Photo by John C. Lorson
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower organizations to create positive economic, social, and environmental change by building their capacity to achieve measurable, long-lasting impact.
About Sustainable Economies Consulting
Sustainable Economies Consulting helps organizations gain clarity and have more impact through strategic planning, community engagement, and economic analysis. We are your solution for both small- and large-scale projects involving nature and communities. Sustainable Economies Consulting frees you up to implement the programs that directly benefit your mission.
When you need a streamlined plan that takes into consideration important conservation goals PLUS critical economic and community goals, we can help you develop your strategies.
If you need to bring together multiple organizations that are partnering on your project, we can help you develop shared goals.
When your project centers around difficult or hard-to-solve issues, we have the tools to break the planning process into bite-sized pieces. Taking things one step at a time, we can help you work through the complexity to move closer to success.
If you need measurable goals and outcomes around both nature and human well-being, we can help you quantify goals and develop metrics for tracking success.
Sustainable Economies Consulting provides solutions to all these needs. Ultimately, we help you achieve your sustainability goals and have greater impact on not only nature but also the quality of life for communities. Plus – Sustainable Economies is certified both as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and as an Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) Business Enterprise in Ohio.
Meet The Team
Elizabeth Schuster
Environmental Economist and CEO
Elizabeth Schuster
Elizabeth is happiest when working on collaborative, transformational projects that have a real chance to create positive change. Whether leading a community focus group or doing an economic impact assessment, she takes the time to understand the unique needs of your organization. Strategic planning doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Collecting data doesn’t need to be overwhelming. We have the tools to make the process manageable to get you the information you need to bring clarity to decisions and help you achieve your goals.
Elizabeth brings over 20 years of experience in sustainability and community economic development in the United States and internationally. Her diverse experience working in manufacturing, agriculture, non-profits, academic institutions, and government makes her well poised to build bridges across sectors. Elizabeth earned an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Arizona.
Elizabeth is well-regarded for her research on the local food economy, economics of regenerative agriculture, ecosystem service valuation, and socioeconomic metrics for nature-based solutions. Elizabeth specializes in public speaking, written communication, and facilitation. Since 2010, she has given over 80 presentations to a range of audiences. She has produced a mix of peer-reviewed publications, reports, guidebooks, brochures, newspaper articles, and pop-science blogs to communicate with diverse audiences.
Her team’s collaborative land use planning workshop won a national award from American Farm Bureau Federation in 2020. The 2017-2019 Lost Valley Nature Park project that Elizabeth led won two awards: the 2018 Somerset County Land Development Award and the 2019 Outstanding Floodplain Management Award from the NJ Association of Floodplain Management.
Kate Hammond
Program Specialist
Kate Hammond
Kate joined Sustainable Economies in 2022 and is already well-regarded by clients for her timely communications and diverse skill set with project management, research, coordination, and facilitation. She has spent 15 years working with non-profits including securing funding and partnering with governmental entities. Previously Kate was the Director of Forfar Field Station on Andros Island in the Bahamas, where she seamlessly integrated competing demands of limited resources in a remote environment.
Kate has a graduate degree in environmental studies from Ohio University, where her research focused on environmental impacts of the ever-changing economics of the coffee industry. She currently lives on her own homestead, focusing on sustainably raising food with and for her family. Kate also avidly volunteers her time to help under-represented populations in her community.
Tiffany Leeper
Marketing and Communication Specialist
Tiffany Leeper
Tiffany is an expert advisor for the team, bringing her experience in marketing, communications and fundraising for nonprofits, as well as expertise in food systems. While she values the academic approach to studying individual behaviors towards conservation and sustainable living, she has found the most satisfaction working directly with farmers, food producers, and organizations that link these entities directly to the consumer.
Specifically, her work with North Union Farmers Market (a nationally-recognized series of farmers markets in Northeast Ohio) and Wooster Local Foods Cooperative (an innovative regional food coop) has given her practical insights into how local food provision and consumption can be expanded and become a significant piece of local and regional economies. Working with other nonprofits such as the United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties, Alaska Conservation Foundation, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association, Tiffany also maintains a deep knowledge of nonprofit management including development/fundraising, project coordination, community outreach/marketing, and program evaluation. She earned a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in Environmental Management from Bowling Green State University.
Steve Lyon, PhD
Hydrologist
Steve Lyon, PhD
Steve is an expert advisor for the team, bringing his experience in hydrology and sustainable water management, geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing products, and geostatistical approaches. He also supports the team with his skills in writing and management of large grants. His work has ranged from water chemistry sampling to working with Ohio farmers on drainage and agricultural best management practices. Steve is currently faculty in the School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) at Ohio State University as a Professor and Associate Director of SENR in Wooster.
Steve Lyon was born and raised in Navarre, Ohio. He attended Purdue University and graduated with a BSc in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Steve completed his MSc (2001-2003) and PhD (2003-2006) both in Biological and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University. Steve continued with postdoctoral research (2006-2008) at the University of Arizona. In 2008, he joined the Department of Physical Geography at Stockholm. While maintaining this affiliation, Steve worked with The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey (2017-2019) as a Freshwater and Conservation Scientist, where he focused on how we can target and prioritize conservation efforts along river networks to re-connect floodplains thereby promoting ecosystem functionality and benefits for both upstream and downstream communities.
Featured Collaborators
Michelle Klieger
Agricultural Economist & Founder of Helianth Partners
Michelle offers a range of services that have included regenerative agricultural sourcing strategies, market analysis for new food products, comparing cost of dairy production between New England and the Midwest, advising greenhouse growers on economic sustainability, and feasibility studies. While she does feasibility studies for a wide range of activities in the agricultural space, her specialty is feasibility studies for USDA grants. She offers two levels, a smaller, “client-supported” option and a full-service option.
