2026 Speakers
Host & Emcee
Drew Shula
Founder & CEO, Verdical Group, Net Zero Conference
Drew Shula
Founder & CEO, Verdical Group, Net Zero ConferenceDrew is a social entrepreneur and environmentalist. He is Founder & CEO of Verdical Group, a nationally leading sustainability consulting firm specializing in green building certifications, engineering services, ESG, net zero strategy, and events since 2012. Verdical Group is a high-scoring certified B Corporation and 1% for the Planet member company working on some of the highest profile green building projects in the world with visionary institutions like NASA, Google, Johnson & Johnson, LAX, Meta, and Apple. Under his leadership, Verdical Group was named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies in 2025, a 1% for the Planet Summit Award nominee in 2024, won a Real Leaders Impact Award in 2023, and was a Finalist for Small Business of the Year from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC in 2022. He is also founder of the world’s largest annual net zero event — the Net Zero Conference and Trailblazer Awards. Shula was just the sixth person ever to be honored as both a LEED Fellow and Living Future Hero. He has also been nominated for EY Entrepreneur of the Year, was named to Building Design + Construction Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list, and is a two-time nominated participant in the TED Countdown global climate summit, attending in Detroit in 2023 and Nairobi, Kenya in 2025. He frequently speaks about the building industry’s impact on the climate crisis and net zero building design. He has been featured as a speaker at high-profile events such as the Greenbuild International Conference, Metropolis Magazine DesignTV, Living Future unConference, the Coachella Music Festival speaker series, Cornell University, and the AIA 1.5 Degrees Celsius Symposium on Climate Change. Drew is a past or current member of several Advisory Boards, including USGBC California, Woodbury University School of Architecture, the 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 Forbes, Marketplace (NPR: National Public Radio), ABC News, USA Today, The Washington Post, Architectural Record Magazine, S&P Global, Spectrum News 1, Metropolis Magazine, and China Global Television Network (CGTN). He holds a 5-year professional degree in Architecture from the University of Notre Dame.
Sarah Pilla
Meteorologist & Anchor, Spectrum News
Sarah Pilla
Meteorologist & Anchor, Spectrum News
Sarah Pilla is an Emmy Award–winning environmental journalist and certified meteorologist for Spectrum News. Known for making complex climate and weather science accessible, she has spent the past seven years building Spectrum News 1 Southern California’s climate storytelling brand while covering critical issues including the Colorado River water crisis, extreme weather, clean energy, pollution, biodiversity, and climate adaptation.
Her reporting earned a 2021 Emmy Award for Best Environment News Story for “Oceana Trash,” examining the impact of plastic pollution on marine life. Sarah has produced and hosted several environmental television specials including “Innovations for a Sustainable Climate” in 2024. She is also a sought-after moderator and emcee for climate and sustainability events, including the Green Sports Alliance Summit, Net Zero Conference, and the Road to 2028 Leadership Summit in Los Angeles. In 2026, Sarah expanded her role statewide, forecasting weather across multiple expanded Spectrum News networks throughout California.Trailblazer Awards Gala Emcee
Emily Hand
Director & Chief of Staff, Verdical Group
Emily Hand
Director & Chief of Staff, Verdical GroupEmily Hand is Director & Chief of Staff at Verdical Group, responsible for business development for green building and sustainability projects nationally. She leads the Client Solutions team focused on pursuits, proposals, and teaming opportunities. In her role as Chief of Staff, she serves as an air traffic controller for Verdical Group's CEO and senior team; an integrator connecting work streams; and problem solver providing advisory and oversight for the company as a whole. With over 10 years in the industry, she has experience in project management and client relationship management working with a variety of clients and high performance projects. Her work helps clients achieve their building certification and sustainability & wellness goals and supports the firm’s mission to inspire a net zero future in our built environment.
Keynotes
Dr. Caitlin Crawford
Flight Systems Engineer, Space Industry
Dr. Caitlin Crawford
Flight Systems Engineer, Space IndustryDr. Caitlin Crawford specializes in spacecraft operations, systems engineering, and solid-state physics. Caitlin has spent her last four years as a Flight System Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) focusing on both Earth and deep-space missions. Currently, she supports Europa Clipper, a mission to investigate the habitability of Jupiter's moon, Europa. In her roles as MOSFET Operations Lead and Flight Director for Clipper, she has developed operational strategies, has led cross-disciplinary teams, and has helped ensure mission success in one of the most challenging radiation environments ever explored. Outside of space missions, Dr. Crawford is a Pilates instructor, avid traveler, and hiker with her dog. Education: Ph.D. Materials Science, Colorado School of Mines; B.S. Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia
Dr. Carmen Blackwood
Research Scientist, Former NASA JPL / Current CEO, EarthRise
Dr. Carmen Blackwood
Research Scientist, Former NASA JPL / Current CEO, EarthRiseDr. Carmen Blackwood is a research scientist who spent her career at NASA JPL at the intersection of science and space technology to provide key insights into the world’s most pressing problems such as climate change and consequences for an intensifying water cycle. She earned degrees in mathematics (MSc) and physics (PhD) at the University of Bremen, Germany. Her work in climate research has driven her to explore innovative climate solutions that work in harmony with nature to regenerate our home planet. She co-founded and is the current CEO of EarthRise LLC where we apply technology and science to support the creation of not only a sustainable but thriving future for Earth.
Carson Schubert
Operations System Engineer, Space Industry
Carson Schubert
Operations System Engineer, Space IndustryCarson is an engineer focused on the exploration of Earth, the solar system, and far beyond. He has worked on multiple projects as an operations system engineer for the last 5 years at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Currently, he is focused on the surfaces of Mars and the Moon across three separate missions. These include early operational concepts for future lunar rovers, regularly assisting with active operations of the Perseverance rover on Mars, and finalizing preparations for two lunar seismic instruments that will measure moonquakes! In his free time, he is an avid hiker and backpacker, always seeking the next mountain, meadow, or sunset. Education: B.S. Electrical Engineering, B.S. Mathematics, University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Gary Blackwood
Retired Program Manager, NASA JPL
Dr. Gary Blackwood
Retired Program Manager, NASA JPLBlackwood recently retired from a 36-year career at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California where he developed advanced science and technology to search for life in the universe, and was instrumental in the development of the acclaimed Exoplanet Travel Bureau art and science posters.Blackwood earned degrees in aerospace engineering at MIT (BS, MS, PhD). He is currently co-founder of EarthRise LLC which applies science observations and analysis to scale nature-based solutions for regenerative farming. His passions are professional speaking and presenting night sky tours to connect audiences to the wonders of the universe.
Loren Blackford
Executive Director, Sierra Club
Loren Blackford
Executive Director, Sierra ClubLoren Blackford is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club, one of the nation’s oldest and most influential grassroots environmental organizations. With chapters in every state and over 3.4 million members and supporters, Sierra Club empowers people to protect nature and our communities and ensure a better future for all of us. For more than three decades, Loren has advanced climate solutions, justice, and democracy by strengthening local leadership, mobilizing resources for community-led change, and building partnerships across sectors. Throughout her career, she has advised major foundations, financial institutions, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on sustainable community development, helped mobilize hundreds of millions of dollars for community revitalization, supported civil society organizations in shaping international environmental policy, and advanced equitable sustainability investing and democratic participation. Before becoming Executive Director, Loren served as Sierra Club’s Interim and Deputy Executive Director, Board President, and Sierra Club Foundation Board Chair. She serves on the boards of Ceres, BlueGreen Alliance, and Rachel's Action Network, and holds a master's degree from the Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College.
Marcene Mitchell
Senior Vice President of Climate Change, World Wildlife Fund
Marcene Mitchell
Senior Vice President of Climate Change, World Wildlife FundMarcene Mitchell is Senior Vice President of Climate Change at WWF, advancing the organization’s U.S. and global climate agenda and strengthening synergies across mitigation and resilience efforts, with a focus on nature-based solutions. Her role is crosscutting, reflecting the imperative to address the climate crisis. Previously, Marcene was Head of Climate Strategy and Business Development at the IFC, where she pioneered market transformation initiatives in lowcarbon technologies, including resource efficiency, distributed solar, offshore wind, and waste and water management. She is Chairperson of the Montgomery County Green Bank Board of Directors and holds degrees from Brown University and Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Trailblazer Awards Gala Keynote
David Gottfried
Chief Commercial Officer, Blue Planet Systems & Co-founder, U.S. Green Building Council
David Gottfried
Chief Commercial Officer, Blue Planet Systems & Co-founder, U.S. Green Building CouncilDavid Gottfried is known as a father of the global green building movement, founding the U.S. Green Building Council and World Green Building Councils, now in about 80 countries – starting a global sustainable building movement with hundreds of thousands of projects in 181 countries, and hundreds of thousands of accredited professionals. Gottfried’s work focuses on transformation at scale with urgency. Gottfried serves as Chief Commercial Officer for Blue Planet Systems. The firm makes Synthetic Limestone [CaCO3] aggregate by a circular process including directly sequestering and then mineralizing CO2 from industrial plants and Direct Air Capture. The potential is for gigatonnes of CO2 permanently stored annually into carbon negative concrete. Gottfried is helping Blue Planet accelerate commercialization of the company’s carbon negative concrete for the built environment and coastal protection around the world. Previously, Gottfried was CEO of Reset360, Regenerative Ventures and its RegenNetwork. Gottfried started his career as a real estate developer and contractor, including Senior Vice President of Thomas Properties Group and Managing Director of its Green Building Fund. Gottfried hosts the Regen360 iTunes podcast with 80 episodes. His former residence was the highest rated LEED Platinum home in the world. Gottfried has a degree in Engineering and Resource Management from Stanford University, where he is a regular lecturer. Gottfried has received numerous leadership awards, including the WorldGBC Global Green Building Entrepreneurship Award, the Global Green Building Entrepreneurship Award, USGBC’s Leadership Award, and the USGBC Northern California Chapter’s Super Hero Award. He was inducted into the Green Industry Hall of Fame and named to the Purpose Economy 100. His bestselling book Explosion Green was a 2014 Indie Book Awards Winner and has a cover testimonial from President Clinton.
Speakers
Abena Darden
Vice President, Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.
Abena Darden
Vice President, Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.Abena Darden is a Vice President with the Sustainability and Resilience Practice at Thornton Tomasetti, a multi-disciplinary engineering firm. With close to 20 years in the green building industry, Abena provides sustainability consulting for a range of clients including hospitality, life-sciences, healthcare, commercial, higher education, non-profit, and residential developers. Her role includes leading a team of consultants, engineers, and analysts, to develop sustainable policy, standards and guidelines, strategic planning and buildings analytics, to drive innovative solutions for a just and resilient future. She has served on several advisory cohort groups for the USGBC, is a LEED AP, Fitwel Ambassador, and Envision Sustainability Professional.
Adalia Rodriguez
VP Human Capital & COO, East LA Community Corporation
Adalia Rodriguez
VP Human Capital & COO, East LA Community CorporationAdalia joined ELACC in 2018 as Vice President of Human Capital and COO. She oversees and directs ELACC’s programming as it pertains to professional, programmatic, and campaign development. In her role, Adalia has spearheaded ELACC's decarbonization and green programs, integrating energy efficiency and electrification strategies into the organization’s affordable housing preservation work and advancing partnerships, financing, and implementation across the portfolio. Adalia came to ELACC with nearly 15 years of experience in office management, including over a decade working at Enterprise Community Partners, bringing with her the capacity to effectively carry out multiple projects simultaneously. She has been instrumental in maintaining stable and efficient operations by improving our everyday processes and procedures and implementing systems for ongoing assessment and evaluation. Adalia received her BS from California State University, San Bernardino.
Alan Ohnsman
Senior Editor & Current Climate Newsletter Author, Forbes
Alan Ohnsman
Senior Editor & Current Climate Newsletter Author, ForbesAlan Ohnsman is an award-winning journalist based in Los Angeles and a Forbes senior editor covering cleantech and advanced transportation. He authors the Current Climate newsletter, highlighting promising clean energy developments, and has covered Tesla and Elon Musk since 2006. He previously spent 15 years withBloomberg News, at its Los Angeles and Tokyo bureaus, in addition to stints as a reporter and editor atBusinessweek, Asahi Evening News and Tokyo Journal. Alan has a graduate degree in journalism from Columbia University and a B.A. in English from Ohio Wesleyan University. When not at his computer, he can be found playing drums and singing for indie rock duo Combo Villains.
Alex Mitoma
Manager, Climate Advisory Services, AECOM
Alex Mitoma
Manager, Climate Advisory Services, AECOMAlex is an energy planner and licensed engineer with AECOM. His background includes energy transition, decarbonization, climate adaptation, and resilience planning. From time in the public sector through cross-discipline consulting, his career has been dedicated to sustainable practice. He was recognized as a Trellis Group 30 Under 30 honoree for his work in the energy transition at the Port of Long Beach.
Alexandra Shadrow
Founder, Trailblaze
Alexandra Shadrow
Founder, TrailblazeAlex Shadrow is a marketing expert and climate creator focused on making sustainable living feel accessible, aspirational, and culturally relevant. Through her work as the founder of Trailblaze Consulting, she blends sustainability with social media strategy, influencer marketing, and community building. On her social media pages (@sustainabae and @thriftspired) as well as her panels at Harvard University and Coachella, she shares insights on secondhand fashion, conscious consumption, and the power of creators to drive real impact.
Allan Marks
President, Board of Water and Power Commissioners, LA Department of Water and Power
Allan Marks
President, Board of Water and Power Commissioners, LA Department of Water and PowerAllan Marks was appointed to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners by Mayor Karen Bass on November 26, 2025, and was confirmed by the Los Angeles City Council on December 10, 2025. His term ends on June 30, 2030. As a lawyer and strategic advisor, Marks has a lengthy career in international project finance, energy and infrastructure. Marks advises boards of directors, senior executives, investors, fund managers and other organizations on corporate strategy, risk management, market and regulatory changes, and capital formation, particularly in connection with the energy transition, renewable energy, innovative clean technologies, geopolitics, financial innovation, climate risks, resilience, and sustainability. As a lawyer, he has handled complex energy and infrastructure transactions in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, and Europe with an aggregate value of over $100 Billion, finding innovative ways to create value and reduce risk. In addition, Marks has been named a global Climate Leader by the Oxford University Climate Leadership Research Centre. Marks teaches at both the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and the UCLA School of Law, where he is Affiliated Faculty at the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy. He also is a Senior Fellow at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, a center of Columbia University’s Climate School; a Non-Resident Visiting Senior Fellow at NYU’s SPS Center for Global Affairs; and a Distinguished Scholar in Energy Law and Sustainability and Professorial Lecturer in Law at the George Washington University Law School. He previously taught Energy and Infrastructure Project Finance at the University of California, Berkeley for 12 years at both the Law School and the Haas School of Business. Marks is a Contributor to Forbes. He speaks and publishes frequently on energy, infrastructure, business strategy, financial markets, climate change, public policy, regulatory trends, and international transactions. For 11 years, Marks was the founding co-chair of the State Bar of California’s Subsection on Public-Private Infrastructure. He is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy and served on Law360’s Project Finance Editorial Board. He also serves as a board director of the Colburn School and other civic organizations. Marks received his Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University and his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
Amanda Atkinson
Vice President of Sustainable Services, Holder Construction
Amanda Atkinson
Vice President of Sustainable Services, Holder ConstructionAmanda Atkinson, Vice President of Sustainable Services for Holder Construction, has 25 years of overall experience in the construction industry and pioneered Holder’s efforts to assist clients and partners in exceeding their sustainability goals. Through support of 250+ projects in her career, she has greatly influenced the sustainable building impacts of airports, universities and many Fortune 500 companies. Amanda sets the vision and implements sustainable practices for Holder, a large commercial construction-management firm and a signatory to the Contractor's Commitment. Amanda is a LEED Fellow and provides ongoing industry leadership through her involvement on the steering committee for the Sustainable Construction Leaders, the Contractor's Commitment Advisory Board, the AGC Climate Change Working Group, and a member of iMasons Climate Accord Materials Working Group.
Amanda Bogner
Vice President, Consulting, Catalyst Partners
Amanda Bogner
Vice President, Consulting, Catalyst PartnersAmanda Bogner is Vice President at Catalyst Partners, a registered mechanical engineer, certified ASHRAE Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP), ASHRAE Fellow, and ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer. Passionate about high-performance buildings, Amanda has spent her career helping clients optimize energy use, reduce carbon emissions, and navigate complex energy and sustainability standards.
Amarpreet Singh
Team Lead, North America, One Click LCA
Amarpreet Singh
Team Lead, North America, One Click LCAFrom designing zero-waste systems at scale to advancing carbon mitigation in the built environment, Amarpreet Singh has spent over a decade driving sustainability across the waste, infrastructure, and construction sectors. His experience spans policy, operations, and behavior change, combining technical expertise with systems thinking to deliver measurable environmental outcomes. Amar implemented more than 500 commercial food waste composting systems across India and Southeast Asia and helped scale a circular economy start-up focused on eliminating single-use plastics. His work has been featured at international forums, including the UN World Urban Forum and the World Eco-Design Conference. Today, as Team Lead for North America at One Click LCA, he leads market growth and works with architects, engineers, contractors, and manufacturers to accelerate decarbonization through life-cycle assessments (LCAs), environmental product declarations (EPDs), life-cycle costing, and AI-powered software solutions that enable low-carbon design, procurement, and product development.
Amelia Cane
Sustainability and Resilience Planner, AECOM
Amelia Cane
Sustainability and Resilience Planner, AECOMAmelia Cane is a sustainability and resilience planner with experience developing climate mitigation and community resilience strategies for local governments and regional agencies. As a consultant with AECOM, Amelia supports the development of plans and studies through research, geospatial and data analysis, and stakeholder and community engagement.
Amir Rezaei
Simulation Team Lead, Cyclone Energy Group
Amir Rezaei
Simulation Team Lead, Cyclone Energy GroupAmir is an engineer, a PhD and a self-proclaimed energy data geek. As the Simulation Team Leader at Cyclone Energy Group, Amir is continually pushing the boundary of performance modeling and analytics to support the design of high- performance buildings. Specifically, Amir is advancing parametric modeling, optimization and data visualization workflows to enhance building design decisions during early design and continue supporting through the project lifecycle by providing insights on energy, cost and carbon emissions to meet and exceed our clients’ needs. Amir’s numerical simulation approach is complemented by his creative and collaborative approach to team integration and project management. He is known for bringing design ideas to the table as well as simplifying the technical performance data into actionable information for project stakeholders, while nourishing the strength of each team member for better overall project outcomes. His professional goal is to help integrate performance analytics within the building design process to accelerate the adoption of net-zero and positive-energy designs at scale.
