“As Co-founder of MBDC, I have been working with our green chemists to encourage products that are safer and healthier for a Circular Economy for more than two decades. Jay and the rest of the team will utilize their knowledge as creators of Cradle to Cradle Certified® to work alongside your company to assess and optimize your products and processes.”

Michelle brings over 15 years of professional experience in management consulting, focusing on sustainable program development, performance tracking and client relationship management. Michelle has supported and advised small and large organizations, in the public and private sectors. At MBDC, she manages a diverse portfolio of client relationships and accompanying Cradle to Cradle product certifications, and she guides corporate sustainability teams on integrating efforts required for participation in the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Products Program. Michelle has a B.S. in Business Administration from Mt. St. Mary’s University, a M.S. in Environmental Management and Sustainability from Illinois Institute of Technology, has an active Secret Clearance, and she’s been a USGBC LEED Green Associate since 2012

Aly is an expert in sustainable design innovation that heads operations for MBDC and leads the team at McDonough Innovation. Trained as both a detail-oriented mechanical engineer and a conceptual product designer, Mr. Khalifa has 28 years of experience in designing, engineering, and manufacturing unique technologies around the world. His clients have spanned from Bausch & Lomb and Seventh Generation to Walmart and Li & Fung. His collaborations have garnered more than 40 patents, been nominated for a Grammy Award and exhibited in the Louvre. Aly is an active Eisenhower Fellow and has garnered significant attention as a voice for sustainable design entrepreneurship, leading to lectures and mentorship worldwide. He has co-founded numerous sustainable ventures, including Oceanworks, an ocean plastic marketplace for consumer brands; and Gamila Company, which was acquired by Seventh Generation.

Jay Bolus is one of the most authoritative speakers on the human and environmental impacts of products and materials. Using his extensive knowledge of Cradle to CradleDesign™ applied to products and materials, Jay has the unique insight required to understand how to work with a company’s global supply chain to inventory, assess and optimize products.

Jay works closely with product development teams to add business value through a better understanding of what products are made from and how to optimize them thorough continuous improvement. As one of the original authors of the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Products Program, Jay has the ability to integrate his know-how to fit the client’s area of business and make a technical subject understandable.

Ieva joined MBDC as a Senior Project Manager after graduating from the University of Virginia with a MSc in Environmental Sciences. Her graduate research focused on coastal ecology, specifically examining ecosystem metabolism and carbon cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change impacts. She was also part of the Science Policy Initiative at UVA, worked with stakeholder groups, NGOs, and policymakers on climate-relevant issues and engaged in peer leadership, representing graduate students on the school’s Graduate Council and University Judiciary Committee. She has also earned a certificate in Sustainable Business from McIntire at UVA. Ieva earned an undergraduate degree in biology and environmental science at Miami University. At MBDC, she focuses on General Assessments but is especially looking forward to bringing her expertise to the Clean Air & Climate Protection and Water & Soil Stewardship pillars in Cradle to Cradle Certified® Products Program.

Kolton joined the MBDC team after graduating from the University of Virginia with a Master’s in chemistry with a focus on environmental application and inorganic synthesis. While studying for his master’s, Kolton worked as a graduate lab student researcher and a TA for UVA’s organic chemistry lab where he led in the academic advancement of future undergraduate students in the field of chemistry. Kolton also holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and has worked as a licensed EMT.

Alicea joined MBDC as an Environmental Chemist and Toxicologist. Prior to joining the team, she worked in the industry as a regulatory toxicologist and product steward. She graduated from Oregon State University with an MSc in environmental and molecular toxicology and a Bachelor of Science from Richard Stockton University. Her graduate research focused on the environmental fate and toxicity of engineered nanomaterials.

Morgan Tassone joined MBDC after graduating from the University of Virginia (UVA) with a MSc in Environmental Sciences. Her graduate research analyzed shifts in Arctic vegetation productivity and functional diversity in response to climate change and environmental gradients. She also earned a certificate in Sustainable Business from the UVA McIntire School of Commerce and the UVA Ellison-Edmonson Award for Interdisciplinary Research. Prior to joining MBDC, she worked for a global architecture, engineering, and construction company as an Environmental Scientist for nearly five years. While there, she managed the development of National Environmental Policy Act documents that assessed environmental and human impacts from the implementation of federal projects. At MBDC, she applies her technical knowledge and management experience to the development of General Assessments.

Dr. David Kossor has degrees in Pharmacy (BS; 1979), Toxicology (MS; 1983) and Pharmacology (PhD; 1992) and is certified by the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy (RPh; 1980), American Board of Toxicology (DABT; 1995), and the Project Management Institute (PMP; 2013). He has over 30 years of experience in preclinical toxicological research of pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals, including development of in vitro test systems and in vivo animal models, monitoring of activities at contract research organizations and preparation/presentation of data for FDA, EPA, and other regulatory agencies. David is a talented chemist and research scientist, and skilled project manager. 

Elyse joined MBDC as a Project Manager, conducting General Assessments for the successful execution of certification projects. She has previously worked as an Environmental Scientist for an engineering and environmental consulting firm. She has also previously worked in the solar energy industry as a Data and Proposal Analyst and earned her Bachelor’s degree in biology with a focus on biodiversity and ecology with a minor in mathematics at Sewanee: The University of the South. Elyse brings her passion for preventative environmental protection to the team. 

Celeste is William McDonough’s Director of Visual Communications and has an extensive background in Cradle to Cradle Design™ and sustainable design, working directly with McDonough on his speaking engagements and presentations. She manages graphics and communications and provides graphic support for client reports and deliverables with teams at McDonough Innovation, William McDonough + Partners, and MBDC, LLC.

Prior to working with McDonough, she worked for Philadelphia-based sustainable architecture firms as a Senior Graphic Designer and Communications Coordinator for over 15 years. Celeste graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Graphic Design from Drexel University.

Katherine joined MBDC as a Communications Associate after graduating from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science degree in communication studies and a concentration in public relations. She has a background of interning for a PR agency and running social media accounts on behalf of JMU’s psychology research lab. Katherine uses her writing, editing, and social media skills to create content on behalf of MBDC and its clients, and to raise awareness around Cradle to Cradle Design™ for the Circular Economy.