Jill A. Gaito serves as the founding Executive Director of the Green Center of Central Pennsylvania. The mission of the Green Technology Center is to become a well-recognized Central Pennsylvania hub for education and information relating to green technologies and sustainable lifestyle and practice, and to become a driving force behind the application of green technologies and practices in the region.

The Green Center will be the focal point of an inner-city revitalization project that has reclaimed two brownfield properties in Midtown Harrisburg to establish an educational campus that incorporates both green building technologies and renewable energy sources into their facilities. The Green Center redevelopment will serve as living classroom for sustainability.

Prior to her appointment as Executive Director of the Green Center of Central Pennsylvania, Jill served three years as the Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Community Revitalization and Local Government Support. The role of this office was to establish PADEP as a partner in economic development by promoting policies and initiatives that foster a climate of environmentally sound and sustained economic growth. This step - establishing an economic development group within the environmental protection agency - has won DEP national recognition. At DEP, Jill first served as the Department’s Brownfield Action Team Director where she contributed to the success of many brownfield and redevelopment projects throughout Pennsylvania.

Jill was employed at Gannett Fleming for 11 years in a variety of management, economic development and technical capacities before joining DEP in January 2005. She also worked as technical operations manager for Laboratory Resources Inc., and as a project manager for NUS Environmental Corp.

In 2004, Jill was selected as one of the "Top 40" business people under the age of 40 in central Pennsylvania. She has published numerous articles on brownfield revitalization and her expertise has led to speaking engagements at events across the country. Jill is an active member of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals, an organization focused on mentoring young women in environmental professions and serves as President of the School Board at Saint Patrick School in Carlisle.

Jill earned a master's degree in business administration from Robert Morris University, and a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Gannon University. She lives in Carlisle with her husband and their two sons.