February/March 2008

Chapter News

Meet the Staff at USGBC Colorado Chapter 

Deb Kleinman and Molly Miller take a break to share stories
from the past and plans for the future

by Patricia Mason, USGBC Colorado Chapter Graduate Student Intern

2007 marked a year of exceptional growth for USGBC Colorado: We expanded our membership, increased sales of our world-renowned LEED AP Study Guide. and hired new Executive Director Deb Kleinman and Product Manager Molly Miller.

 As Product Manager, Molly Miller focuses on all aspects of the LEED AP Study Guide, and the development on new products that add value to our green building community. Her marketing and communications background is putting the Colorado Chapter’s coveted LEED study guide into the hands of anxious test takers worldwide faster than ever before. 

Before coming to USGBC, Molly worked at the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) and focused on new building communications.  She also spent time in New York City at the Mother Earth News researching and writing about energy efficient homes worldwide. According to Molly, “USGBC was a logical extension of a lot of things I have done in my career.”

We recently caught up with Molly during a break in a typically hectic day.     

 Where did you grow up?
I grew up on a ranch in Colorado. 

Where did you go to school?
I went to CU Boulder as an undergraduate and studied International Affairs.  I have a Masters in Public Affairs Journalism from Columbia College of Chicago. 

Where is your favorite place to visit in Colorado or elsewhere?
I really enjoy Leadville, Colorado.  I have a lot of friends there so I can visit often.  I also take regular trips to see my family on the ranch.  

Outside of Colorado, I like the desert for its warm weather and canyon hiking.

What was your first green building experience?
I went to a workshop where everyone helped build a cob house.  It was a transformative experience for me.  I also participated in a straw bale building project in Mexico in a town where most people live in corrugated metal and tarpaper lean-tos.  Both experiences increased my awareness about the connection between healthy, energy efficient homes and green building.

What do you do in your free time?
I love to play Ultimate Frisbee, go hiking, listen to music, travel, and cook.

Do you have a favorite book?
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Do you have any pets?
Richard and Magnolia are my two cats / roommates.

Any interesting hobbies?
I make all natural nontoxic home interior paints by hand.

What is one of your goals while at USGBC?
I want to contribute to the organization’s overall growth. To me, that means being a part of molding the vision as the state becomes more integrated into the green building process.  

Personal Quote:    
Never hurry, never rest. --Goethe

______________________________________________________________________________

For Colorado Chapter Executive Director Deb Kleinman, occasionally being required to wear a hardhat is one of the job’s perks. It pales in comparison, however, to having the opportunity to be so closely involved with the green building community.

“I want to see green building become the norm instead of the exception in Colorado.” 

Transforming Colorado’s statewide perception of the built environment is not a simple task.  Deb plans to use her expertise in organizational infrastructure to support this gradual change.  A key component will involve expanding the organization’s presence across the state.          

 “Colorado is already on the map. Let’s make sure we stay there by staying on the cutting edge of green building.”         

During a break in recent staff meeting, we were able to corner Deb for a few tidbits:

Where did you grow up?
I was born in Denver but spent my early years north of San Diego.  I grew up primarily in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Where did you go to school?
 I studied History at Carlton College in Northfield, Minnesota.  I have a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  I also completed PHD coursework in Natural Resources at Michigan. 

Where is your favorite place to visit in Colorado or elsewhere?
I love the Southwest part of Colorado.  I biked throughout this region of the state during Ride the Rockies in 2006.

I also love Central America.  I spent time traveling there with a friend after college. 

What was your first green building experience?
I had a part-time job for the Cleveland Green Building Coalition.  When I started there, they were in the middle of a gut and restore project on a historical building.  I was responsible for photographing all the updates.

What do you do in your free time?
I love to tele ski, hang out with family and friends, take long walks with the dogs, ride my bike, read and cook.   

Do you have a favorite book?
I read too many to choose just one.

Do you have any pets?
I have two dogs: Kai and Cooper.

Any interesting hobbies?
I like anything that gets me dirty: restoration projects, gardening, making pottery and painting.

What is one of your goals while at USGBC?
I want to grow the organization into a statewide organization. To do so, I need to continue developing the infrastructure that can properly sustain this vision.