Amy Discher
Reach Codes Senior Advisor, Southern California Edison
Amy Discher
Reach Codes Senior Advisor, Southern California EdisonAmy Discher is the Reach Codes Senior Advisor for the Southern California Edison Codes and Standards Team. Prior to serving in this role for the past two years, she served as an SCE Key Accounts Manager for 15 years. Amy has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Public Relations from California State University-Fullerton.
Anna Ostrander, M.S.
Manager of Sustainability Data, American Wood Council
Anna Ostrander, M.S.
Manager of Sustainability Data, American Wood CouncilAnna has a background in chemistry and an M.S. in Sustainable Systems from the University of Michigan, where she worked to quantify UM’s Scope 3 carbon emissions. At AWC, she works to use data from wood product manufacturers to better understand and communicate the environmental impacts of the U.S. wood products sector. Anna believes good data can be used to tell stories, make connections, and drive the changes necessary to achieve a more sustainable future.
Andrew Reilman
Principal, CEO, Linkage Engineers
Andrew Reilman
Principal, CEO, Linkage EngineersAndy is Principal and CEO of Linkage Engineers and with more than 20 years of sustainable consulting MEP engineering experience. Expertise in sustainable architecture and green-buildings includes designs for passive, low energy systems such as natural and mixed-mode ventilation, displacement ventilation, radiant heating and cooling, and renewable energy systems. Some of Andy’s notable high-performance projects include the Robert Redford Center for Sustainability at Pitzer College (ILFI ZNE, LEED Platinum), UCLA Pauley Pavilion (LEED Gold), UC Berkeley Student Community Center (LEED Gold). Andy is a licensed professional engineer, certified ASHRAE HBDP, past ASHRAE SoCal President and active in USGBC-CA and ILFI.
Angi Rivera
Director of Sustainability, Sellen Construction
Angi Rivera
Director of Sustainability, Sellen ConstructionA sustainability consultant with over twenty-five years' experience in sustainable design and construction, Angi adeptly leads project teams through the sustainability implementation process and is passionate about implementing a holistic and pragmatic approach to all projects. Sustainability must be integrated and feasible, with all team members at the table collaboratively developing project-specific sustainable solutions, no matter how large or complicated the project. She has led projects globally through the strategic environmental impact planning and sustainable design and construction processes on a wide variety of government and commercial projects. Former roles have included: BREEAM consultant in the UK, Regional Sustainability Practice Leader of one of the world’s largest A/E firms and Managing Director of a small woman-owned sustainability consulting firm. As Sellen Construction’s Sustainability Director since 2021, Angi oversees the company’s strategic sustainability direction and enables Sellen project teams to deliver spaces that meet or exceed client sustainability goals; from compliance strategy, to certifications, to embodied carbon analysis. Passionate that sustainability challenges cannot be solved in a vacuum, Angi is active in industry and peer networks and strives to facilitate and contribute to multi-disciplinary conversations and solutions.
Dr. Anita Sengupta
CEO, Hydroplane Ltd.
Dr. Anita Sengupta
CEO, Hydroplane Ltd.Dr. Anita Sengupta is an aerospace engineer, commercial pilot, and former NASA rocket scientist whose work spans planetary exploration and zero-emission transportation. She began her career at Boeing working on launch vehicles and communication satellites. She spent 16 years at NASA, where her PhD research on ion propulsion was used for the Dawn mission to the main asteroid belt. She also led development of the supersonic parachute that landed the Curiosity rover on Mars and was responsible for developing and leading NASA’s Cold Atom Laboratory, now aboard the International Space Station. Following NASA, she served as Senior Vice President of Systems Engineering at Virgin Hyperloop, leading development of a high-speed vacuum transport system. In 2020, she founded Hydroplane Ltd., where she serves as CEO, advancing hydrogen fuel cell power plants for zero-emission aviation and heavy transport. Under her leadership, Hydroplane secured U.S. Air Force Agility Prime, Navy, and Army contracts, won Army xTech 8, and is now a finalist in the Army xTech Humanoid competition. The company was named Innovation Company of the Year by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency, recognized as a Top 50 Global Resiliency Company, and honored by Women and Drones as a Top Company for Women. Her honors include the National Aeronautics Association’s Stinson Trophy and the USPAAC SheRoes Trailblazer Award.
Ann Vaughan
Associate VP, Resilient Futures, CARE
Ann Vaughan
Associate VP, Resilient Futures, CAREAnn Vaughan is the Associate Vice President, Resilient Futures for CARE. In this role she advances partnerships and programs that support CARE’s work to help 25 million people become more climate resilient and unlock climate finance for vulnerable populations. She previously served as a Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Resilience, Environment and Food Security at USAID, helping to oversee Feed the Future, the US government’s global food security initiative. From 2021-2023, Ann helped create and lead the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), a whole of government initiative to help 500 million people become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Prior to joining USAID, Ann oversaw a global flood resilience alliance, led advocacy efforts at Mercy Corps where she advanced legislation on food security and global fragility, served as a field officer for USAID in Kandahar, Afghanistan and was a foreign aid Appropriations Associate for US Congresswoman Nita Lowey. She started her international development career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Quilali, Nicaragua. She has her Master’s in International Development Studies with a focus on post-conflict reconstruction from George Washington University and Undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary.
Dr. Ashley Carmenia
Program Director, Girl Plus Environment
Dr. Ashley Carmenia
Program Director, Girl Plus EnvironmentDr. Ashley Carmenia is a seasoned public health leader and equity advocate with over a decade of experience advancing community-centered solutions in population and women’s health that has been recognized by USA Today, CDC, and NACCHO. With diverse programmatic experience, she brings a system-level approach to addressing the social, environmental, and structural factors that shape health and opportunity in black and brown communities. She has led and supported initiatives across maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, workforce development, and community-based education -- translating equity-focused research and policy into programs that are community-rooted, sustainable, and impact-driven. Dr. Carmenia is committed to strengthening community partnerships, educating, and ensuring that individuals are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to steward their environments and lead transformational change. Her leadership emphasizes collaboration, cultural humility, and accountability—grounded in the belief that environmental justice and gender equity are inseparable. Dr. Carmenia holds a Doctor of Health Science with a specialization in Rural Health from Campbell University and a MPH from the University of New England.
Aura Vasquez
Founder, Vasquez Impact Solutions & LA Climate Week
Aura Vasquez
Founder, Vasquez Impact Solutions & LA Climate WeekAura Vasquez is Founder of Vasquez Impact Solutions where she provides government relations and advises companies and organizations on decarbonization strategies. As former Commissioner of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, she shaped policies affecting the nation's largest municipal utility. Aura also chaired the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter's Climate Action Committee, leading building electrification initiatives across Southern California. As steering committee member for LA Climate Week, She focus on organizing and story telling as a way to elevate environmental issues and mentor the new generation or environmental stewards. She loves nature, music festival, and trains as a Latin Jazz dancer.
Bari Applebaum
Executive Director, Chicas Verdes
Bari Applebaum
Executive Director, Chicas VerdesRaised by a family of passionate gardeners, Bari Applebaum developed an early connection to nature. She started her first gardening business in middle school and, as a teenager, built a community garden where children learned to grow food and excess produce supported a local food bank. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Bari taught Chemistry and Health at Manual Arts High School in South Los Angeles. Inspired by her own hands-on environmental studies courses, she wanted her students to have similar opportunities to learn through their environment and began integrating the school garden into her classes. As advisor to the student group Chicas Verdes, Bari supported students as they revitalized an underused garden and used the space to address food and green-space access through an environmental justice lens. While teaching, she earned her Master’s in Secondary Education from Johns Hopkins University, where her graduate research examined how outdoor experiential learning influences student health and connection to community. Today, Chicas Verdes has engaged more than 2,200 students at 9 schools, generated 50,000+ hours of outdoor learning experiences, and helped distribute 1.8 million pounds of produce to 71,000+ families. As Executive Director, Bari leads the School Garden Challenge, a scalable model that gives schools the curriculum, tools, and systems to help young people identify environmental challenges and lead solutions in their own communities.
Ben Bye
Associate Principal, CO Architects
Ben Bye
Associate Principal, CO ArchitectsBen Bye is an Associate Principal at CO Architects, where he designs environments that foster collaboration, innovation, and discovery for clients including UCLA, UC San Diego, Wake Forest University, Wexford Science and Technology, Rockhurst University, and Kansas City University. His depth of experience in designing and planning higher education facilities has earned him invitations to speak at leading industry events. Recent engagements include presenting on embodied carbon reduction in historic renovations for AIA California, presenting on innovations in medical and health sciences facility design at the Tradeline University Facilities Conference, boosting enrollment by leveraging existing facilities for new programs at the SCUP North Central Conference, and strategies for contextual and sustainable façade design at The Architect's Newspaper Facades+ Conferences in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Ben holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon, where he studied the early adoption of mass timber high-rise structural systems in the U.S., supported by sponsored research in Austria and the U.K.
Blake Jackson
Director, Sustainability, NORR
Blake Jackson
Director, Sustainability, NORRBlake Jackson is an architect working at the nexus of sustainability, wellness and resiliency, who serves as the global Director, Sustainability for NORR. NORR is a 750-person integrated AEC company, headquartered in Toronto, with 14 locations in the US, UK, UAE, and Canada. Blake has 25 years' experience in the AEC industry, holding a Bachelor of Architecture from Kennesaw State University in Marietta, Georgia and a Master of Architecture in Sustainable Environmental Design from the Architectural Association Graduate School in London. Blake is a prolific author, speaker, and educator on topics affecting the built environment. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's Interior Design Program, he is on the Programming Committee for the Healthy Cities Design International conference, and he is a former Vice President, Advocacy for the Boston Society of Architects. Blake was recognized in 2015 by BD+C Magazine as a top '40 Under 40' AEC professional, he was named a LEED Fellow by the USGBC in 2021, and he is a 2024 recipient of the AIA Young Architect Award.
Brian Bustamante
Senior Advisor, Southern California Edison
Brian Bustamante
Senior Advisor, Southern California Edison
Brian Dunbar
Executive Director, CSU Institute for the Built Environment
Brian Dunbar
Executive Director, CSU Institute for the Built EnvironmentBrian is Executive Director of IBE and Professor Emeritus at Colorado State University, where he has taught courses in Construction Management, Interior Architecture, and Sustainability. Brian holds degrees in architecture from the University of Michigan and is a WELL Accredited Professional (AP) and LEED AP. Brian helped create IBE’s Lifelong Homes & Communities program, which was established to guide developers, designers, builders, and homeowners to create places that support healthy, active, generative lives. Through IBE, Brian has guided project work for the National Park Service, American Institute of Architects, cities, universities, housing authorities, and school districts. Brian’s healthy, sustainable building teaching and research has been honored by AIA, the Colorado Governor, communities, businesses, and universities. The U.S. Green Building Council recognized Brian with one of its first LEED Fellow distinctions (2012) and its National Leadership Award (2022).
Carla Roubaud
Project Manager, Verdical Group
Carla Roubaud
Project Manager, Verdical GroupCarla is a Project Manager I at Verdical Group, where she supports clients in achieving their sustainability goals and navigating various green building rating systems, including, but not limited to, LEED, Fitwel, and CHPS. With a background in environmental design, she is committed to driving positive environmental impact through sustainable building practices. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in Environmental Design, concentrating in Urban Planning. Before joining Verdical Group, Carla gained valuable experience in Mexico City, where she worked in green building consulting. She collaborated with high-profile clients to help them meet their sustainability objectives, managing projects focused on LEED and SITES. Carla currently holds the LEED AP BD+C and Fitwel Ambassador credentials. She is passionate about green building as a powerful tool to improve both the well-being of building occupants and the surrounding communities.
Casey Castor
Principal, Practice Labs
Casey Castor
Principal, Practice LabsCasey Castor is a Principal of Practice Labs, where he has spent nearly a decade advancing sustainable design in projects across the greater Los Angeles area. With expertise spanning K-12 schools, civic projects, and affordable housing, he integrates building science analysis into every phase of project development. His academic foundation includes an undergraduate in architectural design and a master’s in building science from USC, which has shaped his metrics-driven approach to sustainable design. Casey has also co-founded Mack Research, where their team is developing an innovative vertical wall wind technology for energy generation that is currently in R+D. He also collaborates locally as the 2026 Chair of AIA|LA’s Committee on the Environment (COTE), he works to advance sustainable design practices, advocating for policies and strategies that harmonize built and natural systems. Casey received the Rising Star Planet Positive Award from Metropolis magazine in 2025 showing national recognition for his work in sustainability especially for underserved communities. Through his leadership, Casey is committed to pushing the industry toward innovative, climate-responsive solutions that support long-term environmental resilience.
Chris Flood
Vice President, IES Canada
Chris Flood
Vice President, IES CanadaChris Flood is Vice President of IES Canada and a mechanical engineer with more than 20 years of experience in building performance simulation, energy modelling, and HVAC analysis. He works with engineers, architects, and building owners to improve energy efficiency and support high-performance building design, and also teaches HVAC Load Analysis at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Colin Mangham
CXO, USGBC California; Director, Net Zero Accelerator
Colin Mangham
CXO, USGBC California; Director, Net Zero AcceleratorColin has guided dozens of global brands through brand strategy, positioning, and campaigns generating more than $500 million in revenue, and advised hundreds of entrepreneurs, helping secure over $85 million in growth capital across companies he has led, co-founded, or closely advised. His work spans company formation, brand and market entry, scale, reinvention, and organizational development across both the private and nonprofit sectors. Since 2020, he has advised and guided the growth of the Net Zero Accelerator (NZA), where he has mentored more than 100 companies through hands-on advisory, commercialization strategy, workshops, investor readiness, and public-facing pitch sessions and panels at major industry events. His work supports progress toward net-zero energy, carbon, water, and waste while strengthening California’s cleantech innovation ecosystem. He has served on boards of directors, boards of trustees, and advisory boards, contributing governance, strategy, and operational oversight to mission-driven organizations and growth-stage companies.
Colin Thomas
Associate, Verdis Group
Colin Thomas
Associate, Verdis GroupColin Thomas (he/him) is passionate about implementing renewable energy, particularly solar, as a strategy to mitigate climate change. As a project manager and senior data analyst on Verdis Group’s Analytics team, he is responsible for summarizing large volumes of client data to create greenhouse gas inventories and decarbonization pathways. Colin has created Net Zero Pathways, led greenhouse gas inventory projects, and modeled potential solar arrays for clients across multiple industries. His recent work includes conducting greenhouse gas inventories for six counties in East Central Iowa. He modeled a decarbonization pathway for architecture firm Leo A Daly and Net Zero Pathways for the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medicine, and Celerion, a clinical research organization. He worked closely with the Dallas Zoo's energy, waste, and emissions data to provide ongoing support and troubleshoot potential barriers. He also co-manages First National Bank of Omaha’s sustainability implementation efforts. Colin earned a B.S. in Sustainable Energy Science from Creighton University. Sparked by a curiosity in engineering, his interest and expertise in sustainability and energy deepened while studying abroad in the Dominican Republic, where he contributed to service projects in rural communities that are experiencing the effects of climate change.
Cyle Sheppard
Sustainability Designer, NORR Architects & Engineers
Cyle Sheppard
Sustainability Designer, NORR Architects & EngineersCyle Sheppard is an architectural sustainability designer with 9 years' experience, currently working as a Sustainability Designer for NORR, a 750-person AE company, headquartered in Toronto, with offices in the US, UK, and Canada. He supports sustainability services across all NORR locations, working remotely in Atlantic Canada, where he also serves as a member of his municipal Climate Change Advisory Committee. Cyle earned his BSc. In Building Science and Adv. Dipl. in Architectural Technology from Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario. His expertise spans multiple tools and third-party rating systems integration, and is currently supporting projects pursuing LEED, Green Globes, Living Future’s Zero Carbon Certification, and CaGBC Zero Carbon Building Standards, where he manages project administration , writes specifications, conducts LCA, and has a proficiency for building performance and daylight simulation.
Damian Lomeli
Adjunct Instructor, West Los Angeles College
Damian Lomeli
Adjunct Instructor, West Los Angeles CollegeDamian Lomeli is a Career Advisor and Employer Engagement Coordinator at West Los Angeles College, where he supports students in healthcare and workforce development pathways. As a first-generation college graduate, Damian is passionate about helping students navigate higher education, career exploration, and professional success. Damian earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Saint Mary, where he competed as a collegiate baseball student-athlete. He later earned a Master of Science in Educational School Counseling from National University with an emphasis on community college counseling. In addition to his work in career services, Damian serves as an adjunct instructor, teaching Work Experience courses that help students develop career readiness skills and connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities. Throughout his career, he has worked with diverse student populations, including first-generation, low-income, and system-impacted students, providing guidance on career planning, internships, employment, and personal development.
Daniel Park
Sr. Sustainability Specialist, HOK
Daniel Park
Sr. Sustainability Specialist, HOKDaniel Park is a Senior Sustainable Design Specialist at HOK. Leveraging advanced building performance simulation and analysis, Daniel has guided more than 50 projects across North America and Asia in every phase of design to minimize carbon and water footprints while maximizing occupant comfort and wellness, especially regarding daylighting, glare, and thermal comfort. His expertise spans the commercial, healthcare, aviation, and higher education sectors, along with certification for LEED and Fitwel. Previously at KPF, Daniel also brings a distinguished research background from Cornell University. His work on residential daylighting evaluation with Dr. Timur Dogan earned recognition from the Cornell Presidential Research Program and the 2020 Leon Gaster Award from The Society of Light and Lighting.
Daniel Soltero
Program Manager, Western Riverside Council of Governments / Inland Regional Energy Network
Daniel Soltero
Program Manager, Western Riverside Council of Governments / Inland Regional Energy NetworkDaniel Soltero is a Program Manager for the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) and Inland Regional Energy Network (I-REN), and a Board Member for the Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition (LGSEC). He joined WRCOG in 2018 and is responsible for planning and implementation of energy efficiency and resiliency programs and initiatives. Previously, Daniel implemented WRCOG’s Regional Streetlight Program, a Smart Streetlight Implementation Plan & Broadband Assessment, and most recently the Energy Resilience Plan 1 and ERP 2.0. Currently, he serves as SoCalGas Regional Energy Pathways Ambassador for the Inland Empire, and works on the I-REN’s Codes & Standards and Public sectors. Daniel holds a B.A. in Public Policy from the University of California, Riverside, and has interests in energy, environment, and climate adaptation.
