The NEHERS Alliance Board is consists of the following positions for 2025:

• Rater Category (3 positions)
• Association Member Category (1 position)
• QA Provider category (4 positions)
• Training Provider category (o Positions)
• Program Category (1 Position)

Current Board Members

Executive Committee

President: Cindy Zeis
Vice President: Nicole Burger
Secretary: Kaitlyn Mitchell
Treasurer: Jonathan Harrison

Rater Category (3 Positions)

Kaitlyn Mitchell - Communications and Engagement Coordinator
Center for EcoTechnology, Florence, MA

Kaitlyn works for the Center for EcoTechnology as a Communications and Engagement coordinator. In her role, she works to engage community members on CET's work in energy efficiency, home weatherization and waste reduction. She also builds partnerships with organizations and businesses to create opportunities in CET's high-performance building and energy efficiency programs. Kaitlyn holds a B.S. in Natural Resources Conservation from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  

Nicole Burger - Regional Manager, New England and Senior Energy Consultant
Innova Building Advisors, LLC, Revere MA

Nicole serves as Innova Building Advisors' Regional Manager for New England and Senior Energy Consultant. She provides green building consulting, program certification, field verification and diagnostic testing for new and existing building multi-family projects. Nicole guides architects, developers, and builders through Passive House, ENERGY STAR, Zero Energy Ready Homes and Indoor airPLUS and has a deep experience using energy modeling software to measure building performance and assist projects to secure utility rebates and incentives. Prior to working in green building/energy conservation Nicole worked in the healthcare field, focusing on underserved communities. Nicole is a Certified Passive House Consultant, PHIUS+Verifier, and RESNET Certified Home Energy Rater.

Nicole holds a Master of Design Studies in Sustainable Design from Boston Architectural College and an MBA in Sustainable Business from Green Mountain College.

Sean Barfield - Energy Rater
New Ecology, Inc.

Sean Barfield is an Energy Rater at New Ecology, Inc., a community-focused sustainable development consultancy. He joined the NEI team in 2016 as an intern after earning a degree in Environmental Studies. Since then, he has enhanced his knowledge and skills in building science and the multi-family construction sector.

In his current role, Sean collaborates with the New Ecology team to support the construction and design of resilient, accessible, and affordable multifamily housing. He is passionate about the environment and believes he is making a positive impact by helping to create healthy, energy-efficient homes.

Before joining New Ecology, Sean worked in the auto body industry for over twenty years, where he developed strong problem-solving skills that he has since applied to the multi-family construction industry.

Outside of work, Sean enjoys spending time with his wife, cat, and friends, as well as engaging in outdoor hobbies like gardening and snowboarding.

Associate Member Category (1 Position)

Keegan Ebbets - Program Manager for the Mass Save Residential New Construction Program
ICF, Cambridge, MA

Keegan Ebbets has 12+ years of experience in the residential energy efficiency sector and currently serves as the Program Manager for the Mass Save Residential New Construction Program at ICF. In this role, Keegan works closely with the Massachusetts Program Administrators, as well as participating HERS rating companies, to oversee and implement the new construction incentives and workforce development program. Prior to joining ICF, he spent time at CLEAResult as a Lead Energy Auditor and Field Operations Manager within the Residential Coordinated Delivery division of the Mass Save residential offerings. Keegan is excited to bring his wealth of experience and deep commitment to decarbonizing the built environment to his role on the Board of Directors of the Northeast HERS Alliance.

QA Provider Category (4 Positions)

Jonathan Harrison - Field Manager
CLEAResult, West Greenwich, RI

My name is Jonathan Harrison. I am a Field Supervisor at CLEAResult. I have been a HERS rater for 20 years. I am involved in the Rhode Island New Construction program for Rhode Island Energy and CLEAResult as a HERS Rater, Passive House Verifier, RESNET QAD, BPI Building Analyst, and Energy Consultant.

Mike Browne - Founder and Principal
Advanced Building Analysis, Amesbury, MA

I am very proud to say that I have now had a 17-year career as a HERS Rater. My path to becoming a HERS Rater was circuitous, but everything in it helped establish in me the skills that are necessary to be an effective HERS Rater.

After achieving a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Brown University, I became a traditional wooden boat builder for the next 8 years (logical choice, right?) Then I ran CNC woodworking routers for an architectural woodworking company for a few years, before discovering the intriguing possibility of a career as a HERS Rater. I dove right into HERS Rating, starting my own company, Advanced Building Analysis in 2007, and helping start Energy Raters of Massachusetts in 2009. I have volunteered for all sorts of committees including the MA Governor’s Zero Net Energy Buildings Task force/Advisory Committee, the Amesbury Energy Committee, the public policy committee of the Home Builders Association Massachusetts and the Energy Advisory Committee to the MA BBRS (Board of Building Regulations and Standards), the RESNET Standards 380 Sub-Committee, the 2024 IECC Residential Envelope and Embodied Carbon Subcommittee, and the RESNET Embodied Carbon Standard Development Committee 1500.

Along the way, I’ve acquired qualifications for ENERGY STAR Homes Rater, LEED for Homes Rater, PHIUS+ Rater/Verifier, and Green Verifier for the National Green Building Standard, and I have served as QAD and Trainer for ERM. I have also served on the board of advisors of Ekotrope, and I have been a repeat presenter at many different conferences and events including RESNET and ASHRAE.

Outside of work, I enjoy sailing and spending time with my family. I also relax with archery, and keep busy improving our small home from an initial HERS Index of 140 to a current HERS Index of 30 (HERS 57 without the PV.)

Cindy Zeis - Manager, Provider Services
Performance Systems Development, East Lyme, CT

Cindy Zeis has a diverse background including Energy Efficient Construction, Affordable Housing, Disaster Relief, Adult Education and is a Military Veteran. She has over 20 years of industry experience as a Builder, Certified HERS Rater, RESNET Quality Assurance Designee, RESNET Instructor, ENERGY STAR Partner and Trainer, EPA RRP Instructor, and ACCA Certified Residential System Designer. Her work has taken her throughout the United States and abroad. She currently fills the role of Senior Manager of Technical Services for Performance Systems Development, a national RESNET Rating/Training Provider and Consulting firm. She also serves as the current Vice President of NEHERS and chairs the Standards Committee. Cindy’s background is backed by a thirst for knowledge and a desire to analyze and improve systems. She’s worked the business end of both the wrench and the hammer and believes that decisions made in the board room are only good if they can be conveyed, understood, and safely implemented by those who do the same.

Training Provider Category (1 Position)

Michael Rossi - Energy Code Specialist Performance Systems Development
PSD, Nashua, NH

Michael is an Energy Code Specialist at PSD. Prior to joining PSD, Michael was a Senior Associate of Building Energy Codes at Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP). Michael also worked as a RESNET Certified HERS Rater in Massachusetts where he coached builders on energy efficient design practices and enforced the Massachusetts IECC 2018 and Stretch Code Performance Path to Code Compliance.

Program Category (1 Position)

Joel Martell - Customer Energy Management Team
National Grid, Boston, MA

Joel Martell serves on the Customer Energy Management team at National Grid. He is the strategy lead for Mass Save Residential & Commercial New Construction programs. Prior to joining National Grid Joel spent his career in building energy codes and standards development holding seats on ASHRAE std. 90.1, 189.1, and the International Code Councils (ICC) Sustainability, Energy & High-Performance Building Code Action Committee (SEHPCAC). Joel represented the building industry as the Program Manager for Energy & Green Codes at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and was heavily involved in the development of the 2021 I-codes. After his time at NAHB, Joel joined the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) as their Director of Technical Service before joining National Grid.