Helianth Partners has a mission to chart pathways to a better and more equitable future for food and agriculture. Their work focuses on the entire value chain, from farmers and producers to supply chain operators to the business and nonprofits getting food to end consumers. This work has enabled Helianth to work with nonprofits, philanthropic organizations, food companies, government agencies, and community and Tribal leaders. Michelle has 15 years of experience in the food and agriculture sector. An economist and a business strategist, she works with the global seed industry, ag tech companies, conventional and non-conventional agriculture firms, and philanthropic foundations. She is a professor of Economics at Bentley University and holds a Masters in Agriculture Economics from Purdue University and an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
Leander Lacy
Environmental Social Scientist & CEO of Lacy Consulting Services
Leander is well-regarded for his work in environmental social science research, Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) work in conservation planning, and his JEDI Workshops using trust and transparency. Sustainable Economies and Lacy Consulting regularly collaborate on integrating JEDI into strategic planning. Because this work is dependent on talking to diverse communities, he is certified in various diversity, equity, and inclusion principles and offers his services as a diversity workshop facilitator. A full list of the workshops offered can be found on his website.
His educational background combines wildlife conservation and environmental social science; he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida. His graduate degree is a Master of Science MS in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University. His graduate research looked at how to improve the quality of life of the urban poor through environmental action in Chiapas, Mexico. Previous work experience includes the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, where he worked at the urban/wildlife interface to facilitate dialogue with communities that disliked “nuisance” bears in Florida. He also worked for The Nature Conservancy as a global social scientist, helping to bring social science principles to initiatives in the United States and internationally.
Debbie Mans
Political Strategist and Partner, TWENTYTWENTY public affairs
Debbie Mans is a co-founder of TWENTYTWENTY public affairs, bringing a distinguished career in environmental policy, government affairs, and strategic communications. Recognized as a trusted advisor to two New Jersey Governors, she has forged a reputation as an authority on clean water, climate change, renewable energy, and community engagement.
Mans’ extensive government experience includes serving as Environmental and Energy Policy Advisor to Governor Jon Corzine, where she led development of the State Energy Master Plan, and as Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection under Governor Phil Murphy.
She leverages her significant state government expertise, combined with nonprofit leadership experience, to deliver strategic solutions for TWENTYTWENTY clients. Mans excels in designing and managing complex issue-based campaigns, streamlining public policy development through legislative, regulatory, and stakeholder processes – from public engagement to full campaign execution.
Her commitment to environmental stewardship extends through key leadership roles:
- Current Mayor of Glen Ridge Borough
- Board Member, Hudson River Foundation
- Former Chair, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters
- Former Baykeeper and Executive Director of NY/NJ Baykeeper, where she developed legal and environmental policies protecting the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary.
Mans’ collaborative approach was recognized with an award from the Ironbound Community Corporation and the US Environmental Protection Agency for her role as co-chair of the Passaic River Superfund Community Advisory Group (CAG).
Stacy McCormack
Political Strategist and Partner, TWENTYTWENTY public affairs
Stacy McCormack is a co-founder of TWENTYTWENTY public affairs, providing expert lobbying, policy development, and political strategy to a diverse client base, from Fortune 500 corporations and labor unions to NGOs and startups. An accomplished government affairs professional, she excels in navigating complex political landscapes.
McCormack leverages her sharp political acumen to guide client teams through strategic stakeholder analysis – identifying and engaging key players including elected officials, legislative targets, the Governor’s office, agency staff, business groups, and labor organizations. She adeptly interfaces with these stakeholders to advance policy goals and navigate political dynamics, earning recognition from leaders and advocates for her mastery of the policy-politics nexus.
Her approach is grounded in decades of state and local government experience across New York and New Jersey, including extensive on-the-ground campaign leadership. She utilizes public opinion research and strategic messaging to build winning coalitions for candidate, legislative, regulatory, and ballot initiatives.
- Director of Government Relations, The Nature Conservancy – NJ (World’s largest environmental organization)
- Director of Conservation Finance and Government Affairs, The Trust for Public Land: Secured tens of millions in sustainable funding for urban parks and open space via successful local ballot initiatives across NJ, NY, and PA.
- Environmental Policy Advisor, NJ Department of Health: Focused on childhood obesity prevention at the intersection of public health and environment.
- Founder, Ag in the City: Statewide initiative supporting urban agriculture and food access (now a Rutgers University program).
Community Engagement:
- Hosts a podcast exploring Irish communities in New Jersey.
- Policy Advisor volunteer for the Humane Society.
- Former Democratic Chair, Roseland, NJ.
Education:
- Master’s in Environmental Policy Studies, New Jersey Institute of Technology.
- Bachelor’s Degree, Seton Hall University.
Hannah Tyler
Marketing and Communications
Hannah Tyler enjoys helping purpose-driven leaders & organizations level up their impact, build momentum for their cause & attract investment. With over a decade of experience in marketing and communications, Hannah has a proven track record of success, having spearheaded the development of online fundraising programs that have generated over $150,000 in consistent annual support and cultivated email lists exceeding 50,000 loyal subscribers.
In addition to her expertise in marketing, Hannah specializes in working with political advocacy and democracy organizations, where she leverages her unique skill set to drive meaningful change. As a strategic partner at Sustainable Economies Consulting and the founder of Tyler Tactics, a boutique, woman-owned firm based in Columbus, Ohio, Hannah is dedicated to helping environmental and social impact leaders break free from the cycle of burnout and resource constraints.
Our Partners
We are grateful to so many great partners who have collaborated on past projects with our team. Several of these partners continue to collaborate on projects today.
