Dave Feldman
Executive Director
Dave Feldman is the Founding Executive Director of Bethesda Green, a nationally recognized innovation hub and green business incubator advancing a sustainable economy across the Washington, D.C. region. Under his leadership, Bethesda Green has become a catalyst for entrepreneurship, community engagement, and environmental stewardship—helping launch and grow dozens of mission-driven companies and sustainability initiatives.
In addition to his work at Bethesda Green, Dave and his wife, Dara, co-founded Virtues Matter, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people live with greater meaning, purpose, and joy through the timeless wisdom of virtues. He has also launched several other mission-based ventures, including The Livability Project, which helps communities build resilience and sustainable prosperity, and Media4Green, a media company creating environmentally focused content.
Earlier in his career, Dave served as Consul, UK Trade & Investment at the British Embassy, helping U.S. and U.K. companies expand internationally. His leadership and innovation have earned numerous honors, including being named one of “The 25 CEOs You Need to Know” by The Gazette of Politics and Business, Innovator of the Year by The Daily Record, and receiving the Schulze Publication Award for his editorial work with the Entrepreneur and Innovation Exchange (EIX).
Dave holds an M.B.A. from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, and remains a passionate advocate for sustainability, community development, and values-based leadership.
Sharon D’Emidio
Director of Green Living and Community Engagement
Sharon and her family have been living and working in the DMV since 2007. She is joining the Bethesda Green team after six years as a Recycling Specialist at the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection. During her time at DEP, Sharon was responsible for educating residents, employees and businesses about the County’s recycling regulations, reducing waste and launching a successful food scraps recycling program for businesses. Prior to her work at DEP, Sharon was a Program Manager at Bethesda Green. She has spent her career working in both the environmental and health sectors both domestically and internationally. She received her MSc in Health, Population & Society from the London School of Economics. Sharon resides with her two daughters and husband in Chevy Chase, MD. When she isn’t working at BG, you can find her running, biking or walking her dog on the Capital Crescent Trail or driving her children to and from sports practices.
Pia Iolster
Program Manager, Green Business Certification
Pia has been living in Montgomery County for over 25 years and has focused her career on natural resource conservation and sustainable development. She has worked extensively in the non-profit sector both on reforestation and agroforestry issues in developing countries and, more recently, she shifted to doing work on local issues. This included working at the Environmental Finance Center of the University of Maryland helping local officials and communities address issues such as climate resilience, stormwater management and environmental health. Pia grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she completed a degree in Ecology and then came to the USA where she did a M.S. in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology at the University of Maryland. In her free time, she enjoys doing anything that takes her outside such as biking, hiking, walking her dogs or just working in her backyard. She also loves hanging out with her family and friends.
Kiah Matthews
Fellow, Chesapeake Bay Trust, Climate Corp Service Year
Kiah is participating in the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Climate Corps Service Year with Bethesda Green, where she will spend 10 months supporting sustainability initiatives and gaining firsthand experience in operating and growing a nonprofit organization. Kiah is a Maryland native and graduate of Montgomery County Public Schools, as well as a graduate of Nova Southeastern University, where she received a Bachelors of Science in Marine Biology. She plans to pursue graduate school in a related field of interest and aspires to start her own nonprofit organization focused on environmental and community impact. In her free time, Kiah enjoys playing with her dog (Kairo), baking, gardening, traveling, and trying new foods throughout the DMV area.
In Memoriam
Adam Roberts
Executive Director, 2019 – 2022
Adam joined the Bethesda Green team in January 2019 after nearly three decades of animal protection/international wildlife conservation and nonprofit strategic planning and development work. An innovative leader in the global charity sector, Adam contributes his enthusiastic vision to Bethesda Green as we navigate a second decade of important, impactful work. He currently shares office space with his canine companion, Pickle. (Read more.)