Benz of Sasaki to chair USGBC's Mass. Membership Forum

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Massachusetts Membership Forum, a broad-based volunteer membership organization focused on the design and execution of green building technology, advocacy and education, announced today that its leadership council has elected six new officers. The Green Roundtable, the Massachusetts affiliate of the USGBC, supported the formation of the Massachusetts Membership Forum in mid-2007.  With more than 800 members today, the Forum provides opportunities for individuals to participate in educational, technical, and advocacy activities while networking with other industry professionals and lay people.  The Forum will partner with the Green Roundtable to organize and develop volunteer activities. "We are fortunate to have a well established green community in Massachusetts, but there is a lot more to be done," said Steve Benz, chairman of the Forum.  "The Forum is creating a new model for membership participation by working in partnership with the Green Roundtable, the Massachusetts Affiliate to the US Green Building Council." The Forum has among its goals to build membership and to facilitate communications and cooperation among green building professionals state-wide, from the Cape and Islands to Springfield and North Adams, and to keep the community energized and up to date on new technology and projects. The participating members of the Forum recently elected a 19-person leadership council to oversee the formation of planning committees, organizational structure and governance.   The leadership council of the Forum elected the following officers: * Chair:  Stephen Benz, PE, LEED AP, principal, Sasaki Associates, Inc. * Vice-Chair:  William Holland, AIA, LEED AP, senior associate, Margulies & Associates * Treasurer:  Mark Rollins, LEED AP, project manager, Shawmut Design and Construction * Secretary:  Robert Brooks, LEED AP, senior associate, Halvorson Design Partnership * Member-at-Large:  Martine Dion, AIA, LEED AP, sustainable design director, Symmes, Maini and McKee Associates * Representative to the USGBC Regional Council:  Norman Lamonde, LEED AP, sustainability manager, Turner Construction Company. The Forum has initiated interest-area sub-committees (communications/membership, education, deeper green, and regional view) to promote community involvement and enhance green building program activities. The group is also affiliated with the young professionals group called Emerging Green Builders. The USGBC is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. USGBC is composed of more than 13,500 organizations that are working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. For more information, please visit www.usgbc.org The USGBC developed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which is a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED is a practical rating tool for green building design and construction that provides immediate and measurable results for building owners and occupants.