Frank works on maps and GIS analysis for Regional Plan Association. He’s putting his overflowing enthusiasm for web-enabled planning tools to work as a member of the GreenHomeNYC web team. He holds a Masters in City Planning from MIT, where his MCP thesis investigated the local travel habits and residential choices of the baby boomer generation.

Chef Stephanie Sugawara has catered the delicious lunches served during GreenHomeNYC’s annual Green Buildings Open House since 2006. She’s a private chef who worked at Chez Panisse in Berkeley CA for 9 years, then ran Balthazar Bakery for four years (hence her sandwich and salad making prowess). Folks interested in having her cater their private events (mostly small dinner parties up to 14) can contact her by e-mail (ugwar at yahoo). Chef Stephanie isn’t a staff volunteer, but we wanted to give her a shout-out anyway in appreciation of her long-standing support of our tour.

Adam worked for the New York State Assembly in Manhattan for a number of years before returning to school to focus on urban planning at Rutgers. That experience in government led to a recognition of the built environment’s impact on peoples’ livelihoods and resource usage. His current research focuses on standard land use practice principles, valuation of green buildings, and the development of green standards for local and state governments. Adam helps us keep on top of developments in green building policy.

NESEA Chapter manager Steven Lenard dedicated himself to sustainability when he realized he may have been producing more pollution than he was cleaning up as a contractor to the Environmental Protection Agency. After getting a bachelor’s in political science and biology at the University of Chicago, Steven spent four years evaluating potential Superfund sites in New England. This inspired him to focus his studies toward a Master in City Planning at MIT on preventing contamination rather than cleaning it up. Steven is now a City Planner with the Department of City Planning working in the Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods of Brooklyn.

Jens Verhaegh, a New Jersey native, was inspired by the GreenHomeNYC monthly forums and similar events to stay motivated in his pursuit of a green career after his graduation from Ithaca College, were he first opened his mind to the concepts of sustainable development. Since first coming to a GreenHomeNYC event he has worked for EnergyStar Homes, LEED Homes and is currently living in Leicester England working as a Thermal Modeling and Sustainability Engineer. Staff Volunteer 2005-2006

Founding director Josh Radoff is the co-founder and Principal of YRG sustainability consultants (www.yrgconsultants.com) — focusing on green building consulting, corporate sustainability, greenhouse gas management, and sustainability education — with offices in New York, Boulder, Chicago, and Seattle. In previous lives, Josh has worked as an energy and climate consultant for firms like PA Consulting, the Center for Clean Air Policy, and SAIC. Josh has also published several freelance articles on green building and the environment and is a regular speaker and all-around know-it-all at conferences, community groups, and university classes on topics ranging from green building and green living, climate change, and the sustainability movement. He holds Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering and Sustainable Energy, from Columbia University and the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. Josh lives in Boulder, CO with his twin toddlers Henry and Clementine. Staff Volunteer 2002, Board Member 2003-2007

Shawna Michaud has been interested in the built environment ever since drawing street maps for her matchbox cars. She’s an illustrator and designer,
intent on marrying her love for design, research, and writing by becoming an urban planner. She has her BFA from MassArt in Boston. She discovered GreenHomeNYC while scouting out urban planning programs, and ever since she’s been a volunteer, she’s helped secure Building Green forum venues and speakers. She’s moving to Seattle for a while, to do design work at an architectural firm and to take notes on how to make NYC even more green and sustainable! Staff Volunteer 2004-2006

Daniel Harris is a researcher and consultant who holds an MS and BS in engineering of control systems from the University of Washington in Seattle. He earned his energy experience at H Power Corp. as a PEM fuel cell researcher and has expanded his area of interests to buildings and large energy projects. He is excited to be working with GreenHomeNYC to facilitate energy efficiency in society. Staff Volunteer 2002-2007

Lauren Gropper became interested in all things green as a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Canada. A steadfast GreenHomeNYC enthusiast and former staff volunteer, Lauren now splits her time between Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto, working as an independent green building and LEED consultant. Lauren works with real estate developers, builders, architects, engineers, homeowners and television producers to make their buildings, homes, apartments, and sets go green. Lauren is also a proud alumna and adjunct professor at Pratt Institute’s Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment. Staff Volunteer 2002-2006

Mark Caserta played a leading role in fighting for the city�s environment for more than twelve years, as Deputy Director of New Yorkers for Parks, Director of the Waterfront Parks Coalition, and NYC Lobbyist for the New York League of Conservation Voters. In April 2004, Mark and his wife Samantha opened and eco-friendly home and lifestyle store in Park Slope, Brooklyn, known as 3r Living. A second store in Maplewood, New Jersey, opened in October 2007. The products found in both 3r Living’s retail locations and online (www.3rliving.com) are carefully selected with the principles of reducing waste, reusing unwanted or discarded materials, and recycling in mind. Catch Mark daily on his blog: www.3rliving.blogspot.com. Board Member 2003-2006