As Evergreen enters its next chapter of growth, we are proud to welcome new members to board leadership.
Since its launch in 2010, Evergreen has delivered patient capital, hands-on support, and ecosystem development for early-stage climate tech startups across the Greater Midwest. Our novel 501vc® Investment Fund model combines venture capital and philanthropy to support early-stage founders getting to scale. At Evergreen, we unlock world-changing climate innovation in the Midwest region, compounding returns on both investment and impact.
Amy Francetic and Tom O’Neill pass the Board Chair baton
As Evergreen’s founding CEO, Amy Francetic led the organization through its creation and formative years. Amy then served on the Board of Directors, spending the last 5 of her 10 years on the Board as its Chair.
We’re deeply grateful for Amy’s vision and leadership, and thankful that she will continue as a valued voice within the Evergreen community as Board Chair Emeritus.
Tom O’Neill succeeds Amy as our new Board Chair. Having served on Evergreen’s board for the past four years, Tom has already provided a drumbeat of strategic guidance and expertise during a period of significant growth and transition. His deep understanding of Evergreen’s mission and operating model, along with his professional expertise as a partner at Jenner & Block’s Energy Practice and former Corporate General Counsel at Exelon, positions him well to lead our next phase of impact.
Welcome new Evergreen Board members James Mazurek and Alison Taylor
James Mazurek, Utilities Strategy Lead, Americas at Accenture
James leads Accenture’s Americas Utilities Strategy team, advising senior leadership at North American electric and gas utilities on the business, policy, and technology dimensions driving the industry’s transformation. Most recently, he served as Executive Sponsor for Accenture’s Clean Infrastructure Hub, helping secure over $2 billion in federal funding for clients through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He also serves as Accenture’s Executive Sponsor to the World Economic Forum’s data center and AI energy demand track. James led the Energy and Environment committee for Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s transition team and began his career as a Combat Engineering officer in the U.S. Army.
Alison Taylor, Senior Fellow at Duke University
Alison brings extensive experience in corporate sustainability leadership, having served as Chief Sustainability Officer at ADM where she oversaw global sustainability strategy and guided implementation of environmental stewardship programs aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Her background includes more than a decade as Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of the Americas at Siemens. An environmental lawyer by training with an undergraduate degree in biology, she previously served as a partner at Davis, Graham and Stubbs LLC, practicing water, natural resources, environmental and energy law, before spending more than a decade as counsel and chief counsel on Capitol Hill. She currently serves as vice chair of the board of visitors of the Nicholas Institute of Energy, Environment and Sustainability at Duke University, and on the boards of The Nature Conservancy–Illinois and the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation.
“Alison and James bring complementary perspectives across corporate sustainability, energy, and capital deployment — exactly what Evergreen needs as we continue scaling climate innovation across the Midwest,” said Michelle Carr, CEO of Evergreen Climate Innovations. “Their experience strengthens our ability to bridge the gap between great climate ideas and scalable commercialization.”
With this expanded leadership, Evergreen is deepening its commitment to patient capital and founder support, accelerating climate innovation while strengthening opportunity across the Greater Midwest. Please join us in welcoming them to the Evergreen community.
