge builder with and between government agencies, environmental justice communities, nonprofit leaders, and other stakeholders. Recent examples of his work include helping to secure New York State’s landmark climate law (the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act), developing New Orleans’ innovative citywide outreach initiative to ensure equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine, and supporting Indigenous communities to ensure an equitable long-term recovery process following Hurricane Ida.