LEAD THE CONVERSATION Submit an Abstract
LEAD THE CONVERSATION Submit an Abstract
Are you an expert in your field at the intersection of carbon, climate, equity, ESG, net zero, or resilience? Submit an abstract by May 11, 2022 to speak at NZ22. There’s never been a more crucial time to lead the conversation on climate action towards a #NetZeroFuture.
MEET OUR Abstract Review Committee
Perry Bradley
Director, GE Aviation
Perry Bradley
Director, GE Aviation
Mr. Bradley is a dynamic communications leader with a knack for building, contemporizing and driving constructive change in communications. He is currently the executive in charge of external communications at GE Aviation. For more than 10 years, his leadership at GE Aviation had driven effective team engagement and his leadership has been recognized by peers across GE.
Prior to joining GE Aviation, Mr. Bradley led sales for Ohio-based news services where he and his team managed client relationships for on-air sponsorships, events and digital advertising with 91.7 WVXU, 90.9 WGUC and 88.5 WMUB.
His publishing experience also extends into domain-specific expertise as he oversaw sales, marketing, circulation and production for the leading trade publisher of news and information for business aviation professionals, Aviation International News. He also led all editorial operations as the Editor-in-Chief for Business and Commercial Aviation, a trade publication within McGraw-Hill's Aviation Week Group.
Thelma Briseño
Senior Director, Energy and Water Programs, Climate Resolve
Thelma Briseño
Senior Director, Energy and Water Programs, Climate Resolve
Thelma Briseño is an environmental engineer from Northwest Ohio. For over a decade, she’s been a scientist and advocate working in the environmental health and community development space. In 2014, Thelma graduated with a M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Toledo, where she helped the City of Toledo perform a comprehensive life cycle analysis of the municipal water system. Subsequently Thelma has worked on green building, carbon credit, and energy efficiency projects at schools and private developments. Through her position as Senior Director of Energy and Water Programs at Climate Resolve, Thelma continues to bridge the gap between the ‘man’-made world of engineering and environmental sustainability.
Diana Chen
Environmental Sustainability Administrator, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Diana Chen
Environmental Sustainability Administrator, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Ms. Chen is an Environmental Sustainability Administrator at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA JPL) with over 10 years of experience in the architecture and sustainability industry. She does analysis on utility, mechanical, cafeterias, R&D facilities, electric vehicle/photovoltaic systems, rideshare, acquisition, and waste programs related to improving environmental opportunities. She collects and validates data from multiple sources in relation to sustainability initiative. She provides strategies and reporting to her peers, management, and NASA HQ. She develops, implements, and monitors JPL’s organizational strategies. She also communicates, collaborates, and coordinates with other NASA centers and engineers to review, update, and develop facilities procedures, standards, and practices.
Prior to working at NASA JPL, Ms. Chen was Sustainability Consultant where she worked with clients to achieve green building certifications such as LEED, GreenPoint Rated, Green Globes, and NGBS. Ms. Chen has helped clients obtain green certification for commercial buildings, schools, multi-family building and health centers. She has worked to achieve clients’ goals for CTCAC funding, LA County CDC Funding, USDA, AHSC, and HUD Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) program. She has also worked with large corporate companies across the nation targeting near zero waste management solutions to help achieve their CSR and ESG goals.
Edward Faustin
Co-Founder / Managing Principal, AreaProbe
Edward Faustin
Co-Founder / Managing Principal, AreaProbe
Edward Faustin has over 16 years of professional experience in commercial real estate finance, market research, economic development, and strategic advisory services. Edward is cofounder and managing principal of AreaProbe LLC, a techenabled real estate advisory company focused on housing, retail, hospitality, and healthcare. Mr. Faustin leverages his diverse experiences to provide a myriad of consulting service solutions for AreaProbe clients, including market and feasibility studies, as well as assistance with raising capital for acquisitions, refinancings, and construction projects. Mr. Faustin also plays an active role in the development of the company's emerging tech products and tools. Mr. Faustin manages relationships with third-party advisory firms, lenders, economic development and government entities, private equity firms, proptech and fintech accelerators, real estate developers, and investors.
Mr. Faustin joined AreaProbe on a full-time basis after leaving his position as a Vice President in the Strategic Investments Group at the New York Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), where he focused on providing debt and equity solutions for commercial estate and business ventures. Prior to NYCEDC, Mr. Faustin was an underwriter and asset manager for PNC Real Estate where he underwrote debt financings for commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions, as well as construction financing and refinancings for real estate developers, limited partnerships, real estate funds, and REITS.
