USGBC Announces Leadership Awards

Words: Dan KamysUSGBC Announces Leadership Awards

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced the recipients of its 2012 Leadership Awards, recognizing outstanding individuals who embody the vision, leadership and commitment to the evolution of green buildings and communities as a vehicle to enhance our quality of life. The awards will be presented at the Leadership Luncheon on Nov. 15 during USGBC's Greenbuild International Conference and Expo held in San Francisco.

 
Tom Darden, Executive Director of Make It Right, a non-profit organization that builds sustainable homes and buildings for communities in need, received the Leadership in the NGO Sector Award. Make It Right has led the charge in redeveloping the Lower Ninth Ward with resource-efficient, durable homes after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
 
Healthy Building Network's Tom Lent, Policy Director and Bill Walsh, Founder, each received the Leadership in Advocacy Award. Lent has advocated for the banning of arsenic-treated wood and educates on the environmental and health hazards of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), among many initiatives. Under the leadership of Walsh, Healthy Building Network has introduced new, healthier building materials into commercial markets and shifted more than $4 billion in materials purchases from toxic materials to healthier alternatives.
 
Steve Saunders, CEO, Texas Energy Solutions, received the Leadership in the Residential Sector Award. Texas Energy Solutions is a LEED for Homes Provider, and Saunders has done extensive work to expand and advance the LEED for Homes program. 
 
Nancy Cantor, Chancellor and President, Syracuse University; Joanie Mahoney, Onondaga County Executive; and Stephanie A. Miner, Mayor of Syracuse each received the 2012 Global Community Leadership Award for their collective and collaborative efforts to foster substantive change across the Syracuse and Central New York landscape. Among their many projects: Cantor has elevated the mission of green building on Syracuse University's campus through numerous LEED building projects and a school-wide goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. County Executive Mahoney led the charge on the Save the Rain program for stormwater management and advocates for green roofs, among many sustainability initiatives. Mayor Miner has advocated for local green buildings and worked to create a vibrant, revitalized connective corridor in the city of Syracuse.
 
M. Arthur Gensler Jr., Founder, Gensler; and Donald Simon, Attorney, Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean, LLP received the President's Award. Founder of global architecture, design, planning and consulting firm, Gensler, M. Arthur Gensler has helped pioneer green building as a business visionary and legend of the design industry.
 
2012 Leadership Awards Recipients
  • Leadership in the NGO Sector: Tom Darden, executive director, Make It Right Foundation
  • Leadership in Advocacy: Tom Lent, policy director, Healthy Building Network; Bill Walsh, founder, Healthy Building Network
  • Leadership in the Residential Sector: Steve Saunders, CEO, Texas Energy Solutions
  • Global Community Leadership Award: Nancy Cantor, chancellor and president, Syracuse University; Joanie Mahoney, Onondaga County executive; Stephanie A. Miner, mayor of Syracuse
  • President's Award: M. Arthur Gensler Jr., founder, Gensler; Donald Simon, attorney, Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean, LLP.
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