Building for the Future: Smart Buildings & Sustainability

Adam Shelly is Project Development Director with Ecosystem, based in New York City. He works at the intersection of sustainability and technical innovation, bringing together energy expertise and knowledge of the NYC energy landscape to identify potential infrastructure modernization that addresses both asset renewal priorities and carbon reduction mandates. He also serves as a key member of NYSERDA's Technical Advisory team for the Empire Building Challenge, which provides $50 million to a group of leading building owners to test innovative new green retrofit solutions. Adam is a P.E. in several states, a C.E.M. and a licensed electrical contractor. He has an MS in Sustainable Engineering from Villanova University, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.

Over the 20 years of his career, Adam Jennings has had a range of experiences, from refueling a nuclear aircraft carrier to installing PV systems and consulting on environmental design. This variety of work has allowed Adam to realize that most problems have multiple solutions and has led him to become very flexible and collaborative when working with his peers. Inspired by the successful completion of projects, Adam always listens to the needs of clients and enjoys working with them to find the ideal solution. For instance, he brought his expertise to the implementation of a photovoltaic-thermal hybrid solar system in Boston, which was the largest rooftop hybrid installation in the United States at the time. As Energy & Sustainability, and Commissioning Department Director, Adam makes sure to find time to learn new skills to better serve clients. He is a Professional Engineer, Certified Energy Manager, LEED BD+C, ID+C, and Homes accredited professional, WELL accredited professional, Fitwel Ambassador, and a Certified Building Commissioning Professional. Adam holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University, an MS in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University, and an MBA from Boston College.

Charlie Benzyk is the founder and Principal Consultant at Energy Lifecycle Management Consulting. ELM Consulting was formed in 2015 with the belief that ALL stakeholders should win when an efficiency project is planned holistically and the goal is maximizing the lifetime value. Over the years, Charlie has worked to reduce the amount of information arbitrage between vendors, owners, developers and utilities in the CRE space as it relates to efficiency and sustainability projects. As a consultant, Mr. Benzyk has experience working with existing building portfolios, new construction and organizational ESG roadmapping. ELM Consulting is currently helping its clients complete capital planning to prepare for BERDO compliance and our shared all-electric future including EV charging, heat pumps and renewable energy. Prior to starting ELM Consulting, Charlie was responsible for developing, managing and measuring a comprehensive energy management program for two of the largest school districts in Connecticut. During this time his efforts led to millions of dollars of energy cost avoidance through behavioral changes and implementing cutting edge technology across the nearly 100 sites. In 2014, Mr. Benzyk proudly received the Power of Change award for making Scofield Magnet Middle School the first 100% LED school in the state of CT. In 2015, Stamford Public Schools became the state's first Green Ribbon school district under his management. This extensive experience of evaluating and procuring projects in the public sector led to Mr. Benzyk's continued work managing LED, Demand Response and EV Charging contracts available to all public entities in the state of California on behalf of a JPA called SPURR. Charlie believes in being a lifelong learner and is an MBA Candidate at the UConn School of Business. He is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional (CLEP), HERS Rater and pursuing a WELL Certification. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from Duke University with a focus on Architectural Engineering.

Heather Henriksen has served as Harvard University’s chief sustainability officer since 2008, advising the President and senior leadership on strategy and building an organizational change enterprise. Heather directs the Office for Sustainability which oversees the implementation of the Harvard’s comprehensive Sustainability Plan (co-created with faculty and students in 2014) and the University’s ambitious new Climate Action Plan (to be fossil fuel-free by 2050 and fossil fuel-neutral by 2026), which builds upon the 2016 achievement of Harvard’s initial science-based climate goal. The Office for Sustainability has expanded a multi-disciplinary living laboratory research program that partners with faculty and students to use the campus as a test bed for piloting and sharing innovative solutions to real-world sustainability challenges. A nationally recognized leader in healthier building materials, Heather is leading an effort with faculty within Harvard to translate research into practice, in partnership with business and non-profit leaders, to address the use of chemicals of concern in common building products, as well as more broadly addressing health and well-being in the built environment. Heather also advises courses throughout Harvard College and the professional graduate schools and speaks nationally and internationally on sustainability. Heather is on the Board of Directors of the Health Product Declaration Collaborative and Built Environment Plus. Heather serves as Advisory Committee Co-chair of the International Sustainable Campus Network, and she is a member of Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2). She advises the Higher Education Working Group of the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, co-managed by Harvard, and the City of Cambridge’s Compact for a Sustainable Future. She is a member of the Sustainability Working Group for the Council of Ivy Presidents. Heather holds a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Kathy leads all construction and design implementation for MP Boston and assists in all development activities. She excels at running large-scale urban construction projects and is an advocate for local preservation, ensuring that all projects uphold the rich history of Boston.

