About Us

Alleyn (he/him) joined Clean Cities is 2009, the same year Virginia Clean Cities, Inc., formed a partnership with James Madison University. That partnership allows Clean Cities and the university in Harrisonburg, Virginia to work together to leverage resources, support alternative fuel initiatives and pursue opportunities to decrease pollution and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Prior to being named Executive Director, Alleyn served as VCC’s Business Development Director. He serves as the Virginia representative to the nine-state Southeast Natural Gas Vehicle Corridor Committee, and was the coordinator for Virginia’s initial 2010 electric vehicle readiness effort. Harned was appointed to the State Advisory Board on Air Pollution in 2013.

Alleyn has worked on transportation and energy-related issues in Virginia since 2006. Before joining the VCC staff, Alleyn served as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia where he assisted in drafting Virginia’s initial Energy Plan, and participated in the Virginia Commission on Climate Change and Governor’s Energy Policy Advisory Council. Harned is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, and has a master’s degree from James Madison University, where he serves in an A&P faculty role.

With Virginia Clean Cities, Harned leads the coalition’s collaborative effort to assist stakeholders and the Commonwealth in programs to improve air quality, and increase American energy security and economic opportunity through the increased use of alternative fuels and vehicles.

Matthew serves as Deputy Director of VCC. He joined VCC in 2013 after six years in local government administration with the goal of comprehensively reducing petroleum use and harmful emissions in Virginia. As Deputy Director, he oversees the management of staff operations and VCC’s grant portfolio for alternative transportation fuels infrastructure, vehicle deployment, education, and outreach. As the senior VCC executive responsible for managing the financial strategies of the university and nonprofit side, Matthew is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He earned a Masters of Public Administration from James Madison University in 2007 and a Masters of Business Administration in 2018.

Graham comes to Virginia Clean Cities after two years on the portfolio management team at Electrify America. At EA he worked with large and small companies to deploy public EV charging across the US and Canada. He is passionate about making sustainable technologies available to individuals and communities. He looks forward to expanding VCC’s efforts in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Graham is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and holds a Master’s in Public Affairs from Brown University. He lives in Richmond.

Tarah Taylor Kesterson joined Virginia Clean Cities in February 2025 as the Clean Communities and Economic Development Director for Southwest Virginia. Tarah will be assisting in clean fuel needs west of Roanoke and is based in Bristol.

Before joining Virginia Clean Cities, Tarah served as the public relations manager for the Virginia Department of Energy. She spent a decade in local television news at the NBC affiliate in Bristol, WCYB, before beginning her career serving the Commonwealth.

A native of Raven, Virginia, Tarah is a graduate of Emory & Henry College (now University) and has a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications.

Jorden (he/him) serves as the Communications and Engagement Coordinator for Virginia Clean Cities. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Geographic Science from James Madison University.

He has an academic background in human geography, sustainability, and environmental justice, and holds professional experience in digital marketing and content creation. In his free time, he enjoys taking photos, exploring nature, and learning about sustainable development.

Gregory Brennan has an academic background in the fields of geology, environmental science, and sustainable resource management. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geology and Environmental Science from James Madison University and a Master’s in Sustainable Resource Management: Policy & Practice from the University of Limerick. He has professional work experience in Project and Logistics Management.

As Sustainable Transportation and Infrastructure Manager, Gregory is driven by his passion for environmental awareness and sustainable transportation, Gregory is committed to creating a greener and a more informed future generation of driver and riders. He believes in the power of collaborative efforts to drive positive change and looks forward to leveraging his expertise to contribute to the transition towards cleaner energy sources and a more sustainable society.

Russell serves Virginia Clean Cities as the Clean Fleet Engagement Manager.

He has over twenty years experience in the transportation sector and is passionate about applying his practical experience in logistics and fleet management to furthering alternative energy initiatives, infrastructure and best practices.

Russell graduated with a bachelors of science from James Madison University with a focus in telecommunications management.

Henry Matter is a senior at James Madison University pursuing a degree in Philosophy. He brings a practical, hands-on approach to complex problems, informed by his background in engines and automotive work. A confident and effective communicator, Henry is passionate about contributing meaningfully to the Harrisonburg community. As a Harrisonburg native, he is committed to applying his skills, curiosity, and local knowledge in service of the place he calls home.

Charles Williams (He/Him) is a rising senior at James Madison University, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Environmental Studies. He is focused on building a career in environmental policy, specifically in sustainable energy. Since March 2026, he has served as a volunteer intern for Virginia Clean Cities and is transitioning into the role of Virginia Clean Cities Accelerate Intern for the summer of 2026. By pairing technical skills in data collection and policy research with strong stakeholder engagement, Charles aims to deepen his expertise in clean transportation policy and build a lasting foundation in the green energy sector.

David founded Birch Studio in Charlottesville in 1996 and serves as Creative Director. In this capacity, he has overseen the branding and marketing of many small and mid-sized businesses in a variety of industries. He has trained and worked with numerous creative and technical staff since hiring Birch Studio’s first employee in 1999. David launched Flux Report, a periodical that presents data from the alternative fuels sector (biodiesel, ethanol, propane, etc.) and presents them in a visually-appealing format. Flux Report has been adopted by several Clean Cities Coalitions and is currently distributed to over 15,000 readers. David lives in Charlottesville with his wife and son, loves camping, mountain biking and hang gliding, and serves on the boards of Virginia Clean Cities, Mill Creek South HOA and Court Square Condo Association. He is an advisor to RideForward at UVA. He earned a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Maryland.