Russell C. Albanese
President
Albanese Organization, Inc.
Russell C. Albanese is the President of Albanese Organization, Inc., a real estate development, investment and management company based in Garden City, New York. Russell has 30 years experience in real estate planning, design and development.
For 60 years, the Albanese Organization has been dedicated to building better buildings by introducing innovative concepts that enhance quality of life and long-term value. Russell has led the company's evolution to green development, a natural extension of the company's approach to quality that continues to be at the heart of all its endeavors.
The Albanese Organization has enhanced the New York City skyline with the development of several residential and commercial towers, including the highly recognizable 100 U.N. Plaza. The company is also active on Long Island with projects spanning a broad range of development from multi-family residential, hospitality and commercial to downtown revitalization, and adaptive reuse, including Long Island's first US Green Building Council LEED® Certified Class A commercial property located at 1001 Franklin Avenue in Garden City.
The Albanese Organization has won worldwide acclaim for The Solaire, America's first environmentally responsible residential tower. Located in Manhattan's Battery Park City, this LEED® Gold rated, 27-story building is a symbol of environmental integrity and healthy living. Follow up Battery Park projects, The Verdesian and The Visionaire, both received LEED® Platinum Certification. For more information on the Albanese Organization and its projects, please visit www.albaneseorg.com.
Russell was a founding Board member of the US Green Building Council's New York City Chapter, serves as the Co-Chair of the Environment Committee of the New York Building Congress, and is actively involved in other industry related organizations. Russell serves on the boards of The Nature Conservancy, Sustainable Long Island and Long Island Youth for Christ.
Russell received a degree in engineering from Duke University.
Gary Birke
President and CEO
Motorworks Clean Vehicles
Gary Birke began his relationship with the various electric and low emission vehicle manufacturers with over 25 years of diversified automotive experience. In 1988, Gary opened an automobile engine replacement franchise by the name of Motorworks located in Long Island. It was the first of its kind in New York and the franchisor's consistent leader across the country. Motorworks has averaged between 10-15 engine replacements per week since its inception. During his time with Motorworks, he had developed an international automotive power train importing business where engines and transmissions were imported from other countries to be resold and shipped out nationwide. Prior to this, he had over 7 years experience in automotive leasing and sales dealing with many fleet and commercial customers throughout the tri-state area.
What led Gary to the "Clean Vehicle" business was his desire to get involved in a smarter, cleaner, and less expensive alternative to gasoline combustion engines. After doing a great deal of research, he declined dealership opportunities with other electric vehicle manufacturers due to the limited appeal and safety of them. After meeting and learning more about the choices available today, he found what he was looking for and has made a commitment to introduce these choice vehicles to potential users to help spread the word about the many benefits.
Kenneth M. Block, Esq.
Partner and Construction Chair
Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP
Ken is a partner of Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP, a New York City law firm, where he specializes in real estate and construction. He has been involved in issues relating to the built environment for more than thirty years, representing design and construction professionals, developers, property owners and lenders. He has also worked with numerous industry and professional associations on issues relating to the indoor environment, building systems, and sustainable design and construction. Ken speaks and writes extensively on real estate and construction matters and co-authors a quarterly column for the New York Law Journal on Construction Law. He is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, the Real Estate Board of New York, and the U.S. Green Building Council, where he serves as general counsel of the New York Chapter. Ken has been selected for inclusion in 2008 Super Lawyers.
Erica Brabon
Pipeline Manager of Existing Buildings
Steven Winter Associates, Inc.
Erica Brabon is the Pipeline Manager of Existing Buildings for Steven Winter Associates, Inc., with specific experience in LEED certification, energy efficiency in multifamily and commercial buildings, sustainable business practices, environmental footprint reduction, training in energy efficiency practices and environmental health and science. As Pipeline Manager, all existing buildings are evaluated by Erica to determine the best program and incentives to pursue. Erica is currently working with UBS Financial Services to certify its headquarters in Stamford, CT under the new LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance as well multiple buildings in New York City and Boston. Erica attended Clarkson University where she earned a B.S. in Biology.
For more information on Steven Winter Associates, please visit www.swinter.com.
Andrew Brooks
Director of Technical Services
Association for Energy Affordability (AEA)
Andrew Brooks is the Director of Technical Services for Existing Buildings at the Association for Energy Affordability (AEA). AEA is a not-for-profit training and technical services organization committed to the principle of using energy efficiency to maintain affordable and healthy housing for low and moderate-income families and communities. Andrew conducts energy audits, performs building energy simulations and provides technical consulting services to multifamily building owners throughout New York State. He has specialized expertise in designing and specifying high efficiency heating equipment and taking a whole systems approach to heating plant efficiency improvements.
Born and raised in New York, Andrew is dedicated to reversing the trend of energy glut in the city’s existing multifamily building stock through the cost effective implementation of appropriate energy saving measures.
Andrew holds a MS in Energy Management from the New York Institute of Technology.