Daniele Horton
Founder & CEO, Verdani Partners
Daniele Horton
Founder & CEO, Verdani PartnersDaniele Horton has over 24 years of experience in corporate sustainability, real estate and project management. Her expertise, dedication and passion are central to her leadership of Verdani Partners as the Chief Executive Officer. Daniele is a licensed architect, a LEED Fellow and a Certified Energy Manager. She was named one of the “Top 10 Most Powerful Women in Sustainability” in 2014 and a USGBC Shero for Purpose in 2020. She is currently leading the Verdani team in sustainability efforts for over 20 national and international real estate firms. Most of Verdani’s clients rank among the top ten on GRESB (the largest global ESG benchmark for real assets), which speaks to the success of Verdani’s sustainability and ESG programs. As the head of sustainability for Thomas Properties Group for almost a decade, Daniele led the LEED certification of TPG’s nationwide portfolio of office buildings in house and was ranked as the highest environmental performer on GRESB in the Americas in the Office category (2011, 2012 & 2013). Daniele is a Harvard graduate with a master’s degree in Sustainable Development and holds degrees in architecture, urban planning, and construction management. She is an adjunct Professor at the University of San Diego where she has taught Sustainable Real Estate at their MSRE program since 2013. For almost a decade she has actively participated on national sustainability committees such as the GRESB Benchmark Committee, ULI Greenprint Performance Committee and has served on USGBC’s Advisory Council, USGBC-LA, SDGBC Boards and the BOMA Sustainability Committee. For her leadership in the industry and with over 100 speaking engagements on her roster since 2008. Daniele also started a non-profit organization called the Verdani Institute for the Built Environment (VIBE) to advance global sustainability adoption in the built environment.
David Hodgins MBA, MRED, LEED AP
Founder & CEO, Sustento
David Hodgins MBA, MRED, LEED AP
Founder & CEO, SustentoRooted in a deep connection to nature and an abiding faith in human potential, David envisions a future where humanity thrives in partnership with nature – where business models support wellbeing, create economic value and enhance ecosystem health. He has dedicated his career to this vision, working with a diverse set of clients and collaborators – from federal, state, and local governments to global, national, and local lenders, investors, and asset managers, to utilities, advocates, national labs, universities, and affordable housing providers – to innovate at the nexus of energy, and policy, and real estate.
Dave Intner
Senior Advisor, Codes and Standards, Southern California Edison
Dave Intner
Senior Advisor, Codes and Standards, Southern California EdisonDave Intner, with Southern California Edison’s Codes & Standards team, is a Licensed Architect, LEED AP and Certified Energy Manager. A graduate of Cal Poly SLO, Dave provides education and outreach supporting Building Decarbonization and Energy Code Compliance. Dave has 30 years of professional experience split between architectural practice and utility program delivery. His work includes resource and training development, case study research, reach code support for jurisdictions, and design tools for the building industry. Dave is Vice Chair of the statewide AIA California Climate Action Committee and is a current board member of the California Association of Building Energy Consultants (CABEC). Previous roles include Past President of the AIA Ventura County, four years of service on the LEED Energy and Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group (EA-TAG), and a six-year term on the board of directors of USGBC Los Angeles (now USGBC California).
David Douek
CEO, OTEC
David Douek
CEO, OTECDavid Douek is the Founder and CEO of OTEC, a Brazilian consultancy that helps companies and their real estate portfolios perform better, financially, operationally and environmentally, through energy and water efficiency, decarbonization and certification. His work includes Brazil’s first Global Network for Zero certification and the first LEED-certified stadium in South America. Over 19 years, David and OTEC have worked across more than 190 million square feet of corporate, industrial, logistics and institutional projects, turning ESG goals into measurable business value for global clients. He holds a PhD in Business Administration from the University of São Paulo connecting real estate, sustainability and ESG performance, alongside degrees in Architecture & Urbanism and Business Administration, a rare combination of academic depth, technical delivery and strategic insight. His credentials include CRE, FRICS, LEED Fellow, WELL AP, EDGE Expert and Fitwel Ambassador, and he has contributed to publications including Harvard Business Review. At the Net Zero Conference he brings a global perspective on advancing net zero in the built environment and turning high-performance strategies into measurable impact.
David Sands
Founder and Chief Architect, LEED AP, Bamboo Living and RIZOME
David Sands
Founder and Chief Architect, LEED AP, Bamboo Living and RIZOMEFounder, Director and Chief Innovations Officer for Bamboo Ecologic Corporation dba RIZOME Climate Solution Company: Carbon Removal XPrize Top 30 Solution Mission: Sequester gigatons of carbon by developing giant bamboo into a primary global building material Currently reforesting thousands of acres and producing laminated bamboo building materials Awarded 2024 US Department of State Award for Corporate Excellence Founder, Director and Chief Architect for Bamboo Living, Inc. Bamboo Living developed the first US building code standard for structural bamboo International Code Council Evaluation Services Report 1636 – ICC ESR1636 Completed hundreds of structural bamboo building projects over 30 years A List of Clients including founder of eBay, Academy Award winning actress, Rockstar, and Hollywood producer Licensed Architect in Hawaii since 1991 Former President of American Institute of Architects Maui Chapter Masters of Architecture from University of Florida 1983 American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention speaker World Bamboo Congress speaker – Costa Rica, Bangkok, Antwerp, Mexico, Taiwan Keynote Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico Bamboo Congresses speaker American Bamboo Society National Convention speaker Featured on Discovery Channel: Building Off the Grid: Hawaii Bamboo House Former Chairman, KRIPALU Center for Yoga and Health Largest yoga retreat facility in the US Eagle Scout
Debora Favaretto
Associate Sustainability Leader, CannonDesign
Debora Favaretto
Associate Sustainability Leader, CannonDesignDeb is an architect and one of the firm’s sustainability leaders, drawing on more than a decade of experience to deliver holistic, pragmatic design and planning solutions. She leads the development of university campus climate action and energy master plans, where she brings together diverse voices, current conditions, and long term goals to shape tailored, actionable 2050 decarbonization roadmaps. Deb leads critical firmwide initiatives and reporting, including AIA 2030 Commitment and annual carbon accounting for the practice’s business activities. Nationally, she co chairs the Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) Sustainability Committee’s Firm Carbon Neutrality working group where she coauthored the LFRT’s Guide to Carbon Neutrality for Architecture Firms. Her work consistently bridges big picture vision with implementation strategies needed for lasting climate impact.
Diamond Spratling
Founder and Executive Director, Girl Plus Environment
Diamond Spratling
Founder and Executive Director, Girl Plus EnvironmentDiamond Spratling is an award-winning Climate DisruptHER, author, public health professional, and global speaker redefining how communities engage with climate and environmental solutions. She is the founder and executive director of Girl Plus Environment, a national nonprofit advancing equitable climate, energy, and environmental solutions by ensuring Black and Brown women and femmes are leading policy, advocacy, and community-based implementation efforts. With more than a decade at the intersection of climate, public health, and community engagement, Diamond’s work focuses on energy equity, climate resilience, environmental health, and building culturally relevant pathways into climate action. Her leadership has helped mobilize thousands of community climate actions and shape conversations around energy affordability, health outcomes, and equitable infrastructure planning. A Detroit native and two-time TEDx speaker, Diamond has delivered talks for the United Nations, Microsoft, Columbia University, MIT, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and the World Resources Institute. She previously served on the City of Atlanta Climate Resilience Advisory Board and was recognized as an Aspen Institute Future Climate Leader, NRDC 1 Hotels Fellow, and 2024 Tom’s of Maine Incubator Awardee. Her work and thought leadership have been featured by NPR, CBS, Essence, AfroTech, Inc. Magazine, Black Enterprise, The Bitter Southerner, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Diana Hayton, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB
Principal, TEF Design
Diana Hayton, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB
Principal, TEF DesignDiana is a preservation architect and Principal at TEF Design with 30+ years of experience. A Board member of the California Preservation Foundation, she is a passionate advocate of adaptive reuse, decarbonization and building electrification, and draws on her deep knowledge of preservation to advance projects that honor context and craft while embracing innovation. Her diverse portfolio of preservation work encompasses projects for California State Parks, the Presidio Trust, various universities, the YMCA, and Bay Area municipalities, with recent projects including the Winehaven Historic District in Richmond and the adaptive reuse of Building 102 on the Main Post at the Presidio. An accredited LEED professional, Diana earned her Master of Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley and Bachelor of Arts in History of Art and Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University.
Dilip Krishna
Global CTO, Sustainability, Deloitte
Dilip Krishna
Global CTO, Sustainability, DeloitteDilip Krishna is the Global CTO for Sustainability, responsible for setting Deloitte’s technology vision as well as engineering and operating software solutions using the latest Gen AI, automation, and cloud technology to serve clients with their sustainability initiatives. Dilip also leads Ascend Research Intelligence, an AI-enabled Infrastructure & Sustainability advisory that Deloitte uses to help clients execute climate strategies. He brings his 30 years of technology, analytics, consulting, and industry experience to helping clients effectively apply new and disruptive technology to effect transformative business changes using AI/analytics/big data, cloud, and cyber security. In addition, Dilip has been widely published and quoted in the areas of sustainability technology, AI, and automation. He is a senior editor and contributing author of the Handbook of Financial Data and Risk Information (Cambridge University Press).
Elle Walters
Founder, ELLERALI
Elle Walters
Founder, ELLERALIELLERALI is a fashion brand with a mission to Recreate The Created by upcycling garments to reduce textile waste. Rooted in creativity, comfort, and conscious design, ELLERALI proves that upcycling can be innovative, stylish, and full of life.
Emerita Flores
Program Director, Chicas Verdes
Emerita Flores
Program Director, Chicas VerdesBorn and raised in Los Angeles, Emerita Flores has spent more than 20 years creating opportunities for young people through expanded learning and food access. While studying Social and Behavioral Sciences at California State University, Fullerton, Emerita began her nonprofit career with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove in 2005. She was promoted to Director of Expanded Learning Services and Director of Compliance for meal programs, serving in leadership roles until 2019. In 2019, Emerita co-founded Impact LA, a nonprofit providing free meals, educational programming, and community resources across Los Angeles. In 2025, Impact LA served more than 284,000 meals across 50 sites and rescued more than 1.1 million pounds of food. After years of working to ensure young people had access to food, Emerita’s relationship with growing food deepened when she discovered Chicas Verdes in 2020. Through gardening alongside students, she developed a personal passion for growing food and a deeper understanding of gardens as spaces for learning, connection, and community change. Today, as Program Director at Chicas Verdes, Emerita oversees the development and implementation of school-based programs, supporting staff, educators, and school communities as they build sustainable systems for youth-led environmental action. Outside of work, Emerita enjoys gardening, creating art, traveling, camping, reading, learning, and spending time with loved ones.
Emi LaFountain
Regional Sustainability Manager – West Coast, Turner Construction
Emi LaFountain
Regional Sustainability Manager – West Coast, Turner ConstructionEmi LaFountain is a Regional Sustainability Manager for Turner Construction, focused on standardizing sustainability programs along the West Coast and identifying and implementing policies and standards aimed towards meeting Turner's ESG goals. Aside from having worked in construction operations, finance, and procurement roles, and she has also held corporate positions as Turner’s Embodied Carbon Program Manager and Jobsite Carbon Program Manager, where she worked to define the contractor’s role in sustainability and operationalize best practices. Emi was a founding member of the Bay Area Sustainable Construction Leaders group and is an active member of the AGC-California Advocacy Group. She holds an undergraduate degree in environmental engineering from Rice University and has a master’s in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge.
Emma Donnelly
Business Development Executive, One Click LCA
Emma Donnelly
Business Development Executive, One Click LCAEmma Donnelly is a Business Development Executive at One Click LCA, where she partners with manufacturers, architects, engineers, contractors, and sustainability leaders across North America to advance low-carbon building practices through life cycle assessment (LCA), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and embodied carbon reduction strategies. With close to a decade of experience in the construction industry, Emma has built her career at the intersection of technical sales, business development, and sustainable building solutions. Prior to joining One Click LCA, she specialized in commercial building systems, helping developers, property owners, and contractors implement complex infrastructure and energy management solutions across large-scale projects.
Enid Cardinal
Senior Advisor to the President for Strategic Planning and Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology
Enid Cardinal
Senior Advisor to the President for Strategic Planning and Sustainability, Rochester Institute of TechnologyAs the senior advisor to the president for strategic planning and sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology, Enid Cardinal is responsible for the university’s strategic planning process, oversight of plan progress and implementation, facilitating a campus culture of sustainability with respect to operations, curriculum, and research; and directing RIT’s efforts to achieve its climate commitment. She led the development of the university’s newly released Strategic Framework: Transforming Lives and Through Innovation and Creativity, co-chaired the campus comprehensive planning process, and oversaw the development of its Climate Action Plan. Prior to joining the RIT community, she was the Director of the Office of Sustainability at Illinois State University. There she established a sustainability across the curriculum workshop, authored Illinois State’s inaugural sustainability report, and launched a community wide food waste composting program. She is LEED –accredited professional and holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and history from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in Environmental Policy from Bard College.
Eric Jenson
Co-Founder, ORION
Eric Jenson
Co-Founder, ORIONEric Jenson is an entrepreneur and business builder focused on bringing innovative energy/cost saving technologies to market. Eric brings a background in entrepreneurship, marketing, and strategic communication. As a co-founder of ORION, he brings a customer-focused approach, connecting technical performance to ROI, building strategic relationships, and helping move opportunities from initial interest through validation and broader deployment.
Erika Heet
Editor-in-Chief, BuildingGreen
Erika Heet
Editor-in-Chief, BuildingGreenErika Heet is the Editor-in-Chief of BuildingGreen, and the former Editor-in-Chief of Interiors magazine. She has held senior editor positions at Dwell and Architectural Digest, and is the author of two books on modern architecture. She has served on the boards of Greenbuild and the Sustainable Furnishings Council, as well as on juries for AIALA, the Westside Urban Forum and the American Society of Magazine Editors.
Evdoxia Giovannopoulou (Evie)
President/Founder, revdesign, inc
Evdoxia Giovannopoulou (Evie)
President/Founder, revdesign, incEvdoxia Giovannopoulou, is the founder and president of revdesign, a design firm with a significant focus in environmental responsibility, founded in 2010. Prior to this role she had extensive experience in commercial and residential projects in London, UK, Greece, and throughout the US. This provided experience in multiple environmental conditions and different climate zones. Her studies in Interior design, Architecture and Building Science are reflected in the interest of developing beautiful spaces with a focus on health and function. Working with ECOS to develop their environmental building strategy since 2010 she had the satisfaction of designing the upgrades to their manufacturing facility in IL, which became the first to achieve WELL Certification at the Platinum level in the Industrial Sector. As a WELL AP, she has served on IWBI’s Industrial Sector and Residential Advisory Boards and works with residential clients to ensure healthy, safe environments for their families. As the leader of revdesign, she has pushed the philosophy that good design is the result of an integrated approach that responds to aesthetic concerns and environmental responsibility, and that the result of this approach certainly provides better spaces to inhabit.
Eric Corey Freed
Principal, Director of Sustainability, CannonDesign
Eric Corey Freed
Principal, Director of Sustainability, CannonDesignEric Corey Freed is an award-winning architect, author, and global speaker. As Principal and Director of Sustainability for CannonDesign, he leads the healthcare, education, and commercial teams toward low-carbon, healthy, regenerative buildings for over 30 million square feet a year. For two decades, he was Founding Principal of organicARCHITECT, a visionary design leader in biophilic and regenerative design. His work has been featured in: Time, Newsweek, Metropolis, Dwell, Fast Company, Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal; and on-air in: Fox News, HGTV, The Sundance Channel and PBS. His new book, “Frictionless: Overcoming the Drags that Shutdown Innovation” will be released in 2026. Eric is the author of 12 books, including "Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies” and "Circular Economy for Dummies." In 2012, he was named one of the 25 "Best Green Architecture Firms" in the US, and one of the "Top 10 Most Influential Green Architects." In 2017, he was named one of Build's American Architecture Top 25. He’s one of the 2021 Environment + Energy Leaders and in 2024, he was named the Net Zero Trailblazer for Innovation. He holds a prestigious LEED Fellow award from the US Green Building Council.
Farzaneh Mahlab
Building Performance Specialist, HEAPY
Farzaneh Mahlab
Building Performance Specialist, HEAPYFarzaneh is a Building Performance and Energy Specialist with a Ph.D. in Architectural Engineering. Her research focused on lighting design, daylighting, and the advancement of lighting measurement methodologies through field studies and simulation-based analysis. Since transitioning from academia to industry, Farzaneh has supported a diverse portfolio of high-performance building projects, collaborating with design teams from early concept development through project delivery. Her expertise includes building energy modeling, daylighting analysis, LEED and energy code compliance, life-cycle cost analysis, and building decarbonization planning. Passionate about bridging research, technology, and real-world design, Farzaneh helps project teams create buildings that are efficient, resilient, and high performing. Outside of work, she enjoys practicing yoga and is currently learning to surf.
Gabriela Guevara
Produce Giveaway Coordinator, Chicas Verdes
Gabriela Guevara
Produce Giveaway Coordinator, Chicas VerdesGaby Guevara is a Los Angeles-based food-access leader whose work focuses on connecting families with fresh, nutritious food and building community-driven systems to address food insecurity. Her connection to this work began during her freshman year at Manual Arts High School in South Los Angeles, when she was introduced to the school garden and Chicas Verdes. Through hands-on experiences growing food, supporting community events, and working alongside her peers, Gaby began exploring the connections between food, the environment, and the needs of her community. After graduating from Manual Arts, she attended California State University, Domínguez Hills where she majored in Criminal Justice Administration. Today, Gaby puts that experience into practice through leadership roles with both Chicas Verdes and Hands of Love. As Community Outreach Coordinator for Hands of Love, a Lynwood-based food distribution program, Gaby developed and oversees its produce giveaway operations. She coordinates weekly distributions providing fresh produce, groceries, and household essentials to more than 250 families every Friday. As Produce Giveaway Coordinator for Chicas Verdes, Gaby oversees the organization’s produce distribution program, connecting thousands of families with fresh food while creating opportunities for young people to participate in addressing food insecurity in their own communities.
Gary Lai
Principle, Quixotic Nature-based Solutions
Gary Lai
Principle, Quixotic Nature-based SolutionsGary Lai is an accomplished landscape architect and thought leader in sustainability, resiliency, conservation, and Nature-based Solutions. Gary leverages over 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. He has extensive expertise in site sustainability design, green infrastructure and water conservation that enable him to focus and maximize the creative energies of project collaborators toward innovative solutions. Gary is committed to local environmental advocacy and education. He has spoken at numerous conferences on a variety of sustainable and urbanist issues including the Net Zero Conference, Greenbuild and the California Green Building Conference. He is currently the Past-Chair of the Board of Directors for the United States Green Building Council, California (USGBC-CA), a founder of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) collaborative, Living Future Los Angeles and a co-founder for the New American Dream Think Tank. Professionally, Gary is a Lecturer at the CalPoly Pomona Landscape Architecture Department and is the Principal and Founder of Quixotic Nature-based Solutions based in Pasadena, CA.