Ryan Hayden is the Chief Digital and Strategy Officer for CREF, the leading provider of smart building and sustainable energy saving solutions for healthcare and education clients globally. Ryan manages the ongoing development of CREF’s smart building platform, iCREF, which optimizes the costs of managing assets by integrating real-time equipment, occupancy, regulatory, and energy data. He also oversees the company’s sustainability-related services, working closely with clients to achieve greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction, energy optimization, and conservation goals amid the rapidly changing regulatory landscape. Ryan also helps lead the Energy Optimization Program for the nation’s largest, private, for-profit health system, Steward Health Care. Recently, CREF, along with Steward, committed to the White House & HHS Climate Action Pledge to achieve a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030, and net zero carbon emissions by 2050. He was recently a Partner at PwC helping lead the Healthcare Analytics, Automation and AI team, and spent the last 20 years working with clients to navigate the data revolution. He graduated from Bentley University with a Master’s in both Business Administration and Computer Information Systems, and Northeastern University with a Master's in Clinical Informatics. He also holds a dual undergrad degree in Pre-Medicine and Business Administration from Syracuse University, and Environmental Sciences from SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry (ESF).

Trained in Lean thinking with a passion for healthy spaces and sustainability, Laurel continually seeks new ways to disrupt the status-quo within the design and construction field, both at a project level and industry-wide. As Dyer Brown’s Sustainable Design Leader, she routinely challenges her colleagues and peers to consider the wide ranging impacts of their design and project management decisions. As Director of Outreach and Engagement with mindfulMATERIALS, Laurel drives development and adoption of the industry-led platform for aligned materials sustainability data. She also serves as co-chair of the Carbon Leadership Forum Boston chapter's Reuse Subcommittee, focused on construction and demolition waste diversion and material salvage and reuse.

As Senior Director of Engineering Services Division at Shawmut Design and Construction, Tom brings 40 years of mechanical construction experience—including 30 years of mechanical systems design experience—to the $1.3 billion national construction management firm’s senior leadership team. He is a member of Shawmut’s Center of Excellence and also leads the firm’s Virtual Construction and Sustainability departments. Tom holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University and is a USGBC LEED® Accredited Professional Building Design + Construction (LEED® AP BD+C).

With over 15 years of experience providing risk advice and consultative services to contractors and real estate owners/developers, Dustin brings expertise and experience in risk adjusted financing vehicles. With a focus on supporting the development and strategy of the Real Estate and Construction Groups, Dustin provides counsel to other related NFP entities delivering a seamless cross border service platform for clients domestic and abroad. Through the efforts of supporting the Real Estate and Construction Groups, he works towards market and product development, talent growth, and market relationships. Dustin is well versed across all lines of insurance providing senior level support with risk financing strategy, negotiation, design, and execution across the spectrum of operational and development activities as well as brokerage services, including casualty, property and builder’s risk, surety, professional and environmental liability, project-specific programs, and alternative risk finance. Prior to joining NFP, Dustin served as a Broker and Client Executive for JLT with a focus and specialization in the Real Estate and Construction Industries. Dustin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, and received his Masters of Business Administration and Certificate in Financial Analysis and Valuation from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Dustin has also earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designations.