Tim Button
Partner
Stedila Design Inc.
From his first multimedia installations after graduating Parsons(El Museo del Barrio, The Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC Board of Ed.) to his current work on a third “green” high-rise in Battery Park City, Tim Button’s work continues to mature and evolve to meet the ever changing demands of the times.
For the past 29 years, Tim has been a partner at Stedila Design Inc., a New York City based interior design firm founded in the early 1970s by John Stedila. The majority of the firm’s work is comprised of high end residential interiors, the design of buildings from concept to completion, and custom furniture design. Long standing client relationships have led the firm to design second and third homes and businesses both across the United States and internationally.
Tim’s portfolio includes retail spaces nationwide, 7th Ave. fashion showrooms, as well as a number of corporate projects. The varied nature of the firm’s projects has provided Tim with a great deal of creative satisfaction.
Current projects include a newly built 150 unit rental building in LIC, NY and the renovation of a high-rise residential building in Boston. The Visionaire a condominium tower at the southern tip of Manhattan which New York Magazine has recognized as potentially, the greenest building in New York City, has reached its full 32 stories and has pre-sold over 50% of its units. The latest of the green collaborations with Albanese Development and architects, Pelli Clark Pelli, The Visionaire joins The Solaire (,LEED gold) and The Verdesian ( the first new building in NYC to achieve a LEED platinum rating) in changing the way people live in an urban environment. These fascinating and challenging commissions have required Tim to create bathrooms, kitchens, model apartments, and public spaces such as health club, spa, hallways, playroom, and other amenities that meet the highest standards of environmental responsibility (low toxicity, energy efficiency, promotion of good health) and, of course, beautiful design.
Stedila Design Inc.’s work has been published widely in books and magazines and has been included in House Beautiful’s “Top 100 Designers”. Tim has lectured at and for his Alma Mater on environmental awareness in design, as well as having been a panelist on the use of green materials. He resides in NYC with his wife and two daughters.
Barry Carr
Alternative Fuels Vehicle Consultant
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Barry Carr is an Alternative Fuels Vehicle Consultant for American Honda Motor Co and is also VP of Alternative Fuels for Homeland Energy Resources Development. He has been involved in the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Industry since 1987. Barry has provided prototyping, engineering support, project management, and field testing for a variety of OEMs, state, and federal agencies. Barry recently managed a sales and donation program for DaimlerChrysler’s AFV program; and is currently providing dealer marketing, lobbying, and sales support for American Honda’s Alternative Fueled Vehicle (AFV) division in the Eastern US. Homeland Energy Resources is also the project manager for the cold weather testing and deployment of the Honda FCX Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered vehicle in New York State. As a part of this project, Homeland manages a hydrogen refueling station in Albany for the State of NY. Barry is also managing a “Green Parks” project for the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
On a personal note, Barry holds several electric vehicle land speed records, and is active in the Clean Communities of CNY, the NYC and LI Clean Cities, and the Onondaga County Citizens Energy Committee. Barry is a graduate of Clarkson University, and lives in upstate New York with his wife and two children.
Shampa Chanda
Assistant Commissioner of Citywide Planning
NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Shampa Chanda is an Assistant Commissioner of Division of Planning and Environmental, at the City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development. She oversees the planning efforts in five boroughs and environmental reviews. The division is responsible for neighborhood-based planning functions that are used to facilitate affordable housing development and neighborhood revitalization. To meet Mayor Bloomberg’s ten year housing plan to create and preserve 165,000 affordable units, Shampa and her team work with developers in developing new affordable housing on city owned land. In addition to leveraging city land to generate affordable housing, she has been working with City and Sate agencies in identifying new land to meet future housing need. Also, HPD is City’s urban renewal agency. Shampa administers the creation and implementation of urban renewal plans. She oversees the Agency's environmental unit where she manages the environmental review process pursuant to City, State and Federal regulations.
Prior to joining HPD, she worked with city’s Department of City Planning, working in their Queens, Transportation and Manhattan offices. During her tenure there, Shampa developed and implemented several land use and zoning studies and facilitated development of significant cultural and community facility uses in the city. She has been working in the City government since 1989.
Shampa holds a Masters degree in City Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelors degree in Architecture from the City College of New York.
Susan Chin
Assistant Commissioner of Capital Projects
City of New York Cultural Affairs Department
Susan Chin, FAIA, is an architect and Assistant Commissioner for Capital Projects at the City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs. She administers 400 design and construction projects for over 170 cultural organizations. Through her efforts in the past 20 years, the multi-million dollar City program has grown and now leverages over $1.1 billion in private sector support to create award-winning arts and cultural facilities. She also supervises the Percent for Art and Community Arts Development Programs that enhance communities with dynamic public art and develop improved cultural facilities in low and moderate-income neighborhoods.
