Board and Advisory

Chair: Christine Marez

Senior Vice President, Sustainability & ESG and Aviation, Transportation & Infrastructure, Cumming Group

Christine E. Marez is Vice President of the Cumming Group leading its Sustainability division. Christine is an electrical engineer and a LEED Accredited Professional (AP), Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP), and a Certified Inspector General (CIG) with extensive experience developing and managing large capital projects and public agency programs.

Christine has over 30 years of experience managing large capital public works programs and commercial projects, and 11 years of experience in electric utility design and construction. She oversees a team of professional engineers, certified energy managers, energy auditors, sustainability managers, and climate experts and manages Cumming’s portfolio of energy and sustainability services including energy efficiency, renewable energy, water, solid waste, climate mitigation, resiliency, and healthy buildings. Christine has delivered Sustainability and ESG services for projects in transportation, education, commercial, industrial, healthcare, retail, and hospitality sectors.

Christine is supported by her daughters, Alexandra, who works and lives in Seattle, WA, and Isabella, who is in Grad school at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Christine travels frequently for work but always finds time to travel the world for fun with with family and friends.

Vice Chair: Jessie Buckmaster

Director of Sustainability, Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company

Jessie Buckmaster is Sustainability Manager at Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company with 10 years of experience in commercial construction and green building across California. She provides sustainability expertise and consultation for Hathaway Dinwiddie’s projects from preconstruction through certification. Jessie has worked on numerous LEED projects, and recently completed a project pursuing Living Building Challenge certification.  Her specialty is in evaluating healthy building materials and is an advocate for environmental justice and intersectionality. She loves providing training and sustainability education. She is an active member of USGBC and ILFI.

Chair Emeritus: Gary Lai

Landscape Architect, Principal, Quixotic Nature-based Solutions

Gary Lai is an accomplished landscape architect and thought leader in sustainability, resiliency and conservation. Gary leverages three decades of design and planning experience to steer large, complex projects to successful completion. His interest in drawing and environmentalism led him to a field that he describes as the ‘architecture of living things’ with an immense potential to impact quality of life for future generations. Gary is dedicated to transforming public landscapes in any setting—civic to commercial, healthcare to housing, park to plaza, road to river—to enhance the social and ecological health of cities. He has extensive expertise in sustainable design and water issues that enable him to focus and maximize the creative energies of project collaborators toward innovative, yet practical solutions. His commitment to environmental advocacy is reflected in his teaching and speaking engagements, as well as his active involvement in the local professional sustainability community.

Treasurer: Monique Johnson

Senior Vice President, Director of Client and Community Partnerships; CRA Officer, Beneficial State Bank

Monique Johnson, an executive banker in the industry for over thirty-five years, is Beneficial State Bank’s Senior Vice President, Director of Client and Community Partnerships in addition to the Bank’s CRA Officer. Ms. Johnson was initially hired as the Head of Retail Banking in California in 2016. Monique has been on executive management teams for the past 20 years. Before joining Beneficial State Bank, her previous position was Chief Operating Officer of SunPac, LLC, a banking investment vehicle with the strategy of starting up a new bank in Los Angeles.  Prior to that role, Monique was Director of Relationship Management and Marketing in addition to serving as CRA Officer and Co-Chair of the enterprise-wide company giving program at Wedbush Bank in Los Angeles, California.  Her
extensive background includes working in every type of banking department from de novo banks to those with $15 billion in assets including the former Imperial Bank. Ms. Johnson has been an anchor in Southern California for almost thirty years with private, community and commercial banks overseeing regional banking offices while instrumental in managing the entire sales and client relationships in addition to all marketing and branding initiatives, operational processes and efficiencies, high touch service, technological advances within systems and products, positive compliance and training cultures, facility management and community, corporate and investor relations.

Ms. Johnson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance with a specialization in commercial loan management from Iowa State University.  In addition to her new board role at USGBC-CA, she is a board trustee, treasurer and secretary at AltaSea, an organization bringing together leaders in science, business and education to generate innovative solutions to global challenges of human and environmental sustainability. From feeding the earth’s growing population to providing long-term employment and ocean-related careers, AltaSea is a unique model at the Port of Los Angeles. She is also an advocate, board member, volunteer and on the education committee of Junior Achievement of Southern California reaching from Bakersfield to Orange County.  Junior Achievement’s mission is to empower young people to own their economic success and stay in school through financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness programs. She was a founding committee member and remains active in Community Resource Exchange (CREX) which develops introductions and new initiatives
between CRA-qualified, community-based organizations and banks in the Greater Los Angeles area. In 2015, she was honored by the California “got milk” Foundation with the Better Future Moms – Los Angeles award for her role as a professional, community advocate and mother. She has been involved in other community organizations over the past few decades including Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation and Culver City Chamber of Commerce.

