About Us

Steve O’Rourke

Steve works as the Manager of Greentech Renewables – St. Louis. After 25 years consulting in marketing and information technologies, he transitioned into the renewable energy industry in 2008. He has since worked with commercial, industrial and nonprofit organizations to better manage their energy use and offset reduced demand with clean, renewable solar photovoltaic energy. In addition to his work with Greentech Renewables, Steve provides energy management services to a select group of clients in his consulting business, EnerGuidance. His blog includes a variety of published articles and other musings on topics related to energy and sustainability.

Steve is a NABCEP-certified PV Technical Sales professional. He has served on the board of Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association (MOSEIA), as Sustainability Committee Chair of the Corporate Council for the Missouri Botanical Garden, and on the Energy and Environment Committee for the St. Louis Regional Chamber. He is currently the Director of Energy Efficiency for Urban EcoBlock and treasurer on the board of the Amicus O&M Cooperative. Steve has been a member of Missouri Gateway GBC since 2010, and served chair of the marketing committee and mentor for the Green Schools Quest for three years. He was elected to the board in 2015 and served on the finance committee before being elected Treasurer in 2019 and chair in 2022. 

Chris Ruth

Chris is the Mid-Missouri Controls Manager for Integrated Facility Services, where he has worked for 17 years in various capacities. In his current role, he designs and manages the company’s Building Automation and Energy management operations across the State of Missouri. As a Building Automation Professional, Chris’s goal is to help building managers and owners save energy and money by giving them the knowledge and tools to manage their building’s environmental systems efficiently, while still maintaining optimum comfort for the building’s occupants. Chris is skilled in sales, estimating, engineering, project management, design, installation, programming, and support of innovative microprocessor-based networkable systems for the control and monitoring of building environments. He has over 10 years of experience with small and large group facilitation, networking, volunteer training and engagement, strategic planning, and fundraising.

Chris is a member of the Missouri Gateway GBC Engagemnt & Outreach Committee and has served as a Green Schools Quest mentor. He is also a member of ASHRAE, BOMA, and FOSPA.

Craig Webster

Craig is an Electrical Engineer with 20 years of experience. He is currently an Associate Principal with BR+A, where he’s been for 11 years. He has extensive experience in the field of electrical engineering for a variety of building types including academic, healthcare, and science and technology. Craig participates in the planning, programming, design and construction of projects, and helps clients understand their engineering needs in relation to their programming requirements. He has extensive experience working on multi-disciplinary teams with owners, architects, contractors, and end users. Craig is a registered professional engineer, a LEED accredited professional, and an active member of the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. As the Managing Principal of the St. Louis office, he oversees the office management and design including overall project responsibility, technical product quality, and project engineering/management. Craig has served on Missouri Gateway’s Engagement and Outreach Committee for five years and chaired the committee for three years. Outside of the office, Craig enjoys spending time with his family, camping, skiing, and brewing beer.

Annie Smith

Annie is a Mechanical Engineer at Introba. In her role there as Director of Energy Services, she has experience focusing on strategy and business-oriented decisions to maintain client relationships and develop projects related to energy savings for clients.

Annie is currently the ASHRAE Technical Committee 7.6 Building Energy Performance Secretary and Committee Voting Member. She was previously the ASHRAE St. Louis Chapter Historian. Annie has served on the Missouri Gateway GBC Advocacy Committee and is the designated Green Champion for Introba’s sponsorship.

Hannah Rae Roth

Hannah joined the Missouri Gateway GBC board in 2018, serving as chair in 2021 as well as on the Strategic Planning Task Force from 2019 – 2021. As an active member of the Education Committee, Hannah has created several programs on building materials including an in-depth session for practicing architects, designers and manufacturers discussing actual criteria used in material selections for building projects and a full-day Continuing Education Program on Building Materials and how LEED v4 will evaluate them. She also helped organize a lunch program for CSI, AIA and MGGBC members on Water. Following on the successful reception of this program, she led the planning committee for a full-day session that discussed Water as a national security issue, with a focus on the Mississippi River Basin.

