NYS Green Building Conference
15th Green Building Conference

Co-Presenting with Ian Shapiro.

Jodi believes the path to greater comfort and performance in buildings will come with greater collaboration, sharing of lessons learned, and a commitment ot continual improvement. An approachable speaker, she helps peopel to see thier own insights and build upon them. She works extensively on greening NYS government operations, advising and contributing to climate and resiliency policies, and greening building projects.

Susanne Angarano, NCIDQ has extensive experience designing sustainable interiors with a focus on College & University and K-12 design and a passion for materials research.

Co-Presenting with Matthew Broderick and Lisa Carey Moore.

Erik C. Backus, PE, LEED AP, FMP, is the Howard E. Lechler Endowed Director of the Construction Engineering Management program at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY. Erik teaches courses and executes research/work in an array of topics related to the built environment including: sustainability, resilience, and life-cycle thinking of infrastructure and buildings. He serves on the University Sustainability Committee and is an affiliate faculty in the Institute for a Sustainable Environment. Erik, who was a past-member of the Faith Based Community Action Team for the US Green Building Council (USGBC), continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve, was recently appointed to the APPA Informatics Working Group, and is a member of the Steering Committee for Lutherans Restoring Creation.

Jason Benedict is one of the Partners-In-Charge of King + King Architects' K-12 Educational Design Studio. He has +15 years in the educational market. He manages and administers all project phases from inception through construction and was the Project Manager of the Pine Grove Middle School project.

Co-Presenting with Matthew Finn and Amanda Thomas.

Steve Bluestone, a Builder/Developer/Property Manager of mixed use residential buildings throughout the NYC metropolitan area has been a leader in the field of producing high performance structures for decades.

Terry Brennan is a building scientist and educator. He is the owner of Camroden Associates, Inc., a small consulting and research firm located in Westmoreland, NY. He trained in physics and environmental science. He presented testimony to the Institute of Medicine committee on Committee on the Effect of Climate Change on Indoor Air Quality and Public Health. He is otherwise old and done a lot of stuff.

Matthew Broderick, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C is a Principal at Ashley McGraw Architects. In his22 years at the firm Matt has worked on many sustainable, aspiration projects, including multiple LEED Gold buildings and currently a Living Building.

Ms. Butterfield is a sustainability consultant at SWA, working with residential buildings. Her expertise is in sustainable consulting services, program certification support and implementation of high performance building technologies. With architects, developers, builders, and homeowners, she develops specific sustainability strategies for both new construction and renovations. Karla is an integral part of the initial strategic planning sessions and stakeholder workshops based on program criteria; she verifies in the LEED® for Homes, Passive House, Energy Star, and National Green Building Standard programs.

Lisa Carey Moore, LEED AP, BD+C, is a Healthy Materials Specialist at Integrated Eco Strategy, LLC. Lisa has engaged manufacturers to obtain documentation for three Living Building Challenge Projects that are pursuing full “Living” designation, and has worked with numerous stakeholders to help them understand how to navigate the materials research process.

Co-Presenting with Matthew Broderick and Susanne Angarano.

As an active design/builder and green building expert, Adam Cohen is a leading North American Passivhaus practitioner whose innovative work on market rate delivery of commercial high performance building has made his expertise sought-after for projects across North America.

As a recognized national leader in the Passivhaus movement he has presented technical papers at both national and international Passivhaus conferences. His leadership in commercial Passivhaus design has made him a sought after speaker, consultant and teacher of advanced courses in Passivhaus ultra-low energy design.

He served as Vice-Chair of the Passive House Institute US technical committee for 5 years and is co-creator and teacher of Passive House Institute US’s builder training curriculum.

He has amassed a notable list of projects:

• 1st North American Passivhaus certified public school
• 1st North American Passivhaus university student center
• 1st in the world Passivhaus dental clinic
• 1st and 2nd North American Passivhaus religious assembly building
• 1st in the world Passivhaus with a commercial kitchen
• Largest North American Passivhaus project to date – a college dormitory

Susan Chung, Ph.D., is the senior research associate at the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) where she connects design and research for improving human experiences in the interior environment. Valuing the needs of design practitioners, her work at ASID translates research on interior design issues and trends into applicable design implications and directs projects that investigates the impact of design. With a background in both interior design and organizational behavior research from her doctorate degree in Human Behavior and Design at Cornell University, she has a particular passion in how design attributes can enhance creative performance and overall health and well-being.