Monique lives in Hermosa Beach, California, with husband and two daughters who are focused on global environmental sustainability and green commercial architecture.

Secretary: Elizabeth Carmichael

Founder | Chief Design & Development Officer, THE LAB SD, INC

Elizabeth Carmichael, a California Licensed Architect and the visionary founder of ECOhouse, is dedicated to pioneering ecologically responsible architecture and development. Her commitment to minimizing environmental impact while maximizing benefits for occupants, communities, and developers defines ECOhouse’s ethos. With a career marked by remarkable accomplishments and unwavering dedication, Elizabeth has left an indelible mark on both her field and her community.

From an early age, Elizabeth’s nomadic upbringing—having lived in eight states—instilled in her a sense of adaptability and resilience. Embracing change, she thrived as the “new kid,” cultivating an outgoing nature and the ability to forge connections effortlessly. This early experience laid the foundation for her career as a trailblazer in sustainable architecture.

As the founding Principal Architect of ECOhouse, Elizabeth has steered the firm to excellence in sustainable design, specializing in mixed-use spaces, infill multi-family projects, affordable housing, micro-units, and upscale custom residences. Her designs are ambitious yet grounded in a deep understanding of technical requirements and regulatory landscapes, including Development and Discretionary Permits, as well as California Coastal Commission guidelines.

Elizabeth’s influence extends beyond the confines of her firm. Her expertise has been showcased at esteemed conferences like AIA National and The Living Future Conference, where she shares insights and best practices in sustainable architecture and biophilic design. Her commitment to advancing sustainability is further demonstrated by her role as President of the Board of Directors for the San Diego Green Building Council. She is now transitioning to USGBC-California, a statewide organization, where she spearheads initiatives to promote environmentally conscious practices in the industry.

In addition to her professional achievements, Elizabeth is deeply engaged in mentoring programs, including the High Tech High mentorship program and the San Diego Green Building Council mentorship program. Currently in training to mentor in the Promises 4 Kids Guardian Scholar program for former foster youth, she is committed to empowering the next generation of leaders in architecture and beyond.

Through ECOhouse, Elizabeth envisions ECOlogical Habitats Of Urban Sustainable Experiences(™), weaving a sustainable future for generations to come. Her story is one of inspiration, resilience, and unwavering commitment to creating a positive impact. Elizabeth hopes to ignite a spark in others, particularly young women and girls, encouraging them to pursue their dreams fearlessly and make a meaningful difference in the world.

Ravi Bajaj

Sustainability & ESG Manager, Transwestern

Ravi is a Manager of Sustainability & ESG at Transwestern. Mr. Bajaj is focused on quality, client service and education, and helping clients with continuous improvement programs. He has experience in collaborative project management with GRESB, WELL, LEED, BREEAM In-Use, Fitwel, and Living Building Challenge rating systems, direct experience with WELL PV and BREEAM In-Use assessments, as well as energy and water consumption data acquisition, tracking, and analysis.

Outside of work, you can find Ravi at a show or outdoors with his two girls and wife Ashley, hiking or camping – and when he finds time in the water surfing around San Diego!

Katherine Diamond

Civic Design Director/Design Principal, HDR, Inc.

Rick Duarte

Construction and Engineering Sustainability Program, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Rick Duarte advocates, implements and manages the Small Business program for the Metropolitan Water District’s (MWD) Business Outreach Program. MWD Capital Investment Planning (CIP) budget is $600 Million (bi-annual) and Rick analyzes every CIP Construction and Engineering contract over $100,000, and establishes MWD’s
Small Business Requirement (SBR).

Rick has over 27 years of water engineering, construction and design experience. He has a Masters in Sustainability Leadership (MSL) from Arizona State University (ASU). He earned his B.S. in Business from the University of Redlands, where he was also inducted into the Whitehead Leadership Society. While working for MWD’s Rick has developed an admiration for water and the valuable resource MWD provides to its 19 Million customers in the Southern California region.