Genesis Butler
Founder, Youth Climate Save
Genesis Butler
Founder, Youth Climate SaveGenesis Butler is a 19-year-old Afro-Indigenous climate and animal rights activist who began her advocacy at the age of six. She became one of the youngest people to deliver a TEDx talk with her presentation, “A Ten Year Old’s Vision for Healing the Planet,” where she highlighted the connection between compassion for animals and protecting the Earth. Genesis is the founder of Youth Climate Save, a global youth-led climate organization with over 50 chapters worldwide that empowers young people to take climate action, with a focus on food systems and the environmental impacts of industrial animal agriculture. She has led international campaigns promoting plant-based solutions, including a global initiative asking Pope Francis to go vegan for Lent to encourage people to consider how their food choices can help reduce their impact on the planet. Her work has been recognized by Marvel and Disney, who named her a real-life superhero, and she has been featured in The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and The Getty Museum. Genesis continues to inspire youth worldwide to build a more sustainable and compassionate future.
George Cortez
Employer Engagement Coordinator, The CA Center for Climate Change Ed at West LA College
George Cortez
Employer Engagement Coordinator, The CA Center for Climate Change Ed at West LA CollegeGeorge Cortez is a workforce development professional, educator, and sustainability leader dedicated to building pathways between education and industry. He serves as an Adjunct Instructor and Program Coordinator with the California Center for Climate Change Education at West Los Angeles College, where he leads employer and industry partnerships, connecting students with career opportunities in California's growing climate economy. He teaches a Facilities Project Management certificate and Work Readiness courses. In his role with the Center, George has developed partnerships with over 65 employers to support internship and fellowship opportunities for emerging professionals. He has also contributed to the development of industry-relevant training programs and curriculum focused on project management, sustainability, and workforce readiness. Previously, George worked as a Project Manager and LEED Consultant. He holds a LEED AP ID+C credential from GBCI, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) credential from PMI, and a Master's degree in Career and Technical Education from California State University, San Bernardino. Through his work, George helps bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring that students are prepared to meet the workforce demands of a rapidly evolving climate economy.
Gina Goodhill
Senior Director, Government Affairs, Clean Power Alliance
Gina Goodhill
Senior Director, Government Affairs, Clean Power AllianceGina serves as Senior Director of Government Affairs at Clean Power Alliance, where she works to advance policies that support California’s transition to a clean, equitable, and resilient energy future. She brings more than 20 years of experience in environmental policy, clean energy, and government affairs. Before joining Clean Power Alliance, Gina spent four years at Tesla, including two years at SolarCity, where she focused on advancing local policies and programs related to solar energy, energy storage, electric vehicles, and EV infrastructure. Prior to Tesla, she worked at Global Green USA, a nonprofit organization focused on advancing clean energy and energy efficiency, with an emphasis on affordable housing and solutions that benefit low-income communities. Earlier in her career, Gina worked at Environment California, advocating for the protection of California’s oceans, coastlines, and open spaces. Throughout her career, Gina has worked at the intersection of policy, sustainability, and community impact, helping advance practical solutions to address climate change and accelerate the transition to clean energy. Gina holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Environmental Studies from the University of Southern California.
Gordon Stewart
Energy Engineer, AECOM
Gordon Stewart
Energy Engineer, AECOMGordon Stewart is an energy engineer within AECOM's Advisory practice, where he helps clients navigate complex infrastructure, energy, and resilience challenges. AECOM Advisory integrates management consulting with deep infrastructure expertise, enabling clients to align technical, operational, financial, and strategic priorities to deliver practical and implementable solutions. Gordon brings technical engineering principles and a systems-based perspective to solving clients’ infrastructure challenges, with experience spanning energy resilience, decarbonization, geothermal systems, microgrids, and capital infrastructure planning. He has supported airports, counties, universities, utilities, and local governments in developing long-term strategies that connect engineering analysis with funding, policy, and implementation pathways. His work focuses on translating technical complexity into actionable programs and investment strategies that improve operational performance, reduce emissions, and enhance resilience. Gordon regularly collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to bridge the gap between engineering and executive decision-making, helping organizations move from vision and planning into execution.
Hani Hadadzadegan
Senior Energy Analyst, Verdical Group
Hani Hadadzadegan
Senior Energy Analyst, Verdical GroupHani is a Senior Energy Analyst III at Verdical Group. He specializes in building performance modeling and sustainability consulting, contributing to high-performance projects pursuing certifications such as LEED, CHPS, and AIA 2030. His expertise spans energy modeling, daylight analysis, life-cycle assessment (LCA), and regenerative design strategies aimed at decarbonizing the built environment. Before joining Verdical Group, Hani worked as a Building Performance Specialist and Regenerative Design Leader, leading simulation-driven design studies and LCA documentation for multiple residential and commercial developments. He also brings architectural design experience from his early career, supporting 2D/3D modeling, environmental analysis, and construction detailing across diverse project types. Hani holds a Master’s degree in Architectural and Energy Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Shahid Beheshti University (National University of Iran). He has presented his research at international conferences, including IBPSA-USA SimBuild 2024, and published several academic articles on sustainable design and thermal performance in architecture. Outside of work, Hani enjoys photography, hiking, traveling, and exploring new technologies in artificial intelligence and data analytics.
Herman K. Trabish
Contributing Editor, Utility Dive
Herman K. Trabish
Contributing Editor, Utility DiveHerman K. Trabish began reporting on clean energy on his "NewEnergyNews" blog in 2006 when, after 30 years as a doctor of chiropractic in private practice, he realized his strategy to fix the planet one person at a time was moving too slowly. He also then realized that "Oil In Their Blood," his phenomenally unsuccessful multivolume historical fiction account of the oil industry, was not the solution. Mentored by Aerovironment founder Paul MacCready, one of the fathers of the modern clean energy business, he began reporting on the clean energy sector and his effort is ongoing at Utility Dive under the tutelage of an unusually tolerant editorial staff. In 2023, he began his still ongoing United States Energy Association Power Sector Podcast, which is nearing its 300TH episode and has barely scratched the surface of the innovation in today's energy that is possible.
Hugh Lowry, M. Eng, BA.Sc
Technical Sales and Engineering Manager, Elemex
Hugh Lowry, M. Eng, BA.Sc
Technical Sales and Engineering Manager, ElemexHugh Lowry is the Technical Sales and Engineering Manager at Elemex. Hugh has an engineering background and extensive experience in sustainable design, specializing in advancing building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technologies with a focus on Elemex’s innovative Solstex® system.Hugh holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from Queens University, with a focus on computational studies and fluid dynamics. He has also completed his Master's in Engineering from Western, with a focus on solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. Hugh’s work experience encompasses solar solutions of varying backgrounds, from ground-mounted solar farms to building-integrated solutions. Direct to grid, or battery storage – Hugh is a knowledgeable resource when harnessing the sun’s energy. He works closely with architects, developers, and builders to deliver energy-efficient, aesthetically pleasing solutions that help achieve net-zero building goals. An advocate for reducing our carbon footprint, Hugh is passionate about driving the adoption of renewable energy in the construction industry. He supports projects from design through certification, ensuring high performance and sustainability.
Hunvey Chen
Regional Leader of Healthcare, HOK
Hunvey Chen
Regional Leader of Healthcare, HOKWith over 25 years of experience in healthcare, Hunvey has been part of every major recent healthcare project in the Los Angeles office during her 20-year tenure at HOK. As the Regional Leader of Healthcare, Hunvey is responsible for ensuring that projects meet their goals at all levels – visioning, project development, construction, and implementation. Hunvey has played a key role in expanding HOK’s presence in the Southern California region, with project commissions under her tenure such as; UCLA Neuropsychiatric Replacement Hospital, Mark Ridley-Thomas Behavioral Health Center and City of Hope Orange County Specialty Cancer Hospital. She is currently overseeing projects totaling $1B in construction costs including acute care and behavioral health projects. Highly respected among her peers in the Architectural world, she has also made a name for herself within the entire AEC community. She is always pushing for higher standards, spaces that promote healing and the true “care” within healthcare.
Ignacio Valdivia
Sustainability Manager, Holliday Rock
Ignacio Valdivia
Sustainability Manager, Holliday RockIgnacio Valdivia, MBA, is the Sustainability Manager at Holliday Rock Co., Inc., where he leads the company's low carbon concrete strategy, material innovation initiatives, and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) program. Working at the intersection of sustainability, engineering, and business development, Ignacio partners with owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and public agencies to implement practical solutions that reduce embodied carbon while balancing constructability, performance, and cost. Known for bridging technical innovation with real-world implementation, Ignacio translates emerging technologies and evolving regulations into actionable strategies that accelerate decarbonization across the built environment. His collaborative approach brings together material suppliers, designers, contractors, and project owners to advance practical, scalable solutions that support California's climate goals. Beyond Holliday Rock, Ignacio serves as Chair of the Los Angeles Regional Leadership Advisory Board for USGBC California and actively contributes to several industry organizations advancing sustainable construction. He is passionate about helping shape the future of low carbon building materials and believes lasting progress is achieved when innovation, collaboration, and practical execution come together.
Ioni Papaioannou
Associate, Introba
Ioni Papaioannou
Associate, IntrobaIoni Papaioannou is a building performance and sustainability specialist with over 13 years of experience in architecture, building science, and decarbonization. Her work focuses on helping organizations advance building and campus decarbonization through data-driven decision-making, automation, and innovative digital workflows. Throughout her career, Ioni has contributed to a diverse range of projects, including single-building performance assessments, central plant optimization initiatives, and large-scale portfolio decarbonization studies. Her experience includes applying building performance analysis, energy modeling, and digital tools to identify practical opportunities for reducing energy use, lowering carbon emissions, and driving measurable performance improvements. Ioni's expertise spans energy modeling, building performance optimization, and strategic decarbonization planning, helping clients navigate practical pathways toward a more resilient and sustainable built environment.
Janae Acker
Program Manager, Southern California Edison
Janae Acker
Program Manager, Southern California EdisonJanae Niechel Acker is an energy efficiency and regulatory strategy leader with more than 15 years of experience delivering large-scale, high-impact programs across utility, operations, and construction environments. At Southern California Edison (SCE), she leads complex energy efficiency portfolios and drives innovative initiatives that advance California’s clean energy goals, including wildfire recovery, electrification, and customer-focused energy solutions. Known for her ability to navigate highly regulated environments, Janae has successfully led cross-functional teams, optimized multimillion-dollar portfolios, and secured regulatory approvals that enable reliable, compliant program delivery. Her leadership has contributed to more than $30 million in portfolio performance, achievement of over 130% of program goals, and enterprise-wide process improvements that enhance governance, customer experience, and operational effectiveness. Beyond her program leadership, Janae actively partners with community organizations and stakeholders to promote equitable access to energy programs and accelerate customer adoption of clean energy technologies. Her work focuses on developing practical, scalable solutions that strengthen grid resilience, support customer needs, and advance California’s transition to a sustainable energy future. Janae holds a Master of Business and Organizational Management from the University of La Verne and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from California State University, Fullerton.
Jason Denue
Vice President, Energy, Wendel Companies
Jason Denue
Vice President, Energy, Wendel CompaniesJay is Wendel's vice president of energy services. Throughout his career, he has led the development, design, and implementation of energy conservation, renewable energy, and decarbonization projects. He is passionate about working closely with clients to develop innovative and custom solutions to complex energy system challenges and then bringing those solutions to life.
Jessica Robbins
Sustainability Planner, Presidio Trust
Jessica Robbins
Sustainability Planner, Presidio TrustJessica Robbins is a Sustainability Planner at the Presidio Trust, where she ensures that environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, and climate resilience remain central pillars to the Trust’s mission of keeping the Presidio National Park free and open to all forever. Jessica has worked with communities across California and the Midwest to document greenhouse gas emissions, understand climate change hazards and vulnerabilities, develop policies to drive down emissions and improve climate resilience, and evaluate the efficacy of efficiency programs. She has an MS in Sustainable Systems and Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Michigan.
Joana (Jo) Tavares
Director, California Center for Climate Change Education at West Los Angeles College
Joana (Jo) Tavares
Director, California Center for Climate Change Education at West Los Angeles CollegeJo Tavares (she/they) is the founding Director of the California Center for Climate Change Education at West Los Angeles College, where she collaborates with students, faculty, industry leaders and community-based organizations to address to build a more sustainable and just California for all. Jo holds a bachelor’s degree in oceanography from FURG, Brazil, where she is originally from, an master’s in Marine Science and Policy from the University of Delaware, and a PhD in Earth System Science from UC, Irvine, where she studied the impacts of ships on marine phytoplankton, global biogeochemistry and climate. From 2019 to 2022, Jo was NASA’s FINESST fellow. In 2021, she won the UCI's Public Impact Distinguished Fellowship Award, and the 2022 American Association for Advancement of Science’s Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship. Jo has taught marine and environmental science, ethics and sustainability at CalState Channel Islands and at several community colleges in Southern California. Jo loves to work in interdisciplinary projects and welcomes opportunities to integrate her training as a scientist and her experiences as an educator, communicator, organizer, and policy expert.
Joe Dashow
Co-Founder, ORION
Joe Dashow
Co-Founder, ORIONJoe Dashow is an experienced executive and entrepreneur focused on helping organizations improve profitability through smarter, more sustainable operations. As a co-founder of ORION, he works with businesses to identify and eliminate operational waste, with a particular focus on energy efficiency and technologies that reduce energy consumption without disrupting operations. Joe brings extensive executive-level experience across strategy, operations, sales, and P&L leadership, with a practical, ROI-driven approach to sustainability and energy efficiency.
John Ambert
Senior Advisor, USGBC California
John Ambert
Senior Advisor, USGBC CaliforniaJohn Ambert is a licensed architect, LEED Fellow, and Founder of Studio Verde, a high-performance building practice focused on delivering practical, buildable sustainability outcomes. With more than 15 years of experience and over 100 projects across education, laboratories, corporate campuses, data centers, and residential developments, John has worked across the owner, architect, and contractor spectrum to deliver high-performance buildings that balance design, cost, and constructability. Through Studio Verde, John leads a full suite of sustainability services that support projects from early entitlement through construction. This includes green building entitlement strategy for developers; sustainability visioning, energy modeling, and high-performance specifications for design teams; and field implementation, commissioning support, and data management for contractors. He also delivers GPRO and LEED training programs for project teams, helping translate high-level sustainability goals into coordinated, actionable execution. John’s work is grounded in the belief that the next generation of development must fully integrate design, construction, and performance. He is currently pursuing his Master of Real Estate Development at USC, with a focus on transitioning into development and delivering high-quality, scalable, and low-carbon projects. As a Senior Advisor to USGBC California, John helps guide the evolution of industry programs including the Contractor’s Commitment, with a focus on simplifying reporting, aligning with national standards, and advancing practical climate solutions for the construction sector.
John Mennel
Managing Director and Climate Tech Practice Leader, Deloitte
John Mennel
Managing Director and Climate Tech Practice Leader, DeloitteJohn is a Managing Director and Climate Tech Practice Leader in Deloitte’s U.S. Sustainability practice, where he helps Fortune 500 companies turn decarbonization into competitive advantage. He leads Deloitte’s climate tech work, connecting innovators with market access, regulatory insight, and operational expertise to move solutions from pilots to large-scale deployment. John also oversees digital and data strategy for Deloitte’s sustainability business and previously led the CEO’s Responsible Enterprise agenda, including designing Deloitte’s Net Zero strategy. With deep experience at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and finance, he brings a pragmatic view of what it takes to turn ambition into measurable business value. John holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.A. from Brown University.
Justin Blinn
Associate Principal, TEF Design
Justin Blinn
Associate Principal, TEF DesignAn Associate Principal at TEF Design, Justin combines exceptional design expertise and technical precision to deliver innovative solutions on a range of project types. With more than 15 years of experience, his diverse portfolio includes community, education, workplace, and infrastructure assignments, notably the adaptive reuse of the San Francisco Mission Armory, Building 2 at Pier 70, and the adaptive reuse of Buildings 2, 102, and 40, Gorgas Warehouses, and East Mason Warehouses at the Presidio. Justin earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is an accredited LEED and Living Futures professional.
Kamilah Sanders
Global Ecosystem Strategist & CEO, Greater Than Equal
Kamilah Sanders
Global Ecosystem Strategist & CEO, Greater Than EqualCEO of Greater Than Equal, Kamilah Sanders serves as a strategy advisor and facilitator for large-scale, complex multi-stakeholder initiatives at the intersections of sustainability, technology, creativity, and humanity. As a Global Ecosystem Strategist, Kamilah solves one of the hardest parts of complex initiatives: alignment. She specializes in the human dynamics of collaboration, helping stakeholders align across differences to maximize impact. As strategist and translator, she bridges gaps across NGOs, funders, governments, corporations, academia, technologists, scientists, and communities so initiatives move forward with clarity and momentum. With 25+ years in marketing and executive leadership, she brings deep expertise in human behavior, communication, and systems ensuring initiatives do not just launch, but hold under pressure. A sought-after speaker, she has been featured at Davos, UNGA, Forester, Trellis/GreenBiz, Fashion Revolution, Remake, Fashion Takes Action, AI Week, hosts Synapse Shift podcast and more. Serving on the governing board of Catalyst Now, she co-leads the Sustainable Fashion Collaboration and Digital Collaborative. Author of Strategic Impact: Hidden Forces of Change, she is committed to building a future where our most complex, high-stakes challenges are met through aligned ecosystems helping leaders achieve lasting systemic impact so together we can create the future we want to see.
Kate Callahan
Associate VP, Go-To-Market, GBI
Kate Callahan
Associate VP, Go-To-Market, GBIAs Senior Director of Client Services and Engagement, Kate supports GBI’s Client Services team to ensure the delivery of exceptional project management and educational offerings. She works directly with project teams evaluating sustainability objectives and pursuing Green Globes Building Certification, Green Globes Journey to Net Zero, and Guiding Principles Compliance verification, providing expert assistance and guidance. Additionally, Kate works closely with the marketing and program teams to deliver thought leadership webinars, timely updates of resources, and educational training to GBI’s community. She engages the GBI community and new clientele at conferences and as an experienced presenter on GBI’s suite of tools. Kate has over a decade of experience in project and customer relationship management. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arizona. She is passionate about sustainability, enjoys backpacking and bike-packing, and resides in Tucson, AZ.
Kathy Berardi
Media Relations, PR Strategy & Consulting
Kathy Berardi
Media Relations, PR Strategy & ConsultingKathy Berardi is a PR consultant and sustainability storyteller with 20+ years experience. With a specialty in climate tech and the built environment, Kathy helps tell brand and thought leader stories to create credible reputations and sought-after sources among her client base. Her coverage secured on behalf of companies & their leadership include placements in The New York Times, WSJ, TechCrunch, Fast Company, Canary Media, Inside Climate News, S&P Global, Marketplace/NPR, Greenbuilder, Green Building & Design, VentureBeat, Inc, Bloomberg Green, ABC News and more. Kathy also serves as a mentor and personal brand strategist to support aspiring professionals pursuing new career opportunities. Kathy is a member and volunteer with US Green Building Council California (USGBC-CA).