Mr. Faustin was also Vice President of Fund Originations and Fund Management of LIHTC tax credit equity with Centerline Capital Group (now the Hunt Companies), conduit real estate finance consulting for Blackheath Financial (now Zenta, an Accenture company), and market research and valuation of commercial real estate for Cushman and Wakefield.
Mr. Faustin received his BBA from the University of Notre Dame and a joint Masters in City & Regional Planning and a Masters Urban Spatial Analytics from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Faustin is member of several industry affinity groups, including the Urban Land Institute, International Downtown Association, the Avant Garde Network, and the Council for Urban Real Estate (CURE).
Edward serves as Co-Chair on the Board of Directors for Hope on a String, a non-profit that provides music and performing arts education to children in Corail, Haiti. He is also the Notre Dame Club of New York City’s Liaison to the Black Alumni Board.
Courtney V. Galatioto
Chief of Staff & Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Smart Electric Power Alliance
Courtney V. Galatioto
Chief of Staff & Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Smart Electric Power Alliance
Courtney V. Galatioto joined the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) in 2019. As the Chief of Staff and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, she works to align SEPA’s mission and goals with high-quality execution, fosters inclusive and productive relationships throughout the organization and externally, evaluates and manages risks, and facilitates timely decision-making to ensure a productive balance between short-term execution and long-term priorities. She serves as an advisor to the President & CEO and is the principal liaison for SEPA’s Board of Directors and strategic partnerships. She came to SEPA with a decade of experience in the energy industry and previously served as the Vice President for Stakeholder Relations at the Alliance to Save Energy, where she oversaw business development and corporate relations. She also previously served as a policy fellow for the state of North Carolina. Courtney has a master’s degree in government from Johns Hopkins University with a focus on energy, climate change, and security.
Allison Gander
Project Architect, House & Robertson Architects
Allison Gander
Project Architect, House & Robertson Architects
Allison Gander, AIA is a Project Manager at House & Robertson Architects, Inc. and has completed a range of projects where coordinating with design teams and maintaining the team’s unity were critical to success. Her professional experience has required attention to detail, clear communication, adherence to strict timelines, understanding of codes and procedures, and overall technical expertise. The broad range of experience between conceptual design to construction administration, with an emphasis on the contract documentation phase, adds to the level of detail Allison can provide to any team and any project. Allison has taken on a lead role at House & Robertson to usher projects toward LEED and WELL certifications through close collaboration with Sustainability Consultants, Engineering Consultants and Owners. As a licensed architect in California, Allison holds membership with the American Institute of Architects as well as the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and serves as a volunteer Hands On Art Docent for the Redondo Beach Unified School District. When not working on architectural projects, Allison enjoys adventuring with her three young children and running at the beach.
Lawrence Garber
Program Associate, Building Decarbonization Coalition
Lawrence Garber
Program Associate, Building Decarbonization Coalition
At the Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC), Lawrence supports the local government team through capacity building and education. Prior to joining BDC, Lawrence worked with the Sustainability Program at the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments. He has served as an environmental science educator in Yosemite National Park, a high school teacher in Austin, Texas, and a Peace Corps Volunteer in Sierra Leone and Namibia. He holds a Masters in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and a BS from the University of Michigan. He currently lives in Irvine, CA.
Belinda Li
Director, Corporate Engineering and Sustainability, Hudson Pacific Properties
Belinda Li
Director, Corporate Engineering and Sustainability, Hudson Pacific Properties
Belinda Li is Director of Corporate Engineering and Sustainability at Hudson Pacific Properties, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment trust focused on owning, operating and developing office and studio properties along the West Coast. In this role, she supports the company’s engineering operations and sustainability program throughout the portfolio, nearly 20 million square feet.
Kristina Owyoung Vinson
Senior Manager, REWS Internal Communications, Salesforce
Kristina Owyoung Vinson
Senior Manager, REWS Internal Communications, Salesforce
Kristina is a 16 year communications professional, lifetime learner and culture champion. She is committed to making an outstanding contribution and positive impact in today’s real estate industry and beyond. As a Certified Professional Coach, Kristina establishes and implements talent and leadership development programs for clients and partners in the AEC industry.
