WHEN AND WHERE
When: Wednesday, January 22
Agenda:
5:15 pm – 5:45 pm – Check-in/registration
5:45 pm – 7:00 pm – Panel Discussion
7:00 pm – 8:15 pm – Happy New Year Reception
Where: New Mountain Capital, 1633 Broadway 47th Floor, New York, NY 10019
Cost: $10.00
Registration for this program is now closed.
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
New reporting requirements are driving private and public companies to consider which standards they will use as guideposts, if reporting leads strategy or strategy dictates reporting, and how to operate within the multitude of ever-evolving reporting frameworks, emissions reporting and investment ratings. In this SILC panel, you’ll hear from an investment firm working with private companies; a public company functioning in a global context; and from GRI about the type of prioritization that can help a company best achieve their sustainability / ESG goals.
MODERATOR
Matt Rusk
Matthew Rusk is Head of GRI North America, based in New York City. GRI is the independent standard-setter that creates the global common language for impact reporting to foster transparency, organizational accountability, and informed decisions to advance sustainable development in the interest of all. The GRI Standards are the world’s most widely used standards for sustainability reporting that are used by: 78% of the world’s largest companies,≈14,000 orgs, 70+% of the S&P 500 & Fortune 500 and the majority of the Russell 1000. Matthew advances GRI’s mission by increasing regional knowledge and use of the GRI Standards by orgs of all sizes and types. He oversees the North American GRI Community of over 60 members committed to advancing transparency and works with other corporates and service providers to raise awareness about the latest disclosure developments, best practices, and GRI resources including the GRI Professional Certification program, GRI Academy, GRI Certified software, and GRI Services. Matthew leads GRI’s North American external engagements with assorted constituency groups to build partnerships and collaborations between GRI and key stakeholders. Matthew joined GRI with over ten years of experience managing sustainability, ESG and CSR strategy development, implementation, and reporting for organizations in various industries. He helped establish and promote new sustainable best practices and reporting standards in the entertainment industry by working with Disney, Warner Media, The Producers Guild of America, and others. Matthew worked on the advancement of sustainability programs in the fashion and design industry while serving as North American Sustainability Manager for Swarovski. He has a Bachelor’s in business administration from Villanova University, an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology, is a LEED Green Associate, and a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional.
PANELISTS
Pamela Kauppila
Director, ESG Engagement
New Mountain Capital
Pamela Kauppila, Director, ESG Engagement, New Mountain Capital. Pam began working with New Mountain in 2020 as an ESG Consultant and joined full-time in 2021. Previously, she was an equity analyst at Gilder Gagnon Howe & Co. where she analyzed growth stocks across a range of industry sectors. Prior to that, she worked at Goldman Sachs in the AIMS Private Equity Group, a fund-of-funds. She started her career at BNP Paribas, working with the Distressed Debt and Leveraged Lending teams. Ms. Kauppila earned an M.B.A. in Finance from the Stern School of Business at New York University and an M.S. in Sustainability Management at Columbia University.
Derek Noah
Director, Sustainability
Teleflex
Derek Noah is a leader in the sustainability and ESG space with almost a decade of experience. Derek is currently the Director, Sustainability at Teleflex, a medical equipment manufacturer listed in the S&P 500. In his current role, he leads the sustainability strategy globally as well as the ongoing sustainability reporting process. Previously, he worked at ISS Corporate Solutions where he helped companies to improve their sustainability rating/ranking through policy and program improvements. Derek also worked at TerraCycle, a circular economy company, where he helped companies create free national recycling programs which allowed consumers to recycle the ‘non-recyclables’. He has worked for various environmental NGOs and sustainability consulting firms in NYC area.
Derek is also an Adjunct Professor at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ where he is teaching a new course he developed called “Sustainability Assessment Methods” and the Capstone course for the Graduate School’s program in Sustainability Management. He holds a BS in environmental economics and environmental policy from Rutgers University and an MS in sustainability management from Columbia University. Derek likes to go shipwreck diving off the Jersey Shore coast, biking, go to the beach with his wife and son, and go kayaking with his dog.
Neil Stewart
Director of Corporate Outreach
IFRS
Neil Stewart is the New York-based Director of Corporate Outreach for the IFRS Foundation, which houses the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), the SASB Standards and the Integrated Reporting Framework. Neil joined SASB in 2020, bringing more than 25 years of experience in and around investor relations and corporate governance. He was previously at Citigroup as VP IR Advisory on the ADR team, helping non-US issuers develop IR and ESG strategies.
Stanley Goldstein, one of the founders of the Sustainability Investment Leadership Council, launched the accounting firm Goldstein Golub & Kessler (now part of RSM). After the firm was bought, Stanley became a private equity investor and is now the Chairman of Knickerbocker Financial Group. Mr. Goldstein has served on numerous corporate boards and is the founder of American Friends of James Joyce, The New York Hedge Alternative Investment Roundtable and Donors' Forum (a philanthropic roundtable).
