2010 Speakers & Presenters

Green Building Focus Conference and EXPO 2010 will boast 32 practical, case-study based presentations and breakout sessions. These courses are CEU accredited and will provide valuable opportunities to learn from the leading experts in the green building industry. Thought leaders from around the globe will gather in Birmingham, AL to present these sessions.

Green Building Focus is thrilled announce the return of three keynote speakers: Charles Kibert, Karan Grover and Llewellyn Van Wyk.

Karan Grover is an internationally acclaimed Indian architect who in 2004, became the first architect in the world to win the USGBC “Platinum” Award for the greenest building on earth. Today he is working towards the need for practicing “Green Architecture” inspiring students and fellow architects to build “Beyond Platinum” and set cutting edge benchmarks in the architectural fraternity. Mr. Grover has been passionately advocating the need to look at one’s culture and heritage for clues as to the direction for contemporary architecture and sustainable development. Winner of all five of the Indian awards for Excellence in Architecture and Interior Design, he was nominated as one of the 14 architects from Asia for this Millennium. Mr. Grover aims to spread awareness of sustainable architecture by addressing in excess of 20,000 professionals and students every year - a commitment he made when addressing the Clinton Global Initiative in New York in 2007. Read More...

Llewellyn van Wyk graduated in architecture from the University of Cape Town in 1980. He opened his own architecture practice in 1983, completing over 300 buildings within Southern Africa over a period of 20 years. In 2002 he left professional practice and took up a research post at the CSIR in Pretoria, South Africa, where he heads a research team examining new construction materials and methods based on an advanced construction technology platform. All of his work is predicated on sustainability principles. Llewellyn is a Past-President of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) Read More...

Charles J. Kibert Ph.D., P.E. is co-founder and President of the Cross Creek Initiative, a non-profit industry/university joint venture seeking to implement sustainability principles into construction. He holds a B.S. (General Engineering) from the U.S. Military Academy, a M.S. (Nuclear Engineering) from Carnegie-Mellon University, and a Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) from the University of South Florida. He is a registered professional engineer in Florida and held mechanical and electrical contracting licenses in Florida. He is a USGBC LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP). Read More...

Ari Kobb (LEED AP) is Director of Green Building Solutions for the Building Technologies Division of Siemens Industry, Inc., and founder and co-chair of the Division’s internal Sustainability Committee. He is responsible for ensuring Siemens leadership in the Green Building area, and leads a range of efforts including the alignment of Siemens products, services and solutions to the LEED® rating system, new solution development, strategic planning and business development. In addition, Read More...

Chris Brogan is an eleven year veteran of using social media and both web and mobile technologies to build digital relationships for businesses, organizations, and individuals. Chris speaks, blogs, writes articles, and makes media of all kinds at [chrisbrogan.com], a blog in the top 5 of the Advertising Age Power150, and in the top 100 on Technorati. He is co-author of the New York Times bestselling book Trust Agents, and the recently released Social Media 101. Read More...

Megan Holder (LEED AP), associate with the HOK Planning Group. They focus on master planning, landscape architecture and urban design projects throughout the world. She will be presenting a case study on a project in Saudi Arabia – “KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science + Technology): A Lesson Bridging the Gap Between Tradition + Sustainability.” Read More...

Thomas F. Schuler is president - DuPont Building Innovations. Mr. Schuler began work with DuPont in 1985 in Aiken, S.C. Over the next several years he held various assignments in engineering, production, marketing and product line management in South Carolina, Virginia, Switzerland and Delaware. In 1999, Mr. Schuler transferred to Nashville, Tenn., where he was appointed business strategist and financial manager for Sontara®. Mr. Schuler returned to Wilmington, Del., as the global business manager for Tyvek® Construction in 2001. In 2003, Mr. Schuler was appointed Read More...

Eric Corey Freed, LEED AP, Hon. FIGP, is Principal of organicARCHITECT, an architecture and consulting firm in California, with nearly 20 years of experience in green building. Eric co-developed the Sustainable Design programs at the Academy of Art University and University of California Berkeley Extension. He is on the boards of Architects, Designers & Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR), Green Home Guide and West Coast Green, as well as the advisory boards of nearly a dozen other organizations. He was the founding Chair of Architecture for The San Francisco Design Museum and one of the founders of ecoTECTURE: The Online Journal of Ecological Design. When Eric was just 25 years old, noted architect and critic Philip Johnson described him as "one of the real brains of his generation". Today, Eric continues the tradition of “Organic Architecture”, first developed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Read More...