David Cutter ASLA, University Landscape Architect for Cornell,  is involved in most aspects of planning, design, construction and stewardship of the landscape on the historic Ithaca campus. He embraces the premise of the campus landscape as a living classroom and collaborates regularly with instructors and researchers to incorporate real sites, issues and questions into the student experience such as achieving SITES certification for a student-designed landscape on campus.

Co-Presenting with Michelle Palmer.

Jim is passionate about a team approach to creation of high-quality buildings. He seeks to bridge the traditional siloes that exist in the design and construction realm, to inform projects and improve energy efficiency and performance. He is a trained presenter and has published and presented on the role of structural engineer in addressing embodied carbon and thermal performance.

Arvinder Dang is an Associate Principal at dbHMS who leads the East Coast practice in Philadelphia. She is a senior leader with 15 years of professional and research experience in energy-efficient, high performance building design and operations, as well as environmentally sustainable urban communities. She works across multiple disciplines  Architecture, MEP, and Urban planning integrating and delivering efficient high performing technologies, systems and solutions. She has worked on numerous sustainable international developments with a strong focus on demand management and clean efficient closed loop infrastructure systems. Prior to joining dbHMS, Arvinder was a Performative Design Group Studio Head and led the sustainable design practice at the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM). 

Al Daniels, CPD, CBCP, LEED®AP BD+C, Al possesses nearly 20 years of experience designing mechanical systems for a wide variety of building types, including hotels. He has a long standing reputation for developing design solutions to complex problems and is a strong proponent of sustainable, yet practical design. Al is a LEED Accredited Professional, a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers and serves as the Project Manager & Lead Mechanical engineer on a number of IPD projects including, the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.

Co-Presenting with Ed Riley, Bruce King, Jamie Williams & Mario LaGuardia

Matthew Finn has over 8 years of professional experience in architectural design.  His talents include his ability to foster and manage a multi-faceted and collaborative approach to design.  As each project is unique with its own set of challenges, Matthew strives to ‘think differently’ by finding design approaches and solutions that best suite the needs of each client, project, budget, site and circumstance. His broad experience ranges in everything from K-12 and higher education, to commercial and healthcare work.  In addition, Matthew is an adjunct professor at Syracuse University where he is committed to teaching design studios and theory seminars focusing on the practice of art and design.  He holds a graduate degree in Architecture with Distinction from Cornell University.

Co-Presenting with Jason Benedict and Amanda Thomas.

Samuel Gordon is the Director of Planning and Zoning for the Town of DeWitt (pop. approx. 25,000).  Sam is responsible for the management of the development process within the Town, implementation of the Town's Comprehensive Plan, and coordination of Town Sustainability initiatives. Sam has over 15 years of experience in the Planning and Sustainability fields and has managed and/or provided consulting expertise on a variety of projects from greenway planning, energy conservation and renewable energy deployment, to neighborhood revitalization and alternative mobility projects. Sam developed and oversees Moving DeWitt, to improve the bicycle and pedestrian environment within the Town; and in 2015 launched Elevating Erie, an initiative to close the gap in the Erie Canalway Trail system within Central New York. Sam received a Fellowship in 2005 to work with the Center for Environmental Studies in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, which was selected as the European Green Capital for 2012.