Kristina has been named among ENR’s Top Young Professionals and Bisnow’s Power Women. She was awarded the Rising Rockstar Award from ELEVATE: Honoring Diversity & Women Leadership in the Bay Area and a Rising Star Award from Northern California Real Estate Women of Influence. As a member of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW SF), Kristina has devoted herself to the organization’s mission of changing business’ gender trends and closing the parity gap by giving women in real estate the support, resources and opportunities they need to connect, influence, and lead.
Kristina is a storyteller for how Salesforce culture comes to life through Real Estate and Workplace Services (REWS), this includes the Future of the Workplace — Success From Anywhere and investing in the global campus and reimagining spaces as a destination for collaborating and connecting. Salesforce looks at real estate as a physical expression of culture and values, and is igniting the next chapter of culture through Trailblazer Ranch and Salesforces’ commitment to Sustainability.
Previously, as the Senior Director of People Operations at Pankow Builders, Kristina served as a change agent for the organization and largely influenced the cultural transformation over a decade. She was a trusted advisor and executive partner to the company’s senior leaders, functioning as the expert on people and organizational issues. She brought a passion for communication and development to strategically lead the Functional Areas within the People Operations Team: Lean and Learning, People (Human Resources), Coaching and Development, Culture, Communications and Marketing. She also championed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Sustainability initiatives.
Kristina is a fourth generation, Bay Area native and lives on the Peninsula with her husband Todd and their little kids, Kayla and Kai.
Avinash Rajagopal
Editor in Chief, Metropolis Magazine
Avinash Rajagopal
Editor in Chief, Metropolis Magazine
Avinash Rajagopal is the editor-in-chief of Metropolis magazine. He is an expert on product and interior design in the digital age, as a historian of contemporary design as well as a frequent speaker at key industry events. He is the author of Hacking Design (Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2013). and has contributed to numerous volumes on architecture and design, including Adhocracy (Istanbul Design Biennial, 2012), Making Africa (Vitra Design Museum, 2015) and Atlas of Furniture Design (Vitra Design Museum, forthcoming). He has lectured on design history and writing at the School of Visual Arts, New York; the University of Texas at Austin; and the National Institute of Design, India.
Shelley Salehzadeh
Director, Growth & Client Solutions, Verdical Group
Shelley Salehzadeh
Director, Growth & Client Solutions, Verdical Group
Shelley Salehzadeh is Director, Growth and Client Solutions at Verdical Group. She is responsible for business development and specializes in helping clients focus on desired sustainability strategies and achieving their goals. She is passionate about the Fitwel rating system, materials transparency and Declare labels, and ESG.
In her most recent position as a National Team Leader at Knoll based out of San Francisco, she drove global sales, workplace strategy, and led a multidisciplinary sales and project management team to implement her clients' brand, culture, and workplace standards including sustainability across all office locations.
With 15 years of sales experience in San Francisco/Silicon Valley and Southern California, her consultative approach and exceptional client relations skills have helped her to manage national and global contracts with clients such as Google, Apple, Survey Monkey, Verifone, Oracle, Tesla, Palo Alto Networks, and more. She graduated from San Jose State University with a BA in Design Studies.
Ruby Rose Yepez
New Construction Senior Advisor, Southern California Edison
Ruby Rose Yepez
New Construction Senior Advisor, Southern California Edison
Ruby Rose is a seasoned building industry professional with 15+ years experience specializing in building science and sustainability. She is a Senior Advisor with Southern California Edison supporting developers and new construction customers. She is a Cal Poly Pomona Alumn with a Bachelor of Architecture. Her experience ranges from working at an architecture firm, general contractor, sustainability consultant and now as a utility employee supporting energy efficiency and decarbonization.
Ruby Rose holds several certifications including LEED AP BD+C, Certified Energy Analyst and a Homes Green Rater. She certified over 30 affordable housing developments as LEED or GreenPoint Rated. She continues to support the effort of building sustainable buildings by promoting programs that influence high performing buildings, minimizing the carbon footprint of the built environment.
Ruby Rose has served her local and industry communities in a variety of roles including Planning Commissioner, Board member for USGBC LA, California Association of Building Energy Consultant, Building Industry Association - Baldy View Chapter, Professional Women in Building, Latino Professional Alumni Chapter for Cal Poly Pomona and SCE’s Business Resource Groups. She is passionate about serving those around her offering free yoga to her community members to create unity amongst them as well as PTO President.
