Executive Committee (SWEP-CT Leadership)

Please feel free to contact any board member for more information about our organization.

Deborah Brancato 
Deborah is a Partner at Carmody Torrance Sandak and Hennessey LLP, focusing on environmental, land use, and real estate matters. She has practiced environmental law since 2008, beginning as a staff attorney with a prominent clean water advocacy organization. She received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Fairfield University and her J.D., magna cum laude and Environmental Law Certificate, from Pace University School of Law. Contact Deborah at dbrancato@carmodylaw.com.

Diane Duva 
Diane has worked for CT DEEP since 1992 and currently directs the Emergency Response Planning Office. She previously conducted field inspections, implemented enforcement actions, supervised remediation, coordinated brownfields policies, developed materials management policies, and directed energy efficiency policy programs for the agency. Diane graduated from Brown University and earned a master's degree in environmental management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Contact Diane at diane.duva@ct.gov.

Elizabeth Fortino 
Beth is Secretary of SWEP-CT and Counsel at Winnick Ruben Hoffnung Peabody and Mendel, LLC, where she has practiced environmental law for four years. She is licensed to practice in CT and FL. Beth also worked as an environmental consultant at Environmental Compliance Services, Inc. for two years prior to attending law school and for a short period after graduating law school. She received her B.A., cum laude, from Assumption College and her J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law.  Contact Beth at elizabeth.fortino@winnicklaw.com.

Ruth Kennedy 
Ruth is a Project Manager at GZA GeoEnvironmental's Glastonbury, CT office. She has nearly 15 years of experience in environmental consulting, specializing in site investigation and regulatory compliance. She is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) and received her B.S. in Biology from Central Connecticut State University. Contact Ruth at ruth.kennedy@gza.com.

Joy Kloss 
Joy is Co-Chair of SWEP-CT and a Project Manager at BL Companies. She has 18 years of experience in environmental consulting and specializes in site investigation and controlled material management for various construction projects to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. Joy is a Licensed Environmental Professional in CT and a Certified Hazardous Material Manager. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science from Hobard and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY.  Contact Joy at jkloss@blcompanies.com. 

Jordana Langford 
Jordana is Treasurer of SWEP-CT and a Project Manager with BL Companies. She has over 15 years of experience in environmental assessment and investigation, including management of several multi-site reporting portfolios.  Jordana has a B.S. in Geology and a minor in English from SUNY Buffalo. Contact Jordana at Jordana.Langford@blcompanies.com.

Sarah McQuade

Sarah works in the Remediation Division at CT DEEP where she serves as the RCRA Corrective Action Coordinator. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Ecology and Environmental Science at CCSU while working full time at DEEP. In 2017 she graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Unity College in Maine. Contact Sarah at Sarah.McQuade@ct.gov.

Rebecca Merz
Rebeca is the New England Sales Manager with Phoenix Environmental Laboratories, Inc.  Se has more than 20 years of experience in quality control, technical project management and business development, she possesses a wide range of environmental knowledge and expertise. Rebecca received her B.S. in Environmental Science from Westfield State University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Contact Rebecca at rebeccam@phoenixlabs.com.

Mary Mintel Miller 
Mary is Co-Chair of SWEP-CT and a Stockholder at Reid and Riege, P.C., where she is an environmental litigator. Her experience ranges from federal CERCLA and RCRA actions, to state disputes arising under the Environmental Protection Act, to administrative actions and appeals. Mary is licensed to practice in CT and MA, and has been named a Connecticut Rising Star in both environmental and intellectual property law. She received her B.A. in Biology from Swarthmore College and her J.D. from William and Mary Law School. Contact Mary at mmiller@rrlawpc.com.

Emilee Mooney Scott 
Emilee is a Partner in the Environmental and Utilities practice group of Robinson & Cole LLP, resident in the Hartford office. Emilee assists clients in transactional and regulatory compliance matters, with a focus on use and management of hazardous materials. She received a B.A. with high honors in economics from Smith College and her J.D. from UCONN and has been licensed to practice in both Connecticut and Massachusetts since 2010.  Contact Emilee at escott@rc.com.

Jane Kimball Warren 
Jane Warren is the Partner in Charge of McCarter & English’s Environmental Law Group in Hartford, Connecticut. Jane has over 30 years of environmental experience and specializes in coordinating the diverse interests of financial institutions, developers, manufacturers, and regulators. Jane has been selected as one of the highest ranked environmental attorneys in Connecticut by Chambers USA and is a past Chair of the Environmental Section of the Connecticut Bar Association. Jane earned her B.A., cum laude, from Bowdoin College, and J.D. from UCONN.  Contact Jane at JWarren@McCarter.com.