Co-presenting with Owen Kerney and Joe Sisko

Esther Greenhouse is unique professional--an environmental gerontologist and designer.  Her professional purpose is to create a paradigm shift whereby society harnesses the power of the built environment to enable all people across both the age- and ability-continua to thrive.  She is a nationally recognized expert on Universal Design and Aging in Place.  A catalyst for change, Ms. Greenhouse applies the Enabling Design Approach in her work with communities as they evolve to meet the needs of both seniors and younger generations, to create successful age-friendly and multigenerational places.  An award-winning and enthusiastic instructor and speaker, Esther leads dynamic and engaging workshops and trainings.  She served on the American Planning Association’s Aging in Community Policy Guide Task Force, co-authoring the Housing, Zoning, and Transportation sections, has written portions of the Livable NY Resource Manual, and teaches the NAHB/AARP Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) courses (for which she was awarded CAPS of the Year).  Her innovative perspective has resulted in invitations to contribute to the book Independent for Life, the 4-part PBS series “Design for a Lifetime”, and the design of the nation’s first elder-focused emergency department and is an Industry Scholar in the new Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures.

Robert Grindrod is a Building Science Consultant at CLEAResult. Grindrod started his career insulating homes in the mid 70’s and over the years evolved to be engaged with many aspects of building energy use, health and safety, and water conservation. He joined CLEAResult in 2006 as a Technical Field Rep in the NYSERDA Home Performance with Energy Star Program and helped lead CLEAResult’s work in NYSERDA’s Multifamily Building Performance Program (MPP). He is a certified Passive House

Co-Presenting with Michelle Tinner and Gwen McLaughlin

Tim brings over 32 years' experience in the project management, design and construction support of capital projects. Current emphasis is toward business management, client/government relations and leadership of corporate sustainability strategic initiatives including cultural and business transformation. Provide project leadership on strategic projects. Design expertise in HVAC, energy, sustainability, plumbing & fire protection disciplines.

Co-Presenting with Paul Murray and Chris Piche.

Owen Kerney currently serves as an Assistant Director in the Syracuse – Onondaga County Planning Agency. He leads the City’s Planning Division, which focuses on urban planning and design, historic preservation, public art, and sustainability initiatives to promote and enhance the livability and prosperity of the City of Syracuse. Owen develops and manages planning and capital projects for the City including the City’s Comprehensive Plan 2040, the ReZone Syracuse project, the Syracuse Connective Corridor, the Elevating Erie initiative, brownfield redevelopment and multiple State and Federal grant projects.

Co-presenting with Samuel Gordon and Joe Sisko

Bruce King has 42 years’ experience with a diverse range of project types. As a founding principal of Holmes?King?Kallquist & Associates, Architects, LLP, he has acted as Principal-in-Charge for the firm’s projects in the following areas: hospitality, affordable housing, historic preservation, municipal, public library, university, office, and retail. Specific areas of expertise include research, program development, and conceptual design for public libraries and local government facilities. Among his design interests is the creation of architecturally appropriate infill residences for urban lots. He is also skilled in historic preservation and adaptive re-use planning with specialties in historic roofing technology and masonry restoration.

Co-Presenting with Ed Riley, Jamie Williams, Mario LaGuardia & Al Daniels

Tom is a graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology and held a leading role on the 2015 Decathlon team. Previously, he studied architecture at Roger Williams University, and composite manufacturing technologies at the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS). Through his experiences in the world of lightweight, high strength materials, Tom spearheaded the research, design and fabrication of flood proofing prototypes on the SURE House. Tom is now a designer at King and King Architects exploring high performance buildings, renewable energy resources and leading architectural detailing to reduce energy consumption and increase occupant comfort in buildings.

Peter is President and Co-founder of Biomimicry New England and a Biomimicry Specialist. BNE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing nature and natural systems as an important resource for education and innovation in New England. 1985 to 2014 He was Chairman & Founder of the Corporate Design Foundation, with the mission to improve the quality of life and the effectiveness of organizations through design. Prior to that, Director, Design Management Institute in Boston. He has taught about design at business schools including: Babson, London Business School, Boston University School of Management and UT Austin’s School of Business.

Maureen McGeary Mahle is an engineer, building scientist, and green building consultant with Steven Winter Associates, Inc. As Director of Sustainable Housing Services, she supports project teams seeking green building certifications including LEED, National Green Building Standard, Enterprise Green Communities Criteria, and ENERGY STAR. To date, she has certified more than 12,000 green dwellings in 10 states, with over 9,000 more homes in progress. She works to tie human health to energy efficiency in green building, and her projects have been early adopters of the Active Design Guidelines and the WELL Building Standard.