Sustainable business practices is at the root of his business model. Rick assisted in developing MWD’s first Climate Action Planning (CAP) Program and worked with other interest groups and utility groups such as Metro’s, Moving Beyond Sustainability (MBS). He is a active member of LASER (Los Angeles Sustainability Executive Roundtable) and the chair DE&I Committee for the US Green Building Council LA Chapter (USGBC-CA). In addition, he is the current President of MWD’s Hispanic Employees Association (HEA), which is an Employee Resource Group (ERG)
which is based on providing support, enhancing career development, and contributing to diversity, equity, and inclusion awareness in the work environment.

Emily English

Sustainability Director, BNBuilders

My background is that I worked at standards setting organizations in DC for nearly 20 years – ENERGY STAR, NAHB Green, USGBC, Cradle to Cradle – before deciding that I wanted to build buildings, not just certify them. I enjoy working for a general contractor where I have the opportunity to influence multiple projects at once, work with clients who are pioneering what’s next for sustainability; and where I get to see projects be completed (market transformation work sometimes felt like a long and slow road!). My areas of focus include healthy materials, material salvage and reuse strategies, waste management and jobsite wellness.

Ariel Fan

CEO, GreenWealth Energy

Ariel Fan is the CEO of GreenWealth Energy, an EV charging infrastructure developer providing end-to-end solutions to design, build, and finance for charging systems for public and private sector buildings.  GreenWealth is the first woman minority-owned energy company certified in California, partnering with renowned entities like Walt Disney Company, the City of Los Angeles, and Southern California Gas Company.

Ariel also serves on the boards of E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) and USGBC Los Angeles, advocating for adopting clean energy policies that are good for business and the planet.

Farrah Farzaneh

(CCM, DBIA, LEED AP BD+C, ENV SP) Executive Director, Facilities, Planning, Sustainability & Construction, San Bernardino Community College District

Farrah Farzaneh (CCM, DBIA, LEED AP BD+C, ENV SP) serves as the Executive Director, Facilities Planning, Sustainability & Construction at the San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD). In this role, she manages all district facilities’ planning and construction functions, emphasizing sustainability. She oversees the planning, design, and implementation of local bonds, capital outlay, and scheduled maintenance programs. Farrah develops and administers departmental budgets focusing on sustainable practices and procurement. She provides oversight for capital outlay and revenue bond funds, prepares reports for the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, and ensures compliance with audit requirements. As chair of the Facilities Advisory Committee, she fosters districtwide collaboration through collegial consultation. She manages, supervises, and evaluates personnel, participates in selection, and interfaces with contractors and consultants to resolve disputes.

Farrah establishes and evaluates district standards for materials and systems, develops strategic plans for facilities and operations, and collaborates with campuses to assess needs and develop budgets. Additionally, she oversees district-wide sustainability and zero-net energy initiatives, coordinating with the State Chancellor’s Office and other stakeholders. Farrah’s responsibilities also include directing the district’s energy conservation, environmental health, safety, emergency management, and loss control programs. She ensures that all facilities meet federal, state, local, and district regulations, and manages the integration of sustainability into all aspects of district facilities. Farrah’s role is critical in developing long-range and strategic plans, leading sustainability- focused initiatives, and ensuring effective local contractor engagement.

Mark Fuller

CEO, Howard Building Corporation

As Chief Executive Office of Howard Building Corporation (HBC), Mark is responsible for the operations of the organization. He works closely with clients and industry partners to deliver high-end tenant improvements throughout Los Angeles county. In addition to being a LEED Accredited Professional (AP), he has extensive experience overseeing the completion of several LEED certified projects. Mark is passionate about utilizing sustainable building practices and strategic business management to create lasting change within the greater community.

Melissa Gutierrez-Sullivan

1st VP, Head of ESG, CIM Group

Melissa Gutierrez-Sullivan serves as a Vice President, Head of Environmental, Social, and Governance at CIM Group^®. In this position she is responsible for creating and maintaining a comprehensive ESG plan for CIM, setting related goals for the organization and managing ESG reporting and communication.

Prior to joining CIM, Ms. Gutierrez-Sullivan served as a Vice President of Cushman & Wakefield’s Global Occupier Services Sustainability and Wellness Practice, where she led the Southern California region and collaborated on a wide range of sustainability related programs. She also co-founded the Los Angeles-based Women in Green networking group.

Ms. Gutierrez-Sullivan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Culture from University of California, Los Angeles. She is a LEED Accredited Professional, WELL Faculty, WELL Accredited Professional and a Fitwel Ambassador.

