Staff Updates: Summer 2026

We’re proud to share updates about members of our staff who have taken on new roles at CBI; you can read those updates below. First, though, some bittersweet news: after more than 30 years with CBI—including many years as our Managing Director—Patrick Field has taken extended leave from the organization to join the Executive Office of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as Undersecretary of Community Foundations.

He’s bringing to the new role the expertise and care that defined his decades with CBI, and he’s maintaining his focus on land use, development, environmental sustainability, communities, and working people. We miss him terribly, but Massachusetts is, as ever, lucky to have him.

Elizabeth Cooper, Senior Mediator at CBI, is now also part of CBI’s leadership team. Elizabeth brings a deep commitment to our field and years of experience on projects at the intersections of climate change, environment and land use issues, and local planning and policy. The leadership team is thrilled to welcome Elizabeth and excited to start this chapter for the rising generation of CBI leadership. Read about Elizabeth’s work here.

Meira Downie has been promoted to Associate. At CBI, she's worked across a wide range of projects, focusing especially on communities addressing challenges related to housing, education, climate, and environmental protection. Drawing on her experience as a mediator in Somerville, MA, schools, Meira is driven to strengthen groups' collaborative capacity and is interested in creative problem-solving at the community level. Learn more about her work here.

Stephanie Horii, Senior Associate at CBI, is now also CBI's Collaborative Systems & Tools Specialist. Stephanie specializes in developing customized collaborative workflows, creating accessible resources that translate complex technical information, and implementing innovative engagement frameworks for diverse audiences. Her work spans a broad range of management and planning issues, particularly those related to water resources, landscape/watershed planning, diverse land uses, and renewable energy. Read more about her work here.