June 27, 2019
Green Careers: Presentation Skills Workshop Recap
By Melanie Mason
On Tuesday, June 11th, GreenHome NYC was excited to host one of our board members, Paul Reale, to lead a workshop on presentation skills. Paul is also the Director of Building Operations Research and Training at CUNY Building Performance Lab. He shared his experience presenting in various settings, including conferences and classrooms, and brought enthusiasm and expertise to a group of young professionals looking to further their skills. For those who missed this interactive workshop, you can check out Paul’s 13 pieces of advice here:
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May 21, 2019
{Green Careers}: Presentation Skills Workshop
Learn how to put your foot forward with confident body language and presentation skills. Presented by GreenHomeNYC Board Member and Director of Building Operations Research and Training at CUNY Building Performance Lab, Paul Reale. Date: June 11th, 2019 Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm with networking afterwards Location: GROHE, 160 Fifth Avenue (Entrance on 21st), Floor 4, New York, NY REGISTER HERE!May 9, 2019
Green Careers: Sustainable Career Tracks: Non-Profit Edition
Interested in the Sustainability Non-Profit Sector? Join us for a panel on Non-Profits!
When sustainability challenges fall outside the domain of market solutions, who is there to provide redress? Non-profits can satisfy energy and environmental problems of great import that financial interest may ignore. Come learn lessons from professionals experienced in navigating careers in the sustainability non-profit sector.
Date: May 14th, 2019
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm with networking afterwards
Location: BrightPower, Flr 21, 11 Hanover Square, New York NY 10005
Speakers:
Danielle Bissett – Billion Oyster Project
Adam Romano – AEE
Irene Nielson – NRDC
Note: To respect the time of our speakers and guests, the event will start promptly at 6:30.
Register Here!
January 30, 2019
{Green Careers} January Recap: Sustainability Careers Tracks: Building Design for People
Nadine Rachid, Mary Jo Peterson, Melanie KochBy Jenny Dranetz
Photos by Rishika Shrivastava
January’s Green Careers panel featured three professionals working to design and create built environments that not only work to meet sustainability goals but also positively impact the health and well-being of their occupants. Specifically, this month’s panelists’ work focuses on active design, universal design and building standards looking at the built environment’s impact on occupant health.
January 13, 2019
{Green Careers} Sustainable Career Tracks: Building Design for People
We all know that buildings should be designed for sustainability, energy efficiency, and resiliency. But what about designing for peoples’ health and well being?
Come hear from professionals who have an expertise in designing to benefit building occupants. Our panelists will be sharing insight into their work and careers focusing on Active Design, Universal Design, and building standards focused on healthy building occupants.
Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm with networking afterwards
Location: GroheLive!, 160 Fifth Ave. Flr 4., New York, NY 10010
Note that the entrance on 21st St.
Speakers:
– Mary Jo Peterson, Owner of Mary Jo Peterson Design and certified kitchen and bath designer as well as a certified aging in place designer and living in place professional
– Melanie Koch, Senior Associate at International WELL Building Institute
– Nadine Rachid, Director of Product Development at the Center for Active Design
November 5, 2018
November Green Careers: 2019 Brainstorm Session
The GreenHomeNYC Green Careers group needs you and your bright ideas for our 2019 meet-ups!
For our November Green Careers meeting, we’ll begin planning the 2019 calendar year. As such, we’re looking for feedback on this year’s past events, as well your thoughts and ideas on what would make next year’s programming a useful career-building resource.
Who should attend this month’s Green Careers meet-up? Anyone with ideas for professional development-focused discussion topics, workshops and/or speakers Emerging and transitioning professionals looking to build a career in sustainability and energy efficiency Industry professionals interested in contributing time, expertise, and/or resources Individuals interested in becoming more active volunteers with GHNYC Those interested in learning more about the GHNYC Green Careers programmingDate: Tuesday, November 13, 2018 Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm with networking afterwards Location: Steven Winter Associates – 307 7th Ave, 19th Floor Conference Room New York, NY 10001
Register for FREE HereOctober 31, 2018
October Green Careers Recap: Sustainable Career Tracks: NYC Government
By Radhna Saxena Photos By Jessica Bartolini
Panelists (from left to right): Kestana Anokye, Michael Roos, Lindsay Robbins, and Tom Sahagian
Kestana Anokye is a Project Manager in the NYC Office of Environmental Remediation, the agency that designs and operates municipal programs for cleanup and redevelopment of vacant contaminated lands. Anokye has a background in Geological Sciences and worked with two environmental consulting companies after college. Two years into her second job, she realized her growing passion for sustainability. When a colleague suggested that she attend forums, like those hosted by GreenHomeNYC, to learn about opportunities in the field, it seemed a bit intimidating that almost every speaker had a degree in engineering. But she was determined to find a way to combine her skills and training with her interests to find the right job.
While networking is invaluable, Anokye advised that persistence in your job search is most important, even when things don’t work out immediately. That tenacity and patience led to her current position at the NYC Office of Environmental Remediation.
Energy Management
Michael Roos graduated with a liberal arts degree in economics and geography, and didn’t foresee his current role as a Building Performance Analyst for the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services Division of Energy Management. While pursuing his master’s degree at Columbia University, Roos learned about the role that local governments play in advancing urban sustainability, with Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s PlaNYC serving as a case study. One of his professors encouraged him to apply for an internship in the Energy Department of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Interning with the largest public housing authority in North America was a valuable introduction to the field of energy management in city government.
