About us
Our goals
Benefit public health while creating jobs
Advancing Environmental Health While Creating Opportunity
ProperStagg is committed to developing solutions that improve environmental health, strengthen communities, and create meaningful economic opportunities. By addressing challenges associated with wood waste, biomass, and wastewater biosolids, we help communities move toward more sustainable and resilient waste management practices.
Environmental Health Benefits
By diverting wood waste, biomass, and wastewater biosolids from traditional disposal methods, ProperStagg helps reduce waste accumulation, minimize environmental risks, and support cleaner, safer communities. Our resource recovery approach transforms challenging waste streams into valuable products while helping municipalities and organizations address long-term waste management challenges.
Job Creation & Workforce Development
ProperStagg projects are designed to create local employment opportunities while supporting workforce development initiatives. Our facilities can provide skilled positions in operations, maintenance, logistics, and environmental services, while creating opportunities to partner with community organizations and rehabilitative workforce programs to develop pathways to meaningful careers.
Our Mission:
To develop renewable environmental infrastructure that transforms underutilized waste streams into valuable resources, strengthens energy resilience, reduces environmental impact, and creates sustainable economic opportunities for communities and businesses.
Through advanced technologies such as pyrolysis, ProperStagg converts wood waste, biomass, and wastewater biosolids into renewable energy, biochar, and durable carbon removal solutions. We are committed to advancing the circular economy while supporting workforce development, community partnerships, and innovative approaches to sustainable resource management.
Our Vision:
To build North America’s leading renewable environmental infrastructure platform by transforming today’s waste into tomorrow’s valuable resources.
ProperStagg envisions a future where communities and industries can recover value from waste, reduce carbon emissions, generate renewable energy, and create resilient local economies through scalable environmental infrastructure.
Meet the Team
The team behind ProperStagg Environmental Group brings together diverse expertise in finance, business development, operations, and sustainable technology. With backgrounds spanning financial services, corporate management, strategic planning, and renewable infrastructure development, our leadership team combines technical insight with the ability to execute complex projects.
Driven by a shared commitment to innovation and environmental progress, the ProperStagg team is focused on developing scalable solutions that address critical waste management challenges, create economic value, and advance the transition toward a more sustainable future.
Joseph A. Croteau, MBA
President | ProperStagg Environmental Group
Joseph “Joe” Croteau brings over 25 years of experience in financial services to his role as President of Proper Stagg Environmental Group, based in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Under his leadership, the company is advancing innovative solutions in biochar production, plastic recycling, and carbon reduction technologies. Prior to leading Proper Stagg, Joe worked with Palladium Capital, where he assisted numerous startup companies in raising capital and structuring financial strategies for growth. His extensive career in financial services includes leadership positions as Regional Claims Manager, Financial/Analyst Underwriter, Director of Third-Party Brokerage Sales, and Vice President of Trust Services at MassMutual Insurance Company.
Christopher P. Lapinski
Owner, Lapinski Electric INC
Owner, Wainscott Builders LLC
Vice President | ProperStagg Environmental Group
Christopher P. Lapinski is an accomplished contractor and business leader with over 40 years of experience in the construction industry. He has led numerous commercial, industrial, and municipal projects across New England, building a reputation for reliability, precision, and safety. In his role as Vice President of ProperStagg Environmental Group, Chris brings his extensive technical expertise and management experience to the company’s mission of advancing biochar production and carbon reduction technologies.
“What sparked my interest in the biochar industry was our potential to make a meaningful difference in this world by helping to create cleaner, more sustainable systems for future generations.”
John E. Turgeon, CPA
Founder & Managing Member, Turgeon & Associates, LLC
Chief Financial Officer | ProperStagg Environmental Group
John E. Turgeon is a seasoned Certified Public Accountant with over 40 years of experience serving closely held businesses, professional firms, and individual clients throughout Western Massachusetts. As Founder and Managing Member of Turgeon & Associates, LLC in East Longmeadow, he provides strategic accounting, tax, and advisory services, specializing in business planning, succession strategy, tax-exempt reorganizations, and valuation. Before founding his own firm in 2014, John was a Partner at Aubrey, Dixon & Turgeon LLC, leading special audits, quality control initiatives, and client advisory services for nearly three decades. He began his career as a Manager at KPMG Peat Marwick, focusing on audit, tax, and accounting for closely held businesses while gaining expertise in computerized accounting systems. John earned a B.S. in Business Administration (Accounting), cum laude, from Western New England College. He is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of CPAs, and he has served as Past President of the Western New England University Alumni Association.
Sarah A. Miller, Esq.
Law Offices of Sarah A. Miller, P.C.
Chief legal counsel | ProperStagg Environmental Group
Elizabeth “Eli” Hanechak
Director of Research & Development | ProperStagg Environmental Group
Elizabeth “Eli” Hanechak is an accomplished young researcher and student majoring in biochemistry and biological physics. She is currently attending Brandeis University (BASc, 2025–2029) and actively conducting research for ProperStagg Environmental Group. Eli has previously held research positions at the Stratton Lab at UMass Amherst, MIT’s Picower Institute of Learning and Memory and Westfield State University. She also works part-time as a Science Fair Coach with Crimson Education. Eli has earned a patent for her research on the artificially enhanced biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate, filed in 2024. Her work has earned numerous recognitions from organizations including National Geographic, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the American Society for Microbiology. Eli served as a Massachusetts delegate to the American Junior Academy of Science, where she was awarded a lifetime fellowship. This reflects her commitment to scientific research, innovation, and mentorship in STEM fields.
Kaylene A. Turgeon
FINANCIAL Controller | ProperStagg Environmental Group
Kaylene Turgeon is the Financial Controller at ProperStagg Environmental Group, where
she oversees financial operations, strategic planning, and performance management to support the company’s mission of advancing sustainable technology and environmental innovation. With over nine years of experience in financial services and accounting, Kaylene brings deep expertise in FP&A, financial control, and strategic analysis. Her background includes key roles at MassMutual and LPL Financial, where she honed her ability to streamline processes, implement data-driven financial systems, and align fiscal management with long-term organizational goals. Kaylene holds dual undergraduate degrees in Biology and Accounting, as well as a master’s degree in Forensic Accounting. She is known for her analytical rigor, creative problem- solving, and commitment to building smarter, more efficient financial frameworks.
Ariel S. DeJesus
Director of Strategic Planning and Business Development | ProperStagg Environmental Group
Ariel S. DeJesus serves as Director of Strategic Planning and Business Development at ProperStagg Environmental Group, where he oversees operations for one of the region’s most forward-thinking biochar and plastic recycling facilities. With more than 12 years of experience in the electrical industry and an Associate’s Degree in Energy Systems, Ariel brings a strong foundation in energy infrastructure, systems design, and sustainable innovation to his leadership role. At ProperStagg, Ariel’s focus is on turning waste into opportunity—advancing renewable energy, improving soil health through biochar application, and helping to build a cleaner, stronger future for local communities.