Her projects include: American Museum of Natural History Rose Center for Earth and Space; Bronx Museum of Art North Wing; Brooklyn Museum entry pavilion; Carnegie Hall Zankel Hall; Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum restoration; Jazz at Lincoln Center; MoMA renovation; Morgan Library expansion; New York Hall of Science expansion; WCS/Bronx Zoo Congo Forest Exhibit; Roundabout Theatre Company American Airlines Theater and Studio 54 restorations; and Staten Island Botanical Garden Chinese Scholar’s Garden.
Ms. Chin’s private sector experience includes: restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, South Street Seaport, Riverside Park in New York and the Federal Triangle in Washington, D.C. She was a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University in 2000 focusing on development of urban cultural districts.
Susan was 2005 President of the AIA New York Chapter where she was the first Asian American and first public sector architect to lead its 4000 members. She contributed to the Chapter’s resources by increasing its membership, and guiding the $6.1 million capital campaign closeout. She served on the AIA National Regional and Urban Design Awards, the Mayor’s Institute on City Design, NY State Open Space Committee, NY State Council on the Arts Capital Aid panel, CORO Leadership NY Board and New York Building Congress board.
She has lectured at the Columbia University Law School, New York University and Baruch College. Ms. Chin received the AIA New York Chapter Public Architect Award in 2004 and was honored by the Storefront for Art and Architecture, and by Chen and Dancers in 2005. She holds a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University and Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Ohio State University, Knowlton School of Architecture, where she has been named 2006 Distinguished Alumna.
Jeremy A. Cressman, LEED AP
Director of Sales, NE
TOTO USA
Jeremy Cressman was educated at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he earned a B.A. in English. He began his career as a sales trainee at Ferguson, the nation’s largest distributor of plumbing and piping materials. Since 2002, Jeremy has worked in sales and senior management at TOTO USA in New York City, Philadelphia, New England, Washington, D.C. and Eastern Canada helping specify water efficiency products in commercial and residential application.
He represents TOTO as a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), and Association of Specifying Plumbing Engineers (ASPE). Jeremy is a USGBC LEED Accredited Professional in New Construction (LEED NC) and a chapter sponsor of the New York, New Jersey, and Delaware Valley Green Building Councils.
Jeremy and his family reside in Upper Makefield Twp, PA.
Nora Fay
Principal and LEED AP
LEHR Construction Corp.
Nora Fay, LEED AP has 23 years of experience in construction and related industries. Nora is a principal with LEHR Construction Corp., a major New York City construction management/general contracting firm. Since joining the firm just over 3 years ago, she has developed many key accounts with LEHR in the new business development area of the firm. She is also responsible for maintaining long term existing accounts the company has entrusted to her. Additionally, she created and oversees the LEED Consulting Services division at LEHR.
Prior to joining LEHR, Nora resided in Los Angeles where she held a national position as vice president of corporate accounts for Cooper Industries, a Fortune 500 manufacturer of electrical products, tools, and hardware. She was, at the time, one of 4 executive level women in the company.
Nora has been a guest lecturer at NYU School of Continuing Education (LEED and green construction practices). She is active in AREW (Association of Real Estate Women), USGBC NY Chapter (United States Green Building Council) and PWC (Professional Women in Construction) and supports NEW (Non-traditional Employment for Women) where she teaches about LEED and green construction practices. In addition to her participation in this event, she was a panelist last fall in a roundtable width='100%' discussion on the “Pulse of the Green Building Market” held at the Penn Club in NYC. She was selected by New York Real Estate Journal as Executive of the Month for January and had an article in the March 10 issue of same publication about the effect of non-green choices and how they impact a local environment and community. She is a regular guest speaker on LEED at architectural and commercial real estate firms. She teaches LEED study workshops regularly at Herman Miller and LEHR and has an exceptionally high pass rate of over 90%.
Francis N. Fragola
Chief Operating Officer
M.C. Alliance Energy Group, Inc.
Francis N. Fragola is the Chief Operating Officer of M.C. Alliance Energy Group Inc., a commercial, industrial energy consulting firm and a recognized ENERGY STAR Partner of the US Environmental Protection Agency since 2002. Working with cross-industry clients from the healthcare, manufacturing, office park, pharmaceuticals, education and not-for-profit sectors, among others, MC Alliance Energy Group helps clients identify, monitor and control energy utilization issues and energy budget factors. Francis assists customers to improve their energy and financial performance, achieve operational excellence in their portfolios, and distinguish themselves as environmental leaders. Francis also provides a comprehensive energy evaluation to achieve the highest return on investment (ROI). Francis also sits on the US Green Buildings Council-Long Island Green Incentive Committee.
Mark Ginsberg, FAIA
LEED AP
Curtis + Ginsberg Architects LLP
Mark E. Ginsberg, FAIA, LEED AP is a founding partner of the firm, leading award-winning residential, institutional and urban design projects, which range from multi-family developments to institutional and mixed-use projects. Mark manages new construction, planning and urban design and housing projects. A registered architect in New York and New Jersey, Mark received a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre design and government from Wesleyan University. Prior to his architectural training, he worked for the New York City Department of City Planning as a planner for environmental and waterfront programs.
