Environmental Coalition Bios

Rick Goss
Vice President of Environment and Sustainability

Rick is responsible for managing ITI’s Environmental Coalition, which promotes industry positions on electronics recycling, materials content and design, energy efficiency and green procurement. Rick represents the industry before elected officials, regulators and the media, and has testified on behalf of high-tech manufacturers before Congress and in several states. He is also involved in international regulatory issues on environment, energy and sustainability, and participates in several federal and state planning teams and task forces on environmental priorities.

Prior to joining ITI, Rick worked for three years for the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), where he served as EIA’s Vice President of Environmental Affairs.

Rick previously worked for a D.C.-based environmental consulting firm that specialized in risk communications issues for major corporate clients. As Senior Project Manager, he supervised projects for several Fortune 50 companies involved in Superfund, RCRA Corrective Action and brownfields.

Prior to moving to the D.C. area, Rick spent nine years in Albany, New York, as the Legislative Director for a New York State Assemblyman.

Rick holds an M.S. in Environmental Management and Policy from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rochester.

Chris Cleet, QEP
Director, Environmental Affairs

Chris Cleet is the Director of Environmental Affairs for ITI’s Environmental Coalition, assisting the VP of Environment and Sustainability with the management of the Coalition and advocating ITI positions on issues relating to energy efficiency, product design and electronics recycling. Chris also provides expertise on technical environmental issues such as materials restrictions and best practices for electronics recycling.

Prior to joining ITI, Chris was the Senior Manager of Environmental Affairs for the Environmental Issues Council of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), where he handled environmental issues for the high-tech industry.

Before coming to EIA, Chris worked with major consulting firms handling environmental issues for the Department of Defense, Department of Energy and major manufacturing companies. He also worked as the director of several of the American Chemistry Council's self-funded advocacy teams, working on issues such as worker safety, product recycling, toxicity and outreach plans, and has taught high school chemistry, physical science and earth science in schools in Montgomery County, MD, and Lancaster, PA. Chris has authored or co-authored several environmental technical papers and holds a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Millersville University in Millersville, PA, and a master's degree in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins University. Chris is a certified Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) through the Institute of Professional Environmental Practice (IPEP).

Ha Pham
Marketing Manager, Environmental Affairs

Ha Pham is the Marketing Manager for ITI’s Environmental Coalition, where she works closely with the VP of Environment and Sustainability to develop and implement marketing and branding strategies. Her objective is to build upon the Coalition’s position as the voice of the electronic and high tech industries on key environmental initiatives and policy. Ha is also responsible for member recruitment and the design and maintenance of the Coalition’s website.

Prior to joining ITI, Ha worked three years as the Marketing Manager and Strategic Analyst at the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). In that capacity, she assisted the COO in identifying growth strategies for the organization and implementing its marketing plan. She also maintained websites for EIA, the Enviironmental Issues Council, and E-cycling Central.

Ha’s professional background also includes being part of the team that helped launch XM Satellite Radio, a stint as a Financial Analyst for Prudential Securities and Grants Analyst for Special Olympics.

Ha holds a B.S. in Business and a B.A. in International Studies from American University.

Colleen Pickford
Manager, Environmental Affairs

As Manager of Environmental Affairs for ITI’s Environmental Coalition, Colleen leads Coalition efforts on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Green Procurement. Colleen closely monitors the stewardship of IEEE 1680, the EPEAT procurement standard. Over the past several months Colleen has acted as an industry voice for the EPA-funded process to expand the EPEAT program. As this program expands, ITI’s Environmental Coalition will maintain a strong voice for the development of harmonized and fair standards.

Before coming to ITI, Colleen worked with the Environmental Issues Council at the Electronic Industries Alliance. In that capacity Colleen focused on environmentally preferable purchasing, issues surrounding the disposal of electronics and energy efficiency. She also collaborated on communications and media efforts, overseeing the redesign of two websites.

Additionally, Colleen’s background includes serving in multiple fundraising positions for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). She coordinated donor strategies and communications plans. She also served as Legislative Correspondent to the Honorable Wayne T. Gilchrest (R-MD), where she focused on environmental and other issues, and served as Mr. Gilchrest's liaison for the Congressional Climate Change Caucus.

Colleen has written several environmental papers and possesses a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Resource Management with a minor in Political Science from the Pennsylvania State University, and a Masters of Natural Resources from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Valerie Rickman
Environmental Affairs Analyst

Valerie provides regulatory compliance and legislative analysis and tracking assistance for the ITI Environmental Coalition. Her job duties include assisting with collective reporting and tracking developments of new Energy Star standards and electronics recycling laws.

Before coming to ITI, Valerie worked for the Environmental Issues Council at the Electronic Industries Alliance. As part of the EIC team, Valerie assisted members with regulatory compliance, legislative tracking, collective reporting, and a variety of other services.

Valerie has interned for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1 in the office of Assistance and Pollution Prevention, the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, Ceres, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Office of Technical Assistance.

Valerie holds a B.A. in Environmental Analysis and Policy and an M.A. in Energy and Environmental Analysis; both degrees are from Boston University.