Rebecca Craft
Andrea Schmitz
Nidhi Chadda
Jeffrey Yin currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel of Artsy (
Sarah Tomolonius is the Vice President of Investor Relations at M13, a consumer tech-focused full-service venture capital engine. Ms. Tomolonius is the co-founder of the Sustainability Investment Leadership Council. Ms. Tomolonius served as Vice President, Marketing and Investor Relations for Arlon Group, a food and agriculture investment firm, from December 2012 to June 2018, and served as Senior Professional, Management Reporting & Analytics from December 2010 to December 2012. From October 2008 to December 2010, Ms. Tomolonius served as Associate, Investor Relations for Citi Private Equity, a private equity group that was acquired by StepStone Group in October 2010. From October 2005 to September 2007, Ms. Tomolonius served as Research Analyst, Corporate & Public Affairs Group of Edelman, a global public relations firm. Ms. Tomolonius served as Program Assistant, Water & Coastal Program of Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-profit international environmental advocacy group, from October 2002 to September 2005. Ms. Tomolonius has served as a Director on the Board of Quest Resource Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: QRHC) since 2016 and is a member of the Audit and Nominations & Governance Committees. Ms. Tomolonius also served in numerous board capacities for non-profit organizations, including Chair of the Sustainability Committee for the New York Alternative Investment Roundtable and President of the Board of HeARTs Speak, a nonprofit organization, from February 2014 to February 2017, and she remains a board member for the organization.
Mohita Sinha serves as the Co-Chair of SILC’s Education Committee. With extensive experience leading complex finance and risk regulatory reporting transformations at global financial institutions, Mohita helps organizations evolve from voluntary action to regulatory compliance to true value creation. Her current focus is on climate risk integration, guiding companies to understand, operationalize, and embed risk considerations into business strategy while meeting compliance requirements.
Jessica Moon, Education Co-Chair, is a strategic leader at the Sustainable Investment Leadership Council (SILC), where she champions the integration of sustainability into core business and investment strategies. She designs and leads convenings that unite leading cross-sector professionals in critical dialogues focused on unlocking sustainable financial returns through innovative solutions. With over two decades of experience, Jessica brings a unique perspective, combining her legal acumen with deep sustainability expertise and a holistic understanding of the interconnectedness of business functions. Her leadership at Scholastic Inc., where she pioneered their ESG & Sustainability function, demonstrates her ability to develop and implement strategies that drive both environmental and financial value. Jessica empowers leaders to see sustainability as a key driver of strategic advantage and long-term financial success, fostering a future where impact and returns are intrinsically linked.
Dr. Michael Kraten is an executive management consultant and business educator. He maintains specialties in entrepreneurship, business modeling, decision analysis, sustainability and resilience, educational gaming, strategic planning, valuation, risk management, and forensic analysis.
Sophia Shahabadi
As a Managing Director at Silver Leaf Partners and sustainable finance subject matter expert, Marc Tannous established the Sustainable Finance Practice as a service organization to represent managers and companies seeking alpha by scaling sustainability / impact solutions. The Practice provides capital introduction, customer referral, and advisory consulting. 
Sydney Improta
As a coach, facilitator and consultant, Deborah Goldstein works with NY, U.S. and international organizations and individuals who are motivated to thrive in the 21stcentury workplace environment.
Jason Dodier is an American international business professional at Schneider Electric, which is the global specialist in energy management. Since commencing his career with Schneider Electric, Jason has lived in the United States, Middle East and Europe, while performing a variety of functions on behalf of the company in operations, business development, marketing and sales management. Jason is currently a Corporate Ambassador for electrical distribution, communications technology, sustainability, and innovation, activity on social media and delivering speeches on these topics worldwide.
Fitzgerald Angrand is a transactional attorney specializing in debt finance and alternative investments in the cannabis industry, representing investors, private equity funds, private debt funds, family offices, distressed debt funds, lenders and operating companies.
Matthew Levy is a Manager with PKF O’Connor Davies in the Not-for-Profit Services Group. He is a CPA and has been with PKFOD since 2012. He graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He currently serves as the treasurer of the Sustainability Investment Leadership Council.
Heather Loebner leads Sustainability and ESG strategy at CircleIT, a B Corporation in the IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) industry. Sustainability plays a critical role at CircleIT, focused on repurposing IT devices at end-of-life and eliminating e-waste aligned with a circular economy model. Loebner leads an internal and client-facing ESG strategy that increases transparency, establishes a path to carbon neutrality and net zero, and builds social and environmental impact through strong governance aligned with B Corporate values and certification.
J. Michael Kirkland, CPA, CGMA is a veteran financial executive with over 30 years of experience in accounting, industry, consulting, and business development. He also serves the CPA profession with distinction, lending strong and visible leadership to professional and student groups.