Aravind Batra Membership (Long Beach Branch)

Aravind Batra is a Senior Electrical Engineer and Principal at Long Beach based P2S Engineering. There he heads-up P2S’s Educational Division. Aravind has over fourteen years of experience in consulting engineering and has been a LEED Accredited Professional since 2003. Aravind is involved with master plans, utility infrastructure upgrade projects, renovations and new building community colleges and a variety of private and public universities. Aravind has an in depth knowledge of electrical systems and their requirements and is the in-house expert on photovoltaic and alternative energy solutions. Outside of his efforts to bring about the USGBC-LA Long Beach Branch, he is also affiliated with the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA). He has served as a past Treasurer for the Los Angeles Chapter of AEE. Prior to joining P2S, Mr. Batra served as a Technical Marketing Manager for Raychem Corporation in India. While employed there, he was involved in technical support and marketing of high-voltage power cable splices, end joints and insulation products. Aravind holds a Bachelor Degree from Bangalore University in India. In addition to being a LEED AP, Aravind is a licensed electrical engineer (PE) and a certified lighting designer (LC).

Meg Beatrice Treasurer (Long Beach Branch)

Meg Beatrice is a licensed Architect, a LEED Accredited Professional and Principal at Architecture M Incorporated with over twenty years of professional experience. In addition to her work on the Steering committee and as Treasurer of the USGBC Long Beach Branch, she is actively involved with the American Institute of Architects, and the executive committee of the Fairfield YMCA Board in Long Beach.  Meg has a dual background in business and architecture, and advanced through several financial positions culminating in financial controller before returning to school to complete a Master’s degree in Architecture. This combination of skills enables her to design solutions that provide for a sound return on investment for her clients.  Meg is passionate about green building, and her work includes many innovative technologies such as extensive daylighting and irrigated vertical gardens.  Her experience in the architectural industry includes a considerable range of services in addition to traditional architectural work, including sustainable renovation, financial feasibility analysis, master planning, space planning, interior design and construction management. 
 

Jim Brain Steering Co-Chair (SGV Branch)

Jim is the Regional Estimator for Charles Pankow Builders in Pasadena.  He has been involved with a number of LEED projects including the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills (Gold), the Santa Monica/Annenberg Beach Club (Gold), and Mission College East Campus (Platinum). Jim has been in the construction business for over 15 years in various capacities from self employed contractor to Project Manager at Heil Construction in Monrovia to VP of Residential Construction. Jim attended the Construction Engineering Technology Dept. at CSPU Pomona. In addition to being co-chair of the San Gabriel Valley Branch, he volunteers as an education content reviewer for USGBC national. He is a LEED AP BD&C. While at Pankow, Jim has taught several AP exam prep classes for other employees and participates on the Green Committee.  One of Pankow’s goals is to be a green company in addition to building green buildings.  He is also active with the Los Angeles Revit Users Group.

Lance Collins Steering Co-Chair (Long Beach Branch)

Lance Collins is a licensed architect in the state of California, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor with over 10 years of professional experience. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). Mr. Collins professional experience encompasses urban design, architecture and sustainable design with projects experience in all scales ranging from master planning, commercial office development, mixed-use residential, institutional, to single family residential. Mr. Collins has formerly been a Project Manager with Studio One Eleven, a Senior Designer with HOK and part of the design staff at Moore, Ruble, Yudell Architec

Marc Costa Student Outreach (Long Beach Branch)

Marc is continuing his education at California State University, Long Beach pursuing a second baccalaureate in Construction Engineering Management. Holding positions within the NAHB and CMAA student groups on campus, he is working with faculty to bring a wide variety of students together under USGBC Student Groups. As an Emerging Professional-USGBC-LA member, Marc has been helped coordinate the Natural Talent Design Competition for 2009. Currently he co-chairs the Emerging Professionals of USGBC-LA, and is the Pacific Region Council alternate representative for USGBC's Emerging Professionals. At Long Beach City College, he currently helps grow the Clean Energy Workforce Training Program in efforts to train and place individuals in green collar occupations.  At the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, he is interning to assist with the efforts of the Platinum Certification for the Animal Care Center Project. While completing a B.S. in Management Science from UC San Diego, Marc spent four years working for in Solana Beach in the building materials supply industry— from lumber handler to sales supervisor, where he was introduced to sustainable building.