Yalmaz Siddiqui, Director of Environmental Strategy for Office Depot. He is responsible for setting strategic direction and integrating a wide range of environmental programs into the global organization. Office Depot’s industry-leading environmental programs span all parts of the company - from supply chain (buying green) to internal operations (being green), to business and consumer markets (selling green). His goal is to help improve the environmental performance of Office Depot and its range of stakeholders. Yalmaz is on the Board of Advisors of EPEAT (the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool); Read More...

For the last 10 years, Scott Sklar has run The Stella Group, Ltd., a strategic marketing and policy firm advancing the utilization of clean, distributed energy applications. Scott Sklar serves as Steering Committee Chair of the Sustainable Energy Coalition, composed of the renewable energy and energy efficiency trade associations and analytical groups, and sits on the national Boards of Directors of the non-profit Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Renewable Energy Policy Project, and CoChairs the Policy Committee of the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council. The Stella Group, Ltd. focuses on clean, distributed energy applications such as Read More...

John B. Bacon, Systems Integrator for the International Space Station Program. Dr. Bacon serves as lead of the Space Environments team of the Vehicle Integrated Performance, Environments, and Resources (VIPER) team in the International Space Station Program Office. He holds a seat on the ISS executive International Mission Management Team, in cooperation with representatives from the crew, flight operations, engineering, flight medicine, payloads, safety, EVA, and Russia, ESA, Japan, and Canada. Dr. Bacon is the author of numerous technical papers and of three popular books addressing technology, its pace of development, and its impact on society. He has appeared on several radio and television programs and documentaries. Special honors and awards include: NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal 2006 Read More...

Jerome Ringo became National President of the Apollo Alliance in 2005, working diligently as a dedicated champion of environmental justice and a vocal advocate of clean energy. His firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced came from working for more than 20 years in Louisiana’s petrochemical industry. Over ten years was spent as an active union member working with fellow members to secure a safe work environment and quality jobs for employees. As Jerome began observing the negative impacts of the industry’s pollution on local communities; primarily poor, minority communities, he began organizing community environmental justice groups. His experience in organizing environmental and labor communities, and his drive to Read More...

Tom Moskitis has spent over three decades as an ardent advocate for natural gas. He joined the Washington Gas Light Company in the nation’s capital in 1973 shortly after graduating from the University of Maryland with a BA degree in political science. He earned an MBA in Marketing from the same school and joined the American Gas Association in 1980. Mr. Moskitis represents America’s Natural Gas Utilities before the United States Congress as a federal lobbyist, concentrating on gas supply and financial issues, and is also involved in many of the association’s marketing and communications programs. Tom is the current Private Sector Chair of the Natural Resources Task Force of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Read More...

Robin Wilson is a nationally recognized eco-friendly and healthy home interior designer focused on residential and commercial projects "from the foundation to the furniture to the furnishings". Industry insiders describe her style as 'classic with a modern touch' focused on options that are sustainable, reusable, recyclable and non-toxic. She founded her firm in 2000, and rebranded it to the eponymous Robin Wilson Home in 2006. Robin Wilson Home is based in New York City and is focused on design, consulting, licensing and an online retailer called The Nest Store. She is the first woman to license her name to eco-friendly kitchen cabinetry - manufactured by Holiday Kitchens, a 64-year old company that employs 700 workers in the United States. Read More...

Tommy Linstroth’s (LEED AP) career has spanned both the private, academic, and non-profit sectors in the Midwest, West and now East coast, where he is the Principal of Trident Sustainability Group – a triple bottom line consultancy firm. Mr. Linstroth is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Trident’s client sustainability solutions– from minimizing organizations’ carbon footprint to managing sustainable development projects. To date, Linstroth has personally been involved with over 30 projects achieving LEED certification, with another dozen underway. These projects include the first building in the Southeast to be both LEED certified and in the National Register of Historic places, the first all-retail LEED shopping center in the nation, the first LEED McDonald’s restaurant, and Sustainable Fellwood, one of the largest green affordable housing developments – part of the LEED for Neighborhood Developments pilot program and LEED for Homes program – in the nation. Read More...