Mr. Manning has been working with heat pumps since being awarded a National Science Foundation Grant to study Solar-Assisted Heat Pumps in 1975 at Syracuse University. He has been involved in the industry in virtually every capacity, heat pump designer, product marketing manager, IGSHPA Trainer, installing contractor, utility consultant, system design engineer and since 2003 as Founder and President of Earth Sensitive Solutions, LLC. Mr. Manning was trained in the science of Climate Change by Al Gore and is a member of The Climate Reality Leadership Corp and is also a board member of NY-GEO.

Gwen McLaughlin

Gwen McLaughlin of TRC Solutions is the Pipeline Manager for NYSERDA's Multifamily New Construction Program. Ms. McLaughlin brings over a decade of experience in program management, field investigation, and green building consulting to her role in MF NCP. Her responsibilities include program development, quality assurance, and coordination with NYSERDA, program applicants, and technical consultants.

Co-Presenting with Robert Grindrod and Michelle Tinner

Paul Murray

Paul Murray is vice president of sustainability and environmental affairs at Shaw Industries, Inc., where he is responsible for sustainability and product stewardship. Murray joined Shaw, a leading provider of commercial and residential flooring worldwide, in February 2011 after more than 20 years at furniture manufacturer Herman Miller. A LEED accredited professional, Murray holds an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and a Master's degree in management from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Co-Presenting with Tim Hughes and Chris Piche.

Ajit Naik

Ajit Naik, Building Performance Specialist at dbHMS, has a background in mechanical engineering and offers diverse experience in thermal energy system design.  As a certified Building Energy Modeling Professional, Ajit places special importance on simulation-informed design throughout the entire process, and is focused on translating results from  whole-building energy simulation, comfort modeling, and daylight analysis into meaningful design decisions. His experience working with both North American and European design firms and projects brings a multi-faceted perspective to new and innovative projects. Ajit also has a strong teaching background, and has presented on such topics including finite-element heat transfer analysis and daylighting software and techniques.

Michele Palmer

Michele Palmer PLA, a practicing landscape architect for over twenty years, is owner of Templeton Landscape Architects. Well versed in green infrastructure and site design, she is LEED accredited and as an educator, taught site engineering at Cornell University for six years.  As Vice President of the Upstate New York Chapter of ASLA she has planned professional learning events.

Co-Presenting with David Cutter.

Daekwon Park

Daekwon Park is an architect and researcher whose work focuses on the intersection of design, material technology, and environmental science. Before joining Syracuse University School of Architecture as an assistant professor, Park has engaged in a wide range of teaching and research opportunities at Harvard, MIT Media Lab, Rhode Island School of Design and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). During this time, he actively collaborated with Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering (Harvard University), Material Processes and Systems Group (Harvard Graduate School of Design), Responsive Environment and Artifacts Lab (Harvard Graduate School of Design), High-Low Tech Group (MIT Media Lab), Changing Places Group (MIT Media Lab), and Media and Design Laboratory (EPFL). As a co-founding principal of the design office SISO (Systematic Input Soft Output), Daekwon also actively practices architecture in both Syracuse, NY, and Seoul, South Korea.

Carina Paton

Carina Paton has eight years of global experience working with energy-related data.  In addition to assembling and analyzing individual site data, she has conducted various research assignments into energy-related policy, regulation, standards, and programs.  Ms. Paton has been involved in building energy monitoring efforts at CDH Energy since moving to New York in 2015.  Ms. Paton formerly worked for the Asian Development Bank in the Philippines and Nexant in Bangkok, where she worked on regional renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives for the development sector. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Environmental Technology from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi in Thailand, and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Otago in New Zealand.

Chris Piche

Chris brings a broad understanding of high performance systems to each project. His approach is rooted in the philosophy that environmentally responsible design must constantly evolve to suit the technology available in balance with the client's goals and objectives. Chris provides leadership for Elementa Engineering's Performance Engineering Group - a team explicitly trained and specializing in building optimization.

Co-Presenting with Paul Murray and Tim Hughes.