Kavita Rodrigues
Advisor, Southern California Edison
Kavita Rodrigues
Advisor, Southern California EdisonKavita Rodrigues, an Advisor at Southern California Edison, holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Building Science. Since 2001, her architectural career has been guided by the principle ‘Form Follows Climate,’ focusing on sustainable design from India’s passive houses to California’s NetZero homes. At SCE’s Energy Education Center, she develops curriculum on Building Electrification and Decarbonization, educating the public about California’s climate objectives, the necessity of decarbonizing the building sector, and the significance of building electrification in the clean energy movement.
Keaghan Caldwell
Sustainability Manager, BNBuilders
Keaghan Caldwell
Sustainability Manager, BNBuildersKeaghan Caldwell is a Sustainability Manager at BNBuilders with over a decade of experience in the sustainable building space. He helps scale practical, field‑ready sustainability from project pursuit through closeout, leading greenhouse gas tracking, embodied carbon analysis, and waste reduction strategies across active commercial projects. He brings a background in environmental science, design, carbon accounting, and program development, and has held leadership and advisory roles across industry groups, including the USGBC Resilience Committee and sustainable construction leader networks. As member of the Contractor’s Commitment Advisory Group, Keaghan supports its evolution by aligning ambitious goals with how contractors actually deliver work in the field. He partners closely with owners, designers, and trade partners to translate frameworks like LEED and emerging regulations into clear, implementable jobsite practices—driving measurable outcomes. Keaghan works to advocate for the advancement of sustainable construction through his focus on accessibility, research driven reduction strategies, and defensible reporting.
Kimberly Lau
Founder & CEO, Project Rewear
Kimberly Lau
Founder & CEO, Project RewearKimberly Lau, earned her degree from the University of California, Irvine in 1996 and went on to build a two-decade career in wealth management. As Partner and Co-CEO of Summit Financial Consultants, she shaped and led the business vision and strategy that drove the firm's growth. In 2024, her path took a new direction. A single mom of two boys who outgrew their clothes faster than she could buy them, Kim couldn't unsee what was right in front of her — kids cycling through fast fashion while perfectly good clothes filled landfills. She became a Mom on a Mission, and Project ReWear was born: a values-driven movement expressed through a circular fashion business, rescuing textiles before they reach landfill and making secondhand shopping second nature for everyone. Kim believes real change in fashion starts with the consumer — that every donation, every purchase, and every conversation moves the needle. She lives in Thousand Oaks with her two sons.
Kristen Salinas
Program Director, NORESCO
Kristen Salinas
Program Director, NORESCOKristen Salinas is a sustainability leader with 18 years of experience integrating sustainable design into new buildings and guiding teams toward high‑performance certification outcomes. Her civil engineering background gives her a strong command of site planning, energy and water systems, and strategies to reduce embodied carbon in structural materials. Kristen has worked extensively with Southern California utilities to advance Title 24, Part 6 energy code compliance and support continuous improvement programs. She also leads education and outreach for locally adopted reach codes, helping communities push building performance beyond state requirements and accelerate progress toward zero net energy goals. She currently supports LEED and Envision construction-phase tracking for major airport and transportation projects across the country. As a native Californian, she is proud to contribute to projects that strengthen California’s leadership in energy efficiency, sustainability, and climate‑forward design.
Kristin Hernandez
Senior Energy Analyst, Verdical Group
Kristin Hernandez
Senior Energy Analyst, Verdical GroupKristin is a Senior Energy Analyst III at Verdical Group. She works with our Project Management team to design energy models and provide analysis for a variety of projects aiming to achieve certifications, such as LEED. Kristin holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Loyola Marymount University (LMU), with a minor in Applied Mathematics. She enjoys participating in volunteering activities such as beach cleanups and community gardening, and she was an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers at LMU.
Lauren Wibe
Associate Director, Programs & Technical Content, GBI
Lauren Wibe
Associate Director, Programs & Technical Content, GBIAs Associate Director of Sustainability Programs, Lauren drives sustainability programs forward through research and development. Prior to this role, Lauren served as a civil servant at NASA managing the sustainability and air quality programs for the Ames Research Center. She received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Iowa State University in 2019. She was awarded the NASA Ames Graduate Fellowship in 2020 and completed her master’s in environmental engineering at Stanford in 2021. In 2023 she received her Professional Engineer’s License and a NASA Agency Honor Award Early Career Achievement medal. Lauren is passionate about sustainability, her cat, reading, and nature. In her free time Lauren serves on the Board of Directors for a local non-profit – the Huntsville Environmental Coalition and volunteers with other local environmental organizations where she currently resides in Huntsville, Alabama.
Leigh Kyle
Partner, Spurlock Landscape Architects
Leigh Kyle
Partner, Spurlock Landscape ArchitectsLeigh Kyle is a Partner and Principal Designer at Spurlock Landscape Architects, a San Diego-based landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm with projects throughout the western region focused on our unique environmental challenges. Driven by a passion for connecting people and plants and the critical importance of cultivating the next generation of stewards, Leigh looks for opportunities to create learning landscapes that foster social and environmental engagement, awareness, and enrichment across project types, with a special focus on educational, civic and public open space projects. As a licensed landscape architect with an architecture background, Leigh brings 30 years of professional expertise, technical rigor, and sensitivity to the wide range of regional project conditions. Stimulated and inspired by collaboration and dialogue, Leigh’s communication and management skills and ability to embrace complexity in pursuit of creative and elegant solutions are integral to the success of her work.
Leila Srinivasan
Sustainability Consultant, AECOM
Leila Srinivasan
Sustainability Consultant, AECOM
Leila is a Sustainability Consultant for AECOM’s High Performance Buildings team in Orange, California. She graduated with a master's degree in Building Performance and Diagnostics from Carnegie Mellon University and has 4 years of experience in the Architecture and Sustainability industry. Her work focuses on energy modeling, built sustainability and code compliance for a wide range of building typologies. Prior to her work as a Sustainability Consultant, Leila worked as an Architect in Bangalore, India.
Leticia Ochoa
Principal, NAC Architecture
Leticia Ochoa
Principal, NAC ArchitectureLeticia Ochoa is a licensed Architect and the Principal at NAC, a firm renowned for its focus on community-driven projects that seamlessly blend design, functionality, and sustainability. With over 25 years of experience, Leticia has worked alongside school districts, local leaders, children's advocacy groups, non-profit organizations, and government agencies to secure funding, plan, design, and oversee the construction of meaningful facilities. Currently, her projects include the renovation of an existing high school campus, a $100M Net-Zero-Targeted expansion of another high school, and the revitalization of a 50-year-old community-rooted art center. As Principal-in-Charge, Leticia is a passionate advocate for environmentally responsible design in every project she leads, always taking the time to listen to her clients and their communities. She creates thoughtful, sustainable environments that not only align with their needs but also empower her clients to advance their missions and make a lasting impact.
Lexy Silverstein
Sustainable Fashion Advocate, Lexy Silverstein
Lexy Silverstein
Sustainable Fashion Advocate, Lexy SilversteinLexy Silverstein is a sustainability advocate, content creator, and community builder focused on making conscious living feel accessible, stylish, and relevant. She has led and supported sustainability-focused campaigns, brand storytelling initiatives, influencer partnerships, and community events that spotlight ethical fashion, independent designers, and more responsible ways to shop. Her work has included creating educational and lifestyle content around sustainable fashion, helping connect conscious brands with new audiences, and supporting events tied to climate action, circular shopping, and values-driven consumerism. Lexy is passionate about using digital media and real-world experiences to show that sustainability does not have to feel intimidating or out of reach. Through her content, partnerships, and advocacy, she encourages consumers to rethink how they shop, support mission-driven businesses, and make choices that better align with people and the planet.
Linda Young
Co-founder, Project Rewear
Linda Young
Co-founder, Project RewearLinda Young, a native of Australia, discovered her love for second-hand and unique items at an early age. As a teenager, she spent weekends exploring op shops (Australian for thrift stores), estate sales, and garage sales, hunting for hidden treasures — a passion for repurposing preloved goods that stayed with her throughout her life. After more than two decades building a successful career in retail management and global brand development, Linda stepped back from her profession to focus on her growing family. In 2017, her journey took a new direction when she began volunteering at a nonprofit thrift store organization in California. The experience deepened her commitment to sustainability and charitable work, igniting a profound passion for recycling and giving back to the community. In 2020, she was elected Board President of the organization, channeling her efforts toward reducing waste and saving as much as possible from ending up in landfills. Linda cherishes the stories behind second-hand items and finds joy in bringing them new life and new homes. She lives in California with her husband and two children, and in her free time, you'll find her creating jewelry.
Lionel Lemay
Director, Market Development, North America, Concrete Sustainability Council
Lionel Lemay
Director, Market Development, North America, Concrete Sustainability CouncilLionel Lemay is the Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to advancing sustainability in the concrete industry through education, certification, and strategic advocacy. With a distinguished career spanning engineering, business development, and applied research, Lemay is widely recognized for building high-performing teams and initiatives that drive innovation, market transformation, and long-term growth across the building materials sector. ConcreteNexus develops industry-leading educational programs and certification initiatives focused on green building practices and sustainable concrete solutions. The firm also represents building product manufacturers on issues related to building codes, standards, and regulatory development. In addition to leading ConcreteNexus, Lemay serves as Director of Market Development – North America for the Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC), the global responsible sourcing certification system for concrete, cement, and aggregates. He also advises Climate Earth, a leading provider of environmental product declaration (EPD) software, supporting codes and standards advocacy while expanding sustainability education across the concrete value chain. Lemay is also Chair of the Pacific Northwest Building Resilience Coalition, advancing resilient construction practices. Previously, he held senior roles at NRMCA, PCA, and Hansen Lind Meyer. He is a licensed Professional and Structural Engineer in Illinois and holds degrees from McGill University.
Lisa Herrera
Senior Vice President of Affordable Housing, Raza Development Fund
Lisa Herrera
Senior Vice President of Affordable Housing, Raza Development FundAilisa “Lisa” Herrera, MBA, is a Senior Vice President of Affordable Housing at Raza Development Fund, a national community development financial institution, where she leads the Affordable Housing Team and expands the Fund's housing outreach and impact investment efforts. With over 30 years of experience in community development finance, Ms. Herrera has established herself as a trusted expert in affordable housing, structuring complex financial solutions that involve public/private partnerships, traditional debt, grant capital, and tax credit financing. Prior to joining Raza Development Fund, she served as Managing Director at 3 Diamond Development and held senior leadership positions at Fifth Third Bank, BMO Bank, and MB Financial Bank. Ms. Herrera holds an MBA in International Marketing and Finance from DePaul University, and a BA in Spanish & Business Translation from Northern Illinois University.
Lourdes Salinas
CEO & Founder, THREE Consultoría Medioambiental
Lourdes Salinas
CEO & Founder, THREE Consultoría MedioambientalLourdes Salinas—LEED® Fellow™, LEED AP® BD+C, O+M, EDGE Expert & Auditor, BREEAM AP, Access4you Business AP, and WSLA Alumnae ’24—is an architect and sustainability consultant specializing in the evaluation and implementation of environmental strategies for buildings, communities, and master plans, as well as the development of sustainability standards, training programs, and guidelines. With more than 18 years of experience in sustainable development, she has led national and international projects across the United States, Australia, Southeast Asia, and Mexico. She is the Founder and Director of THREE Consultoría Medioambiental, a sustainability and environmental technology consulting firm with a portfolio of more than 360 completed sustainable projects across multiple countries and over 180 certified projects. In 2019, she received the LEED® Fellow™ designation, the highest distinction in the green building industry, recognizing her leadership and long-term contributions to sustainable development. She has also collaborated with the United Nations in New York on initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for entrepreneurs. Her recognitions include the Women in Sustainability Leadership Award (WSLA) 2024, among others. She currently serves on the LEED Steering Committee, the Chipinque Board of Trustees, and the San Pedro Parks Citizen Council.
Mariam Mojdehi
Founding Principal, MAAM
Mariam Mojdehi
Founding Principal, MAAMMariam Mojdehi is co-founder and principal of MAAM, a Los Angeles–based architecture practice focused on creating high-performance, human-centered environments. With more than 20 years of experience across residential, cultural, civic, and adaptive reuse projects, she brings a collaborative approach that integrates design excellence with environmental responsibility. With expertise in LEED, Passive House, and Living Building Challenge frameworks, her work advances low-carbon, healthy, and resilient design strategies that support both people and the planet. Mariam is a passionate advocate for climate-responsive design and believes architects have a critical role in shaping a more sustainable and regenerative built environment.
Marina Jurica
Meteorologist, Climatologist & Environmental Reporter, CBS News Los Angeles
Marina Jurica
Meteorologist, Climatologist & Environmental Reporter, CBS News Los AngelesMarina Jurica is an Emmy Award-winning meteorologist, climatologist and environmental reporter for CBS News Los Angeles, where she covers weather, climate change, Earth science and the ways a changing planet is affecting communities across Southern California and beyond. Before joining CBS Los Angeles, Jurica spent four years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, working on major Earth and planetary missions including SWOT, Sentinel-6, NISAR and the Perseverance Mars rover. She brings more than two decades of broadcast meteorology experience to her reporting, translating complex science into compelling, accessible stories that connect global environmental change to people’s everyday lives. She is also pursuing a PhD with research in climate science and paleoclimatology, conducting field research that examines Earth’s past climate transitions as a window into understanding present and future change. Her work has taken her from Norway to ancient climate records preserved in the rock formations of Montana and the United Kingdom. A passionate advocate for science literacy, she has spoken to students and audiences around the world and is particularly interested in the critical role journalists and scientists play in communicating climate science, solutions and resilience to the public.
Mark Chhabria
Senior Sustainability Analyst, County of Marin
Mark Chhabria
Senior Sustainability Analyst, County of MarinMark Chhabria is a Senior Analyst with the County of Marin's Climate and Sustainability Division, where he leads the County's Green Building programs. His work focuses on advancing local green building policy, promoting consistency across Marin's cities and towns, and ensuring building regulations support the County's long-term climate goals. A Marin native, Marin brings a strong community perspective to his work. He holds an MBA in Sustainable Enterprise from Dominican University of California and a BA in Political Science from UCLA.
Marya Thawer
Building Performance Analyst, Introba
Marya Thawer
Building Performance Analyst, IntrobaMarya is a mechanical engineer and decarbonization specialist with five years of experience. She worked as a mechanical designer before pursuing a Master of Science in Architecture at UC Berkeley, where she specialized in building science, sustainability, and technology. Through her graduate studies, she developed advanced analytical and research skills focused on leveraging building data to identify practical, cost-effective pathways for energy reduction and decarbonization. Following her graduate studies, driven by her passion for data-driven analyses, Marya joined the Climate and Sustainability team at Introba. In her current role, she works on district energy planning for campuses and cities, as well as portfolio-scale decarbonization efforts that help clients with large building stocks strategically reduce their emissions. She is known for her inquisitive nature, collaborative spirit, excellent communication skills, and a deep passion for leveraging data and research to assist clients in addressing the climate crisis.
Matt McDonald
Principal - Commercial Sector Leader, Corgan
Matt McDonald
Principal - Commercial Sector Leader, CorganMatt has become a master at managing the scale and complexity of large corporate headquarters projects. His role leading the design of headquarters for Fortune 500 companies like Kubota — which earned LEED Gold certification — and Charles Schwab has contributed to his reputation as a leader who always goes the extra mile for our clients. Matt is drawn to the psychological challenges inherent in architecture. His desire to create spaces where people want to be is coupled with the knowledge that this means different things to different people. Uncovering the psychological underpinnings of what makes people enjoy and draw inspiration from a space — these are the things that motivate him. Matt is responsible for the overall direction of our commercial practice — from new business to our strategic approach, execution, and growth markets — and leads his team through all phases of design, production, and construction.
Meng Gong
Sustainable Design Leader, HOK
Meng Gong
Sustainable Design Leader, HOKMeng Gong is a Sustainable Design Leader at HOK, where she guides high-performance, low-carbon, and wellness-driven design strategies across healthcare, aviation, higher education, and civic projects. Her work spans LEED, WELL, Fitwel, energy and daylight analysis, embodied carbon, resilience, and climate-responsive design, helping project teams translate sustainability goals into measurable outcomes. With a background that bridges architecture, environmental performance, and human health, Meng brings an integrated perspective to net zero and decarbonization. She is especially passionate about behavioral healthcare environments and the role of design in supporting occupant wellbeing, operational efficiency, and long-term community resilience.
Mick Dunn
Product Manager, Armstrong World Industries
Mick Dunn
Product Manager, Armstrong World IndustriesMick Dunn is Product Manager of Templok Energy Saving Ceilings for Armstrong World Industries where he specializes in the integration of phase change materials (PCMs) in the built environment. His work bridges the gap between advanced thermal storage technologies and strategic market deployment, enhancing product development initiatives that improve energy efficiency and sustainability in buildings. He is passionate about dynamic solutions to store thermal heat, driving innovation in how buildings manage energy. His 20+ years of experience and unique ability to translate complex technical concepts into easy-to-understand strategies has positioned him as a subject matter expert in the field of thermal energy storage and sustainable building solutions.
Natalie Flores-Rios
Building Electrification Advisor, Southern California Edison
Natalie Flores-Rios
Building Electrification Advisor, Southern California EdisonNatalie C. Flores-Rios is a program and project management professional with sixteen years of experience at Southern California Edison (SCE), where she currently serves as a Building Electrification Advisor leading high-impact customer programs. She has extensive expertise managing full program lifecycles—from regulatory approval and program design to launch, reporting, and stakeholder engagement—while overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets and driving process improvements across departments. Prior to her current role, Natalie held key positions within Demand Response and Transmission & Distribution, supporting grid modernization, large infrastructure programs, and regulatory initiatives. She holds a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from San José State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in History and Archival Studies at Claremont Graduate University, building on her earlier academic foundation with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Ethnic Studies from California State University, Fullerton.
Nathan Bishop
Partner, KoningEizenberg
Nathan Bishop
Partner, KoningEizenbergAs Design Partner-in-Charge, Nathan Bishop AIA, LEED AP oversees the firm’s major projects with a focus on social inclusivity, climate change, and resetting relationships between buildings and shared public space. Across a variety of project types, from multi-family housing to community placemaking, Nathan has expanded the firm’s design capacity and integrated new technologies into design and practice. He teaches and lectures in design, architectural history and theory, and cultural studies, and has served on the Board of Directors for the LA Forum for Art and Architecture. Nathan recently served as a Director on the AIA Los Angeles Board, and remains actively engaged in outreach to bring more diversity into the profession.