Caecilia Gotama Programs Chair (Long Beach Branch)

In a career distinguished by accomplishment and community service, Caecilia Gotama, P.E., personifies the capabilities of a successful engineer and principal in the field of mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering.

As founder and name principal of Gotama Building Engineers, Inc., which designs mechanical, electrical, plumbing and low voltage engineering systems for commercial and institutional buildings, Caecilia brings a considerable background to the table with her education and business associations. In addition to earning a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University, Caecilia is a Fellow and an active member of ASME, where she has served as the Chair of the Orange County section. Caecilia is also a LEED™ Accredited Professional.

Her commitment to enhancing the ability of structures to work effectively with the environment is reflected in the number of LEED™ – certified projects her firm has worked on including West Los Angeles College's new Classroom Building and new Student Services Building,  Los Angeles Pierce College's new Student Services Center Building, Hyperion Resource Learning Center, The Alhambra Campus and San Jose State University Student Health Services Building.
 

Pablo Lorenzo Events Co-Chair (SGV Branch)

Pablo Lorenzo is a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Pasadena based Parsons Corporation.  There he specializes in HVAC, Energy Modeling, and Building Commissioning. Pablo has over eight years of experience in consulting engineering, and it expands through a wide range of industries: industrial, commercial, institutional, aerospace, wastewater, retail, and high-rise residential. Pablo holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Simón Bolívar University in Caracas, Venezuela. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Mechanical Engineering in the State of California, a LEED Accredited Professional with USGC, and a Certified Building Commissioning Agent with AEE.

Brenden McEneaney Education Co-Chair (Westside Branch)

Brenden McEneaney is the Green Building Program Advisor for the City of Santa Monica. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the green building code requirements for new construction in the city. He also oversees and administers the City's incentive programs, including expedited permitting for buildings pursuing LEED certification and grant funding for buildings achieving LEED certification and for innovative technologies that address energy efficiency. Brenden also coordinates education and outreach efforts, both for City staff and for residents, to increase awareness of green building design and construction strategies Brenden has a degree in environmental engineering from Yale University and holds a Master's degree in Industrial Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. He is a LEED Accredited Professional with the USGBC and a Certified Green Building Professional with Build It Green. Before coming to the City of Santa Monica, Brenden managed operations for the largest retailer of green building finish materials in Southern California.

Shayna Prunier Education Co-Chair (Westside Branch)

Growing up in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts under the strong influence of her father has helped Shayna to become conscious and passionate about preserving the environment.  “Our food came from the garden, we recycled, we composted, and the house was always kept cold for true energy efficiency.”

Shayna is a LEED Accredited Professional, Certified Green Building Professional, Green Point Rater, and dedicates herself to educating others about their environmental footprint.  With an MS in Interior Design from the University of Massachusetts, a BA in Art History from Brandeis University, and currently an adjunct professor at Woodbury University in the Interior Architecture program, she specializes in environmental design strategies and materials.

She is a consultant for residential and commercial projects, working closely with owners, design professionals, builders, developers, and manufacturers on sustainable design and environmental issues.  She was also a guest green designer on Planet Green’s “Living with Ed” show in 2007.

Elena Tucci Advocacy Chair (Long Beach Branch)

Longtime environmentalist and advocate for social equity, Elena R. Tucci graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor Degree in Political Science. Although attaining an advanced degree had always been a goal, she knew it had to align with her values, interests and talents. Through her journey across the professional landscape, her friend, mentor and future partner Andy De Young exposed her to the field of Landscape Architecture. “My apprenticeship at Andy De Young, Landscape Architect, Inc. has helped me recognize and appreciate the environmental and social value of creating thoughtfully planned, outdoor spaces.“ This discovery gave her the ability to rally around a focal point within the broader, complex issues surrounding environmental awareness—toward advocacy for sustainable methods and practices in the built environment. At present an Associate in the firm, Elena will be pursing a Master Degree in Landscape Architecture.