Board Members
Bryan Amezquita, President
Bryan Amezquita believes sustainable practices are critical to longevity for organizations and our world. He likes to be involved with organizations that he feels he can make the most impact for our community. If Bryan is not working on ventures or traveling then he is spending quality time with his family and friends. Bryan graduated from Harlem H.S., Rock Valley College , and earned his Bachelor’s Degree at Rockford University. His career background is in education as a teacher and a small business owner.
Cierra White, Vice President
Cierra is a passionate advocate for sustainability and community-driven change. Her love for the planet shows up in her everyday life, whether she is growing her food, supporting low-waste living, or helping others find simple, joyful ways to live more sustainably. While new to the solar space, Cierra is excited to help bridge the gap between clean energy solutions and everyday people by showing how small lifestyle shifts can lead to a lasting impact.
She’s proud to support Sustain Rockford’s mission and bring a community-centered perspective to the conversation around renewable energy. Cierra holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Northern Illinois University and studied Creative Producing at UCLA, giving her a strong foundation in collaboration, creativity, and thoughtful strategy
Lesly Pavlas, Secretary
Lesly Pavlas is passionate about saving the planet one bee at a time. She is an advocate for sustainability both in her personal life and in her workspace. In her work life, she is the Sustainability Champion for her office and works to eliminate waste in the office through recycling, composting, use of reusable tableware and drinkware, purchasing recycled office supplies and safe cleaning products, and educating her team about ways they can become more sustainable both at work and home. In her personal life Lesly enjoys growing flowers and vegetables, raising chickens, and fishing. She hopes to restart her bee hives soon and is planning a nectar garden to surround the hives.
Nathan Arroyave, Treasurer
Nathan believes deeply in the power of grassroots action to create lasting change. As a lifelong learner and proud Rockford native, he’s committed to building a more just, sustainable, and resilient future for the community he calls home. His passion for community-driven solutions is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves access to clean air, fresh food, and a healthy environment—regardless of where they live or the background they come from. In his spare time, you’ll often find Nathan in the garden harvesting fresh vegetables and herbs to cook with. He’s also a familiar face at local events across the city—whether browsing City Market, enjoying Dinner on the Docks, or cheering on the Rockford IceHogs.
With a background in finance and a deep commitment to community, Nathan is proud to contribute his skills in support of Sustain Rockford’s mission and future.
Brad Roos, Executive Director
Brad Roos is a Rockford native with Chemistry degrees from the University of Illinois/Champaign-Urbana where he then taught high school. For more than 40 years Brad has been doing neighborhood and community development work with most of his work focused on affordable housing development using sustainable building design. He has also served in leadership and consulting roles in the Rockford area and in Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota and Washington State. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the statewide nonprofit, the Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund.
Brad and his wife enjoy woodworking ("sawdust therapy") and doing small construction and renovation projects.
Ava Johnson, Program Administrator
Ava is an NIU graduate and a dedicated environmentalist with a deep passion for community and sustainability. In 2020, she started her own small zero-waste business to put her values into action and help others live more consciously.
Ava’s journey through environmental science has taught her the importance of making complex information accessible, and she is driven by the belief that real change starts with understanding. Whether it’s through education, outreach, or everyday conversations, Ava is committed to bridging the gap between science and the people it impacts most—our families, our neighborhoods, and our future.
Francisca French
Francisca is an advocate for environmental sustainability and believes in the urgent need to protect and preserve our planet for future generations. With a professional background in economic development, Francisca understands the importance of strengthening communities and the crucial role that sustainability plays in mitigating the impact of unhealthy changes to our ecosystem. She believes that through education and advocacy, we can raise awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability and inspire positive change in both individual and collective behavior. Francisca holds a Bachelor of Science from Howard University and an MBA from The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Carol Erickson
Carol Erickson actively seeks to improve food access in her community. Prior to her retirement, she worked for University of Illinois Extension for 26 years with the SNAP Ed program. She actively assists neighbors to grow their own food through community gardens and advocates for strong policies that make healthy food available for all. She is working with the Food Waste team to keep food out of the landfill.
Alex Johnson
Alex Johnson is a Rockford native and founder of The Disruption Society, a motion design studio built to help social and environmental innovators amplify their impact and spark systemic change. His work bridges creativity and cause, equipping impact-driven brands like Sustain Rockford with the tools to scale their message and ignite action. He is proud to be a 1% for the Planet member, donating at least 1% of their revenue to environmental nonprofits. He also mentors refugees and asylees around the world virtually through Chicago-based nonprofit, MENTEE.
Alex holds a B.A. in Graphic Design, is earning his Executive MBA from Quantic, is an ISSP Sustainability Associate, and is a trained mentor with the Climate Reality Leadership Corps. He brings a unique blend of design thinking, communication strategy, and values-driven leadership rooted in combating climate change. Prior to launching his studio, he served as Creative Director for a nonprofit in Madison.