Scott Minos has worked in various positions for the United States Department of Energy (DOE) since 1986. He currently is employed as a Senior Policy and Communications Specialist for the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). He is responsible for developing and compliance with key communication elements that promote DOE’s domestic and international programs relating to alternative and renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, energy conservation, greenhouse gases and climate change, carbon sequestration, electric transmission, and advanced energy sciences. Scott’s main focus has been on advanced vehicle technologies and alternative transportation fuels. He has worked extensively on a variety of DOE laboratory programs, and various DOE initiatives including Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE), EcoCAR, Challenge X, and Future Truck collegiate automotive engineering competitions, and the biannual Solar Decathlon collegiate building and energy engineering competition. Read More...

Carlie Bullock-Jones: Prior to establishing Ecoworks Studio in 2007, Carlie was the sustainability leader at a large architectural and interiors firm with multiple office locations nationally and internationally. As Sustainable Director, she was responsible for environmental design education, training and standards development across the practice. Today, as the owner of Ecoworks Studio, Carlie is a nationally known expert in sustainability and LEED consulting. She is a highly sought-after speaker and writer for national events and publications. As a full time Sustainable Design Consultant, Carlie works with project teams to guide them through green building initiatives and sustainable strategies specific to their projects. She has collaborated on many award-winning LEED projects, which included leading the effort for the first LEED CI Platinum rated facility in the country, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with the LEED certification process. At the local level, Carlie is an active member of the USGBC Atlanta Branch leadership group and current Chair of the USGBC Georgia Board of Directors. Read More...

Sharene Rekow: As VP of marketing-membership for the Green Building Initiative, Sharene Rekow is responsible for external activities that educate and inform potential members, partners and the public about ways to play a significant role in the green building movement. Her role includes the development of partnerships, webseminar training, trade show visibility and public recognition of the GBI as a green building leader. She is well versed in the usage of the Green Globes system and helped spearhead and write the Green Globes Professional personnel certification program that the GBI launched in December of 2009. Her goal in this presentation is to inform the audience that there is a second nationally accepted rating and certification program in the marketplace. Read More...

Dr. Robert Bullard is the Edmund Asa Ware Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University. He received his Ph.D. degree from Iowa State University. Professor Bullard is the author of fifteen books that address sustainable development, environmental racism, urban land use, industrial facility siting, community reinvestment, housing, transportation, climate justice, emergency response, smart growth, and regional equity. He has been described as the father of environmental justice. Professor Bullard was featured in the July 2007 CNN People You Should Know. Read More...

Doug Neil joined Daniel Corporation in 2005 as Vice President, Development. His primary responsibilities include the identification, planning and execution of development opportunities for Daniel’s commercial land portfolio, new business development, and corporate/community relations. Chief Technical Officer for Audubon Environmental, Inc., a sustainability consulting firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. With over 200 projects in 18 countries and 32 US states, and over 20 years of experience implementing sustainable strategies on the ground, AE has a reputation and track record of excellence. Read More...

Omid Nabipor serves as President of Interface Engineering—a full service, multi-disciplinary mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering firm with over 180 professional and technical associates. He provides leadership in the design and innovation of high-performance buildings, and is focused is on the integrated design process, which leads to highest levels of energy and water efficiency.Jon Gray is a Principal and Senior Plumbing Designer, and leads Interface Engineering’s plumbing group. Since joining the firm in 1990, he has been a strong advocate for water conservation and sustainable plumbing systems design. Jon has served as the Chair of the Oregon State Plumbing Board since 2009. Read More...

Jon Gray is a Principal and Senior Plumbing Designer, and leads Interface Engineering’s plumbing group. Since joining the firm in 1990, he has been a strong advocate for water conservation and sustainable plumbing systems design. Jon has served as the Chair of the Oregon State Plumbing Board since 2009. He is also a member of the City of Portland’s Eco-District Technical Advisory Committee, and is currently developing water reclamation and reuse standards for future regional eco-districts. Jon has spoken about water issues at regional and national conferences, including ULI’s 2009 program, Adapting to a Drier West, and AIA Seattle’s recent water forum, The New Green Is Blue. Read More...