In April 2021, Hannah published the book, Green Building Materials Manual, in collaboration with two colleagues. From 2010 – 2020, Hannah was a Lecturer in both the architecture and the environmental studies programs at Washington University in St. Louis, with a deep focus on building materials and the investigation of their environmental impact. From 2010-2012, she participated in a research grant studying Materials Sustainability Standards (MSS). As a member of the interdisciplinary research team composed of faculty and students from the Sam Fox School of Design and the School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis she investigated MSS and the eco-labels that are used to certify compliance with them. As a former Vice President of Marketing for a national construction company, Hannah actively worked on construction management teams for several decades. She has in-depth knowledge of the design process, decision making process, contracting and construction processes for large complex buildings such as hospitals and digital fabrication facilities.

Erik Biggs

Erik is a licensed architect with over 10 years design experience. His projects range from civic and cultural institutions to retail and medical. He holds a Master in Architecture from the University of Kansas and was participant of the Studio 804 program. Erik currently serves on the Board of Directors for AIA St. Louis and as Secretary on the Board of Directors for AIA Missouri. Previously he has served as Director on the Board of Association of Preservation Technology – Central Plains and Chair of Young Architects Forum St. Louis. As a St. Louis City resident, he has a passion for historic St. Louis architecture and preservation. In his free time he volunteers for Rebuilding Together Build Days and as a Speaker Facilitator at TEDx St. Louis.

Julie Villa

Julie Villa is a licensed architect with nearly 20 years’ experience in commercial, institutional, and residential design. She joined Ittner Cordogan Clark in 2017 to refocus her efforts on educational design. Since then, her skills in planning, programming, client management, and marketing have become assets to the firm. She is the firm’s Director of Planning and was recently promoted to the position of Associate Vice President.

Julie earned her bachelor’s degree in Art History and English at Saint Louis University, and a dual master’s in Architecture and Urban Design with an emphasis in Environmental Issues at Washington University in St. Louis. She has volunteered for a number of organizations throughout her career, but her involvement in the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council has been her longest and dearest commitment. Julie has participated in the Education committee, Engagement & Outreach committee, and served as chair of the Higher Education and Emerging Professionals committee for 3 years. She also participated in a LEED Community Project and won the MGGBC photo contest in 2014. She has been a LEED AP since 2008 and has worked on several LEED projects. She is a member of Cordogan Clark’s Sustainability Committee, a proponent of the firm’s AIA 2030 Commitment, and a founding contributor to the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

In her spare time, Julie enjoys gardening, running, and cooking vegetarian food. She lives with her partner and their 7-year-old son. Their favorite family activities include camping, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors together.

Brian Nolan

Brian is an attorney with Carmody MacDonald and concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, banking and commercial finance, corporate transactions and business law. He represents a wide array of business and individual clients, with an emphasis on real estate and commercial and industrial lending transactions and workouts, negotiation and drafting of various contracts and business agreements, and all aspects of real estate development, including the negotiation of property acquisitions, leasing (for both landlords and tenants) and the utilization of tax credits and other incentive programs for development and financing. Brian has a BA in Philosophy from Universitiy of Missouri and a law degree from Saint Louis University. Brian joined Carmody MacDonald P.C. in 2005 after serving as a judicial law clerk for the late Honorable Lawrence G. Crahan of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. He is involved with the St. Louis Chapter of the Risk Management Association and the Mid-County Family YMCA Board of Advisors. Brian has served on the Missouri Gateway Advocacy Committee since 2014 and served on the board from 2018-2020.

