The U.S. Industrial Pellet Association (USIPA) has officially announced significant leadership changes to its Board of Directors, appointing Thomas Reilley, currently Chairman of wood pellet producer Highland Pellets LLC as Chairman, and welcoming Brandi Colander, SVP of Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer at Enviva, as a new Board Member.
These changes come as Thomas Meth, co-founder and former CEO of Enviva Inc., steps down from his role on the USIPA Board to take on a new position as Head of Biomass for Javelin Global Commodities.
We are immensely grateful for Thomas Meth’s foundational contributions, leadership, and vision, which have been instrumental in establishing and growing USIPA as a leading voice in the global biomass industry. As we move forward, we are equally fortunate to have Thomas Reilley at the helm. His expertise as a forward-thinking investor and entrepreneur will be invaluable as USIPA enters its next phase of growth and transformation, said Elizabeth Woodworth, Interim Executive Director of USIPA.
Thomas Reilley brings extensive experience to his new role, currently serving as Chairman of Highland Pellets. He began his career at Bear Stearns, eventually relocating to London in 2002 to establish and lead its wealth management division.
In 2007, he founded Kalan Capital, a private equity fund focused on geothermal and renewable energy investments, including the development of Orka Energy.
Now, based in the United States, he remains an active investor in sustainable ventures.
The USIPA Board also appointed Brandi Colander, SVP of Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer at Enviva, as a new member.
Brandi Colander’s extensive background in sustainability, policy, and external affairs spans leadership roles at WestRock, the National Wildlife Federation, and the US Department of the Interior.
She has also served as Deputy General Counsel for the White House Council on Environmental Quality and as an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Brandi’s wealth of expertise in sustainability and public policy will be an enormous asset to USIPA, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our Board, said Elizabeth Woodworth.
In addition to these new appointments, Matt White, SVP at Drax Biomass, will continue his role as Board Treasurer, and Todd Bush, Head of North America at CM Biomass, will take on the role of Board Secretary.
Nicholas Dottino, CEO and Chairman at AS Graanul Invest, and Harold Arnold, President at Fram Renewable Fuels, will continue to serve as Board Members.
USIPA looks forward to “leveraging this expanded expertise to further its mission of supporting a sustainable and growing global biomass industry.”