Jim Archibald is a partner in the firm's Construction and Procurement Practice Group. Jim has represented general contractors, owners, developers, engineering firms, subcontractors and vendors at every stage of a construction project, including the initiation of the project, the preparation of contract documents, bid preparation, bid mistakes, bid protests, change order negotiations, project correspondence, claim preparation, terminations, and final dispute resolution through negotiation, mediation, arbitration or trial. Jim has advised clients on public and private projects, including projects administered by the U.S. State Department, the U.S. General Services Administration, and the Army Corps of Engineers. He has extensive experience prosecuting and defending extra work, delay, acceleration, impact, and inefficiency claims on private and public jobs. Read More...

Torsten Schoch, CEO, Xella Technologie & Forschungsgesellscheft mbH. Graduate engineer, specialization civil engineering. Since 1992 Torsten has been active in the building material industry. Since 2001 structural- and application technology YTONG. Since 2006 Managing Director Xella Technology- and Research. Author of large professional publications to the subject construction physics. Member in several national and international standards committees. Read More...

Declan Yearwood, Sustainable Building Specialist, Sustain Building Group: Declan is president of Sustain Building Group, LLC. The company is an integrator of sustainable building trades and services primarily focusing on renewable energy and integrative water management technologies. Declan’s experience has enabled him to overcome the challenges associated with estimating, planning, designing, and sourcing for such projects. He has overseen the design and installation of numerous renewable energy and rainwater harvesting projects in addition to working with Passive Design Structures, ICF, SIPS, and many other construction methods and materials. He is recognized as an expert in energy conservation, renewable energy, water reuse, and stormwater management. Read More...

Brooks Rainwater is the director of Local Relations at the American Institute of Architects. As director, Brooks is responsible for advancing the Institute's and the architecture profession's goals at the local level. Brooks empowers local AIA Chapters to effectively manage their legislative, regulatory, and legal efforts. He also directs the Citizen Architect program; working to advance and assist our nations civically engaged architects. Brooks is the lead author of Local Leaders in Sustainability. This research study examines national green building policy, and includes the reports: A Study of Green Building Programs in Our Nation’s Communities, Green Incentives, Green Counties, and Green Building Policy in a Changing Economic Environment. He has published articles in Urban Land Green, Environmental Design & Construction, and Commercial Property News. Read More...

Dr. Jennifer Languell is a nationally recognized leader in educating the development and construction industries, as well as homebuyers, about the benefits of green building and sustainable development. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Materials Science and Engineering, a Master’s in Civil Engineering and Construction Management, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and Sustainable Construction. For over a decade, Dr. Languell has been one of the country’s preeminent consultants in the creation of healthy, efficient and sustainable projects such as single-family residential homes, commercial and multi-family residential construction, land development and green building education and demonstration centers. She conducts approximately 100 educational trainings, seminars and workshops annually for the building and development industries. Read More...

Rhonda Caviedes - The focus of Rhonda’s practice is advising clients in all phases of the construction process with an emphasis on "Green" building, sustainable development, and environmental issues. Rhonda is a LEED Green Associate and is currently augmenting her LEED Professional Credentials by fulfilling the requirements to become a LEED AP BD+C through active involvement on a major LEED registered project. In addition to writing and negotiating “Green” contracts, she provides guidance and advice to clients evaluating and proceeding with green building projects. Read More...

Sid Trant is the Chair of the firm's Environmental and Toxic Tort Practice Group and a member of the firm's Litigation Practice Group. His clients are involved in petroleum refining, natural gas distribution, coal and aggregate mining, cement manufacturing, steel and equipment manufacturing, paint and chemicals production and distribution, banking, finance, and real estate development. Sid represents clients in a broad array of environmental matters, including due diligence, transactions involving natural resources and contaminated properties, brownfield redevelopment, permitting, regulatory compliance, emergency and accident response, and investigation, removal, and remediation efforts associated with environmental spills and clean-up of contaminated sites. Read More...

Bruce Weems, , Sales Engineer, Xella Aircrete North America, Inc. With more than 20 years of experience in construction engineering, Bruce Weems is well-suited for his position as sales engineer for Xella. In this role, Weems conducts a feasibility review of project contract documents to utilize Hebel autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) as an economical, safe and fast-track solution for Xella’s clients. Prior to joining Xella, Weems served as the senior sales representative for Sika Corporation, where he was responsible for product sales in Georgia and Alabama. Read More...