Kathy Sorkin

A native of St. Louis, Kathy began her career in New York City as a VISTA Volunteer. She later served as Coordinator of the Mayor’s Urban Action Task Force in New York City and Director of Operations for the Association of Neighborhood Housing Developers underwritten by the Ford Foundation. Kathy returned to St. Louis in 1978, continued to work on housing development initiatives with non-profit community-based developers and served on the St. Louis Community Development Agency’s Board of Commissioners. Later, she led two successful construction disbursing departments at St. Louis title companies which dominated the market under her leadership for over 15 years. Her appointment as Vice-President of the St. Louis Equity Fund afforded her the opportunity to work with corporate investors, non-profit and for-profit developers, architects, attorneys, and general contractors throughout the region on complex developments utilizing an array of tax credit and public financing programs including those credits associated with affordable housing and historic preservation. Later as Chief Operating Officer of E.M. Harris Construction Company and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Consultants, Kathy worked on some of the region’s most challenging projects and interacted with all of the financial partners and elected officials involved in these public/private partnerships. She joined Rosemann & Associates as Director of Business Development in 2011, where she focused on enhancing the firm’s profile as a leading residential multi-family design firm which focused from its outset on green building and energy conservation. Just before finally retiring in 2022 she served as Chief Operating Officer of Seneca Commercial Real Estate, an innovator in office design and provided consulting services for Roanoke Construction Company, a leader in multi-family affordable new construction and renovation along with minority and women owned business enterprise participation. Kathy continues to volunteer and serves on the boards of the EDRST Commission in University City which she chairs and assists with fundraising activities with the Friends of City Garden Montessori School.

James Roseberry

James received dual Bachelor’s degrees in Architecture and Architectural Engineering from Kansas State University in 1995. After spending seven years in the industry, James joined Trivers in 2001 as an Architectural Designer.  He became a licensed architect in 2004, a LEED Accredited Professional in 2007 and a Project Manager in 2012. In 2016, he was promoted to an Associate of the firm. A founding member of the Trivers Green Team, James manages the firm’s 2030 Commitment response, is lead author of the firm’s Sustainable Action Plan, and is involved in many of the firm’s LEED projects, including the first LEEDv4 renovation at Washington University.  James is a charter member of the BuildingGreen Small Firm Sustainable Design Leaders Peer Network and the AIA St. Louis Chapter Committee on the Environment. James has presented on sustainable design topics at regional, national and international levels.

James has served on the St. Louis Chapter AIA Board of Directors and previously served as the Missouri Gateway GBC Program Committee Chair.

Abigail Sirevaag

Abigail is a Sustainable Project Leader at Edward Jones. Her career so far has provided opportunities for the advancement of sustainability in the areas of interior design and corporate social responsibility. During her tenure in Facilities at Edward Jones, she has had the opportunity to drive environmental sustainability strategy and change. Abigail has a master’s degree in Sustainability from St. Louis University and is an adjunct instructor at Maryville University, teaching an Issues in Sustainable Design Course that will review general green building design concepts, the LEED rating system, the WELL Building Standard, and serve as high-level preparation for the LEED Green Associate exam.

Abigail is a member of the Missouri Gateway GBC Green Schools Committee. Previously she served on the Education Committee, co-chairing the committee in 2018.

Joe Abernathy

Joe is currently a Sustainability Consultant for St. Louis City SC. He previously served as the Vice-President of Facilities Planning for the St. Louis Cardinals, where he was responsible for the project management of capital improvement projects at Busch Stadium, totaling over $50 million since it opened in 2006. Joe has been a leading promoter of sustainability in the St. Louis area for over 10 years. He was one of the founders of the St. Louis Cardinals “4 A Greener Game” sustainability program in 2008. 

Joe has been a featured speaker on sustainability for the Green Business Challenge, Resource Recycling National Conference and the Missouri Recycling Association. He currently serves as the Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Stadium Managers Association and also serves on the Board of Directors of the Green Sports Alliance. Previously, as a member of the Stadium Operations Advisory Committee for Major League Baseball and Co-Chairman of the Sustainable Operations Sub-committee, Joe spearheaded the benchmarking of sustainable operations metrics for all MLB facilities and created the MLB Green Glove Award, which honors teams with the best recycling program.

