According to the Rhode Island Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Steven Kitchin, vice president of corporate education and training at New England Institute of Technology, has been elected RIGBC chairman. Connie McGreavy, founder of the council and principal of Conserve by Design, LLC, has been appointed executive director.
The RIGBC has named the following to its board of directors:
* Larry Gemma, executive vice president, GEM Plumbing and Heating, will oversee the education/outreach/training committee (non LEED programs);
* Dennis McCarthy, principal, MGD Associates, will oversee the program committee.
New officers include:
* vice chair, Daniel Paquette, chief sustainability officer for Woodmeister Master Builders;
* treasurer, Justin Bownds, financial advisor/wealth management, Merrill Lynch;
* and secretary, Holly Grosvenor, associate, Newport Collaborative Architects.
According to Kitchin, "We at New England Institute of Technology are proud to be the host site for the Rhode Island Green Building Council. NEIT and the RIGBC have a mutual goal to educate the Rhode Island community on the importance of a greener environment and to prepare the workforce of the future. The primary mission of the RIGBC is to transform the way buildings are designed, built and operated in the state of Rhode Island in order to promote environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, aesthetically pleasing and durable communities that protect the state's cultural heritage and natural environment and improve the quality of life."
The RIGBC will also provide education, outreach and economic development opportunities for its members, and is committed to assist in the training of the current and future workforce for the green collar jobs of tomorrow. The chapter offers monthly educational seminars, speakers for various outreach events as well as support for student groups and education for legislators on the advantages of green building and energy efficiency.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) training workshops and LEED exam study sessions are available for those interested in obtaining U.S. Green Building Council professional credentials. LEED is the USGBC's green building standard.
The Rhode Island Green Building Council is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and an official chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. For more information, please visit the RI Green Building Council's website at www.usgbcri.org.