The Foundation of Change: A Conversation with Diana McCarthy-Bercury
By Alyx Prinz and Ruby Ranoa, Earth Forward Group
Published December 22, 2025
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In the second episode of Green Jobs, Good Jobs, hosts Shane and Ruby sit down with Diana McCarthy-Bercury, Principal and CEO of Earth Forward Group (EFG), for an inspiring conversation about sustainability, workforce development, and the power of purpose-driven work.
Diana’s journey into sustainability is anything but traditional. Beginning her career in theater, she followed an unconventional path that ultimately led her to become a nationally recognized leader in energy efficiency, renewable energy development, and sustainability education. Her story is a powerful reminder that there is no single pathway into green careers, and that diverse backgrounds are not just welcome, but essential, in building a more sustainable future.
Finding Purpose Through Sustainability
During the episode, Diana reflects on how her bachelor of fine arts in theater shaped her ability to communicate, collaborate, and lead; skills that continue to serve her in the sustainability sector today. Her transition into sustainability was driven by a desire to create meaningful, measurable impact in communities, particularly those that are financially burdened by inefficient housing and rising energy costs.
That desire ultimately led to the founding of Earth Forward Group, an organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency, healthy housing, and sustainability education through innovative programming and workforce development.
Building Earth Forward Group
As Diana shares in the conversation, Earth Forward Group was founded on the belief that sustainability must be accessible, equitable, and actionable. Under her leadership, EFG has grown into a trusted partner for municipalities, schools, workforce training centers, and community organizations across the globe.
Diana brings decades of experience managing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, and she has played a key role in developing nationally recognized sustainability programs for:
Municipal governments
K–12 classrooms
Technical and workforce development initiatives
EFG’s work bridges the gap between policy, education, and real-world implementation, ensuring that sustainability isn’t just a concept, but a lived experience for the communities EFG serves.
Challenges, Opportunities, and What’s Next
The conversation also explores the evolving sustainability landscape; including the challenges facing the industry and the opportunities ahead. Diana speaks candidly about the importance of long-term thinking, cross-sector collaboration, and investing in people as much as infrastructure.
Looking forward, she shares insights into future projects focused on improving energy efficiency, healthy housing conditions, and access to green career pathways, particularly for communities that have historically been underserved.
Why This Conversation Matters
At its core, this episode of Green Jobs, Good Jobs highlights a critical truth: sustainability is not just about buildings, technology, or policies, it’s about people. It’s about creating systems that support healthier homes, stronger communities, and meaningful careers that align economic opportunity with environmental responsibility.
Diana’s story exemplifies how passion, adaptability, and purpose can come together to drive lasting impact and why green jobs truly are good jobs.
Listen to the full episode of Green Jobs, Good Jobs to hear Diana McCarthy-Bercury’s full story and insights into the future of sustainability.