Avideh Haghighi

Associate Principal, Sustainable Design Leader, ZGF

Avideh Haghighi is an Associate Principal and Licensed Architect at ZGF where she dedicates herself to designing a regenerative built environment.  As a firm-wide sustainability leader, she guides ZGF teams in discovering synergies between building, social, and ecological processes.  Avideh has a diverse body of leading edge high performance projects spanning public and private sectors, such as schools, large mixed-use developments and institutional projects, including California’s largest Net Zero Energy, LEED Platinum building currently under construction. With a career equally rooted in design and advocacy, Avideh’s long list of affiliations in the AEC community include former Living Future Los Angeles co-facilitator, former AIA|LA COTE co-chair, current AIA California Climate Change Action Committee member, and current USGBC-CA Board member.

Jeff Herrera

Director of Impact and Asset Manager, Rising Realty Partners

Jeff Herrera is the Director of Impact and Asset Manager at Rising Realty Partners. Joining Rising in 2015, he initially served as the Senior General Manager of the CalEdison Building, an iconic office space in Downtown Los Angeles. His early initiatives included achieving LEED Platinum certification for the building. He later assumed responsibility for The Trust Building, earning LEED Gold certification. Throughout his management tenure, Jeff collaborated with building teams to establish and execute capital projects, programs, and efficiency-driven procedures. In 2019, he was appointed to spearhead Rising Realty Partners’ Impact Task Force, overseeing all energy, water, waste efficiency programs, certifications, and ESG-related operations and reporting. Jeff is also a board member of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District (DCBID) and USGBC-CA.

Kathleen Hetrick

Associate Principal, BuroHappold Engineers

Kathleen Hetrick is a sustainability engineer at BuroHappold Engineering and a LEED AP BD+C, EcoDistricts AP and WELL AP. As part of BuroHappold’s sustainability and physics team, Kathleen combines her passion for human-focused sustainable design with a technical background in mechanical engineering. She has experience in a wide range of cutting-edge projects across all scales of work including multiple LEED platinum projects, Living Building Challenge projects, historical adaptive reuse, LEED Neighborhood Developments, and city and campus sustainability plans. Her most recent project work includes coordinating the Living Building Challenge process for the Santa Monica City Services Building, as well as leading the LEED v4 and WELL v1 certification of one of the largest mixed-use redevelopments in downtown Detroit.

Kathleen recently led the WELL certification process for the BuroHappold Los Angeles Office, following the LEED v4 Gold Certification of the office space through her role as the BuroHappold West Coast Environmental Coordinator. Her experience with the Living Building Challenge Material Red List requirements has prompted her to spark a firm-wide effort to identify and reduce the most harmful chemicals within the MEP scope of work, and fuels her passion for improving the health aspects of sustainable materials on all of her projects. She is also the current Co-Facilitator of BuroHappold’s Diversity and Inclusion Forum, spearheading outreach initiatives to encourage local K-12 students to pursue sustainability- focused careers in STEAM through mentoring, design competitions and paid high school internships.

Kathleen’s recent speaking experience includes: Los Angeles Collective Impact Speaker Series: Creating a More Sustainable, Equitable Industry through Engineering Outreach (2018), GreenerBuilder SF: Deploying Onsite Water Reuse in California and Nationwide (2019), Municipal Green Building Conference: Beyond the Red List: Healthy Materials and the Construction Industry’s Impact on our Communities (2019).

Sara Hickman

Senior Vice President, Leading Edge

Sara drives the firm’s business strategy, operations, mentorship, and serves as the team’s ESG / corporate sustainability lead. She has experience guiding architects, developers, property and facility managers through various certifications and the development of corporate Sustainability and ESG strategies. She is motivated by actionable impact and the legacy the Leading Edge Team and its community stands to make on our environment. Sara holds a B.S in Architectural Engineering from Wentworth in Boston and a certificate in Global Sustainability from UCLA Extension.

Erik Johnson

Managing Partner, Grenite Sustainable Solutions

Erik has been involved in the building and development of projects, businesses, and manufactured products on a global scope. A serial entrepreneur for 40+ years in design/manufacturing, crisis turnaround, and corporate/small business operating with expertise in Cleantech, Built Environment, Manufacturing, Retail and Mobility sectors.  He is CEO/Owner of GRENEKER [Custom Build] a 90+ year-old Los Angeles-based visual display & custom-build manufacturer, and Co-Founder and Managing Partner of GRENITE Sustainable Solutions, a producer of patented GRENITE®, Zero Waste, Pre-Fabricated, Recycled engineered-stone countertop systems with operations in US and Asia.  Erik also serves as an Executive-in-Residence at the LOS ANGELES CLEANTECH INCUBATOR (LACI) and co-teaches “The Spirit of Entrepreneurship” program at ArtCenter College of Design.