Projects Mark has led include the award-winning Morrisania Air Rights Houses Master Plan for the New York City Housing Authority; Greenpoint-Willaimsburg re-zoning, the institutional and multi-family facility for the Fortune Society in Upper Manhattan, East Harlem Cornerstone; Liberty Train Shed Restoration Master Plan, Malta Street four-story walk ups in Brooklyn; and numerous planning and zoning studies, institutional and multi-family projects.
Mark is a past President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York Chapter, a former chair and current member of the Housing and Planning and Urban Design Committees, and a past director of AIA New York State. He had a leadership role in New York New Visions (NYNV), the planning and design community’s pro-bono response to 9/11 to assist in the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan, which received numerous awards. He has received awards from the AIA New York State and City Chapter recognizing his outstanding and valuable service to the profession. He served on the AIA National Housing Task Force and the Housing Committee advisory group. He sits on the Board of Directors of the New York and National Housing Conference and Citizen’s Housing and Planning Council, where he is a member of their Executive and Zoning Committees, and is a Fellow of the Institute for Urban Design. He has lectured extensively on affordable housing, sustainability and zoning/urban design.
Amie Gross, AIA
President
Amie Gross Architects
Amie Gross, AIA is President of Amie Gross Architects (AGA), which is celebrating its 25th anniversary of combining innovative design excellence with customized solutions that meet the budget requirements for a diverse portfolio of clients. AGA’s experienced team provides both a multi-disciplinary and researched approach to creating innovative solutions that meet the needs for each client and environment. AGA specializes in working with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, corporations and individuals. Projects have included multi-family housing, special needs and community facilities, adaptive re-use of buildings, corporate and nonprofit interiors and offices and retail space. The ‘AGA Green Energy Solutions’ activities have been focused on creating the most advanced, quality green designed buildings utilizing cutting-edge approaches and sustainable materials which result in energy efficiency with an eye on managing costs. All projects incorporate the sustainable ‘AGA Green Energy Solutions’ model of utilizing research into impact, sustainability and use of energy saving and innovative materials to create attractive, affordable and sustainable buildings. Examples of this approach are: Duke Chiropractic Office in mid-town Manhattan is an adaptive re-use project – one of the first sustainable interior office spaces in NYC – which used green materials to promote health and energy savings; 575 Fifth Avenue, a 30,000 sq. ft. mixed-use development supports low-income residents with special needs in Brooklyn. The building was designed to achieve a Platinum LEED rating.
Amie, prior to founding AGA, worked as an architect for the NYC Department of Housing, Preservation and Development and has worked for a variety of nationally known firms including Cambridge Seven Associates and Walker Group/CNI. She serves on the boards of Newman Real Estate Institute at Baruch College and Citizens Housing and Planning Council (CHPC). She has also served as a speaker, panel moderator and is a committee member of the NY State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH). Amie is a registered architect in New York and New Jersey and is certified by NCARB. Additionally, she recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University’s School of Architecture. AGA is a certified Women-owned Business Enterprise (WBE).
Greg Horn
Operating Advisor
Pegasus Capital Advisors
Greg Horn is an advocate of practical solutions for personal health and environmental sustainability. Greg is an Operating Advisor with Pegasus Capital Advisors, focused on healthy and sustainable consumer products. As a nutrition entrepreneur he has co-founded several branded nutrition and healthy living companies. He is former turnaround CEO of Garden of Life, Inc., an innovative organic food and nutrition supplements company. Greg was Chief Executive Officer of General Nutrition Centers (GNC), and was instrumental in building the GNC brand and in expanding the company from $400 million to $1.5 billion in revenue over his 11 years in management. When GNC was acquired in 1999 by Royal Numico, he was chairman of Royal Numico’s North American Executive Committee, overseeing all the company’s $2.5 billion specialty retail, mass market, and direct selling operations in North America. Greg is the author of Living Green, A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability (Freedom Press, 2006) and a co-founder of Eco Shoppe www.ecoshoppe.com offering simple solutions for living green. Greg is holds an MBA from UCLA and a BA (summa cum laude, phi beta kappa) from the University of Redlands.
Marni Horwitz
Owner
Alive Structures
Marni Horwitz was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She grew up working within her mother’s landscape design company and has continued in the family tradition of naturalistic horticultural in the urban environment. She founded Alive Structures two years ago after becoming a certified Green Roof and Green Wall installer and since has installed several green roofs and ecological gardens throughout the city.
Before founding Alive Structures, Marni worked for important environmental organizations such as The Gaia Institute, The Center for the Urban Environment, and Inform as well as simultaneously working for landscape designers. Marni has a certificate in Biology Conservation from Columbia University and has merged her knowledge of biodiversity and her background in landscape design to create a more beautiful, diverse, and healthy city to live in.
