Meet the Team Building Washington's Clean Energy Economy

Behind the Washington State Green Bank is a team of dedicated professionals bringing together expertise in finance, energy policy, and community development. Our board of directors provides strategic oversight and guidance to ensure effective deployment of capital and measurable impact.

Together, we’re building innovative solutions that make clean energy accessible to all Washingtonians. Our team structures financing programs, builds strategic partnerships, and mobilizes private capital to scale clean energy and efficiency projects throughout the state.

Washington State Green Bank Staff

Eli Lieberman

Executive Director
elieberman@wagreenbank.org

Eli leads the Washington State Green Bank to help accelerate the state’s clean energy transition and climate resilience while ensuring everyone can access its benefits. He is building a diverse partnership of public and private capital investors so that all Washingtonians — particularly those in low-income and disadvantaged communities — can install clean energy and energy efficiency upgrades in their homes and buildings. Through these innovative financial products and strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, Eli is working to reduce barriers to clean energy adoption, create quality jobs and help Washington meet its ambitious climate goals.

Eli brings a rich background in renewable energy financing and green bank development. His leadership roles include serving as the director of clean energy financing and interim chief investment officer for Michigan Saves, the nation’s first nonprofit green bank, where he was responsible for building strategic relationships and designing and implementing new financing products. Eli also has extensive experience in the public sector, serving as the manager of the Sustainable Energy Trust with the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and addressing climate change through a carbon pricing program with the Washington Department of Ecology.

Meet Our Board of Directors

President and Chief Executive Officer, Yakima Valley Community Foundation

Sharon Miracle, Chair

Sharon has more than 20 years in non-profit leadership as a CEO, executive director, vice president, and director for healthcare, higher education, and philanthropic organizations ranging in size from 2-4,500 employees and revenues from $350,000 to $4 billion annually. Sharon also worked in the private sector for a large agricultural cooperative in the Yakima Valley for nearly a decade leading communications and corporate social responsibility. Earlier in her career, she worked for one of the nation’s national laboratories writing proposals, negotiating contracts, and monitoring deliverables on research projects related to atmospheric sciences, technology, artificial intelligence, and more. Sharon holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing Management from Central Washington University and has recently completed extensive graduate work in communication and leadership while pursuing her M.A. from Gonzaga University.

Key Industries & Workforce Development Manager, City of Seattle, Office of Economic Development

Vincent Valentino, Vice Chair

Vin has an extensive background spearheading initiatives at the intersection of climate, economics, and technology. He currently leads Green Economy projects for the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development, using his expertise in clean energy and climate policy to foster the clean energy transition, and he manages the Key Industries & Workforce Development Team.
Prior to joining the City of Seattle, Vin held multiple roles leading strategic sustainability and energy policy implementation with Stanford Health Care, the City of Columbus, Ohio, the craft brewing industry and as an independent consultant. Vin has a bachelor’s degree of Applied Sustainability in Business, Economics, Public Policy, and Design from The Ohio State University.

Founder and Executive Director, Clean Energy Transition Institute

Eileen Quigley, Secretary

Eileen V. Quigley is the founding Executive Director of the Clean Energy Transition Institute (CETI), a Northwest nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing an equitable clean energy transition in the Northwest, where she has conceived and directed programs since 2018. Eileen has researched, written, and spoken widely on decarbonization and how to accelerate an equitable clean energy transition in the Northwest.

Prior to creating CETI, Eileen spent seven years as Director of Strategic Innovation at Climate Solutions, where she directed programs that identified transition pathways off fossil fuel to a low-carbon future in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, overseeing programs that advanced clean energy in cities, rural areas, aviation, carbon sequestration, and cleaning the electricity grid.

Eileen currently serves on the boards of Renewable Northwest and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. She received her Master of Science in Journalism from Columbia University and her Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Yale University.

Director, Client Financial Solutions, McKinstry

Rachel Brombaugh, Treasurer

Rachel is the Director of Client Financial Solutions at McKinstry, a national construction and energy service company dedicated to innovating waste and climate harm out of the built environment. Rachel provides strategic guidance on capital structures and financial tools enabling clients to gain clarity on the financial performance of their projects, and to develop an optimal funding package. She has a multifaceted background spanning commercial banking, high-risk lending, and project finance, as well as program management and policy formulation from her tenure in the public sector. Rachel combines finance, project management, and business development expertise to advance energy efficiency, clean energy supplies, and building decarbonization. At McKinstry, she leverages her skills to ensure clients are confident in the financial value of energy efficiency and decarbonization services. In a previous role, Rachel led all outreach, business development, and underwriting activities for PACE Equity, financing efficiency and renewable projects. As Director of Climate and Energy Initiatives for King County, WA, she led a team implementing policies and programs to reduce emissions, advance climate equity, and prepare communities for the impacts of climate change.

Rachel holds a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business, and is a FSA Credential Holder.

President & Executive Director VertueLab

Aina Abiodun

VertueLab is a nonprofit organization with a mission of addressing the causes and impacts of the climate crisis through funding and technical support for climate tech innovation. As a climate tech founder herself, Aina brings experiences spanning executive leadership, brand strategy, entrepreneurship, innovation, fundraising, finance, partnerships, start-up mentorship, social strategy, community impact, and a heart full of commitment and leadership of equity & justice in the climate space. With a Masters of Fine Arts from UCLA’s film school, Aina also brings unique talent and years of experience in storytelling, especially with regards to underrepresented voices and social impact.

She has worked globally, and notably was the first Black woman to run a venture-backed tech company in Germany. Many of her thought leadership pieces have been featured across various channels, including PBS, Forbes, Tech Open Air, The Guggenheim Museum, California Institute of The Arts, and SXSW, to name a few.

Deputy Assistant Director, Energy Division, Washington State Department of Commerce

Cheryl Chan-Hardee

Cheryl is a dynamic leader with significant experience in energy policy, climate finance, and green banks. She currently serves as Deputy Assistant Director for the Energy Division at the Washington State Department of Commerce, where she oversees critical initiatives to advance Washinton state’s energy goals including the creation of the Washington State Green Bank. Cheryl has held diverse leadership roles for numerous public and private organizations. Prior to joining Commerce, she served as Chief Performance Officer for the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) in Washington, D.C., where she directed agency-wide strategic planning and accountability reporting processes. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in launching the DC Green Bank—the first city-level Green Bank established in the nation.

Cheryl has a unique background that combines finance and audit experience gained through earlier roles with Discovery Inc., Opower, and KPMG, with technical expertise in the development of innovative sustainability policies to build innovative solutions for a more resilient and equitable future. Cheryl has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from American University and a Master's in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University.

Managing Director of Special Programs, Grow America

Chuck Depew

Chuck Depew is a Managing Senior Director for Grow America, formerly the National Development Council, a national non-profit that provides economic and community development assistance to local governments. Chuck provides technical assistance in project finance, development negotiation and housing finance to communities throughout the Northwest, including Utah and Wyoming and Northern California. Recent work has focused on increasing Grow America’s program support to communities such as the $105 million Washington Small Business Flex Fund, a small business revenue-based financing model, minority business commercial ownership initiative, and creation of an EDA RLF Community of Practice. Prior to his tenure at Grow America, Chuck was Deputy Director of the Office of Economic Development for the City of Seattle.

Mr. Depew has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning from the University of California, at Santa Cruz; and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Washington.