Nava Rose
Creator / Designer, Nava Rose
Nava Rose
Creator / Designer, Nava RoseNava Rose combines her passion for fashion with her love for the environment. After starting her journey as a thrift flipper, she discovered an adoration for repurposing unconventional materials into stunning, one-of-a-kind pieces. With her collection of outfits and upcycling DIY projects, she hopes to inspire others to embrace sustainable fashion practices, and to find confidence in their unique sense of style.
Nina Knierim
Deputy Director of CA Programs, CORE- Community Organized Relief Effort
Nina Knierim
Deputy Director of CA Programs, CORE- Community Organized Relief EffortNina Knierim currently serves as Deputy Director for CA Climate Resilience and Disaster Preparedness for CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), where she leads the design, launch, and expansion of a multidisciplinary, community-based resilience program spanning urban and rural regions across 15 counties in California. For 4 years, she has provided executive-level leadership through periods of rapid growth and funding challenges, building cross-sector partnerships and overseeing staff and operations for complex initiatives. She regularly collaborates with nonprofit, philanthropic, corporate and civic partners, and currently serves as a subject matter expert on regional working groups addressing extreme heat, emergency response, and community climate resilience.
Parker Cohn
Founder and CEO, Performance Resource Management (PRM)
Parker Cohn
Founder and CEO, Performance Resource Management (PRM)Parker Cohn is the founder and CEO of Performance Resource Management (PRM), a soil regeneration company whose biological soil management programs have earned state and national recognition from California's Department of Pesticide Regulation and Major League Baseball. This program cut chemical inputs by up to 90% and water use by up to 50% across professional sports fields and golf courses. Across professional sports fields, PRM's approach improves field safety and performance while displacing costly renovations. In golf, PRM reduced annual water use by 40% at a private Los Angeles course. This reduction was independently verified by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, generating over $300,000 a year in combined water and pumping savings. As Southern California's venues prepare for LA28, PRM's work offers a utility-verified model for simultaneously achieving elite performance and aggressive water targets while providing a clear ROI in year one.
Patty Oh
Executive Director, Cool OC
Patty Oh
Executive Director, Cool OCPatty Oh is the founder and Executive Director of Cool OC, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing climate awareness, resilience, and community-driven action across Orange County, with a focus on underserved communities. After a 20-year career in sales, marketing, and brand management—including six years as a sales and brand director for Harley-Davidson licensed products—she transitioned into environmental education and nonprofit leadership, bringing business strategy and community engagement together to drive local impact. A longtime environmental educator and advocate, Patty has worked to advance climate action planning, community choice energy, and equitable access to climate education and resources. In 2022, Patty was tapped to be a program manager for the launch of the Cool Irvine pilot program and later founded Cool OC to expand community-based climate programs across Orange County, prioritizing environmental justice communities and historically underrepresented residents. Under her leadership, Cool OC mentored 158 youth, engaged 1,360 residents through workshops and preparedness programs, and reached more than 3,300 community members in 2025 alone. As one of the few AAPI women leading an environmental nonprofit in the region, Patty is committed to ensuring climate solutions are inclusive, community-centered, and accessible to all.
Peter Roquemore
Sustainability Analyst, City of Santa Monica
Peter Roquemore
Sustainability Analyst, City of Santa MonicaPeter Roquemore is a Sustainability Analyst in Santa Monica's Office of Sustainability & the Environment where he leads work on green building codes, embodied carbon, and community resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Prajakta Thipsay
Sustainability Manager, Populous
Prajakta Thipsay
Sustainability Manager, PopulousAs Sustainability Manager for Populous’ American region, Prajakta Thipsay leads the integration of sustainability, wellness and resilience across Populous’ diverse portfolio. Motivated by the belief that the built environment should create both environmental and social value, she leverages her experience as a licensed architect in India and her global perspective to advance design solutions that improve performance, enhance well-being, and strengthen communities. A recognized advocate for sustainable design, Prajakta contributes to industry leadership through organizations such as AIA Kansas City and NOMA Kansas City, as well as speaking engagements focused on net-zero design, decarbonization, energy efficiency, and inclusive design. She plays a key role in shaping sustainability strategies, standards, and accountability frameworks that drive measurable progress. This progress includes advancing AIA 2030 reporting efforts and broader organization priorities related to climate action and high-performance design, as well as the implementation of the AIA Material Pledge. As a LEED AP BD+C, Fitwell Ambassador and Living Future Accredited professional, Prajakta partners with clients, consultants and multidisciplinary teams to establish ambitious project goals and deliver impactful solutions. Her collaborative and integrated approach fosters transparency, alignment, and proactive problem-solving throughout the design process, enabling teams to navigate complex challenges while maintaining a clear focus on project objectives. With expertise spanning architecture design, LEED certification, embodied carbon reduction, life cycle assessment, operational performance, wellness strategies, and sustainable materials, she empowers teams to achieve ambitious sustainability goals while delivering measurable value for clients, communities, and the environment.
R Rex Parris
Mayor of City of Lancaster, Chairman of FPH2, City of Lancaster; First Public Hydrogen Authority
R Rex Parris
Mayor of City of Lancaster, Chairman of FPH2, City of Lancaster; First Public Hydrogen AuthoritySince becoming Mayor of Lancaster in 2008, R. Rex Parris has led bold initiatives that transformed the city into a national model for innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. Under his leadership, Lancaster strengthened public safety, attracted global investment, and emerged as a leader in clean energy development. A central focus of Parris’s vision has been establishing Lancaster as the nation’s “First Hydrogen City.” Recognizing that the hydrogen market lacked the public infrastructure and coordination necessary for large-scale adoption, Lancaster partnered with the City of Industry to create the First Public Hydrogen Authority (FPH2), the first public agency of its kind dedicated to advancing hydrogen production, infrastructure, and deployment. As Chairman of the Board, Parris continues to help lead efforts to bridge the gap between emerging hydrogen technologies and the public systems needed to support a clean energy economy. Parris also spearheaded Lancaster’s landmark partnership with BYD, bringing advanced manufacturing, jobs, and international investment to the Antelope Valley. In addition, his renewable energy initiatives helped position Lancaster as one of the world’s first Zero-Net Energy Cities. Together, his work reflects a comprehensive vision for building safer, healthier, and more sustainable communities for future generations.
Rachel Patterson
University Engineer, California State University, Office of the Chancellor
Rachel Patterson
University Engineer, California State University, Office of the ChancellorRachel Patterson is the University Engineer for the California State University Chancellor’s Office, where she supports the systemwide capital program, energy efficiency initiatives, building decarbonization, and climate resilience programs across the CSU’s 22 campuses. With nearly a decade of experience in energy engineering and sustainable building design, her work has included advancing campus infrastructure planning, improving data collection and feedback loops, translating technical information for a broader audience, and supporting code and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining the CSU Chancellor’s Office, she worked in energy efficiency consulting roles. Rachel is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and a Licensed Mechanical Engineer in the State of California.
Rebecca Ramsdale
Senior Director of Projects, Verdical Group
Rebecca Ramsdale
Senior Director of Projects, Verdical GroupRebecca is the Senior Director of Projects at Verdical Group, where she oversees a diverse portfolio of high-performance building projects and corporate sustainability initiatives. She leads stakeholder engagement by translating sustainability commitments into actionable operational projects, ensuring environmental and social goals are embedded in how organizations operate and grow. Rebecca manages client relationships throughout the full project lifecycle—from proposal development and project handoff through charrettes, design, construction, operations, and closeout. She prioritizes the delivery of high-quality, consistent work that meets client timelines, while equipping her team with the resources, guidance, and clear pathways needed for successful project execution. Rebecca joined Verdical Group from the general contracting industry, where she gained valuable experience as a project engineer, project manager, and estimator. In these roles, she developed strong expertise in managing project schedules and budgets, coordinating fieldwork, and fostering clear communication—all while maintaining a high standard of quality and attention to detail. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Loyola Marymount University, where she studied Natural Science and Civil Engineering. Rebecca enjoys connecting with the community through mentoring students and participating in AEC organizations such as USGBC, CREW, and AIA. In her free time, she enjoys visiting the National Parks, with a life goal to experience all 63 US National Parks.
Rene Rodriguez
Director, Egan Simon Architecture
Rene Rodriguez
Director, Egan Simon ArchitectureRené is responsible for directing and managing operations for the Egan | Simon Architecture studio, encompassing a wide range of activities and providing leadership and expertise in support of a human-centric design vision. For over 26 years, René has been involved in the realm of community-based architecture with a strong focus on affordable housing. He is dedicated to exploring the possibilities of sustainability in the built environment, focusing on pragmatic, affordable methodologies to provide a truly holistic environmental design approach that addresses the natural, social, and economic dimensions. René received a Master of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from The University of Puerto Rico. His studies focused on the intersection between sustainable and social architecture within the existing urban fabric. René has been engaged in organizations such as the Southern California Association for Nonprofit Housing, U.S. Green Building Council, National, the Los Angeles Chapter, Housing California, New Partners for Smart Growth, the California Endowment, the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health, and The Enterprise Foundation. Through these organizations, he has participated in many panels and workshops to promote socially responsible architecture and the benefits of sustainable design and construction.
Richard Jung
Design Manager, PCL Construction
Richard Jung
Design Manager, PCL Construction
Richard Jung is a member of the PCL Webcor a Joint Venture (PWJV) team on the Los Angeles Convention Center Expansion & Modernization Project, where he supports sustainability, quality, and operational excellence initiatives. Working closely with project stakeholders, he helps facilitate and promote efforts that contribute to the project's pursuit of LEED Gold certification, including low-carbon concrete, waste diversion, healthy materials, and data-informed project delivery practices. Richard is passionate about helping project teams improve processes, share knowledge, and deliver more sustainable outcomes for the built environment.
Robert Soler
Founder and Chief Scientist, BIOS
Robert Soler
Founder and Chief Scientist, BIOSRobert Soler is the founder and Chief Scientist at BIOS. Prior to his work at BIOS, his most prominent work was at Kennedy Space Center, where he served as Subject Matter Expert for NASA’s circadian lighting system to synchronize astronauts to a 24-hour cycle on board the International Space Station. He served as a jet lag mitigation expert for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Olympic Ski and Snowboard team and is currently an advisor to the International Well Building Institute. His patented SkyView technology received the 2024 BUILD Grant from the Department of Energy, for its advancements in improving building occupant health and wellness while maintaining excellent energy efficiency and visual quality.
Ruby Rose Yepez
New Construction Senior Advisor, Southern California Edison
Ruby Rose Yepez
New Construction Senior Advisor, Southern California EdisonRuby Rose Yepez is a seasoned building industry professional with 15+ years of experience specializing in building science and sustainability. She is a Senior Advisor with Southern California Edison, supporting builders, developers, and national customers in accelerating decarbonization and high performance new construction. Ruby earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona—where she now serves on the Alumni Association Board—and has completed a Master’s in Public Administration. She is passionate about energy efficiency and creating healthy, sustainable communities. Ruby holds multiple credentials, including LEED AP BD+C, Certified Energy Analyst, and Homes/GreenPoint Rated Green Rater. She has certified more than 30 affordable housing developments as LEED or GreenPoint Rated and continues to champion programs that reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment. Her community leadership includes service as a Planning Commissioner for the City of South El Monte and as a School Board Trustee for the Valle Lindo School District. She has also contributed on boards and committees such as USGBC LA, the California Association of Building Energy Consultants, the Building Industry Association/Professional Women in Building, and SCE’s Latino Business Resource Group.
Ruju Rathod
Director of Sustainability, CO Architects
Ruju Rathod
Director of Sustainability, CO ArchitectsRuju Rathod brings 18 years of experience leading the sustainability efforts of more than 90 buildings, delivering high-performance, human-centered design solutions. Her expertise spans science & technology, higher education, healthcare, corporate campuses and airports, where she integrates technical precision with a focus on occupant well-being and environmental health. As CO’s Director of Sustainability, Ruju provides strategic insights to shape firmwide goals, guiding clients through the complexities of sustainable design and supports the achievement of sustainable design and green building certifications. She holds a Master of Science in Sustainable Design from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Architecture from Mumbai University.
Sara Abou Karroum
Project Designer, KPFF
Sara Abou Karroum
Project Designer, KPFFSara Abou Karroum is a structural project designer at KPFF with a focus on integrating embodied carbon analysis into structural design. Her experience includes working on complex healthcare projects and applying embodied carbon strategies. She works across a range of sectors, supporting project teams in identifying opportunities to reduce the carbon impact of structural design and materials. As one of the Carbon Champions at KPFF, she collaborates with project managers to inform decision-making in the design process, helping teams evaluate tradeoffs between performance, cost, and carbon outcomes. Through her work, she advocates for practical, scalable approaches that enable more sustainable design across project types, including K–12 facilities. Her work is grounded in KPFF’s Embodied Carbon Action Plan, contributing to the firm’s broader effort to reduce the environmental impact of the built environment.
Sara Motamedi
Director of Energy & Carbon, Verdical Group
Sara Motamedi
Director of Energy & Carbon, Verdical GroupSara is a building performance scientist advocating for design that is environmentally conscious but also adds value to human life. She has 8 years of experience in the green building industry, conducting many LEED, Net Zero Energy, and Title 24 projects. Sara's passion for sustainable design motivated her to pursue a PhD degree in the field with a specialization in energy efficiency and daylighting strategies. She has also gained broad experience in thermal and visual comfort analysis, python programming for integration between tools, energy simulation, and wind pattern analysis through Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) software. Sara’s specialties include Sustainable Design, Passive Design, Energy Simulation, Daylighting, CFD, Architecture, and LEED certification. Sara joins us after several years of entrepreneurship in energy efficiency as well as a 5-year tenure as a Senior Building Performance Analyst at a major engineering firm.
Sarah Pilla
Meteorologist & Anchor, Spectrum News
Sarah Pilla
Meteorologist & Anchor, Spectrum News
Sarah Pilla is an Emmy Award–winning environmental journalist and certified meteorologist for Spectrum News. Known for making complex climate and weather science accessible, she has spent the past seven years building Spectrum News 1 Southern California’s climate storytelling brand while covering critical issues including the Colorado River water crisis, extreme weather, clean energy, pollution, biodiversity, and climate adaptation.
Her reporting earned a 2021 Emmy Award for Best Environment News Story for “Oceana Trash,” examining the impact of plastic pollution on marine life. Sarah has produced and hosted several environmental television specials including “Innovations for a Sustainable Climate” in 2024. She is also a sought-after moderator and emcee for climate and sustainability events, including the Green Sports Alliance Summit, Net Zero Conference, and the Road to 2028 Leadership Summit in Los Angeles. In 2026, Sarah expanded her role statewide, forecasting weather across multiple expanded Spectrum News networks throughout California.Sarah Rege
Senior Sustainability Director, Webcor
Sarah Rege
Senior Sustainability Director, Webcor
As Webcor’s Senior Sustainability Director, Sarah Rege (AIA, LEED AP, WELL AP, NCARB, TRUE Advisor, Fitwel Ambassador, and California-licensed architect) leads all sustainability-related initiatives throughout the company’s various California regions. Her 25-year career in the architecture/engineering/construction industry spans commercial office, civic/administration, high-rise multi-family residential, and early childhood education projects, several of which were delivered under the design-build and progressive design-build models.
Sarah’s career in AEC integrates her two passions—art and building—and is fueled by her unique design perspectives and integrated sustainability strategies. A staunch champion of healthy buildings and their benefits to end-users, Sarah approaches building design through the lens of its relationship to its environment and community. She sees each building as a single community of pieces, people, and parts that work together in harmony to deliver a beautiful, fully functional structure that will serve its surrounding community for decades to come.
Sarwat Chowdhury
Lecturer, University of California, Irvine
Sarwat Chowdhury
Lecturer, University of California, IrvineDr. Sarwat Chowdhury brings a global perspective to climate action, sustainability, equity, and gender inclusion, shaped by her upbringing in Bangladesh and over two decades of international leadership. She currently teaches environmental and social sustainability at UC Irvine and holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Policy from the University of Maryland, with additional degrees and certificates from Harvard, Baylor, Berea College, and UCLA. Her career includes senior roles at the World Bank and UNDP, where she directed climate and environmental programs across 45 countries on six continents. A seasoned policy advisor, economist, and program manager, her expertise spans climate adaptation and mitigation, climate justice, renewable energy, ESG reporting, disaster and natural resource management, and regenerative economies.
Sebastian Muñoz
Senior Growth Capital Advisor, Net Zero Accelerator
Sebastian Muñoz
Senior Growth Capital Advisor, Net Zero AcceleratorFounder & President of Liminal Studio, advising executive teams across the construction ecosystem on product vision, business strategy, and market expansion. He focuses on high-design, low-carbon, circular materials for the built environment, and serves as Senior Advisor of Growth Capital, guiding Net Zero Accelerator startups on their path to commercialization through comprehensive capital strategy. He began his career as an architect at award-winning firms, then spent over a decade at Arktura helping grow it from startup to industry leader across product development, operations, and global commercial strategy, before becoming a Partner at Architype, an architectural product sales and marketing agency serving top manufacturers in the architecture and construction industry — giving him a comprehensive perspective on how ideas become scalable physical products.
Selin Guner
Sustainability Coordinator, CannonDesign
Selin Guner
Sustainability Coordinator, CannonDesignSelin is a Sustainability Coordinator at CannonDesign in Los Angeles, where she supports the delivery of high-performance buildings through integrated design and advanced building performance simulations. Her work focuses on daylight analysis, energy modeling, thermal and visual comfort analysis, water efficiency strategies, and sustainability certification frameworks across complex building typologies, including healthcare and institutional facilities. Selin holds a Master of Building Science with an emphasis in Sustainable Design from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Architecture from Istanbul Bilgi University. Accredited in LEED and WELL building standards, she is currently pursuing her architectural licensure in the US. Prior to joining CannonDesign, Selin contributed to research and project initiatives focused on whole-life carbon balancing and net-zero buildings. She remains a dedicated advocate for practical, data-driven approaches that achieve regenerative built environments.
Shaka Smith
Founder, Wander Well Living
Shaka Smith
Founder, Wander Well LivingShaka Smith is a Los Angeles–based attorney, actor, television host, and the founder of Wander Well Living, a digital platform exploring the intersection of holistic wellness, sustainable living, and plant-based health. A graduate of Princeton University and George Mason Law, Shaka blends his professional acumen with extensive media experience to drive meaningful environmental action. Defying the odds as a lifelong athlete managing hemophilia, Shaka advocates for resilience and vegan fitness, empowering an engaged community of over 1 million followers. A recognized voice in the plant-based space, his journey and advocacy have been the subject of an UnchainedTV mini-documentary. He is equally committed to grassroots leadership and consumer safety. Through his Beryl Foundation, he has led monthly beach cleanups with Project Save Our Surf since 2018. Furthermore, Shaka proudly partners with the Environmental Working Group (EWG) to champion EWG VERIFIED™ standards for clean, non-toxic consumer choices. At the Net Zero Conference, Shaka brings a dynamic voice, bridging macro climate goals with everyday consumer habits to inspire measurable cultural shifts.