Ben Myers is the Senior Vice President, Sustainability, at Boston Properties (BXP), the largest publicly-traded developer, owner and manager of Class A office properties in the United States. He is an engineer and non-routine project manager with a passion for resource efficiency, healthy workspaces and urban ecosystems. His primary responsibilities include ESG strategy and implementation, enterprise energy and water management, green building initiatives, distributed generation and storage, energy conservation measure implementation, resilience planning, education, communication and public reporting. He holds an M.A. in Urban Environmental Leadership from Lesley University and a B.S. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Under Mr. Myers’ leadership, BXP has been recognized as an industry leader in ESG and sustainability. • In 2019, BXP ranked among the top 4% of all real estate companies in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (“GRESB”) assessment. 2019 was the eighth consecutive year that BXP has ranked in the top quartile of GRESB assessment participants, earning another “Green Star” recognition and the highest GRESB 5-star Rating. • In 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019, BXP was selected by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“Nareit”) as a Leader in the Light Award winner. In 2019, BXP earned the “Most Innovative” Leader in the Light Award. This award is given to only one company and is the highest achievement in sustainability innovation for all REITs and real estate companies. • BXP is a corporate member of the U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC) and has a long history of owning, developing and operating properties that are certified under USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental DesignTM (LEED®) rating system. The company has LEED certified over 26 million square feet of our portfolio, of which 93% is certified at the highest Gold and Platinum levels. • BXP has been an active participant in the green bond market since 2018, issuing $1.85 billion of green bonds, which provide access to sustainability-focused investors interested in the positive environmental externalities of our business activities. • BXP has been named a Green Lease Leader at the highest Gold level by the Institute for Market Transformation and the U.S. Department of Energy for exhibiting a strong commitment to high performance and sustainability in buildings and best practices in leasing. BXP’s master lease form includes green lease clauses that support a more sustainable tenant-landlord relationship. • Since adopting public goals in 2016, the company has made great strides towards meeting its targets to reduce energy use intensity by 32%, reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 45% and reduce water use intensity by 30% by the year 2025. The company achieved its 45% greenhouse gas emissions intensity goal six years early in 2019 and advanced our commitment to responsible climate action measures by pursuing the adoption of a science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction target. • As a result of BXP’s efforts to improve energy efficiency and cut emissions, the company was named a 2020 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. • BXP was named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek. The company ranked 122nd on Newsweek’s 2020 list of America’s 300 Most Responsible Companies, the second highest ranking given to a public REIT and the highest ranking of any office company.

Leah comes to Northeastern from the City of Providence, Rhode Island, where she served as the Director of Sustainability for the past seven years. Under her leadership and in partnership with frontline community members, the office transformed its work to focus on environmental justice and center racial equity. She was also a co-creator of Providence’s 2019 Climate Justice Plan that was recognized nationally and continues to serve as a model for communities all over the United States. Prior to her role in Providence, Leah managed the City of Boston’s citywide sustainability initiative, Greenovate Boston, and led the development of Boston’s 2014 Climate Action.

Joëlle Jahn is a Senior Associate, Technical Principal, and Project Manager leading WSP’s Built Ecology group in Boston. She works closely with clients to provide energy and carbon benchmarking, Net Zero Carbon approach, renewable energy analysis, and broad sustainability strategy for a variety of project types. Joelle brings an ability to organize, analyze, and manage data while leading clients to develop Net Zero Energy and Carbon goals. Joëlle is a Technical Advisor to the City of Boston’s Net Zero Carbon Zoning Code and Co-Chair of the Carbon and Energy Roundtable for Built Environment Plus. She has been invited as a guest lecturer and design critic at the BAC, Wentworth, Northeastern School of Architecture, Cornell University and the Academy of the Arts San Francisco.

Zach Livingston is the Head of Customer Growth at Cleartrace where he is responsible for overseeing the entirety of the customer journey while operating at the intersection of Business Development, Customer Success, Market Development, and Product Strategy. Zach was previously the 'Director of Sales - USA' at AlsoEnergy and 'VP of Sales/Head of Americas' at Locus Energy. Zach is from the New York City area but currently resides in Austin, TX, where Cleartrace is headquartered.

Blake Jackson, AIA is the US Northeast Sustainability Design Leader for Stantec. His work focuses on the nexus between sustainability, wellness, and resiliency, serving as a company-wide resource for projects, particularly those seeking third-party certification/s. He has 17+ years’ experience in planning, retail, hospitality, labs, healthcare, commercial, higher-education, workplace and multifamily projects. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, GA and his Master of Architecture in Sustainable Environmental Design from the AA Graduate School in London, UK. Blake is a prolific author, speaker and educator, and he recently served as the Vice President for Advocacy (2016-2018) with the Boston Society of Architects (BSA). In 2015, he was named a national “40 Under 40” built environment professional by Building Design + Construction Magazine. In his spare time, he enjoys distance running, travel, cooking, and spending time with his dog, Trudy.

