MCAN Staff Biographies

Rob Garrity, Executive Director

Rob Garrity is the second Executive Director of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network, which coordinates the activities of over thirty local climate groups working in their communities on solutions to the challenge of climate change.

Prior to joining MCAN, Rob was the legislative liaison for the Clean Energy and Climate Change program of the Conservation Law Foundation, where he worked on legislation and policy in Massachusetts and throughout New England. Mr. Garrity began his career in State Government, spending 14 years in the legislative and executive branches, including postings with the Division of Energy Resources and Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, as well as serving as the Legislative Director to Governor A. Paul Cellucci. Rob serves his home community of Norfolk, MA as a member of the Affordable Housing Trust and Zoning Board of Appeals.

Fred Schlicher, Program Manager

In the last four years Fred has developed and helped execute three successful MTC Public Awareness Clean Energy Grants. Prior to MCAN, Schlicher owned and operated his own consulting firm providing organizational management, public relations and community relations services to a variety of educational, governmental and industry clients. He has over 20 years of experience in energy and environmental affairs. He is also a former journalist and has a BA in English from Southern Methodist University and is a graduate of the Professional Certificate Program in Public Relations from UCLA.

Susan Altman, Outreach and Programs Manager

Susan Altman is an environmental communication and social marketing consultant Steering Committee member and was MCAN’s Clean Energy Choice program liaison for the City of Medford. During her seven year involvement with MCAN she founded the Medford Environmental Alliance which is organizational and communications umbrella for the many small, primarily volunteer-staffed groups that tackle environmental concerns in Medford, co-founded the Massachusetts Social Marketing Association, an organization that supports professionals focusing on changing human behavior for environmental and social good, and served as a member of the Medford Clean Energy Committee pursuing development of renewable energy 100 kW wind turbine in Medford during 2008.