George Irwin
President and CEO
Green Living Technologies
George Irwin is an author and is President and CEO of Green Living Technologies based in Rochester NY, a privately held company that manufactures and designs Green Living™ Walls and Green Living™ Roofs for all of North America, South America and Europe. George is a published author known as the “Green Wall Editor” and is also a leading resource and authority for green wall and green roof technologies in the US. His 350-page book in progress is an in depth look at the history, installation and modern applications of green wall technologies will be available in April 2009. He is also a former trainer for Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, including the AIA accredited Green Walls 101 program. He has been featured in Fortune Magazine, on the CNN cable network, and co-hosted “Dream Home” with Lisa Quinn. George also oversees additional green wall and green roof research with various higher educational facilities in the US and maintains an educational lecture schedule.
In 2006 George is credited with research that helped launch an agricultural revolution utilizing vertical farming. In 2008 with the partnership of Urban Farming (www.urbanfarming.org) he helped bring vertical urban agriculture to Los Angeles. It was the Green Living™ Wall, a brain child of George, developed by the Green Living Technologies team of designers and engineers that support over 750 square feet of editable crops in the downtown urban center to help supplement dietary intake, create high paying green jobs and promote community involvement. The walls support strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, leafy greens and more. The impact of this accomplishment in such a social setting engaged the community in such a positive way that it has gained the attention of other businesses such as Whole Foods, Campbell Soup, Lexus, Pangea Organics, Pure Yoga and celebrity support from t Richard Lewis, Ed Bagley and Taja Seville.
George lives in Rochester New York with his wife, son and daughter. In his spare time he is still an avid gardener he also enjoys travel, golf and lecturing.
Raymond J. Kenard
Founder and President
American Wind Power & Hydrogen LLC
Raymond J. Kenard has been involved with hydrogen and synthesis gas technologies since the 1960s. He was responsible for (1) the world’s first and largest (at the time) steam methane reformer, 50 million scfd of hydrogen, for Tidewater Oil, (2) the first pressure swing absorption hydrogen purification facility for Celanese, (3) the first commercial low pressure 1000 ton per day methanol plant for Georgia Pacific, and, arranged the licensing of European municipal solid waste gasification technology to Interstate Waste Technologies.
In 2004, Raymond formed American Wind Power & Hydrogen LLC (AWP&H). In 2005 AWP&H received the first, of two, hydrogen transportation awards from New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) for a project including two Prius vehicles converted to operate on hydrogen and a fueling station at the SUNY-Buffalo campus. Subsequently, AWP&H received two additional awards which have been combined to create a larger hydrogen project at the Albany International Airport. This project includes two hydrogen fueled vehicles for the Capital District Transportation Authority’s (CDTA) use and two vehicles for the Airport’s use, and a fueling station.
AWP&H has created a fuel cell project at the Farmingdale State College (FSC) that can co-produce hydrogen and electricity, and submitted a proposal to the US Department of Energy for a hydrogen storage and PEM fuel cell application. FSC, with AWP&H’s support, has filed a request for authorization under the reauthorization of the highway act for a $12 million hydrogen-fueled fuel cell transit bus project
AWP&H has proposed to the Federal Transit Administration a $6 million hydrogen-fueled fuel cell bus project for CDTA, and proposed to NYSERDA the development and supply of two plug-in battery-operated all-electric school buses.
Raymond is a Director of the National Hydrogen Association.
Gary R. Matthews, PhD, CPA/PFS AIF
First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC
Gary R. Matthews is an investment advisory representative of First Affirmative Financial Network and a registered CPA with 30 years experience. Gary began his career as a CPA, tax and financial planner with Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1979 and went on in 1987 to become a Partner and Director of Taxes for a regional CPA firm in Albany, NY, working primarily with closely-held companies, partnerships and individuals. Since 2000, Gary’s practice has been solely focused on social/green investing and financial life planning.
Gary has been awarded the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and, having received formal training in investment fiduciary responsibility, he also earned the ACCREDITED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY® professional designation, awarded by the Center for Fiduciary Studies in Pittsburgh, PA. In 2003 and again in 2005, First Affirmative Financial Network made "outstanding service" awards to Gary for his achievements in the field.
Currently, Gary serves on the Executive Committee and is Treasurer of GreenFaith, New Jersey’s interfaith coalition for the environment. He is also a black belt instructor in the traditional martial art of Moo Doe. Gary received his PhD in social ethics from Union Theological Seminary in New York, and his MS in accounting from the State University of New York at Albany. He lives in Madison, NJ with his wife, Lisa.
Michael McDonough
Principal
Michael McDonough Architect
Michael McDonough is an award-winning architect and industrial designer, and a recognized thought leader in energy efficiency and green building technology. Major projects include passenger facilities for Lufthansa Airlines in the US and Germany, corporate identity and offices for Frogdesign, Inc. in New York, Sunnyvale, Ann Arbor, and Austin, sustainable furniture collections for Atelier International, ICF, and Summit Design, exhibitions and trade fairs for a range of corporate clients; public structures; and numerous custom residential projects throughout the United States.