Shawn Sweeney
Executive Director, LA Climate Week, Collidescope Foundation
Shawn Sweeney
Executive Director, LA Climate Week, Collidescope FoundationShawn Sweeney is an impact producer and social marketing strategist focused on storytelling, trust-building, and community-powered change. He serves as a lead organizer for LA Climate Week coordinating the efforts of nearly 100 volunteers who are working together to build capacity, make connections and make visible the deep and meaningful work of hundreds of partners across Los Angeles. Previously he served the Jane Goodall Institute for 21 years, most recently as Associate Vice President, Communications & Partnerships, where he led campaigns, partnerships, and engagement strategies that connected local leadership to global climate and biodiversity conservation goals. With two decades of experience across education, media, fundraising, and program design, Shawn works at the intersection of narrative, equity, and systems thinking. His work centers on human connection—supporting local changemakers and cross-sector teams in shaping solutions that are creative, inclusive, and grounded in real community needs. He serves as the Steering Committee Chair for LA Climate Week and holds a graduate degree in humane education and an undergraduate degree in psychology.
Soham Patel
Sustainability Analyst, Practice Labs
Soham Patel
Sustainability Analyst, Practice LabsSoham Patel is a Sustainability Analyst at Practice Labs, a sustainability studio of Practice dedicated to co-creating environments that affect social change through design. Educated in architecture but now engaged in the climate crisis, their work imagines more resilient futures though nature-based solutions for K-12 schools, Affordable Housing, and Civic buildings.They serve as the Policy Co-Lead for the Carbon Leadership Forum Los Angeles Chapter and advocate for a circular design ecosystem as a board member of the non-profit ANEW and organizer for Circular SoCal.
Sonja Trierweiler
Vice President, Community Development, Global Network for Zero
Sonja Trierweiler
Vice President, Community Development, Global Network for ZeroSonja Trierweiler is Vice President of Community Development at the Global Network for Zero (GNFZ), where she leads global engagement initiatives focused on accelerating building decarbonization and net zero implementation. She works across industry partnerships, professional education, events, and thought leadership to connect practitioners, policymakers, and market leaders around measurable pathways to net zero. Prior to joining GNFZ, Sonja served as Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Fitwel healthy building certification system and previously led digital marketing and stakeholder engagement initiatives at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Throughout her career, she has helped advance industry understanding of the connections between building performance, human health, and environmental sustainability. Sonja brings more than a decade of experience spanning sustainability, communications, and market transformation. Her work has focused on translating complex technical concepts into compelling stories that drive action, build community, and support the adoption of high-performance, healthy, and net zero buildings. Her background also includes communications and digital strategy roles at Edelman, the Democratic National Committee, and the Smithsonian Institution.
Stacey Olson
Director of Sustainability | Global Wellness Leader, Gensler
Stacey Olson
Director of Sustainability | Global Wellness Leader, GenslerStacey Olson is a recognized leader in health, wellbeing, and environmental stewardship in the built environment. She serves as Gensler’s Global Wellness Leader and Director of Sustainable & Resilient Design, where she advances integrated strategies that connect human health, sustainability, resilience, and business performance. A LEED Fellow and Certified Interior Designer, Stacey brings deep expertise in high-performance, people-centric design, with accreditations in LEED ID+C, LEED BD+C, JUST Communities, and Fitwel. She works across industries to help clients, organizations, and manufacturers translate sustainability and wellness goals into actionable, project-specific strategies that reduce risk, strengthen long-term value, and enhance occupant well-being. Through her strategic, data-driven approach, Stacey helps shape the future of the built environment by advancing measurable impact, regenerative design, healthy materials, and adaptive solutions that respond to today’s evolving challenges. She is a published author, blogger, and frequent conference speaker on sustainability, wellness, healthy materials, third-party certifications, ESG, and related topics.
Steph Hallinan
Associate Director, U.S. Green Building Council
Steph Hallinan
Associate Director, U.S. Green Building CouncilSteph Hallinan leads strategic partnerships and market engagement across California for USGBC and the Pacific region with expertise in market development, supply chain strategy, community building, and project management. Steph also serves as the lead for global sporting initiatives on the Market Transformation & Development Team, advancing sustainability at some of the nation’s most high-profile venues.
Tannaz Tahmassebi
Sustainability Strategist, Gensler
Tannaz Tahmassebi
Sustainability Strategist, GenslerTannaz Tahmassebi is a Design Resilience Leader in Gensler’s Los Angeles office, where she leads climate, energy, and decarbonization strategies across aviation, education, workplace, and adaptive reuse projects. Her work focuses on advancing Net Zero Energy and zero carbon goals through high-performance design, building electrification, renewable energy integration, and embodied carbon reduction. Tannaz has extensive experience supporting airport and infrastructure clients, including sustainability leadership on projects at San Diego International Airport. She works closely with project teams to develop and implement energy reduction strategies, evaluate pathways to Net Zero Energy, and integrate sustainability objectives into design and operational decision-making. She collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to align architectural design, building systems, and operational performance with climate action goals. Her expertise includes green building certifications, embodied carbon compliance, energy modeling coordination, and sustainability planning. She is passionate about helping clients translate ambitious sustainability goals into practical, measurable outcomes. Beyond project work, Tannaz contributes to industry research and thought leadership focused on Net Zero Energy design, whole-life carbon reduction, and resilience strategies that support a more sustainable built environment.
Tanya Peacock
Managing Director, EcoEngineers
Tanya Peacock
Managing Director, EcoEngineersTanya Peacock is Managing Director for California and Hydrogen at EcoEngineers, an international clean energy consulting firm with deep expertise in carbon life-cycle analysis and carbon markets. Based in Los Angeles, Tanya is responsible for expanding EcoEngineers’ energy transition practice in California. She is simultaneously leading the fast-growing hydrogen sector. A well-known clean energy champion, Tanya currently serves on the Board of Directors of First Public Hydrogen, established to scale the renewable hydrogen marketplace in California and beyond. Tanya chaired the Board of Directors of the California Hydrogen Business Council in 2023 and 2024 and currently serves as a Board Member. Throughout her career, Tanya has played a key role in developing policies and programs to support clean energy production and use in California, and she has held board and leadership roles at the American Biogas Council, MoveLA, Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, and California Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative. In her practice at EcoEngineers, Tanya works with clean energy stakeholders to assess project viability, understand the relevant policy and regulatory landscape, determine the carbon intensity of products, maximize available credits and incentives, and identify regulated and voluntary carbon market opportunities. In addition to consulting services, EcoEngineers provides verification services for all clean fuels programs, IRA tax credit claims, and greenhouse gas inventories.
Tom Abram
Principal | BD Director, Introba
Tom Abram
Principal | BD Director, IntrobaTom Abram is a Principal and Business Development Director for Introba’s North American Climate and Sustainability practice, leading growth and partnerships for a wide variety of services including portfolio-scale analytics, building performance, decarbonization, water conservation, district energy, whole life carbon assessment, certifications, standards and programs, and deep green MEP engineering. Tom’s diverse roles in the building industry (including as an energy auditor, mechanical designer, energy project developer for a mechanical contractor, consultant, and owner) have yielded unique insights gleaned from a variety of experiences. Tom was the energy and sustainability officer for San Diego State University, sustainability coordinator for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and has taught environmental engineering courses at San Diego State University. Tom is the co-author of the GHG Emissions Reduction Planning Framework for Building Portfolios and Berkeley Lab's Central Plant Retrofit Assessment Guide for Owners. Tom has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MS in Sustainable Design and Construction from Stanford University. He is a licensed mechanical engineer in California, LEED AP, Certified Energy Manager, Certified Water Efficiency Professional, Certified Educational Facilities Professional, and Certified Building Commissioning Professional.
Ursula Schmidt
Interim Section Manager, Sustainability and Resilience, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Ursula Schmidt
Interim Section Manager, Sustainability and Resilience, Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaUrsula Schmidt serves as Interim Section Manager for Sustainability and Resilience at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, where she provides strategic leadership on climate action, sustainability, resilience, and innovation initiatives supporting the nation’s largest wholesale water provider. Since joining Metropolitan in 2025 as Climate Action Plan Program Manager, Ursula has led implementation of the agency’s Climate Action Plan and helped advance the integration of climate and sustainability considerations into organizational planning, infrastructure, and decision-making. Ursula brings more than two decades of public-sector leadership experience spanning climate action, sustainability, policy, strategic planning, and community engagement. Prior to joining Metropolitan, she served the City of Pasadena for 22 years, where she led and advanced sustainability and climate initiatives across multiple city departments. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from UCLA and a master’s degree in Public Administration and Leadership from California State University, Northridge.
Varun Kohli
Principal & Director of Sustainability, Corgan
Varun Kohli
Principal & Director of Sustainability, CorganFor over two decades, Varun has contributed to major architecture firms as well as his own studio in New York, integrating environmental analytics and sustainable design ranging from urban scale resiliency and decarbonization to major commercial, education, aviation, and mixed-use development projects, both domestically and internationally. Passionate about ecology within the built environment, Varun challenges architects to move closer to net-zero. As the Director of Sustainability at Corgan, Varun provides leadership for high-performance projects and strives to maximize environmental sustainability and social equity while addressing climate change adaptation and resiliency at the building and urban scale. With a focus on integrating environmental sensitivities in design, Varun has collaborated with Yale Center for Ecosystems + Architecture (CEA) researchers on novel pedagogical models for environmental design and has taught courses at Harvard GSD and RPI (CASE). He is a frequent critic at Princeton School of Architecture and U-Penn Design, contributes to books and peer-reviewed journals, and speaks at many conferences and forums, and affiliated organizations. He recently authored a chapter in 'Energy Modeling in Architecture; A practice guide', published by RIBA and currently serves on the board of Urban Design Forum & Pokhrama Foundation.
Victoria Watson
Principal, High Performance Buildings, AECOM
Victoria Watson
Principal, High Performance Buildings, AECOMVictoria leads AECOM’s High Performance Buildings practice on the West Coast, part of AECOM’s Advisory business line, overseeing sustainability consulting, advanced building performance design, net zero strategy, and energy modeling. She also serves as the global Technical Practice Group Lead for High Performance Buildings. With 19 years of experience, she has delivered high performance projects across North America and Europe, including numerous Net Zero Energy initiatives and multiple LEED Gold and Platinum buildings. One of Victoria’s most recent projects was Intuit Dome, home of the LA Clippers, which achieved LEED Platinum, is fully electrified, and includes a microgrid and battery system to support resilience. Victoria managed the Los Angeles Community College District’s Integrated Energy Resource Plan, leading district wide decarbonization across the nation’s largest community college system. Her additional work includes directing the UC Riverside Decarbonization Study, supporting the Department of General Services’ Net Zero First Policy, and advancing comprehensive decarbonization strategies for both new construction and existing building portfolios. Victoria has also led Zero Net Energy efforts for the California DMV’s first ZNE field office, Suffolk County Community College’s Net Zero Renewable Energy Center, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Net Zero Advisory initiatives.
Wynord Thomas Jr
Senior Associate, CO Architects
Wynord Thomas Jr
Senior Associate, CO ArchitectsWynord Thomas, Jr. brings experience working on higher education, K-12, retail, civic, mixed-use and other commercial projects. Wyn takes a direct approach to the issues of the present and future, focusing on sustainability, technology and science. He is a steadfast designer and an emerging team leader with strong management skills, earning him the trust and respect of clients, contractors and project teams. His recent work includes the new 62,428 SF, 4-story Charles Drew University Health Professions Education Building. This is the first school of medicine in South Central Los Angeles. Wyn also brings experience on The Pearl Innovation District — a center for medical education and research located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Amy Musanti
Director of Sustainable Building Solutions, ASSA ABLOY
Amy Musanti
Director of Sustainable Building Solutions, ASSA ABLOYAmy Musanti is the Director of Sustainable Building Solutions for ASSA ABLOY in New Haven, Connecticut. Amy joined ASSA ABLOY in 2007 and has held many positions across multiple divisions, including customer service, marketing, sales, and sustainability. She supports the group’s sustainable products and processes. Amy provides business opportunities using ASSA ABLOY solutions that contribute to energy efficiency and wellness in commercial, residential, and institutional construction. Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Information Technology from Monmouth University in New Jersey and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, where she serves as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business.
Ashley Besic
Manager of Thermal Energy Networks, Building Decarbonization Coalition
Ashley Besic
Manager of Thermal Energy Networks, Building Decarbonization CoalitionAshley, the Manager of Thermal Energy Networks at the Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC), is a seasoned professional dedicated to driving impactful change. Leading initiatives that engage policymakers, the building industry, and consumers, she pioneers zero-emission lifestyle solutions, aiming to eliminate reliance on fossil fuels and significantly reduce climate pollution. In collaboration with the team, Ashley plays a pivotal role in convening state policymakers, manufacturers, and industry associations, working towards a comprehensive strategy for the phased transition away from gas appliances and implementing BDC's thermal network coalition organizing activities across the U.S. Additionally, Ashley oversees the Making Equity Real process, integrating equity considerations into all stages of project development and execution, ensuring that equity metrics and goals are established, tracked, and met across all TENs activities, and advocating for equitable practices and policies within the organization and among stakeholders. They manage the day-to-day operations of the National TENs Coalition. Acknowledged for her ability to solicit feedback and represent BDC's interests in national dialogues, Ashley serves as a relationship manager for critical stakeholder groups. Before her impactful tenure at BDC, she led the implementation of the ULI Net Zero Imperative and played a key role in establishing sustainability initiatives at LivCor, showcasing her passion and precision. Ashley holds a Master of Science in Real Estate and a B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies, along with certifications as a LEED Green Associate, Fitwel Ambassador, and Green Globes Emerging Professional.
David Biello
Head Curator, TED Countdown
David Biello
Head Curator, TED CountdownDAVID BIELLO is the curator for TED Countdown, helping amplify solutions to global warming, accelerate action against climate change, and change the narrative around this crisis from doom and despair to actionable hope. He also serves as science curator at TED, working on talks featuring ideas from astronomy to zoology, including using gene drives to combat malaria, the mRNA revolution in vaccines, and the real impacts of sexual health restrictions. As part of his duties, he has helped judge and prepare finalists for TED’s Audacious Project, a philanthropic effort to pair compelling ideas with the funds to make an impact, including harnessing AI to develop new antibiotics and how to reduce vaccine spoilage. Prior to joining TED, he has been an award-winning journalist. He has been reporting on the environment and energy since 1999—long enough to be cynical but not long enough to be depressed—and wrote for outlets ranging from Scientific American to The New York Times. He also hosted the duPont-Columbia award-winning documentary Beyond the Light Switch as well as The Ethanol Effect for PBS. And he is the author of the book The Unnatural World: The Race to Remake Civilization in Earth’s Newest Age, an Editor’s Pick of The New York Times Book Review. He received a BA in English from Wesleyan University and a MS in Journalism from Columbia University. He currently lives with his children between a Olmsted-designed park and a world-famous graveyard in Brooklyn.
Frank Schwamborn
Senior Energy Engineer, Arup
Frank Schwamborn
Senior Energy Engineer, ArupWith extensive expertise in building decarbonization, Frank Schwamborn is dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering operating costs, and strengthening energy security. His broad skill set encompasses HVAC design for healthcare and commercial facilities, performance modeling for district energy systems and life science buildings, and consulting on pharmaceutical and educational projects. Frank takes a comprehensive approach, incorporating life cycle costing, energy tariff analysis, daylight analysis, and assessments of embodied carbon into his work. Currently, he is advancing research in energy economics, focusing on how electrification impacts energy equity and affordability, as well as examining the cost benefits of grid harmonization. Through his efforts, Frank is helping shape the future of sustainable, equitable, and high-performance built environments.
Hani Hadadzadegan
Senior Energy Analyst, Verdical Group
Hani Hadadzadegan
Senior Energy Analyst, Verdical GroupHani is a Senior Energy Analyst III at Verdical Group. He specializes in building performance modeling and sustainability consulting, contributing to high-performance projects pursuing certifications such as LEED, CHPS, and AIA 2030. His expertise spans energy modeling, daylight analysis, life-cycle assessment (LCA), and regenerative design strategies aimed at decarbonizing the built environment. Before joining Verdical Group, Hani worked as a Building Performance Specialist and Regenerative Design Leader, leading simulation-driven design studies and LCA documentation for multiple residential and commercial developments. He also brings architectural design experience from his early career, supporting 2D/3D modeling, environmental analysis, and construction detailing across diverse project types. Hani holds a Master’s degree in Architectural and Energy Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Shahid Beheshti University (National University of Iran). He has presented his research at international conferences, including IBPSA-USA SimBuild 2024, and published several academic articles on sustainable design and thermal performance in architecture. Outside of work, Hani enjoys photography, hiking, traveling, and exploring new technologies in artificial intelligence and data analytics.
Ismar Enriquez, AIA, LFA, LEED AP
Design Lead and Project Manager, Practice
Ismar Enriquez, AIA, LFA, LEED AP
Design Lead and Project Manager, PracticeIsmar Enriquez, AIA, LFA, LEED AP, works at the intersection of sustainability, equity, housing, and education. With nearly two decades of experience, he is committed to addressing the housing and climate crises by promoting socially inclusive, equitable, and sustainable communities. Beyond his design work, Ismar supports academic initiatives that have helped secure over $250,000 in scholarships. He advocates for affordable, equitable, and inclusive housing by working with organizations at the local, state, and national levels. As a Commissioner for the Community Development Department in Long Beach, Ismar contributes to shaping local policies and initiatives. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the American Institute of Architects, both the Los Angeles and California chapters, and the William J. Worthen Foundation, where he works on efforts related to carbon neutrality, resiliency, climate justice, and equity. His efforts extend beyond California, contributing to policy and advocacy initiatives across the U.S.
Kai-Uwe Bergmann, FAIA
Partner, BIG
Kai-Uwe Bergmann, FAIA
Partner, BIGKai-Uwe Bergmann, FAIA is a Partner at BIG who brings his architectural expertise to proposals around the globe, including work in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Kai-Uwe heads up BIG's business development--which currently has the office working in over 40 different countries. He also oversees BIG's Urban scales projects and supports BIG’s Landscape projects. He is registered as an architect in the USA (15 states) and Canada. Kai-Uwe most recently contributed to the resiliency plan BIG U to protect 10 miles of Manhattan's coastline. First envisioned through the Rebuild by Design competition to develop proactive responses to Superstorm Sandy, it is now being constructed with a completion date in 2026. Further projects include Reimagining Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Queens Park, Smithsonian Master Plan, Pittsburgh Master Plan and Miami Beach Square. He complements his professional work through previous teaching assignments at Georgia Tech, University of Pennsylvania, IE University in Madrid, and his alma mater the University of Virginia. Kai-Uwe formerly was on the Board of the Van Alen Institute, participates on numerous international juries and lectures globally on the works of BIG.
