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Evening Program – Connecting ESG Goals with LEED: Process Benefits, Resources

October 10, 2023 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

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See list of October 10, 2023 Attendees.

We are excited to partner with USGBC and the St. Louis Regional Green Business Challenge for a dynamic exploration of ESG (Environmental-Social-Governance).

For more than 25 years, the green building community has shared a vision for market transformation: defining and recognizing places that benefit people and the environment. The result is thousands of certified green building projects that are more efficient, less polluting, and healthier for occupants. Over the last decade, our industry has seen the emergence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting and sustainable finance as new tools for market transformation. Green building programs like LEED have proven to be an important element in the world of ESG reporting and sustainable finance. Alongside LEED, we see companies using the Arc performance platform to collect data, manage and benchmark progress, measure impact and improve performance to work toward their ESG goals.

This program will frame the building and operational LEED standards as pivotal to corporate sustainability strategies and achieving ESG goals. We will hear how companies from various sectors are approaching ESG strategy through a robust panel discussion of ESG reporting masters, moderated by St. Louis Green Business Challenge Manager, Jean Ponzi. As a bonus, the program will include a “hot off the presses” high-level overview of LEEDv5, USGBC’s newest version of the rating system.

SPEAKER

Headshot of Sheri BrezinkaSheri Brezinka, USGBC Regional Director, West North Central                               

Sheri oversees USGBC market transformation and development activities across the Midwest. An experienced senior leader in sustainability with a focus on the built environment, strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement and organizational management, Sheri is a resource to policy makers at the state and local level. She raises awareness about USGBC’s work through public speaking and serving on stakeholder groups. Prior to this role, Sheri was appointed Executive Director of the USGBC Minnesota Chapter in February 2009, working with the Board of Directors to strengthen and expand the organization.

Before joining USGBC as staff, Sheri was actively involved as a volunteer leader when she helped form USGBC Minnesota in 2002. With a background in the construction industry, Sheri brings over 25 years of experience in the building industry. In her previous positions as Director of Marketing for Weis Builders, Inc. and Adolfson & Peterson Construction, she developed and led the general contractor’s sustainability programs. Sheri holds a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

PANELISTS

Headshot of Abigail SirevaagAbigail Sirevaag, NCIDQ, WELL AP, LEED ID+C, Sustainability Project Leader at Edward Jones

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 where she teaches  Issues in Sustainable Design, a course that reviews general green building design concepts, the LEED rating system, the WELL Building Standard, and serves 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.

Headshot of Chris LaughmanChris Laughman, LEED AP O+M, Senior Director, Sustainability & Energy at Greystar

Chris is an accomplished subject matter expert with over a decade of experience in sustainable real estate operations who got his start in the inaugural class of the Green Business Challenge in 2010. He now leads Greystar’s Sustainability and Energy Platform where he delivers sustainability solutions, utility bill management oversight, cost recovery, and energy strategies that enhance the human experience while positively impacting the triple bottom line across Greystar’s 2,800 US properties. Chris has been a member of the Missouri Gateway GBC and served as President of the St. Louis IFMA chapter. He helped build support for the City of St. Louis’ Building Energy Awareness Ordinance (benchmarking), and served on the team that helped the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Education Center earn its LEED O+M certification before moving to his national position at Greystar. Chris remains an active green building leader, speaking at industry conferences and panels on the topic of ESG, data, and reducing the impact of the built environment.

Headshot of Kim ChapmanKim Chapman, SEA, Assistant General Counsel & Chair of ESG Committee at ESCO Technologies Inc.

Kim Chapman is Assistant General Counsel of ESCO Technologies Inc., a public company headquartered in St. Louis. Kim has been practicing law for 24 years. She was a partner at the law firm of Thompson Coburn before joining ESCO in 2020. Kim handles all types of legal matters for ESCO, but has focused on acquisitions, ESG, data privacy and contracts. Kim is the Chair of ESCO’s ESG Committee. Kim served for many years as a board advisor and officer of Missouri Gateway GBC. She is a certified Sustainability Excellence Associate.

MODERATOR

Headshot of Jean PonziJean Ponzi, Green Resources Manager at Missouri Botanical Garden

Jean Ponzi has been a strong environmental education resource for the St. Louis region for nearly 30 years. As Green Resources Manager for the EarthWays Center of Missouri Botanical Garden, she currently promotes integration of sustainable thinking, planning and action into business practices as co-manager of the St. Louis Green Business Challenge. She applies her background in media communications as a frequent environmental spokesperson for St. Louis activities and issues to local and national media. In demand as a speaker, Jean promotes green living options in business and public settings. Her expertise incorporates practical expertise with energy efficiency, recycling, composting and waste reduction, air quality, native plant landscaping, water conservation, green building and biodiversity.

ADMISSION
Free for Missouri Gateway Green Building Council members, St. Louis Green Business Challenge participants, USGBC members and students
$25.00 for non-members

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CONTINUING EDUCATION: Approved for 1 GBCI LEED General CE credit, and submitted for AIA CES.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define the synergies between Green Building and ESG
  • Describe the ESG framework and how it connects to green building, USGBC, LEED, and Arc.
  • Understand the contribution of green building and other sustainability strategies to company-level ESG reporting.
  • Consider future directions in ESG reporting and scoring for companies and buildings.

CONSENT TO USE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES
This event will be recorded and shared on our website. Registration/attendance at, or participation in Missouri Gateway Green Building Council programs and activities constitutes an agreement by the registrants to allow the organization to use and distribute (both now and in the future) the attendee’s image, in photographs, video, and electronic reproductions of such events and activities.

AIA CES PROVIDER STATEMENT
Missouri Gateway Green Building Council is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number R341. All registered AIA CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider or this learning program may be sent to AIA CES (cessupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3). This learning program is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

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Details

Date:
October 10, 2023
Time:
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Event Categories:
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Event Tags:
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Venue

IBEW Local 1
5850 Elizabeth Ave
St. Louis, MO 63110 United States
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