GBI Board of Directors

Amlan Mukherjee, Ph.D., P.E.

Chair

Michigan Technological University

Chair, Board of Directors

Amlan Mukherjee, is a Professor – Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Michigan Technological University. Dr. Mukherjee teaches classes in Infrastructure Life Cycle Engineering, Construction Scheduling, Digital Project Delivery and Construction Modeling & Simulation. He has published in the Journal of Construction Engineering and Management (ASCE), Automation in Construction, Computing in Civil Engineering (ASCE) and Performance of Constructed Facilities (ASCE), Transportation Research Record (TRB) and various relevant conferences.

His research interests have primarily been in studying civil infrastructure systems through the lens of risk and life cycle analysis, to improve project outcomes such as project cost, performance and environmental impacts.

Dr. Mukherjee currently holds professional memberships with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Construction Research Congress (CRC). He has been involved with the construction research and education community for the last 12 years.

He received his Ph.D. from the University of Washington, M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University at Buffalo, (SUNY) and a B.E. in Civil Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India.

Kathy Loftus, CEM

Vice President Strategic Construction Projects, Energy and Facility Services

Retail Business Services

Immediate Past Chair

Kathy Loftus is the Vice President of Strategic Construction Projects, Energy and Facility Services at Retail Business Services. Her education includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Kathy spent two years with e2s developing, growing, and scaling building lifecycle optimization solutions across all sectors, and building business through creating and nurturing long-term partnerships, relationships and value. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Sustainability for Whole Foods Market, leading strategic ESG programs and together with teams innovated in many areas within the built environment, including waste & packaging, responsible sourcing, education, marketing & communication.

Luis Perez-Soto

VP Treasurer

Lennar Financial Services

Treasurer

Luis Perez-Soto graduated from the University of Miami and he is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Treasury Professional with significant experience in corporate finance, structure financing, SEC regulations, corporate accounting, and public accounting. Prior to his current role at Lennar Corp. as Vice President and Treasurer for the mortgage operations (Lennar Mortgage), Luis worked at Ryder Systems Inc. gaining substantial experience in corporate accounting and international operations; and also at Ernst & Young serving industries that include real estate, financial services, construction, banking, hospitality, and health.

As a trilingual professional, Perez-Soto brings expertise in global expansion, accounting, finance and management issues.

Tim Thiel

Sustainability & Public Affairs North America

Covestro

Chair Elect

Tim Thiel currently works in Sustainability and Public Affairs at Covestro. In this role, his focus is to help achieve the corporate mission of making Covestro truly sustainable & fully circular. He focuses on the implementation of Covestro’s strategy towards a Circular and Climate-neutral Economy. As of 2022, he is a 23-year veteran of Covestro with prior experience in strategic marketing and business development in various vertical markets, including the building and construction industry. In addition to serving on GBI’s Board, Tim represents Covestro on the Board of the 2030 Districts National Network. Additionally, Tim plays an active role in collaborating with the Pittsburgh chapter of the Green Building Alliance and serving on their district advisory committee. Sustainability and the recycling of materials is another passion that he has developed over the years leading to Tim’s current role on Covestro North America’s Circular Economy team.

A native of Pittsburgh, Tim earned his bachelor’s degree in Accounting as well as a Master’s of Science in Accounting from Robert Morris University. He also holds a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

Alison Hoagland

Principal

Mackenzie

Secretary

Alison Hoagland, an Architect and Principal at Mackenzie, has designed and delivered projects in a variety of markets, including retail, commercial, hospitality, educational, industrial, and public safety facilities. Alison is passionate about sustainable architecture, and has led many of Mackenzie’s LEED projects, and worked to develop Mackenzie’s Building Science Committee. She is a Green Globes Professional as well as a Green Globes Assessor; LEED accredited; and trained in thermographic analysis. As a leader, Alison fosters a strong team atmosphere that extends across consultant and client teams. Her attention to detail and grasp of the “big picture” of every project enables her to lead her team to success.

Consolato Gattuso

Director of Engineering

Piedmont Office Realty Trust

Consolato (Cons) Gattuso has over 30 years’ experience in engineering, design, and operations and brings extensive leadership in real estate, commercial property, and technical consulting industries to the GBI Board.