Brian H. Hurd

Originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, Brian H. Hurd is a leader at the center of building youth-centered, equitable, healthy, and sustainable communities by aligning planning, investment, and partnerships to meet today’s challenges. He is Technical Assistance Program Manager at Rise Community Development in St. Louis, Missouri. Brian brings together non-profits, philanthropists, banks and financial institutions, and government to make successful neighborhood revitalization possible in the Greater St. Louis area. With the development of more than 5,500 homes and over 100,000 square feet of commercial space totaling nearly $800 million in total development cost, that includes a mix of new construction and historic rehab, Brian and Rise have helped 42 communities across the St. Louis region.

Brian is also a field instructor and adjunct professor at Washington University. He teaches a class titled, “Planning Sustainable and Racially Equitable Urban Communities.” As a teacher, mentor, coach, and role model, he is training and developing a new generation of transformational, dynamic leaders who are more culturally competent and better equipped to engage and work effectively in diverse and challenging neighborhoods and communities.

Reverend Rodrick Burton

Rodrick Burton has led the New Northside Baptist Church to be a regional leader in Environmental Justice and Sustainability issues in partnership with Green the Church, the Sierra Club of Eastern Missouri and The Nature’s Conservancy. New Northside was the first African American congregation in St. Louis to install solar panels on their Church and Community Center.

Reverend Burton advocated, along with the environmental community for St. Louis, to pass Resolution 124 and was appointed to the City’s Clean Energy Advisory Board. Burton’s advocacy resulted in the EPA 2019 Publication, Supporting Healthy Houses of Worship, as well as the 2020’s webinar series: Interagency Interfaith Collaboration for Vulnerable Communities. These free Webinars were part of an educational thrust to provide better access to EPA Efficiency programs and training for churches.

Burton earned a Master’s in Educational Ministry from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. He is currently a Visiting Instructor in Practical Theology at Covenant.

Executive Director

Emily Andrews

Emily joined the Missouri Gateway GBC as its first full-time staff person in January 2006 and has grown the organization to four full time staff and many active volunteers. Previously, she managed the St. Louis Community Air Project for the St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO), an EPA-funded project to promote healthier air quality in the community. She has worked for non-profits her entire career, including a community gardening organization in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.

Emily has a Bachelor’s in Anthropology with a concentration in Latin American Studies from Grinnell College in Iowa. She currently serves on the Forest Park Advisory Board and the City of St. Louis’ Clean Energy Development Board.

Green Schools Manager

Hope Gribble

Hope Gribble has served in various roles with Missouri Gateway Green Building Council since joining the team in 2008. As Green Schools Manager, she leads the development and management of programs that support K-12 schools in advancing practices throughout their campuses, curriculum and culture that reduce environmental impact, improve human and environmental health, and increase sustainability literacy. Committed to collaboration and growth, inspired by youth and nature, and driven to contribute to collective wellbeing, Hope has worked at the intersection of human and environmental health for over two decades. She values connecting with others to take solutions-oriented action and has served on the steering committee for the Midwest Climate Collaborative Educators Community of Practice, Experiential Education Exchange board, Missouri Environmental Literacy Advisory Board, and Center for Green Schools’ Green Schools Summit advisory committee. Hope has a Bachelor of Arts in Education, Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts, and Missouri State Teaching Certification (Art/K-12) from Webster University, as well as a Green Classroom Professional credential.

Communication & Outreach Coordinator

Maeve Elder

Building Energy Exchange St. Louis Director

Malachi Rein

Malachi joined the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council team in September 2022. He has a B.S. in Architectural Engineering from Missouri S&T and an A.A. in Communications from St. Louis Community College. He brings experience in facilities management, operations, and project management. Malachi has a passion for creating a more sustainable built environment. A lifelong resident of the St. Louis region, he firmly believes that our buildings matter and that we can empower positive change that impacts our balance with our planet and the lives of real people.