As a consultant McDonough helps clients capture and make use of high performance, and green building technologies, and energy efficiencies in their projects. He is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, New York Chapter; the Building Enclosure Council/New York, American Institute of Architects/New York Chapter; and the Marbletown Environmental Conservation Commission, Marbletown, New York. He served in post-911 urban planning think tanks for Lower Manhattan, these sponsored by the Regional Planning Associate and the Pocantico Conference Center. He also works on regional development issues, and consults on green schools, green agriculture, and urban and regional planning projects.
Andrew McNamara, CEM, LEED AP
Senior Consultant and Vice President- New Construction Services
Bright Power, Inc.
Andrew McNamara is a Senior Consultant and Vice President of New Construction Services with Bright Power. He consults with facility design teams and owners regarding energy saving opportunities, conducts whole-building and technology-specific energy simulations, and writes technical publications and consulting reports for a national audience.
Andrew has a dual degree with a BA in Physics and a BS in Optical Engineering from the University of Rochester.
Michael Morris
Principal
Morris Sato Studio
Michael Morris was born in London, England. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Environmental Design from Parsons School of Design in 1985 and Bachelor of Architecture with honors from The Cooper Union in 1989. In addition to numerous honors and awards, in 1991 Michael was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Ireland, and the Paris Prize in architecture for urban proposals for Dublin and New York. In 2000, Morris and Sato received an honorable mention for their Architecture for Humanity's competition entry for Kosovo Refugee Housing. In 1995 and 1999, Michael was the curator and designer for two widely recognized exhibitions, Sarajevo: Dream & Reality and Renaissance and Reconstruction in the Balkans. He has taught and lectured independently and jointly with Sato at The Cooper Union, Cornell University, Harvard University, Columbia University, the Hochscule der Kunste in Berlin, Germany, the Kanazawa International Design Institute in Kanazawa, Japan and the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Since 1993, Michael has taught architecture, environmental, urban, and interactive digital design studios, material, product, and day lighting courses, at Parsons School of Design's Department of Architecture, Interior Design, and Lighting.
Joseph C. Murray
President and CEO
Green Energy Resources
Joseph Murray graduated a BA in Political Science from Siena College of Albany, NY (1978). He is a former Senior Executive Aide in the NY State Senate and Assembly Environmental committees and Lobbyist, in Annapolis, MD.
With a total of 25 years of forest products industry experience, Joseph is a member of the Empire State Forest Products Association, proposing, lobbying and writing, on and about legislative issues on his own accord.
In 1994, he established Forest For Tomorrow Inc, a company engaged in exportation of hardwood logs, marketing, and waste wood utilization. The company was an instrumental catalyst in the development of log-exports with Quebec Canada under NAFTA. The trade in southern New England and Mid Atlantic states now delivers over 1 billion board feet of timber to Quebec annually.
Recognition of the Entrepreneurialism was noted in a full-page article in the New York Times (Jan 2001) followed by nominations by USA TODAY, NASDAQ, CNN "Entrepreneur of the Year Award". The company was the only forest products Industry Company ever nominated in the United States.
Kevin Parkhurst
Associate
Eric Lloyd Wright Architecture and Planning
Kevin Parkhurst is an environmental planner and designer and has an aptitude for overall conceptual design and integrating construction and mechanical systems to enhance and harmonize with the design. Kevin is a licensed contractor and was a founder and principal partner in a design and construction firm in Oregon before coming to work for Eric Lloyd Wright’s studio. Kevin offers expertise in ecological design principles and alternative technologies, with direct experience in construction administration, alternative construction methods and the creation and implementation of education programs that promote alternative technologies.
Robert Politzer
President and CEO
GREENSTREET Construction
Robert Politzer is the President and founder of GREENSTREET Construction, Inc. Under Robert’s leadership, GREENSTREET has grown from a small environmental testing and abatement company to a leading green building firm, operating primarily in the tri-state region. Robert is a LEED accredited professional and was the Chair of the Sustainable Business Task Force of the New York State Environmental Business Association. He is a former New York City public high school teacher and Adjunct Professor at New York University and the New York City Technical College.
Robert holds a B.S. in Biology from Indiana University, a M.A. in Environmental Policy from the University of Michigan, and a M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Manhattan College. He is a Tai Chi teacher at the West Side YMCA, father of Rebecca and Benjamin and husband of Barbara Reef.
Paul Polizzotto
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
EcoMedia
As a young California surfer, Paul Polizzotto was troubled by polluted water that made him and fellow surfers sick. Motivated by this and his early love of the ocean, he created his first green business, Property Prep, after graduating from UCLA. Paul’s next endeavor, Adopt-A-Waterway®, used corporate advertising dollars to produce media that both raises public awareness about environmental issues and puts that money to work on solutions.