In his current role, he is responsible for developing, implementing, and enhancing engineering standards. Prior to joining Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Cons served as Senior Vice President of Technical Operation for Zeller, developing capital and engineering strategies for acquisitions. He also led Jones Lang LaSalle’s (JLL) smart buildings service, created and developed JLL’s Retrocommissioning Program and Energy Best Practices and ran the energy program for a 120 MM sq. ft. Real Estate Portfolio with Equity Office Properties.

Sara Greenwood

Principal

The Greenwood Consulting Group, LLC

Sara Greenwood is a sustainability consultant with over 16 years of experience in emerging green building practices and technologies. Her independent consulting firm, The Greenwood Consulting Group, LLC, is recognized as a Women’s Owned Business and is a leader in the high-performance building community. Her resume includes guiding project teams with more than 15-million square feet through green building certifications, including over seventy Green Globes certifications. Greenwood is a Green Globes Professional (GGP) and serves on the LEED Advisory Committee and is WELL Faculty. She has demonstrated experience with a variety of green building certifications.

She is passionate about improving the health and lifestyle of building occupants and supporting developers to achieve their performance goals.

Dain Hansen

Executive Vice President, Government Relations

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)

Dain Hansen is the Executive Vice President, Government Relations at the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) where he oversees international, federal legislative, and state policy initiatives impacting the plumbing industry in the U.S. and abroad. Dain also serves on the executive management of IAPMO’s nonprofit arm, the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH). He also serves on the Board of Directors for DigDeep and the Alliance for Water Efficiency.
Before joining IAPMO, Mr. Hansen worked in association management and Capitol Hill as a senior policy adviser for Senior Members of Congress on federal water policy. Through these experiences, he was able to gain considerable expertise in energy and water policy, including federal appropriations.

Tehmina Husain

Sustainability Consultant

Merrick & Company

Tehmina Husain has over eighteen years’ experience in the building design and construction industry. As sustainability consultant with Merrick & Company, Tehmina is a seasoned Green Globes Professional (GGP) and Guiding Principles Compliance Professional (GPCP) and provides an array of knowledge of green building certifications and the federal market.

With a background in architecture and a passion for a sustainable future, her focus shifted from the design side to guiding the design teams on sustainability during the design and construction phases of development.

John Lister

Principal

JL Architects

John Lister began his professional career with the internationally acclaimed firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill in Los Angeles. After contributing to the firms of Edward H. Fickett, FAIA, The Harris Design Group and Robinson Willis, he started John W Lister, Architect in 1988.

Originally a regional firm, JL Architects became a national firm by contributing to their client’s successes over an expanding footprint and area of influence. Mr. Lister has supported JL Architects’ clients with services from pre-site selection through construction administration, building operations and BIM.

His work on municipal boards such as the WCACOG Building Code Variance Board and Planning Commissions has helped Mr. Lister influence the future of his community and expand his knowledge, understanding, and ability to lead and be successful in representing JL Architects’ clients’ interests.

Mr. Lister continues to expand his knowledge and skill sets through application, service, volunteering and continuing education in the areas of Sustainability, Accessibility, Products and Technologies, Extended Use, Project Execution and Building Information Management.

A graduate at the University of Southern California, John enjoys running several marathons. One of Mr. Lister’s most exciting personal achievements is summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with his daughter.

Randy Mortensen

Sr. Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing

Leviton

Randy Mortensen began his career in Tinley Park, IL at Panduit Corp. as a new product engineer designing cable ties. From there, moved on to roles in product management and general management in their Network Systems division in the Chicago Area. He represented Panduit in the standards bodies at the TIA/EIA as well as the U.S Technical Advisory Group (U.S. TAG).

Mortensen also worked in new business development for Berk-Tek, served as President, Americas & EMEA at Molex Premise Networks, and spent 15 years working in various global marketing roles at Anixter before joining Leviton in 2020.

Mortensen received his RCDD designation from BICSI, and he was awarded the Distinguished Career Award from the Wire and Cable Manufacturers Alliance (WCMA).

Andrea Rutledge

President and CEO

Construction Management Association of America

Andrea Rutledge brings thirty years’ experience in association management, government, and higher education with a significant record of achievement as a collaborative leader, strategic thinker, and passionate advocate. Rutledge is the current President and CEO of the Construction Management Association of America and has previously held positions at the National Architectural Accrediting Board, Inc., American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the Institute for Educational Leadership. Rutledge was awarded honorary membership in the American Institute of Architects (Hon. AIA) in 2014.

As a Certified Association Executive with a diverse background, Rutledge brings valuable non-profit management and leadership experience to GBI’s Board.