Nick Kassanis

President, Sustainable Investment Group

Nick is Sustainable Investment Group’s President and oversees daily operations, strategic planning, global growth, and the firm's vision. He directs the Climate Investment Solutions, Engineering, ESG, and Sustainability consulting departments, offering services such as LEED/WELL/Fitwel consulting, Decarbonization/LCA assessments, Commissioning/RCx, Green Financing, Net Zero Proformas and GRESB/GRI/CDP reporting. As a LEED Fellow, LEED AP BD+C, licensed Professional Engineer, and Certified Building Commissioning Professional, Nick has led and overseen over 350 LEED projects and 150 energy studies across 150M+ square feet in multiple industries. Specializing in the integrated design process, decarbonization, and deep retro-commissioning investigations, he enhances energy efficiency and staff training across projects and portfolios alike. As a globally recognized public speaker, he's mentored and educated 10,000+ professionals and students. Additionally, as Co-Founder and Advisor at Aetos, he is pioneering cutting-edge imaging technology to transform training and building operations in the digital age.

Robyn Mancell

CEO, Green Energy Solutions Holdings LLC

Robyn Mancell learned the importance of women and diversity at a young age. While still in high school, she was chosen to participate in a management training program by a California Bank which included her working part time in all departments of the bank and was also given a scholarship to college where she majored in Business Administration. Bank of America awarded her the achievement award in business before her graduation.

After working in Corporate America over 15 years, she decided to step into the world of Entrepreneurship. She became insurance, Series 6 & 63 licensed and ran several companies.. In 2008 she was featured in Success from Home magazine for being a top income producer. In 2020 she released her first book, Pink Monkey Moments on Amazon.

Robyn is the CEO of Green Energy Solutions Holdings and the Chair for the USGBC-CA INLAND EMPIRE COMMITTEE. After Robyn received a degree in Environmental Studies, she decided to apply that knowledge in the community by offering cost-effective and environmentally responsible solutions like solar and EV Chargers for residential, commercial, warehouses and churches. “Our mission is to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy through education and customized strategies that create a healthier environment for both families and our workforce with an emphasis on the Inland Empire”

Robyn is an accomplished renewable energy entrepreneur, educator, and sustainability advocate with over 15 years of experience.

A dynamic public speaker, Robyn excels at fostering connection and inspiring action around sustainability. Her approachable demeanor and passion for collaborative problem-solving shine through while empowering audiences towards positive impact.

John Moore

Director of Development, Housing Authority of San Bernardino County

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-moore-a0b7416/

Marcela Oliva

Professor of Architecture and Environmental Design, LACCD/LATTC

LATTC is a public community college, one of nine in the L.A. Community College District, which is the largest community college district in the nation. Seventy-five percent of LATTC’s courses are in Career Technical Education (CTE) and the largest of the nine pathways is the School of Construction, Maintenance and Utilities (CMU). Professor Marcela Oliva is leading the development and accreditation of the CDLA curriculum at LATTC. Marcela Oliva is a Professor of Architecture and Environmental Design at LATTC and founder of UCLA Extension Courses: Transforming Community and Design for Social Justice. Professor Oliva was the Professional Expert for the nine Community College Sustainability Building Program for 10 years and implemented the largest Virtualization BIM/GIS System in the nation following National Intelligence Standards. She has received multiple Federal grants on Geospatial and recently the EPA Social Justice Grant. She has a Bachelor’s of Architecture from USC and a Masters of Architecture and Building Science from Columbia University City of New York.

Paul Poirier

Principal Architect and Owner, Poirier + Associates Architects

Paul Poirier is a licensed architect in California, Nevada and Alabama and has 40 years of experience designing award-winning commercial and residential projects with emphasis on “green” innovation and design excellence. He has provided his leadership to the Central Coast Green Building Council, the Sustainability Project, the Green Building Alliance, the AIA Santa Barbara Chapter, and served as past chair and a current member of the AIA California Committee on the Environment. Recently he has been working with the AIA to roll out the 2030 Commitment program to AIA members across the country through the 2030 Workgroup.

Paul has served as CCGBC’s first President, as Vice Chair of the Pacific Regional Council, as a Pacific Representative to the USGBC’s Chapter Steering Committee, and served on USGBC’s LEED Steering Committee. Paul is a California Office of Emergency Services certified trainer and has actively trained architects and engineers across California to be able to respond to major disasters through Cal OES deployment. Paul is committed to maintaining the architectural beauty of the central coast of California while protecting the environmental quality, resilience, and sustainability of our community for future generations.

