Session 5: Implementation

Tonga Pham, as the Associate Vice President for University Facilities, Tonga leads the charge to maintain a safe, healthy and attractive campus environment at the largest public research university in the Northeast. She specifically oversees 12 million gross square feet across nearly 200 buildings on 1,200 acres of land at the University at Buffalo. Tonga is an enthusiastic innovator and focuses on integrating the latest evidence-based customer service models, organizational change, construction processes, building maintenance and energy and sustainable design into her work to meet the complex needs of today's higher education environment.

Jay is Wendel's vice president of energy services. Throughout his career, he has led the development, design, and implementation of energy conservation, renewable energy, and decarbonization projects. He is passionate about working closely with clients to develop innovative and custom solutions to complex energy system challenges and then bringing those solutions to life.

As UB’s inaugural chief sustainability officer since 2011, Ryan McPherson works to create a culture of innovative and collaborative sustainability at UB and implements strategies to help position the university as a sustainability leader in the community, state and nation, as well as across higher education. Among his chief priorities has been setting 10 key strategies to implement within the next decade as part of the university’s climate action plan. He also has worked to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals across campus and New York as part of the broader work to create the next generation of change agents who are building the future we seek.

Under McPherson’s oversight, UB has transitioned 100% of its electricity to renewable sources and reduced its carbon footprint by 35%, leading to university successes such as recognition as a national model for climate action by Vice President Harris, receiving the Green Power Leadership Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency, winning the New York State Department of Environmental Excellence Award, and being ranked as #1 in the world by the Times Higher Education Impact Assessment in taking urgent action to combat climate change.

Prior to this role, Ryan was the Associate Vice President for Government & Community Relations where he successfully led a multi-year New York State effort that resulted in the enactment of the most comprehensive higher education legislation in the previous two decades. He sits on numerous boards including the Nature Conservancy (New York), the Western New York Sustainable Business Roundtable. Mr. McPherson is also an adjunct faculty member at the University at Buffalo School of Management and received his B.A. in political science from the University of New Hampshire and graduated magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo Law School.

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Paul G. Zmick, PE
Director of Energy and Utilities
University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Paul Zmick currently leads the 120 FTE Energy and Utilities team for the University of Virginia in Charlottesville Virginia. Central utilities are provided for over 19 million square feet of facilities, including the University Medical Center. The Energy and Utilities team is responsible for energy procurement, generation, distribution, and operation, maintenance, and renewal of the utility infrastructure, with a strategic focus on safety, sustainability, and stewardship. Utilities provided include steam, heating water, cooling water, domestic water, sanitary, storm, 13kV power, and on-site renewables. 

Paul currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International District Energy Association and has been an active member in the organization for many years. Prior to UVA, Paul worked for DuPont and Koch Industries for a combined 22-years across five manufacturing sites in various engineering and leadership roles. While at DuPont, Paul was listed as inventor on two US Patents. Paul graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, and the University of Virginia with a Master of Systems Engineering; and is a registered Professional Engineer in Virginia.

Michael Ahern has over 30 years of experience in leading development, engineering, construction, operation, and management of industrial and energy systems. This includes operational oversight of businesses in the industrial and energy fields, with a specific focus on district systems over the last fifteen years. At Ever-Green, he leads the development and advancement of mission-based campus and community energy and utility systems that achieve clients’ strategic goals. Ahern holds a BS in Business Finance from the University of Notre Dame, with an International Business Minor.