Building on this success, Paul founded EcoMedia www.ecozonemedia.com , the world’s premier environmental media company, dedicated to innovative marketing and media programs that reach target consumers while generating the resources to help the public tackle critical environmental challenges. Founded in 2002, EcoMedia offers clients world-class advertising assets and content that fulfills their marketing objectives while connecting their advertising to concrete environmental initiatives across the country through the EcoZone Program. Up to fifty percent of each sponsor’s media spend goes toward funding measurable efforts by local governments to improve the environment. These media buys actually fund energy efficiency and solar projects and technologies that lead to measurable environmental improvements in communities around the nation. Now, the procurement of media by leading corporations can also benefit the communities where their products and services are sold. EcoMedia’s innovative business model delivers “sustainable media.”
Examples of EcoZone initiatives have included energy efficiency projects, solar panel installations and lighting retrofits in public buildings, as well as runoff water filtration installations, all funded by sponsor media spends. All projects are approved and overseen by the EcoMedia Advisory Board, made up of environmental leaders such as EPA's Energy Star and the U.S. Green Building Council, in cooperation with mayors and other local officials. The company’s latest program is the CBS & EcoZone Green Schools Initiative. Approximately $250,000 worth of products and services is planned to be spent in each participating region as part of this Green Schools Initiative.
David R. Pospisil, CEM
Account Executive/HVAC/BAS Specialist
Consolidated Edison Company of New York
David Pospisil is a sales and marketing professional in the field of critical energy infrastructure and energy efficiency. He has worked in a variety of business development, sales management, marketing, and external affairs positions for Johnson Controls, Public Service Enterprise Group, Pennsylvania Power & Light and the Trane Company. His major focus has been on clients with critical energy needs in the fields of commercial real estate, healthcare and data center operations. David is currently an Account Manager and HVAC/BAS Specialist in the Energy Efficiency group of Con Edison.
David is a Certified Energy Manager, and an active member of the Association of Energy Engineers, the New York Building Congress, the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Green Design & Construction committee and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineers Sustainability committee. He is also active in the US Green Buildings Council – NJ Chapter as former co-chairman of the Communications Committee and founder and former chairman of the Speakers Bureau Committee. David was a board member of USGBC NJ during 2007-2008 and was recently appointed to the chapter’s advisory board.
Daniel Rapka
Mechanical Engineering Instructor and Laboratory Manager
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)
Before refocusing his career on education and energy issues, Daniel Rapka had assembled a broad spectrum of engineering skills honed from a decade of experience in research and development, design, project management and technical sales. Currently, he acts as an Instructor and Laboratory Manager for the department of Mechanical Engineering at NYIT. In addition, Daniel is an investigator for the Solar PHEV Carport Program and NYIT’s Biodiesel Conversion Program.
As a Masters student, he served as the Engineering Team Leader for the 2007 Solar Decathlon Competition. Daniel received his MS Energy Management degree from NYIT and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University.
Michael Rossi
President and Principal Broker
Elergan Real Estate and Development Services
Michael Rossi is the co-founder, managing broker and principal figure behind business development at Elegran. Elegran is a full service boutique real estate and developer services firm in Manhattan. Elegran aims to elevate and grant their clients' needs in one of the most competitive and challenging real estate environments.
Prior to Michael’s entry into the real estate industry, he managed a trading desk for a boutique hedge fund and ran client service operations for a Wall Street brokerage firm with over $600 million in assets under management. His clients have included major corporations, hedge funds, mutual funds, insurance companies and high net worth individuals.
Since his entrance into the real estate market, he has been involved in many different facets of the real estate industry, from project management to developer marketing and on-site brokerage in high-end retail and commercial sales. His real estate career began in similar fashion to that of his Wall Street tenure, working with some of the largest developers in the industry. He has closed hundreds of real estate transactions to date.
Michael and his colleague Jeff Cappon have created Elegran to elevate the quality of service and style in the brokerage and development industry. The company has set out to fulfill a vital niche that is lacking in sustainable development and international marketing and sales. As a certified EcoBroker, their goal is to enhance the quality and set a standard for the marketing and sales of New Construction developments and LEED-certified commercial and residential properties. By retaining talented staff and driven brokers, as well as incorporating state-of-the-art technology with in-house professionals in photography and design, they have bridged an industry gap.
Michael is a native of Westchester County and currently resides in Bedford Village with his wife and son Solomon. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from the London School of Economics. Michael has traveled extensively and has international study and real estate related work experience in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and London, England. Michael is actively involved in his community, in and outside the workplace.