Ms. King, Executive Vice President of Sustainability and Resiliency at AEI Consultants, is both an environmental engineer and an attorney specializing in navigating sustainability and regulatory compliance to ensure business continuity and operational objectives. Ms. King is focusing on sustainable solutions with clients as they focus on Environment, Social, Governance (ESG), climate resiliency, and net zero objectives. Ms. King is working closely with AEI’s existing building assessment, capital planning, construction risk management, energy efficiency, industrial hygiene, environmental health & safety, zoning and permitting, renewable energy, and resilience consulting expertise to provide full-service sustainability services to clients. Ms. King holds a BS in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Northeastern University, a MS in Engineering Management from Tufts University, and a JD from Massachusetts School of Law. She is a Professional Engineer licensed in MA, CT, RI, VT, NH, ME, NY, and NC, as well as a LEED Accredited Professional. Ms. King is on the ASTM International’s Task Group 62996 developing a Building Resiliency Standard within ASTM E06 Performance of Buildings. Ms. King is also on the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council (CREFC) Sustainability Initiative/ESG committee and Transparency subcommittee focused on evaluating and identifying key metrics and reporting standards for assessment of ESG risks and regulatory compliance.

Robert Cooper is co-founder and CEO at Embue, the first smart building platform for multifamily apartment building portfolios that helps buildings reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and makes buildings more comfortable for residents. Robert co-founded his first startup after graduate school, providing mission critical software for customers such as NYSE, semiconductor fabs, and the US Government. For the last decade, he has been learning about and improving the built environment. He holds a PhD in computer science from the University of Cambridge and a masters degree in sustainability from Harvard University.

Dennis Carlberg is the Associate Vice President for Sustainability at Boston University and Adjunct Assistant Professor where he focuses on building the programs necessary for mitigating BU’s impacts on climate change, preparing its campuses for climate change, and supporting the integration of sustainability into the curriculum including the creation and administration of the BU Campus Climate Lab. Prior to joining BU in 2009, Dennis was a principal at Arrowstreet, a Boston-based architectural firm where he focused on sustainable design. He began his career at the Solar Energy Research Institute (now the National Renewable Energy Lab) conducting daylighting research to reduce building energy consumption and improve the indoor environment. Dennis co-chairs the Boston Green Ribbon Commission Higher Ed Working Group Executive Committee and is the University's Liaison to the University Climate Change Coalition. He co-chaired ULI Boston’s Climate Resilience Committee and served on many sustainability committees for ULI and Technical Advisory Groups for the City of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and national organizations. At BU he serves on the Antiracism Working Group and co-chairs its Sustainability Subcommittee. He served on the Climate Action Plan Task Force and the advisory boards of the Institute for Sustainable Energy, City Planning and Urban Affairs, and led the Sustainable Operations section of the BU Strategic Plan. He received his Master of Architecture from MIT and his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from UC Berkeley.

Emily leads the sustainability program for Federal Realty Investment Trust, covering a 25 million square foot portfolio comprised primarily of open-air shopping centers in addition to mixed use properties. In this role, she is responsible for creating and implementing an ESG strategy. Primary components of this strategy are to advancing their GHG emissions and energy usage reduction targets, expanding on the $2.3b expected investment in LEED certified projects, and managing their directly owned 13.6 MW solar portfolio. Additionally, she is responsible for reporting on Federal’s progress and activities through GRESB, CDP, our annual sustainability report, and a variety of other publications and reporting mechanisms.

Christopher (Chris) Gray is the Chief Technology Officer of RENU Communities, an affiliate of Taurus Investment Holdings. As CTO Chris oversees the technoeconomic evaluation of RENU’s carbon-neutral energy efficiency retrofit program as well as the company’s technology and platform development. Chris brings an extensive background in energy and engineering. He spent over 15 years working within the energy industry in a variety of roles including technology R&D, sales, key accounts, and business development.

Chuck Hurchalla is the president of Evolution Sustainability Group. He has over 30 years of experience in the deregulated energy markets, including natural gas, electricity and petroleum products. He is considered a subject matter expert on hedging strategies and the fundamental and technical drivers of movements in the energy markets, including renewable products. In addition, he has been instrumental in helping clients develop comprehensive energy management solutions that meet or exceed energy efficiency and sustainability goals.