Kyle Pickett
Senior Project Manager, Community Initiatives, USGBC California
Kyle Pickett
Senior Project Manager, Community Initiatives, USGBC CaliforniaKyle Pickett is the Senior Project Manager, Community Initiatives with USGBC California, where he plays a hands-on leadership role advancing high-impact initiatives that connect strategy to real-world outcomes in the built environment. As part of the organization’s new eXperience team, Kyle serves as a steward, builder, and “quarterback” for cross-cutting efforts that support the California Alliance of Sustainability Executives (CASE), the Contractor’s Commitment, and the development and dissemination of best practice guides, case studies, and demystified technical resources. His work spans water stewardship, thought leadership amplification, and the coordination of strategic initiatives that strengthen industry alignment and accelerate climate action. Across his career, Kyle has been known for translating complex technical and policy concepts into accessible, actionable tools—aligning mission, partnerships, and execution to deliver measurable impact. He brings more than a decade of experience working across architecture, real estate, and nonprofit sectors, and is a trusted collaborator to executives, practitioners, and multidisciplinary teams. Kyle is also the Co-founder, Board Advisor, and VP Emeritus of the William Worthen Foundation, where he helped shape an organization focused on research and public outreach around the performance and beauty of the built environment. The Foundation produced the award-winning Water Reuse Practice Guide and the seven-volume Building Decarbonization Practice Guide, reflecting Kyle’s long-standing commitment to practical, field-ready solutions. Previously, Kyle led leadership and market development at New Buildings Institute, overseeing the Getting to Zero Forum in collaboration with Rocky Mountain Institute, and co-founded Urban Fabrick, Inc., where he built and led West Coast operations and helped establish the firm’s reputation for inclusive training and successful sustainability project delivery.
Francisco Brown
Senior Editor and Engagement Manager, Metropolis Magazine
Francisco Brown
Senior Editor and Engagement Manager, Metropolis MagazineFrancisco 'Pancho' Brown is Senior Editor and Engagement Manager at METROPOLIS magazine. Pancho is also a correspondent for the Mexico-based Arquine Magazine and co-founder of MICROPOLITAN studio, a multidisciplinary art and design collective. He serves on the Steering Committee for US Architects Declare and the Harvard Graduate School of Design Alumni Council. Pancho is an Associate AIA and a guest Lecturer at Cornell's School of Architecture.
Ruby Rose Yepez
New Construction Senior Advisor, Southern California Edison
Ruby Rose Yepez
New Construction Senior Advisor, Southern California EdisonRuby Rose Yepez is a seasoned building industry professional with 15+ years of experience specializing in building science and sustainability. She is a Senior Advisor with Southern California Edison, supporting builders, developers, and national customers in accelerating decarbonization and high performance new construction. Ruby earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona—where she now serves on the Alumni Association Board—and has completed a Master’s in Public Administration. She is passionate about energy efficiency and creating healthy, sustainable communities. Ruby holds multiple credentials, including LEED AP BD+C, Certified Energy Analyst, and Homes/GreenPoint Rated Green Rater. She has certified more than 30 affordable housing developments as LEED or GreenPoint Rated and continues to champion programs that reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment. Her community leadership includes service as a Planning Commissioner for the City of South El Monte and as a School Board Trustee for the Valle Lindo School District. She has also contributed on boards and committees such as USGBC LA, the California Association of Building Energy Consultants, the Building Industry Association/Professional Women in Building, and SCE’s Latino Business Resource Group.
Sara Neff
Partner/General Manager, Sustainability, Cloud Operations & Innovation, Microsoft
Sara Neff
Partner/General Manager, Sustainability, Cloud Operations & Innovation, MicrosoftSara Neff is the Partner/General Manager for Sustainability and ESG for 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 by 2030. 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, Sustainability at Kilroy, where she helped the company achieve carbon neutral operations in 2020. Ms. Neff serves on the Dynamo Energy Hub Advisory Board in addition to the FIBRA Macquarie Technical Committee. 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.
Sonam Shah
Associate Principal, Introba
Sonam Shah
Associate Principal, IntrobaSonam Shah is an Associate Principal in the Energy Strategy practice at Introba. She brings nearly 15 years of experience across consulting and client-side roles, specializing in portfolio-scale decarbonization, energy assessments, electrification of thermal infrastructure, and optimization of storage and renewables for cost-effective grid integration. Prior to joining Introba, Sonam worked as a Building Systems Lead in Google's real estate and workplace services group, where she advanced sustainable and resilient design strategies at scale. Sonam approaches each project through the lens of holistic, high-performance design- bridging planning, implementation, and long-term operations. A licensed mechanical engineer, she draws on her technical foundation to deliver low-carbon, energy-efficient, scalable, and resilient solutions. Sonam is based in Oakland, California.
Will Norten
Senior Sustainability Specialist, Los Angeles Unified School District
Will Norten
Senior Sustainability Specialist, Los Angeles Unified School DistrictWill Norten is a Senior Sustainability Specialist with the Los Angeles Unified School District, with over a decade of experience managing green building projects. He has a proven ability to translate complex sustainability concepts into clear, accessible language for a broad range of stakeholders, including elected officials, students, and building design professionals. Will has led more than 50 green building certification projects and secured over $2 million in incentives through partnerships with local utilities and agencies. Currently, Will is spearheading LAUSD’s transition from Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as the District’s school design and construction standard. His recent projects also include overseeing recycled water initiatives, emerging technology pilot programs, and transportation electrification projects at the District.
MEET OUR PREVIOUS Keynote Speakers
Kimberly Dowdell
President, American Institute of Architects & Principal, HOK
Kimberly Dowdell
President, American Institute of Architects & Principal, HOKKimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, is the 2024 President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Dowdell is also a principal with global design firm HOK, serving as firmwide director of strategic relationships. In 2019-2020, Dowdell served as national president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). Dowdell has devoted her career to laying foundations for architects to create positive social and environmental change on a local, national and global scale. She has intentionally connected a diverse array of built environment stakeholders to help advance her professional mission, which is “to improve people's lives, by design." At HOK, Dowdell co-chairs the firm’s Diversity Advisory Council (DAC) and co-founded HOK Impact, the firm’s social responsibility program. She also co-founded Social Economic Environmental Design (SEED), an organization that promotes design for healthy communities in 2005. Dowdell earned her Master of Public Administration at Harvard and her Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell, where she was elected by her fellow alumni to serve on the board of trustees in 2022.
Kate Williams
CEO, 1% for the Planet
Kate Williams
CEO, 1% for the Planet
Kate Williams is CEO of 1% for the Planet, a global movement that inspires action and commitment so that our planet and future generations thrive. 1% for the Planet’s global network of thousands of businesses and individuals have donated $100s of millions to environmental partners to date. Kate has led significant growth in the community’s scale and impact, as well as deep work on best practices for implementing high impact giving strategies, growing a network brand, and operating as a thriving workplace with an incredible staff team. Kate earned a BA at Princeton University and an MS at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and has served on a variety of Boards throughout her career. Kate is a Mom, a trail runner and hiker with her dog, and a kitchen gardener.
George Bandy Jr.
Head of Worldwide Circular Economy, Amazon
George Bandy Jr.
Head of Worldwide Circular Economy, Amazon
George Bandy, Jr. currently serves as Head of Worldwide Circular Economy at Amazon. He believes that looking at opportunities to position environmental, economic and socially responsible solutions for customers can set the standard for other businesses to follow that will result in a brighter future for us all.
Winona LaDuke
Executive Director, Honor the Earth
Winona LaDuke
Executive Director, Honor the Earth
Winona LaDuke is a rural development economist and author working on issues of Indigenous Economics, Food, and Energy Policy. She lives on the White Earth reservation Minnesota, where she founded the White Earth Land Recovery Project, one of the largest reservation-based non-profit organizations in the country. She is the Executive Director of Honor the Earth (HtE), which she co-founded with the Indigo Girls to raise awareness of and money for indigenous struggles for environmental justice. In 1996 and 2000, she ran for vice president as the nominee of the Green Party of the United States, on a ticket headed by Ralph Nader.
In 2007, LaDuke was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. In 1994, LaDuke was nominated by Time magazine as one of America’s 50 most promising leaders under 40. She was awarded the Thomas Merton Award in 1996, Ms. Woman of the Year (with the Indigo Girls in l997), and the Reebok Human Rights Award. LaDuke was a co-founder and Board Co-Chair of the Indigenous Women’s Network for fifteen years, and maintains a significant role in international advocacy for Indigenous people. This has included numerous presentations at United Nations forums. A graduate of Harvard and Antioch Universities, she has written extensively on Native American and environmental issues. She is the author of six books.
Lindsay Baker
CEO, Living Future
Lindsay Baker
CEO, Living Future
As CEO of the International Living Future Institute, Lindsay Baker is the organization’s chief strategist, charged with delivering on its mission to lead the transformation toward a civilization that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. Lindsay is a climate entrepreneur, experienced in launching and growing innovative businesses. Her introduction to the green building movement began at the Southface Institute in Atlanta, where she interned before entering Oberlin College to earn a BA in Environmental Studies. She was one of the first 40 staff members at the U.S. Green Building Council, working to develop consensus about what the LEED rating system would become. She then earned an MS from the University of California at Berkeley in Architecture, with a focus on Building Science, and spent five years as a building science researcher at the UC Berkeley Center for the Built Environment. Lindsay applied her experience around the study of heat, light, and human interactions in buildings to a role with Google’s Green Team, and later co-founded a smart buildings start-up called Comfy, which grew over five years to 75 employees and a global portfolio of clients. She was the first Global Head of Sustainability and Impact at WeWork, where she built the corporate sustainability team and programs from scratch. Lindsay is a Senior Fellow at the Rocky Mountain Institute, and a lecturer at UC Berkeley. She serves on several non-profit boards, and is an advisor and board member for numerous climate tech startups.
Jason F. McLennan
Founder, Living Building Challenge
Jason F. McLennan
Founder, Living Building ChallengeMcLennan is the creator of the Living Building Challenge, as well as a primary author of the WELL Building Standard. He serves as the Chairman of the International Living Future Institute and is the CEO of McLennan Design, his own architectural and planning practice. He is the recipient of the prestigious Buckminster Fuller Prize, has been called a “World Changer” by GreenBiz magazine, and has been selected as the Award of Excellence winner for Engineering News Record. He is the author of 6 books, including the Philosophy of Sustainable Design, which is considered the ‘bible for green building,’ and is both an Ashoka Fellow and Senior Fellow of the Design Future’s Council. He has been selected by Yes! Magazine as one of ‘15 people shaping the world.’ McLennan’s work has been published in dozens of journals, magazines, and newspapers around the world.
Lakisha Ann Woods
CEO, American Institute of Architects
Lakisha Ann Woods
CEO, American Institute of ArchitectsLakisha Ann Woods, CAE, is the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a dynamic network of more than 94,000 architects and design professionals throughout 200 chapters committed to enhancing the built environment. Woods previously served as President & CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) from 2018 to 2022. She led efforts to expand the organization’s programs and markets while growing and strengthening its membership base. Prior to joining NIBS, she was the Sr. VP & Chief Marketing Officer at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), where her team was responsible for all marketing and revenue-generating programs – including marketing the International Builders Show, sponsorship sales, and partnerships with major national companies. Woods is the author of the book Never Get Their Coffee: Empowering Fearless Leadership and currently serves on the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Board of Directors as Chair of the Foundation and Chair-Elect of the ASAE Board. She also previously served as Vice-Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council Board of Directors and is a global speaker. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland in College Park and lives with her husband and daughter in Howard County, Maryland.
Edward Mazria
Founder & CEO, Architecture 2030
Edward Mazria
Founder & CEO, Architecture 2030Edward Mazria, FAIA, Hon. FRAIC is an internationally recognized architect, author, researcher, and educator. He is the founder of Architecture 2030, host of the AIA+2030 Professional Education Series, and inspiration for the 2030 Districts movement in North American cities. In 2014, Mazria presented the Roadmap to Zero Emissions at the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, calling for zero emissions in the built environment by 2050; he also drafted the 2050 Imperative, endorsed by professional organizations representing over 1.3 million architects in 124 countries worldwide. Recently, he developed Achieving Zero, a framework of incremental actions that cities and governments can put in place to ensure carbon-neutral built environments by mid-century, and the Zero Cities Project to implement the framework.
Marcius Extavour
Vice President, Energy & Climate, XPRIZE
Marcius Extavour
Vice President, Energy & Climate, XPRIZEAs leader of the XPRIZE Energy team, Marcius combines his experience in partnership building and strategy with his training in physics and engineering to help lead the transition to a clean energy future. This work includes leading the $20 million NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE, a global competition to recycle CO2 into valuable products. Before joining XPRIZE, Dr. Extavour served as Director of Government and Corporate Partnerships in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto. He has held positions at the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resource and at the Council of Canadian Academies. In the private sector, he has developed risk management software for North American electric power markets at Ontario Power Generation, and designed and fabricated optoelectronic devices at Nortel Networks Research Labs. Dr. Extavour received a PhD and MSc in Physics and a BASc in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto.
Dr. Kimberley Miner
Earth & Climate Scientist, NASA
Dr. Kimberley Miner
Earth & Climate Scientist, NASADr. Miner is a Fellow at the Center for Climate and Security and Co-chair of the NASA HQ Interagency Forum on Climate Risks, Impacts, and Adaptation. She is a graduate of Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs (MPA) and the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute (Ph.D.), where she was a Fulbright, Switzer, and Department of Defense fellow. She is a Black belt, certified Wilderness Firefighter and First Responder, and mom to a lively cattledog.
Jedidiah Jenkins
New York Times Best Selling Author & Founder, byta
Jedidiah Jenkins
New York Times Best Selling Author & Founder, bytaJedidiah Jenkins is a travel writer and public speaker. He has written two books, ‘To Shake The Sleeping Self’ a memoir about cycling 14,000 miles from Oregon to Patagonia, and ‘Like Streams to the Ocean,’ a collection of essays about love, family, friendship and career. He is Executive Editor of Wilderness Magazine. He is also co-founder of Byta, a travel mug designed to change the way we drink and promote a reusable economy.
Wawa Gatheru
Founder & Executive Director, Black Girl Environmentalist
Wawa Gatheru
Founder & Executive Director, Black Girl Environmentalist
Wawa Gatheru is a Kenyan-American climate storyteller passionate about cultivating a climate movement that is made in the image of all of us. In 2019, Wawa made history as the first Black person in history to receive the Rhodes, Truman, and Udall scholarships. She is the founder and Executive Director of Black Girl Environmentalist, an organization dedicated to addressing the pipeline and pathway issue for Black girls, women, and non-binary people in the climate sector. Under her leadership, BGE has grown as a trusted, national organization that has worked with 56 corporate and non-profit partners and hosted 43 events across 10 HUB cities - in less than a year. In 2023 alone, BGE has been recognized in Vogue, the New York Times, NPR, Forbes, Essence, Teen Vogue, Axios, and more.
A climate content creator with a following of over 90,000+ across platforms, Wawa has been named a Climate Creator to Watch by Pique Action and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
She sits on boards and advisory councils for the Environmental Media Association, Climate Power, Sound Future, National Parks Conservation Association, and EarthJustice. For her work, Wawa has been recognized as a Glamour College Woman of the Year, a 2020 Grist 50 fixer, a Young Futurist by The Root, a Young Changemaker at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards, and was featured on the January 2023 cover of Vogue alongside Billie Eilish.
Leah Thomas
Environmentalist
Leah Thomas
Environmentalist
Ashley Orgain
Global Director of Advocacy and Sustainability, Seventh Generation
Ashley Orgain
Global Director of Advocacy and Sustainability, Seventh GenerationAs the Global Director of Advocacy and Sustainability for Seventh Generation, Ashley serves as a senior leader for the company’s mission at global and regional levels. She also leads the U.S.-based Corporate Consciousness team and all key facets of the work articulated in Seventh Generation’s mission – To Transform the World into a Healthy, Sustainable, and Equitable Place for the Next Seven Generations. She is responsible for the overall vision and strategy to achieve success against the company’s long- and short-term sustainability goals. Ashley serves on Seventh Generation’s senior leadership team, contributing to company policy development, direction, and sustaining a culture of mission-orientation. In 2010, she became the first President of the Seventh Generation Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to promoting social and environmental progress through education, conservation, research, and advocacy.
Michael Ford, FAIA, NOMA, NCARB
Founder, The Hip Hop Architecture Camp
Michael Ford, FAIA, NOMA, NCARB
Founder, The Hip Hop Architecture CampMichael Ford, AIA, NOMA, NCARB—widely known as The Hip Hop Architect—has dedicated his career to increasing diversity in architecture through culturally relevant education. He founded The Hip Hop Architecture Camp, a global program that uses Hip Hop to introduce underrepresented youth to design. As Founding Principal of BrandNu Design Studio, Ford leads projects like The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx. His work has been featured on Oprah Winfrey Network’s Super Soul Sunday, The TODAY Show, Rolling Stone, and Interior Design Magazine. Ford is a highly regarded speaker for his thought leadership at the intersection of design and culture. Some of his past keynotes include the American Institute of Architects National Conference, American Planning Association’s Planning Conference, The Toronto Interior Design Show.
Jamie Margolin
Climate Activist & Co-Founder, Zero Hour
Jamie Margolin
Climate Activist & Co-Founder, Zero HourJamie Margolin is a Colombian-American climate justice activist, author, public speaker, and student. She is the co-founder of the international youth climate justice movement called Zero Hour that led Youth Climate Marches around the world. She has represented Zero Hour at international leadership events like the C40 Mayors summit and the UN Youth Climate Summit. In September of 2019, she testified before the US Congress alongside fellow youth activist Greta Thunberg, holding her leaders accountable to taking urgent climate action. She has been published in The New York Times, Teen Vogue, The Washington Post, TIME Magazine, DAZED, Refinery29, and The Guardian, and is the author of, “Youth To Power: Your Voice and How To Use It.” Jamie is one of Teen Vogue’s “21 Under 21” girls changing the world in 2018, One of People Magazines 25 women changing the world in 2018, Fuse TV’s Latina Trailblazer of 2018, one of The Today Show’s 18 under 18 Groundbreakers of 2019, MTV EMA Generation Change winner of 2019, and one of the BBC’s 100 most influential women of 2019.