Brenda Steinhauer

Quality Manager

W.A. Richardson Builders, LLC

Brenda has over 30 years of experience in construction and code development and holds a Bachelor’s in Construction Technology and a Master’s in Public Administration. She has worked in both the government regulatory and the private sectors. While working for Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention, she was the Inspection Manager of a staff of 50+ overseeing the construction of some of the most exciting and complex Resorts in the Country. In her current role, as the Quality Manager, for W.A. Richardson Builders, she manages a robust Quality Program which includes LEED and Green Globes applications.

Brenda previously served on the International Code Council (ICC) Board of Directors and served as the ICC Chairperson of the Sustainability, Energy, High Performance Code Action Committee (SEPCAC). As the SEPCAC chairperson she worked with sustainability experts from across the country and globally developing and presenting energy related code proposals. She is also a Master Code Professional with ICC, a certified LEED AP, Green Globes Professional, and holds a Master of Public Administration degree.

Meagan Sykes

LEED and Sustainability Consultant

Solterre Design

Growing up near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, Meagan relocated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 2016. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Statistics from Maryville College. Meagan has sustainability and project management experience in both governmental and higher education settings. Her experience in both the United States and Canada proves to be an asset for project teams.

As a LEED and sustainability consultant at Solterre, she facilitates, coordinates, and executes green rating system actions from pre-design and throughout the review process until final project certification. She has experience working with contractors and client groups for projects that have pursued certification in a multitude of green building rating systems. Meagan continues to develop her green building knowledge and experience in LEED v2009, LEED v4/4.1, Green Globes v2/v3, Fitwel, and Parksmart rating systems. She enjoys learning about new sustainable building technologies and helping clients achieve successful certification.

Sumayyah Theron

Director of Sustainability

Cyclone Energy Group

Sumayyah Theron is the first Director of Sustainability at Cyclone Energy Group. In this role she works to continuously improve and add sustainability and healthy building services to better serve their clients.
Prior to this role, she spent five years as Cyclone’s Manager of Technical Services was a Senior Project Manager at Affordable Community Energy, where she managed energy assessments, retro-commissioning projects, portfolio benchmarking, and measurement and verification of energy savings.

Prior to that, she worked as an architect and a building energy analyst in Jordan and South Africa.
Sumayyah graduated from De Montfort University in Leicester, UK with a Master of Science in Energy and Sustainable Building Design. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology.

Doug Tucker

Director, Industry and Government Relations

Cooling & Heating Division

Doug Tucker, a 30-year veteran in the fields of standards development, conformity assessment, and regulatory policy of HVAC&R equipment, at Mitsubishi Electric US Cooling & Heating (MEUS) as Director of Industry and Government Relations. In this role, he represents the interests of MEUS with federal, state and local governmental organizations, with industry trade groups and regulatory bodies, and with energy efficiency advocacy groups. Doug also ensures that Mitsubishi Electric products comply with applicable industry, federal agency, and state codes and standards.

Prior to joining Mitsubishi Electric in 2014, Doug directed the international standards activities of ASHRAE, managing the development of ISO standards for indoor environmental quality, refrigeration & air-conditioning, and solar thermal applications. Preceding his 15 years with ASHRAE, Doug was engaged for over 10 years in various engineering and management roles with Intertek/ETL Testing Laboratories.

Doug currently serves on the Green Building Initiative Consensus Body for ANSI/GBI 01, Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings, ASHRAE SSPC 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, and on various committees of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). He was recently appointed to the U.S. Department of Energy Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi-Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps working group.

He received his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his MBA in International Business from Georgia State University and has held a Professional Engineer license in Georgia and Florida.

Simon Turner

Founder

Building Cognition

In 1987 Simon Turner joined Healthy Buildings – a small consulting firm which specialized in indoor air quality. The firm grew to be a pioneer and leader in the field, helping commercial real estate owners and managers become leaders of their own in the field of indoor environmental performance. Simon earned a LEED AP credential in 2009 and a WELL AP credential in 2016. Simon became CEO of Healthy Buildings in 2006 and sold the firm in 2019. Now helps other CEOs and real estate executives find ways to make their buildings more productive and he serve as an advisor on various Boards.

Turner’s interest for the past 30 years has been the impact of buildings and their features on human cognition and health. He has extensive experience in the building sciences as they relate to human performance, including HVAC, air quality and microbiology. He became a nationally recognized and published figure in these fields, and a sought after speaker. Turner was recently honored as a Life Member of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), is past Vice Chair of the GBCI Credentialing Steering Committee, past Chair of the BOMA Orange County Government Affairs Committee, and was a volunteer member of the IWBI ad hoc Global Coronavirus Taskforce.

