MARKET TASK FORCES LEADERSHIP

KEVIN DEVINE

Existing Buildings Subcommittee, Co-Chair

As the “USGBC-LA EB Committee Co-Chair” Kevin manages the group members, administrative responsibilities, and events on behalf of the USGBC-LA Chapter.   The subcommittee goals are in alignment with Kevin’s career in the Building Operations area.  Kevin has always focused on maximizing energy efficiency and reducing operating expenses and his knowledge and networking connections on the field make him a great fit for his role with the EB Subcommittee. Kevin Devine, Director of Engineering at Brookfield Properties, has overseen the operation of four and a half million square feet of commercial real estate in Southern California since 2007. Kevin has more than 25 years of real estate engineering, operations and construction experience. Prior to joining Brookfield, Kevin was the Engineering Manager at Equity Office Properties, where he oversaw eight million square feet of commercial property in New York City. Kevin has also worked as the Director of Operations at Devon Properties, a privately held national property owner with oversight of a six million square foot portfolio consisting of commercial, residential, industrial properties, ASE Enterprises with a similar portfolio on North New Jersey and has several years of construction management experience doing property redevelopment and commercial interiors and has several years of construction management / commercial interior construction for Pavarini McGovern GMO as well as property redevelopment experience. Prior to elevating to management, Kevin had a hands on career as chief engineer spending 13 years in the Operating Engineers IUOE Local 94 in New York City operating properties ranging in various size from 400K to 1.8K beginning as an apprentice or assistant engineer. Kevin attended Bergen Tech in Bergen County New Jersey where he majored in stationary engineering, HVAC& Refrigeration and worked within the service sector before entering into the commercial office building trades. Kevin currently serves as co-chair of the EB Subcommittee for the U.S. Green Building Council Los Angeles Chapter (USGBC-LA), he is a member of the BOMA Los Angeles and participates in Committees on Sustainability and Energy, and is involved with the International Union of Operating Engineers Training and Education programs. Kevin participates in Brookfield Properties Energy Committee where he assists in establishing programs, standards and procedures within the Brookfield Properties family of regions. Kevin has spearheaded Brookfield’s efforts with respect to LEED Certification and enjoys working with the Hi Rise Committee in which Kevin established at the suggestion of Lance Williams and the LA chapter of the USGBC.

MARIKA ERDELY

Commercial Real Estate & Finance Co-Chair

As the Co-Chair for the Real Estate and Finance committee, Marika is involved in communicating both the state and federal legislation that affects the sustainability of the commercial real estate industry to other committee members. She is also the liaison to the EB O&M Committee on similar topics. Marika’s LEED consulting practice, LEED by ME, focuses on ROI Economic Modeling to help building owners understand the cost of transforming their buildings to be more energy, water and resource efficient and to improve their day-to-day operations. By understanding the financial cost, Marika hopes to inspire building owners to implement LEED EB O&M.  Marika has the knowledge and skills to successfully administer the LEED certification process for New Construction and for Homes and Neighborhoods. She has just accepted a position teaching an Economics of Sustainability course, part of the Certificate in Sustainable Development and Green Design at UC Riverside’s Extension program, as well working as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for New Millennium Homes, a residential homebuilding and land development company located in Calabasas. Marika has almost thirty years of finance and management experience in a number of industries including high technology, advertising and web development. Marika holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Economics from University of California at Santa Barbara. Marika is also on the Board of Trustees of Mountains Restoration Trust, a land trust protecting open space in the Santa Monica Mountains. She is also a member of the San Fernando Valley Green Building Task Force. LEED by ME is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). Marika also holds a CA Contractors License B. Marika is married and has two daughters in college and is an avid hiker, mountain biker and skier.

