Elijah Conlin - Chair of Board 

Elijah Conlin is the owner and operator of his own Sustainable Consulting firm . Elijah Graduated from Binghamton University with a M.S. in Sustainable Communities in May 2024. At NeST, Eli is primarily responsible for scheduling events, coordinating tabling appearances, helping with meeting facilitation, and directing the Energy Corp Intern Program. Throughout his four years at Binghamton University, Eli worked with several community groups in the greater Binghamton area with the environmental justice organization, Zero Hour Binghamton, that he co-founded. Eli is passionate about environmental justice, housing justice, clean energy at scale, and working toward a greener future. In Eli’s leisure time, he enjoys playing soccer, golf, and hiking.

Shalita Thomas - Treasurer

Shalita Thomas serves as Treasurer for Southern Tier Recovery Outreach for New Growth (S.T.R.O.N.G.). With a background in accounting, Shalita has over 30 years of experience in financial management, planning, budgeting and compliance. Shalita is committed to S.T.R.O.N.G.’s mission and will oversee the financial health and strategic investment to ensure long-term sustainability. Outside of her professional role, she is passionate about community development, volunteers with her local youth sports teams, enjoys traveling and spending time with her grandchildren.

Cedric Baylor - Board Secretary 

Cedric Baylor is the Owner and Operator of Above Average LLC, a student transportation company he founded in 2016 and has grown into one of Connecticut’s most reliable providers, now completing over 100 daily school trips statewide. Before launching the business, Cedric spent 14 years with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families as an adolescent social worker serving the Greater New Haven community and connecting youth to educational and vocational programs across the country. A former University of Connecticut football player, he was part of the program’s early foundation from 2000–2003 after earning First Team All-Northeast Conference honors at Lackawanna College. Cedric remains deeply committed to community impact, volunteering as a youth football coach and mentor for many years.