Robin Yochum

Energy Program Manager

Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy

As an Energy Program Manager with the (GOE), Ms. Yochum works on advancing energy efficiency, climate, and sustainability policies to achieve carbon emission reductions in the built environment. Ms. Yochum joined the GOE team in 2016 and her responsibilities include participating in the development and implementation of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) on a three-year cycle, the development and adoption of appliance standards including the most recent adoption of minimum efficiency standards for general service lamps and providing no cost energy efficient improvements for low-income seniors. Ms. Yochum represents Nevada on the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) Buildings Committee as one of the state Co-Chairs, on the US Climate Alliance (USCA) Building and Appliance working groups and has been appointed as one of the Vice Chairs of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Residential Consensus Committee. Ms. Yochum is a LEED Green Associate and is also GPRO Certified for green building and sustainable practices.

The mission of the GOE is to ensure the wise development of Nevada’s energy resources in harmony with local economic needs and to position Nevada to lead the nation in renewable energy production, energy conservation, and the exportation of energy.

GOE implements the laws as defined in Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapters 701, 701a, and 701b; manages energy-related programs; facilitates cooperation between key stakeholders; advises the Governor on energy policy; and collaborates with our local, regional, and federal partners to ensure a reliable and sustainable energy system.

Tim Atkinson

Vice President of Sales

Stimson Lumber Company

Emeritus Director

Tim Atkinson is vice president of sales for Stimson Lumber Company and has more than 20 years of experience in the industry in both operations and sales. As chair of GBI, he brings experience in promotion, design, and adoption of sustainable materials that improve the building environment. Atkinson also brings expertise as a nonprofit leader with the Pacific Northwest Association of Rail Shippers where he serves as President.

Jay Thomas

Vice President Sustainability, Executive Director

Vinyl Institute, The Vinyl Sustainability Council

Emeritus Director

Jay Thomas serves as the Vice President of Sustainability for the Vinyl Institute and the Executive Director of the Vinyl Sustainability Council. In these roles he is responsible for developing and implementing the strategies and tactics that support the sustainability mission and policies of the Vinyl Institute.

Through the Vinyl Sustainability Council, Jay is leading the industry’s voluntary initiative to advance its contribution to sustainable development.

Jay has is a certified Green Globes Professional and a registered Six Sigma Lean Black Belt Professional. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University and an M.B.A. from University of Massachusetts.

Ray Tonjes

Owner

Ray Tonjes Builder

Emeritus Director

Ray Tonjes is the President and founder of Ray Tonjes Builder, Inc., a homebuilding company based in Austin, Texas which specializes in mainstream, high performance custom homes and renovations.

Ray has been a proponent of energy efficient construction since the energy crisis of the 1970’s. In 1985, he became one of the first “Austin Energy Star” builders in Austin as part of their initial aggressive conservation program. This program evolved into the nation’s first green building program (established 1991). Ray continues to advocate at all levels for the improvement of energy efficiency and participation in green building programs.

A 38-year veteran of the home building industry, Ray is Chair Emeritus of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Sustainable & Green Building Subcommittee, having served as the Chairman from 2001-2008, 2017, 2018 and a founding member since 1999. He also served (2008-2009) as a NAHB National Vice President and a member of the NAHB Green Building Task Force.

Ray was the founding Director/Chairman of the Board (2004-2014), Board of Directors, 2004-present, for the Green Building Initiative, a national non-profit organization (est. 2004). He has also served on the City of Austin’s “Zero-Energy Capable Home 2015” Task Force, Energy Efficiency Upgrades Task Force, and the State of Texas Residential Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (HB3070). He was the Vice Chairman of the ICC-700 (National Green Building Standard) Consensus Committee from 2011-2012

Ray was the 2005 President of the Texas Association of Builders(TAB), the 2003 Chairman of the NAHB Custom Home Builder Committee and the 1998 President of the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin. In 2009, Ray was a finalist for the inaugural Hanley Award for Vision and Leadership in Sustainable Housing. In November 2016, he was honored as the 20th inductee into the TAB Housing Hall of Honor.

A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Ray made Austin his home following his (1971-1977) service as a pilot with the United States Air Force. He and his wife, Rosemary, have two grown children, and granddaughter.