JAMES FINLAY

Commercial Real Estate & Finance Subcommittee Co-Chair

As chair of the Commercial Real Estate & Finance Subcommittee James is helping the committee members build a forum where commercial real estate professionals to expand their network and knowledge about sustainable design.  It is focused on how a LEED or other designation and high-performance design is valued in a lease or sale. James is a senior commercial real estate appraisal manager and Vice President at Wells Fargo Bank in downtown Los Angeles.  He engages appraisers, reviews the report and writes an analysis of risks & benefits for a wide variety of property types.  In early 2006 he was asked to join the bank’s Environmental Initiative team representing the appraisal department and has been the principle appraisal manager for LEED and high-performance commercial real estate appraisals.  As of mid-2009 Wells Fargo had made loans secured by LEED and high-performance property topping $2 billion. Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 1999 he worked in Los Angeles as a commercial appraiser at other banks, appraisal firms, had his own firm based in Santa Monica.  A background as a leasing and sales agent and investment partnerships combines to over 20 years in commercial real estate valuation, brokerage and investment combined.  Rounded off with a construction background at his father’s business provides a solid basis for understanding high-performance building features. He began attending USGBC-LA functions in 2001 and occasional speaker on appraisal and financing of high-performance real estate at a number of professional conferences. James holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Economics from the University of Kentucky, is a General Certified Appraiser and has a CA Real Estate Sales license.

JULIA HAWKINSON

Green Schools Committee Chair

SARA HICKMAN

Existing Buildings Committee, Events Coordinator

Sara Hickman is a Sustainability Manager with LE Consultants, an energy efficiency and LEED consulting firm with offices in the Sacramento and Los Angeles vicinities’.  Here, she guides property and facility managers through the LEED certification process.

With a background in architectural engineering, Sara has five years of design, energy analysis and project management experience. It was her passion for education in sustainability that drove her toward consulting. By getting involved with non-profit organizations such as Sustainable Works and USGBC's Emerging Professional Committee, she has placed herself to be a key resource for changing the way we think about design and facilities management. From sustainable purchasing and energy conservation to waste diversion and developing "green teams", it is her goal to introduce integrative, cost effective, responsible ways of managing business and their operations.

Sara received a B.S. in Architectural Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston and is currently enrolled in UCLA Extension’s Global Sustainability Certificate program.

DANIELE AQUINO HORTON

Existing Buildings Committee, Co-Chair

Daniele Aquino Horton is an accomplished real estate professional with over 10 years experience working as architect, Project Manager and most recently Sustainability Manager for a major developer. Ms. Horton earned her Master's Degree in Sustainable Development from Harvard University and her Bachelor's degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from Catholic University of Goias (Brazil). Ms. Horton has been a LEED Accredited professional since 2003. In addition, Ms. Horton holds a Professional Certification in Construction Management from UCLA and a California Real Estate License. Ms. Horton is member of the Urban Land Institute, USGBC-LA Chapter, Women in Real Estate, and the California Sustainability Alliance where she has been a member of the Green Buildings committee and Green Leases Task Force since 2007. Ms. Horton brings her wealth of knowledge in sustainable building to Thomas Properties Group, where she is Sustainability Manager for the firm. Ms. Horton is involved in "greening" the firm's new developments and existing building portfolio. Her responsibilities span entitlement, design, construction and operations. Currently she has undertaken the challenging task of administering the LEED EB Certification for the entire Portfolio of existing buildings for the firm, which includes 34 properties nationwide. As Sustainability Manager, Ms. Horton is also responsible for developing key sustainability initiatives for the firm, industry research, managing corporate sustainability efforts as well as managing and developing internal and external sustainability communications with key stakeholders. Ms. Horton's past experience includes working as a Project Manager for Thomas Properties Group. Prior to joining TPG, Ms. Horton worked as an architect and planner for over 7 years at architecture firms in Brazil and the U.S. at RTKL International & RBB Architects.

SETH STRONGIN

Research Coordinator, Existing Building Subcommittee



Seth provides a variety of research and administrative services in support of the activities of the Existing Buildings Subcommittee. He analyzes data, documents, case studies, and contributes contextual information that is distributed as reference materials to committee members, incorporated into presentations, and utilized to facilitate committee activities. He also helps to construct, edit, and organize committee documents.

Seth is an aspiring young green building professional who is accredited as a LEED Green Associate. He is currently working as a research and policy analysis consultant on land use and open space issues in southern California and is eager to start is career in the green building sector. He has previously served as a staff member to elected officials in California on the state and local level. Prior to moving to California, Seth worked for the National Academy of Sciences conducting scientific research related to national security.

Seth holds a Masters degree in Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at the University of California, Santa Barbara and bachelor of arts degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in Biology from American University in Washington, DC.