|
|
Mainly, I believe every organization in every industry should be pushing hard to make a difference in protecting our natural resources. One person can't make a huge difference but as a collective group working together to make a change, then the possibilities are endless. The construction industry may be the most visible when it comes to sustainable practices. We have an opportunity to make a giant impact, not just in our industry but everywhere. And I want to help lead that charge. Personally I need and want to learn more about sustainable practices, green buildings and developments and changing people's attitudes and perceptions about our abilities to make a difference on our environment. Selfishly, I need to be involved in different organizations. I enjoy it and enjoy making a difference. I'm on the Board of Directors for a couple of different organizations and I take a lot of pride in being a part of them and adding value.
I have been in business for more than 25 years now. For the past 12 years I have been in the commercial real estate and development business. I've been a partner and owned a couple of companies and have been an integral part of their growth and success. Most importantly, I've been at the table when going green on buildings and/or developments has been considered and discussed. And this was on projects that ranged from $500,000 to $650,000,000. I've argued for both sides and believe my perspectives can add to the discussions of going green.
I've been on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Scottsdale, and was a member of the fundraising committee. I've been on the Board for two golf tournaments that lasted more than 20 years each. Fundraising was the most important part to achieving success for the event and ensuring it would continue. I'm currently on the Board of Directors for Teaching Tree, a Fort Collins daycare/preschool that services low income families by providing meals and daycare services at minimum or zero cost. I'm on the fundraising committee too. When I'm passionate about something and truly believe in its worth, then I'm confident in my abilities to be effective. Going Green is something I truly believe in, can understand the value of, and can confidently relay its importance to the appropriate people and groups.
The Metropolitan Branch Education Committee started working to secure
event-specific sponsorships in 2009. Our events have always been set-up
as cash-neutral or cash-positive and sponsorships provide a way for us to
provide some income to the Chapter. Since we started soliciting sponsors,
we have raised over $3,000 in event-specific sponsorships with a net
positive contribution to the Branch and Chapter financial position.
I’ve also served since 2003 as the President of the Agin’ Gator Soccer
Society, the alumni organization for the soccer teams at the University of
Florida. The group has 120+ members around the country and raises
around $3,000 each year to benefit the current teams and offset their
operating expenses. In total, I’ve spearheaded the fundraising
contributions of over $20,000 to benefit the student athletes at UF.
I bring clarity, drive and natural leadership. I believe there is something unique and different that makes a leader, and it's not about creativity or courage or integrity. As important as they are, you can have those attributes and still fail to be a great leader. I believe a leader's job is to rally people toward a better future and fight to change the present, because the present isn't good enough. People fear the future. The future is unstable, unknown, and therefore potentially dangerous. So in order to succeed as a leader, I must engage in the fear of the unknown and turn it into spiritedness. By far the most effective way to turn fear into confidence is to be clear, to define the future in such vivid terms that we can see where we are headed. I know that I will succeed when I find a way to make people excited by and confident in what comes next. And the way to do this is to be confident and knowledgeable, and keep things clear and simple.
I've also managed a commercial development and brokerage operation of 70 plus people. I'm confident in my abilities to read people. I know how I manage people, guide them to be successful without having to micromanage them. And you can't grow a company from 3 to 70 plus people without doing long range and strategic planning. This experience should add value to the Board.
I've been working in development and construction for the past 12 years. I have developed more than 4 million square feet of commercial buildings, in 7 states, and with product types across the board. While we did very little green building, it was something that was discussed on a majority of our development projects. It resulted in us developing buildings that were more efficient, but not green. Over the past 2.5 years, I've watched as my company has developed and constructed sustainable and LEED certified buildings. It's a very manageable process that has so many advantages that I never realized. There's no reason why every developer and builder isn't practicing green construction. I want to help fight to make it a reality.
|
The Board of Directors is the governing body for USGBC Colorado, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization incorporated in the State of Colorado. The Board is responsible for defining the organization's mission and for providing overall leadership and strategic direction. Interested applicants need to be aware of the legal, financial and ethical duties related to their service on the Board.
|