For more information about Elegran, please visit http://www.elegran.com
KC Sahl
New York Project Director
Bluewater Wind LLC
KC Sahl is the New York Project Director for Bluewater Wind/Babcock & Brown. Bluewater is one of the nation's leading developers of offshore wind energy projects and a tireless advocate of wind as a clean, safe, and stable-priced means to meet our energy needs. KC joined the Bluewater Wind team as the New York Project Director at the end of 2007, after 12 years of service with the City of New York. KC brings valuable government relations and operations experience to Bluewater. During his tenure with the City, KC served with the City’s Department of Parks & Recreation as an operations manager. He was the first manager of Washington Square Park, and he held titles of Park and Recreation manager and Deputy Chief of Operations and Administrator. From 2001 to 2006, KC was the Park Administrator for Riverside Park where he worked to improve the efficiency of park operations and broaden non-profit partnerships. KC completed his tenure with Parks as the Administrator of the Bronx’s Pelham Bay Park – New York City’s largest park. KC has made New York City his home since 1995, and currently lives on the lower east side with his wife and two children. Prior to joining the City of New York, KC served at the US Embassy’s Department of US and Foreign Commercial Service in Paris. After completing college at California State University at Chico, KC traveled extensively in Europe and then served with the Peace Corps in Kenya. KC was born and raised in northern California as an avid runner and outdoorsman.
PJ Stafford
Co-Founder
Green Irene LLC
PJ Stafford grew up in New York City and received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1991 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Georgetown University in 1985. PJ co-founded Green Irene LLC in the Fall of 2007 with his wife Rosamaria, the original “Green Irene”. By February 2009 Green Irene had 200 consultants in over 40 states making it the only Nationwide Green Home and Green Office consulting firm.
Green Irene is on a mission to “Green Our World, One Home (and Office) at a Time.” Green Irene trains local Eco-Consultants to assist in implementing proven green home and small office solutions. With the vast amount of information available in books, magazines, web sites and blogs, many families and small offices want to “go green” but don’t want to make a hobby out of “going green.” That’s where their local Eco-Consultant comes in. A local Eco-Consultant will work with you in person to identify and implement changes to lead your family or small business to a healthier, safer and more sustainable lifestyle and save you money by reducing energy use. Visit http://www.GreenIrene.com.
William Stein, FAIA
Principal
Dattner Architects
William Stein FAIA joined Dattner Architects in 1979. For almost three decades, he has managed award-winning projects for numerous public agencies and institutional clients. Bill holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from the New School University and a Bachelor of Architecture from the City College of New York. He chairs the Egress Committee of the New York City Model Code Program and teaches at Pratt Institute. He served as Vice President and Director of the AIA New York Chapter, as Chair of the Finance, Continuing Education and Environment Committees, and was a member of the Chapter’s Zoning Task Force. He is a past President of the Center for Architecture Foundation. Bill received the 2007 Career Achievement Award from the CCNY Architecture Alumni.
Robin Wilson
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Robin Wilson Home
Robin Wilson is a designer who demonstrates that eco-friendly living can be synonymous with beautiful. As CEO of Robin Wilson Home she focuses on residential renovation, property management and interior design - with an emphasis on sustainable, reusable and recyclable materials. Her passion for indigenous cultures is found in her use of “eco-décor” which integrates textured patterns, natural stone and organic fibers throughout her design portfolio, and into her own line of products under the Robin’s Nest brand.
Today, Robin Wilson Home, which was founded in 2000, handles projects ranging from 400-square-foot Manhattan studio apartments to sprawling 8,000- square-foot suburban homes. Notable efforts include the renovation of the Harlem office of President Clinton in 2004, an art curatorial project for a Wall Street law firm, the Peninsula Spa Salon and the Esquire “Ultimate Bachelor Apartment” in 2007, among others.
In June 2006, Robin was named to a one-year national spokesperson role for the Hearst Magazines Home/Shelter advertorial division. This created her national platform. She has made media appearances on PBS, HGTV,CNN, CBS, ABC and NBC,and has appeared in publications such asO Magazine, O at Home, The Wall Street Journal, Interior Design Magazine and HOME.
Robin has served on the boards of numerous philanthropic organizations including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and YWCA and is an affiliate member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Wilson resides in Manhattan.
Dr. Frank Zeman
Director
Metropolitan Sustainability Center- New York Institute of Technology
Dr. Frank Zeman is the director of the Center for Metropolitan Sustainability at the New York Institute of Technology. He also teaches graduate level courses in Energy Management and Environmental Technology. A registered professional engineer, Frank spent several years in the international mining industry before returning to academia in order to focus on sustainability. His publications include work on the capture of CO2 from ambient air and synthetic fuel production in “Environmental Science and Technology” among others. He is the lead author of a report on reduced emission cement kilns for the Cement Sustainability Initiative of the World Business Council on Sustainable Development. He earned his Bachelors degree with honors at Queen’s University, Canada in 1993 followed by his Masters in Civil Engineering with distinction at Imperial College, UK in 1999. His doctorate was obtained in 2006 from the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia University, USA with the thesis “Air Extraction: The Feasibility of Absorbing CO2 directly from the Atmosphere”. Recent media events include an appearance on the CBC radio program “Quirks and Quarks”, participation in the Fixing Carbon episode of the Discovery Channel series Project Earth and an interview with the Economist for a spring 2009 special issue on technology.