Jacob Raykhelson

Senior Manager, Environmental Sustainability, The Walt Disney Company

As the leader of environmental initiatives at Disneyland Resort Anaheim, Jake has led comprehensive sustainability programs, including campus decarbonization, vehicle and building electrification, waste management, circular economy practices, water conservation, and Scope 3 emissions planning. With a dedicated team, Jake has driven these initiatives, significantly contributing to the company’s broader environmental programs. His role as a environmental impact SME for the $2 billion Disneyland Forward project highlights his commitment to large-scale sustainability principle

Jay Shipley

National Director of Public Sector Services, Roux

Jay’s experience covers a broad spectrum of environmental and engineering consulting activities, including managing and leading large public sector programs, directing multimillion- dollar global private sector client accounts, and leading complex municipal projects with integrated services and solutions. He has led several successful strategic pursuits with some of the largest U.S. cities and municipalities, including the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the City of Los Angeles Bureaus of Engineering and Sanitation, the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the City of Chicago, the City of New York and many more. Jay currently serves as the National Director of Public Sector Services for Roux, an environmental consultancy headquartered in New York. He is responsible for leading and implementing the strategic planning and growth of Roux’ public sector business across the United States.

Ryan Tinus

VP, ESG, LivCor, a Blackstone Company

Ryan has over a decade of experience working in sustainability in the built environment.  He currently works at Hudson Pacific Properties as a Senior Director in Engineering and Environmental Sustainability.  He oversees the firm’s green building certification and reporting efforts, including LEED, Energy Star, Fitwel and GRESB submissions, and drives more efficient operations through implementation of energy, water, waste and carbon reduction processes and technologies throughout Hudson’s existing building and development portfolio.

Megan White

Principal & Senior Sustainability Program Manager, Firecrown

With over 16 years of visionary leadership in sustainable design and construction, I specialize in spearheading complex, large-scale development projects and leading cross-functional teams. My expertise lies in tackling the root causes of today’s most pressing systemic challenges, including climate change, ethical supply chains, whole-life carbon considerations, nature preservation, social equity, and human well-being. Recognized in the real estate and development sectors as a process author, systems thinker, and catalyst for change, I collaborate closely with clients at the forefront of innovation, technology, and the implementation of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments. In my latest role, I am excited to pivot towards unlocking the circular economy by driving clients, projects, and society towards a zero-waste and regenerative lifestyle.s

Oren Wool

Principal, 108 Technologies

I’ve been a community organizer in the North Bay for nearly 20 years, first offering the Sustainable Enterprise Conference in 2005. In that time I’ve convened thousands of professionals to address the critical challenges and define the innovative opportunities of a changing climate, most recently with the 2024 North Bay Zero Waste Symposium in May.

In 2020, during COVID, I accepted the opportunity to join a start up team building the first clean cloud community, an industrial park designed to meet the needs of the worlds largest data center developers. The 2,100-acre Quantum Loophole property covers more than three square miles in Frederick County, Maryland and once served as the site of the former Eastalco smelter, which permanently closed in 2010. Notable about the project is a 600 acre nature preserve designed as an ecological buffer.

108 Technologies is my personal consulting and contracting enterprise for information technology, community engagement, and sustainable development. Current activities include event production and web development.

Candice Wong

Principal, Ten Over Studio

Candice is a hands-on leader and is an expert at the development and management of public sector projects. She excels at program management, is excellent at team communication, oversees project workflow, and scheduling staffing for her projects. Candice works with her team of project managers, architects, engineers, and designers to meet project deadlines and client expectations.

Candice is a national leader in the development and implementation of public sector projects. She is especially talented at master planning, programming, needs assessments, and budgeting, which are the first steps when conceptualizing, developing, and understanding the operational needs and goals of a project. Her skills have helped many of her clients to bring their vision and projects to reality.

Candice is a LEED-accredited professional and has seamlessly integrated green design on civic and public safety projects. Her extensive knowledge on sustainable design strategies in every component of a project has resulted in completed LEED-certified buildings. She knows how to maintain focus on her client’s goals. Her sustainable design solutions make sense for her client’s project needs, meet the budget, conserve natural resources, lower operational costs (energy, gas, and water consumption), and enhance the overall performance of the project for the users of these new spaces and facilities.

Cassy Aoyagi

President, Co-Founder, FormLA Landscaping, Inc.