Roos returned to the Energy Department in a permanent capacity as an Energy Analyst, deploying his data analysis skills to work extensively with the Utility Management Information System (UMIS), NYCHA’s utility bill database. He working with technical consultants to conduct energy analyses of NYCHA’s 2,500 residential buildings and facilitate energy benchmarking in compliance with New York City’s local laws. After a few years, he transitioned to his current role at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, which serves as the hub of energy management activities for over 4,000 municipal buildings across the five boroughs. His role involves managing energy and performance in alignment with Mayor DeBlasio’s goal of a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from municipal buildings by 2025.
Roos advised job seekers to set up a keyword search on the city’s job website and DCAS Energy Management to stay abreast of new opportunities in city government. He noted that networking is an effective way to connect with the tightly-knit community of energy and sustainability professionals in New York. He added that the DCAS-administered Energy Management Institute offers continuing education classes for city workers to enhance their technical knowledge.
Sustainable Communities
As Director of Strategic Alignment & Implementation for NRDC’s Healthy People & Thriving Communities (HP&TC) Program, Lindsay Robbins works to foster the development of healthy, sustainable communities for all. While studying film and TV production at NYU, she discovered a love for urban studies and decided to pursue a master’s degree in urban planning. During this period, she became involved with several environmental groups at NYU that banded together to advocate for an environmental program at the university and the adoption of sustainable practices. Leading the effort with a few fellow students, Robbins successfully advocated to set up the program and bring other sustainability initiatives to the campus. After graduation, she was hired by NYU to assist in the planning, design, and renovation of university buildings.
Robbins moved into government work when she was hired to work on multifamily efficiency programs at NYSERDA. Working in NYSERDA’s then-small NYC office was a great advantage, as it helped her take on a lot of responsibility quickly. Subsequently she worked for the state of Maryland, managing an energy assistance program for low income households, where she worked to weave energy efficiency into the mix. Now at NRDC, Robbins works on energy efficiency for the affordable housing sector, helping the HP&TC program achieve its broader goals.
She advised job seekers not to be discouraged by the lack of a technical degree; this is a field that requires a variety of skill sets and there are ample opportunities to learn, if you remain curious and keep asking questions.
Housing Development
Tom Sahagian has had extensive experience working in private, non-profit, and governmental jobs, including the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development. He obtained a degree in journalism, later deciding to make the move into energy efficiency. But he noted that his ability to write well has been a huge advantage over his entire career.
Although there are pros and cons to working in government, he felt one compelling advantage is that government organizations are not driven by profit. The tendency to care more about the work, rather than gains or paybacks, can be a rewarding experience.
Sahagian’s advice is to be willing to start at the bottom, work hard, and learn new things every day to steadily climb up the ladder. He recommended pursuing continuing education for technical topics, and reading magazines on energy efficiency to stay abreast of the latest tools, technologies, and concepts. A few other important qualities for success: Be smart and committed. Be ready to do a lot of reading, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
The panelists noted there’s often a long period between applying for a government job and getting an interview, so it’s important to be patient and persistent. And they agreed that regardless of your educational background, keep learning, keep reading, and keep applying until you find your dream job in sustainability.
September 28, 2018
{Green Careers} August Recap: Sustainable Career Tracks: Environmental Science
September 12, 2018 Hosted by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, 1359 Broadway Recap by Curtis Morrow
Photo by Mark Lin
On Wednesday, September 12, GHNYC Careers Transitions hosted our Career Tracks “Environmental Science” where GHNYC volunteer Michelle Andry supplied our venue at New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Our guest panelists included:
George Jackman, PhD, Habitat Restoration Manager at Riverkeeper Wayne Swenson, Energy Engineer at Steven Winter Associates Vinicius De Paula, Staff Engineer at Langan Engineering & Environmental Services Eric Auerbach, Environmental Engineer and Resource Recovery Specialist at ARCADIS (more…)
August 7, 2018
Green Careers August 2018: Career Skills Workshop – Presentation Skills and Body Language
You have an education and a resume, now all you need is a good first impression! Join us for this Career Skills Workshop to learn valuable tips and tricks that will help you find a job and perform well there! This August Green Careers event will focus on presentation skills and body language.
Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm with networking afterwards Location: GroheLive!, 160 Fifth Ave (entrance on 21st St), Flr 4., New York, NY 10010
Speaker: Pam Berns
As a coach, facilitator, and international educator, Pam Berns has helped hundreds of leaders, managers, and students improve their leadership skills and executive presence. Her research and experience have repeatedly shown that what you say is only part of the story. Presence and persuasion manifest from HOW you say it and what you DON’T say. Pam’s strategies and techniques draw from communication, psychology, and the arts.
Pam has provided communication consulting and training at global corporations across industries, government agencies at both the local and national level, and non-profits of all sizes. She has also taught communication and job hunting skills to graduate students from the US and abroad. Using her expertise in translating complex messages into action and behavior change, Pam’s practice currently focuses primarily on climate change communication and sustainability engagement.
Register Here!July 2, 2018
{Green Careers} July 2018: Environmental Health and Safety
Pollution, hazardous waste, resiliency, and quality of living spaces: These are some of the ways that environmental issues and health issues intersect. Join us for a presentation on Environmental Health and Safety in buildings, active sites, the workplace, and more. Come learn about the ins and outs of improving health standards and network with practicing professionals.Date: Tuesday July 10, 2018 Time: 6:30-8:00pm, with networking afterwards Location: NYSERDA 1359 Broadway (between 36th & 37th St), 19th Floor Please note that tickets are non-refundable. If you have any questions, please contact the GHNYC Green Careers group at [email protected]. Click here to register!