Hans Porschitz

After graduating in 1998 with an engineering degree in Wood Technology from the University of Applied Science in Rosenheim, Germany, Hans worked as a Research and Development consultant for several German prefabricated housing manufacturers prior to joining Bensonwood Homes in 2000. Hans was deeply involved with the Unity Homes product development line, including the Zero Energy Zum house, built inside the exhibition Hall at Greenbuild in Washington DC. The house was voted Best of Show. Most recently, Hans was involved with the UMASS Integrated Design Building, a CLT structure, coordinating the framing program for union carpenters. Hans is the Project Management team leader at Bensonwood and involved with development of new and improved systems and products for the construction industry.

Tad Radzinksi

With over 30 years of practical experience, Tad Radzinski is a leading expert in corporate responsibility and environmental management. Tad, co-founder and Certification Officer of GreenCircle Certified, LLC, provides third-party verification of environmental claims, ensuring transparency in the green marketplace. Tad is additionally President of Sustainable Solutions Corporation, delivering consultative services to companies in a wide range of global industries. Tad is an adjunct professor at Villanova University, teaching graduate classes such as Sustainable Buildings and Operations and Advanced Life Cycle Assessment. Formerly the EPA's Waste Minimization Program National Expert, Tad has been a trusted advisor for Fortune 500 companies including ASSA ABLOY, Unilever, Merck, Stanley Black & Decker, Saint-Gobain, Kohler and Florida Crystals.

Edward Riley

Edward M. Riley has 40 years of experience in design, construction, real estate development and hotel operations.   In August of 2014, Mr. Riley resigned from Pyramid Hotel Group as their Sr. Vice President for Design, Construction and Real Estate to focus on the Hotel Syracuse rehabilitation. Prior to joining Pyramid, Mr. Riley was Vice President of Resort Development at Intrawest Placemaking in Reno/Tahoe. Mr. Riley was also Director of Development for Marriott Resorts in Hawaii, involved in several properties with budgets totaling 1.1 billion dollars. As a founding partner in Waterford Development, Mr. Riley was an owner/partner in Marriott Courtyard and Springhill Suites properties in Northern New Jersey and Philadelphia areas. He also was Architect of record and co-developer of several historic restoration projects in Armory Square area of downtown Syracuse, securing the historic rehabilitation tax credits for Bentley-Settle, Piper-Phillips, the McArthur, Worth & Cooney buildings.  In 2014, Mr. Riley formed Hotel Syracuse Restoration LLC.  The focus was the restoration and renovation of the 92 year old Hotel Syracuse, which opened in August of 2016 as the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.   Mr. Riley attended architectural school at Onondaga Community College and Syracuse University, is a licensed Architect in New York State, and actively maintains his registration.

Nicholas B. Rajkovich

Nicholas B. Rajkovich, PhD, AIA is an Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo in the Department of Architecture. His research investigates the intersection of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and adaptation to climate change in buildings and communities. Prior to earning a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan, he was a Senior Program Engineer at the Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Company Customer Energy Efficiency Department. At PG&E, he was responsible for coordinating a new Zero Net Energy Pilot Program. He has a Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University.

Lauren Ray

Lauren Ray is Business Development Manager in NY State for GEM Energy, which provides on-site power solutions including CHP and Solar. Lauren has 5 years of experience integrating CHP systems for healthcare, educational, industrial, mission critical, and other types of facilities. In addition to CHP, Lauren collaborates on GEM Energy’s Solar PV projects for commercial and industrial customers in NY. Lauren’s past professional experience is in alternative energy system research and development, including hybrid electric vehicles and energy smart homes. She has a master of science from Georgia Tech and a bachelor of science from Cornell University, both in mechanical engineering.

Ian Shapiro

Ian Shapiro founded Taitem Engineering in 1989. He has led several applied energy conservation research projects, has led many design and energy projects, and has delivered workshops in the areas of energy and ventilation. Prior to starting Taitem Engineering, he worked for seven years at Carrier Corporation where he designed heat pumps and air conditioning equipment, and holds eight patents from this work. He is the co-author of the books Green Building Illustrated (2014) and Energy Audits and Improvements for Commercial Buildings (2016. He has been a visiting lecturer at Cornell University, Tompkins Cortland Community College, SUNY Cortland, and Syracuse University. Ian was honored as Green Building Advocate of the Year during the 2016 New York State Green Building Conference

Co-Presenting with Rick Alfandre.