Cassy Aoyagi, president of FormLA® Landscaping, is an accredited designer in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program and former board president of the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants. Aoyagi aims to transform even L.A.’s urban spaces into vibrantly beautiful, optimally sustainable, places to connect with nature.

Annie Argento

Principal, Argento / Graham

Annie is a co-founder and principal at Argento / Graham where she brings over 13 years of experience in the green building industry leading project teams to develop high performance buildings. Annie founded the Los Angeles Women in Green speaker series, a quarterly event that bring together leaders in the field of sustainability to network, mentor and inspire.

Denise Braun

Founder & Principal, All About Waste

Denise is the founder and Principal of All About Waste, an international sustainability consulting and project management firm. She is a LEED and WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, LBC Ambassador, ENV SP and a TRUE Advisor. She has over 15 years of experience with sustainable building construction and waste management in Brazil and the United States– certifying over 120 LEED projects. She is dedicated to corporate social responsibility and innovative solid waste solutions through cost reduction and creative solutions.

Anthony Brower

Associate Principal, Americas Head of Sustainability, Populous

A registered Architect and strategist focused on managing the design performance of Gensler’s vast portfolio of buildings and interiors totaling nearly 1 billion square feet annually. Anthony’s personal drivers are steeped in community, education, and the business & management side of sustainability as drivers for impactful change.

Christine Harada

Executive Director, Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council

Dominique Hargreaves

Director, Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, American Realty Advisors

Dominique is former Executive Director of USGBC-CA with credentials in LEED, WELL, EcoDistricts, Envision, GPRO, and a Real Estate Salesperson License. She’s interested in the intersection of wellness, net zero design, and workforce development.

Holly Hill

Sustainability & ESG Lead, Zoom

Holly has 15 years’ experience in the environmental and sustainability arena and is a LEED and WELL Accredited Professional. Holly is currently the Senior Sustainability Program Manager at Southern California Edison, where she is responsible for their sustainability programs.

Daniele Horton

Founder & CEO, Verdani Partners

Daniele Horton is an AIA, LEED Fellow & CEM. She brings over 19 years of experience in sustainable real estate. She is the Founder and President of Verdani Partners where her and the Verdani team manage sustainability programs for large real estate portfolios. Daniele served on our board for 7 years and chaired our Existing Buildings committee for 9 years.

Dave Intner

Senior Advisor, Codes and Standards, Southern California Edison

Dave is a California Licensed Architect, and manages the Savings By Design and Field Engineering groups for Southern California Edison’s northern territory. His previous design and project management experience includes a broad range of commercial, residential, and institutional buildings.

Richard Ludt

Director of Environmental and Public Affairs, Interior Removal Specialist, Inc.

Richard is responsible for complying with California’s heavily regulated solid waste ordinances and coordinates the extensive efforts involved for the recycling of the various construction debris obtained from tenant improvement demolition projects, including E-Waste, Acoustic Ceiling Tiles, carpeting, and over 22,000,000 pounds of drywall. Richard also sits on the Board of Directors for the Construction and Demolition Recycling Association.

Sara Neff

Partner/General Manager, Sustainability and ESG, Cloud Operations + Innovation, Microsoft

Sara Neff is the Partner/General Manager for Sustainability and ESG on the Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation team, where she is helping its data center fleet meet Microsoft’s ambitious goals of achieving carbon-negative, water-positive, zero-waste, and the protection of more land than it uses. Prior to that, she served as Head of Sustainability for the Americas for Lendlease. In both 2022 and 2023, under her leadership, Lendlease earned the top residential score in the Americas on GRESB and multiple green leasing awards from the Institute for Market Transformation. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President of Sustainability at Kilroy, where she helped the company achieve carbon-neutral operations in 2020. Ms. Neff serves on the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Americas Executive Committee and the Dynamo Energy Hub Advisory Board. She has been named a Los Angeles Woman of Influence by the Los Angeles Business Journal, a 40 under 40 awardee by ULI, a Los Angeles Power Woman in Real Estate by Bisnow, a Women in Sustainability Leader by Green Building & Design magazine, a Woman of Influence by Globe St Real Estate Forum, a Best in Building Health awardee by the Center for Active Design, and was the recipient of NAREIT’s 2020 Leader in the Light Leadership Personified award, an award that recognizes achievement in sustainability. She is a LEED Fellow and holds a BS from Stanford and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Sofia Ratcovich

Founder, Zero Waste Company

Sofia Ratcovich is a sustainability expert focused on helping clients create socially responsible events. She founded Zero Waste Company (Zero Waste Co) a small woman-owned consulting firm in 2012 and is an official endorser of the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge which promotes the sustainable management of food.