Andrew Olds, LEED AP Architect: Andy Olds is a partner in the firm Fuller Thompson Olds Architects. He attended Auburn Rural Studio where his thesis project involved building an experimental housing “pod” using 1,000 pound bales of cardboard waste. Andy was an intern for the City of Portland, OR Office of Sustainable Development and participated in their “Re-Think” sustainability education program. His firm is in the process of designing an “open source shed”, the plans of which will be offered free to download for all community gardeners. Read More...

Scott Kybiszyn, ARCSA AP, Natures Tap: Scott Kubiszyn is president of Nature's Tap. He has twelve years of experience working in venture capital and with start up companies. Scott created Nature's Tap in 2007 to deliver environmentally friendly water solutions to the southeastern market. He specializes in the design, product selection, and installation of rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, and stormwater retention and detention systems. Nature's Tap has installed many different water conservation systems across the Southeast. Read More...

Mike D'Onofrio, Managing Director, Engineered Tax Services. Engineered Tax Services (ETS) is a licensed professional engineering firm with niche accounting and tax expertise dedicated to "Green" services nationwide providing Energy Tax certifications for Federal EPAct 179D, engineering-based cost segregation studies, DEIRA insurance replacement appraisals, R&D tax credits, energy audits, emissions management solutions in conjunction with the DOE, IRS, Energy Star, AIA and USGBC. Headquartered in Palm Beach, Florida, ETS has teams of engineering, accounting and specialty finance professionals in multiple offices across the country. Read More...

Jeff Belkin is a partner in the firm’s Atlanta and Washington, D.C., offices, and is the leader of the firm’s Government Contracts Practice Group. Jeff has represented Fortune 500 companies, small contractors and subcontractors in negotiations of federal, state and local prime contracts, subcontracts and teaming agreements. Jeff also routinely serves as lead counsel in procurement protests before federal, state and municipal protest bodies, and pursues and defends contract claims in each of those jurisdictions. Read More...

Cliff Pitman was raised in Randolph County. A 1978 building science graduate of Auburn University, he launched his construction business, H.C. Pitman Builders, in Fairhope in 1979 following Hurricane Frederick. He joined the Baldwin County Home Builders Association the following year.Cliff has been a board member of the Baldwin County HBA since 1990, serving as its President in 1998. He has earned the professional designations of Certified Graduate Builder and Graduate Master Builder. In 2001, he was named the Hershel Trimm Builder of the Year by the Home Builders Association of Alabama. Read More...

Mike Wedgworth knows Vestavia Hills inside and out. After all, he has built 300 plus homes in the area. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from Auburn University in 1975 and gaining experience at Brice Building, Gresham, Williams and Johnson and Richardson Construction, he founded Wedgworth Construction, Inc. in 1979, building it from the ground up to its current status as Vestavia’s premier construction, real estate and development company. In his thirty plus years in the business, Wedgworth has built over 300 single-family homes. In 1985, he added a real estate component to his company, Wedgworth Realty, Inc., to market Wedgworth properties. Read More...

Pavel Sazama, Green Builder, Level, Inc.: Pavel Sazama is owner of Level, Inc, a building company promoting sustainability in the building industry, particularly in remodeling and custom residential structures. He is experienced working with products that are technical and uncommon to the region. ICF(Insulated Concrete Forms), SIPS, concrete countertops, Low and No VOC materials and paints are commonly used in his projects. He earned a Bachelor Degree in Energy and Environmental Studies, and a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is licensed state builder and is holds a certification as AAEE Building Energy Manager. Read More...

Russ Bodie: Chief Technical Officer for Audubon Environmental, Inc., a sustainability consulting firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. With over 200 projects in 18 countries and 32 US states, and over 20 years of experience implementing sustainable strategies on the ground, AE has a reputation and track record of excellence. Mr. Bodie earned a B.S. in Marine Science (University of South Carolina) and an M.S. in Biological Sciences (University of Missouri), with an emphasis in Landscape Ecology. He has 15 years experience in the assessment, design, and oversight of applied ecology in natural and human-managed landscapes. Read More...

Michelle Moore is the Obama Administration’s Federal Environmental Executive, and is responsible for promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship throughout the federal government’s operations. Housed within the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive was Read More...

Greg Barker Greg Barker is Vice President of economic and community development for Alabama Power. His primary responsibility is to provide direction for Alabama Power's economic and community development initiatives. Greg has more than 20 years of economic development experience Read More...

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