Washington, DC (January 19, 2011) – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced the newly elected officers and new directors to its 2011 Board of Directors. At elections that closed in December, USGBC’s membership elected the following individuals to serve as directors:

• Elizabeth J. Heider, Skanska, filling the Constructor of Buildings seat
• Kirsten Ritchie, Gensler, filling the Green Building Educator seat
• Walter Cuculic, Green Your Home Consulting, filling the Home Builder seat
• Elizabeth Whalen, CalAg, filling the Product Manufacturer Executive seat
• Ann Archino Howe, Sustainable Design Studio, filling the Site Designer seat
• Dennis Maloskey, PA Governor's Green Government Council, filling the State and Local Government Employee seat

In addition, the Board named the following directors to fill appointed seats:

• Carlton Brown, Full Spectrum, filling the Green Affordable Housing seat
• Majora Carter, Majora Carter Group, filling the Sustainable Communities seat

Additionally, the Board elected Heider as chair-elect and Punit Jain, Cannon Design, as secretary. Other officers are 2011 Chair Mark MacCracken, CALMAC, and Anthony Bernheim, AECOM, as treasurer. Tim Cole, Forbo, is now immediate past chair. USGBC President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi is an ex officio member of the Board.

“I am proud to have the opportunity to continue to serve USGBC and write the next chapter in its story; one where LEED continues to serve as the most economical and unparalleled catalyst for market transformation in the world,” said Chair-Elect Heider. “I’m looking forward to working with the Board to help expand USGBC’s offering through leading-edge research, developing new tools, educational offerings and market solutions. 

"I am honored to have been given the opportunity to continue my work of the past three years on the board,” said Elizabeth Whalen, CalAg and director, who was re-elected to the Product Manufacturers seat on the USGBC Board. “The continued success and growth of the organization speaks for itself, but there is much work to be done in order to make green building accessible and achievable for all."

"USGBC has made an incredible impact on the building community since its founding, and we are now poised to broaden our impact in the education, environmental justice, institutional investment, community environmental health and government regulatory sectors,” said appointed director Carlton Brown, whowas reappointed to represent the affordable housing sector. “More than ever before, the new Board will enable the organization to continue to engage stakeholders and more effectively deal with the complex local and global challenges facing our society.”

“By making key decisions about how USGBC serves our membership, educates the industry, and advances our mission, the Board plays an indispensible role within the organization,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC. “This engaged and dedicated group of industry leaders reflects the diversity of the rapidly growing market that we serve, and is committed to shaping the future of green building.”

USGBC has a 20-member board that includes elected and appointed positions. Elected positions serve terms of three years. Appointed positions serve two-year terms. The complete USGBC Board Roster includes:

Officers

• Mark MacCracken, CALMAC, chair
• Elizabeth J. Heider, Skanska, chair-elect
• Tim Cole, Forbo Flooring Systems, immediate past chair
• Anthony Bernheim, AECOM, treasurer
• Punit Jain, Cannon Design, secretary
• S. Richard Fedrizzi, USGBC, president, CEO and founding chairman

Directors

• Ann Archino Howe, Sustainable Design Studio, Site Designer seat
• Maria Atkinson, Lend Lease Corporation, International seat (appointed)
• Carlton Brown, Full Spectrum Development, Green Affordable Housing seat (appointed)
• Majora Carter, Majora Carter Group, Sustainable Community Leader seat (appointed)
• Walter Cuculic, Green Your Home Consulting, Home Builder seat
• John Dalzell, Boston Redevelopment Authority, Urban/Regional Planner seat (appointed)
• Nathan Gauthier, Jones Lang LaSalle, Educators (K-12/Post Secondary) seat
• Elizabeth J. Heider, Skanska, Constructor of Buildings seat (chair-elect)
• Mark MacCracken, CALMAC, Energy Services seat (chair)
• Dennis Maloskey, Pennsylvania Governor’s Green Government Council, State & Local Government Employee seat
• Michael McCally, Clinical Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Physicians for Social Responsibility, Public Health/Health Care seat (appointed)
• Kirsten Ritchie, Gensler, Green Building Educator seat
• Thomas Scarola, Tishman Speyer, Developer/Real Estate Services seat
• Lisa Shpritz, Bank of America, Finance, Surety & Corporate Real Estate seat
• Allan Skodowski, Transwestern, Building Management & Operations seat
• Elizabeth Whalen, CalAg LLC, Product Manufacturer Executive seat

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U.S. Green Building Council

The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, 17,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 157,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.