Heather Rosenberg

Associate Principal | Resilience, Arup

Heather Rosenberg is the founder of the Building Resilience Network, which helps businesses and their surrounding communities on the path toward physical, social and economic resilience through strategic planning, capacity building and implementation. She is currently working with the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) to develop a Resilience Module for real estate investment companies and funds. In partnership with community-based organizations and the City of Los Angeles, she is developing a network of neighborhood resilience hubs that can support local communities in times of disasters. Ms. Rosenberg is a USGBC Ginsberg Fellow and founder of USGBC-CA’s Building Resilience-LA program that brings resilience to the building scale. She developed the Building Resilience-LA: A Primer for Facilities, a resource for businesses and building owners to integrate resilience into their core operations. With more than 15 years working on the leading edge of green building and sustainability, she is co-author of the USGBC report “Social Equity in the Built Environment,” co-authored the core curriculum for USGBC’s Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide and writes and blogs extensively on issues of sustainability and resilience. An ecologist by training, Heather formerly served as a principal at CTG Energetics, where she led sustainability projects at the local, regional and national scale. She was appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti to serve on the City of LA’s Innovation and Performance Commission and serves on the City’s Resilience Steering Committee. She served on the National Institute of Standards and Technology Resilience Panel, and currently serves on the State of California Clean Energy Jobs Act Citizens Oversight Board, the American Society of Civil Engineers Resilient Infrastructure SPEED Committee and the USGBC Social Equity Working Group.

Drew Shula

Founder & CEO, Verdical Group

Drew Shula is a social entrepreneur and environmentalist. He is Founder & CEO of Verdical Group (www.verdicalgroup.com), a sustainability consulting firm that has developed a nationally known brand and industry leading reputation since the company was founded in 2012. The firm specializes in: green building certification project management, engineering services, strategy, and events. Verdical Group is a Benefit Corporation, as well as a certified B Corporation, and a 1% for the Planet member company. VG has completed some of the highest profile green building projects in the world with visionary institutions like NASA, Google, Johnson & Johnson, LAX, and GE. Drew is also Founder of the world’s largest annual net zero event — the Net Zero Conference (www.netzeroconference.com) and associated Trailblazer Awards.

Shula is one of just six individuals who have been honored as both a LEED Fellow and Living Future Hero. He frequently speaks on the building industry’s impact on the climate crisis, and net zero and zero carbon building design, at high profile events such as: the Greenbuild International Conference, Metropolis Magazine DesignTV, Living Future unConference, Cornell University, and the AIA 1.5 Degrees Celsius Symposium on Climate Change. Drew sits on several Advisory Boards including: USGBC-CA where he is a past Board member, Woodbury University School of Architecture, Living Future LA Collaborative where he was a member of the Founding Steering Committee, and Environmental Charter High School. Drew has been featured or published in USA Today, Forbes, Metropolis Magazine, Bisnow, USGBC+ Magazine, the International Living Future Institute’s Trim Tab, and many others. He holds a 5-year professional degree in Architecture from the University of Notre Dame.

Stacy Sinclair

Environmental Specialist | Environmental Compliance and Sustainability, LA Metro

Stacy Sinclair is an environmental scientist and author. She partners with USGBC-CA to raise awareness about the issues related to sustainability and resilience facing decision-makers.

Ying Wang

President, Okapi Architecture Inc.

A trailblazer, she was actively involved and responsible for the impressive market growth of LEED and CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools). Believing energy efficiency is the solution to energy crisis and climate changes; she has implemented Savings By Design program, from 2003, for all her projects as as architects, later on as owner’s representative.

Jenny Whitson

Director of Sustainability & ESG, IQHQ

Jenny Whitson is Director of Sustainability & ESG for IQHQ, a premier life sciences real estate development company. She has over 16+ years of sustainability experience focused on the built environment for projects in the private and public sector including commercial, transportation, aviation, mission critical, themed entertainment, municipal buildings, water treatment facilities, and K-12 markets. She is responsible for the corporate ESG and sustainable development initiatives across IQHQ’s portfolio in San Diego, San Francisco, Boston, and the UK.

John Zinner

Sustainability & Green Building Consultant, LEED Fellow

John founded Zinner Consultants in 1990. For his contributions to the field of green building, he was recognized by the USGBC as a LEED Fellow in 2012 and is a member of various industry Boards and Advisory committees. Prior to founding ZC, John served as both Energy Coordinator and Planning Advisor for the City of Los Angeles Office of the Mayor.