Joe Sisko

Joe Sisko is the founding partner of LOCUS, a hybrid consultancy that uses design and storytelling to build support for ideas that have a positive social, cultural or ecological impact. LOCUS helps cities and organizations stand out and facilitate change by visually explaining their ideas with clarity and style. Previously, he was the Assistant Director of UPSTATE: at the Syracuse University School of Architecture where he initiated and managed public space, master planning and research projects from concept through public engagement and into implementation.

Co-Presenting with Samuel Gordon and Owen Kerney

Greg Siwinski

Greg Siwinski (MS, CIH) is a certified industrial hygienist with 39 years of experience dealing with occupational and environmental  health hazards. Since 1986, he has worked in state programs targeting occupational disease for preventive intervention and has contributed to national efforts to address under-recognized occupational health hazards. He works at the Occupational Health Clinical Center in the Department of Family Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY.

Co-presenting with Jim Vallette and Dorothy Wigmore

Patrick Thibaudeau

Patrick is vice president of HGA's sustainable design practice, and is part of a national group of large architecture firms that supports the American Institute of Architects' (AIA) 2030 Goals for carbon neutral buildings by the year 2030. He also serves on the 2010 Editorial Advisory Board for Eco-Structure.

Amanda Thomas

Amanda Thomas has over 11 years of professional experience that is focused in the K-12 Education market. With a focus on design, she channels her creativity through a collaborative design process and leads with excellent communication and problem solving. She is dedicated to keeping up on issues and trends within the K-12 market and designs spaces that are stylish and contemporary yet timeless. Amanda is National Council for Interior Design Qualified (NCIDQ) in 2008 and completed her higher education at Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelors of Fine Arts/Interior Design in 2004.

Co-Presenting with Jason Benedict and Matthew Finn.

Michelle Tinner

Michelle Tinner is Operations Manager for the NYSERDA Low-Rise Residential New Construction Program implementation team at CLEAResult. Prior to CLEAResult, Michelle founded the BPI accredited company MBT Design in 2009, embracing a building science whole systems approach toward work as a home performance contractor and HERS Rater. Ms. Tinner joined CLEAResult in 2015. She and her team provide program development and technical support to NYSERDA as well as education, outreach and coordination with and for program partners and industry professionals.

Co-Presenting with Robert Grindrod and Gwen McLaughlin

Jim Vallette

Jim Vallette works to understand and explain industry’s impacts on people and the planet. His findings have supported major global policy developments (e.g., the Basel Convention ban on toxic waste trade, national and international finance bans on overseas fossil fuel extraction). As Research Director of the Healthy Building Network for the last decade, he helped develop its groundbreaking research about how building materials are made and their impacts on building occupants, construction workers, fenceline communities, and the global environment.

Co-presenting with Greg Siwinski and Dorothy Wigmore

Dorothy Wigmore

Dorothy Wigmore (MS) is an occupational hygienist and ergonomist currently employed as Director of Outreach and Education at the Occupational Health Clinical Centers in Central New York. She has 35+ years of experience in government, unions, NGOs, universities and occupational health organizations in the US and Canada. She integrates policy activities (e.g., around green chemistry, chemical product data sheets) with practical education and prevention efforts.

Co-presenting with Greg Siwinski and Jim Vallette

Jamie Williams

Jamie Williams has 34 years of experience as a design professional, including extensive experience with historic preservation. His experience in historic preservation design, planning and project management spans the full range of typologies, including hotels, churches, large urban projects, campus institutions and residences.

Many of his historic preservation projects have received regional and state awards, including the Preservation League of New York State. Jamie is qualified as a preservation architect under federal guidelines, and has conducted numerous complex negotiations with the State Historic Preservation Office.

Co-Presenting with Ed Riley, Bruce King, Mario LaGuardia & Al Daniels