Meet the 2023 Decarbonization Conference for the Built Environment Keynote Speakers
Chris Turner | Kevin Kampschroer | Ginger Scoggins | Henry Chamberlain |
Lakisha Ann Woods | Laurie A. Gilmer | Susan E. A. Hall
How to be a Climate Optimist | Presenting: Wednesday, October 25, 2023: 8:10 AM
Bio: In this presentation based on his bestselling book of the same title, award-winning author and energy transition strategist Chris Turner draws on the 20 years he has spent on the decarbonization beat worldwide into a powerful case for optimism in the face of the challenge of climate change. Turner has been reporting on clean energy, sustainable business, and smart green design the world over since long before any of these were mainstream interests, and he draws on the full breadth of his extensive reporting to paint a vivid portrait of a global energy transition already tackling the climate crisis and pointing the way to a much brighter future. Turner's presentation illustrates not just the viability but the deep desirability of decarbonization -- for the built environment and beyond.
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Buildings, Standards, Radical Efficiency, & the Grid: How the Federal Government is Leading by Example | Presenting: Wednesday, October 25, 2023: 12:15 PM
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| Presenting: Thursday, October 26, 2023: 8:10 AM
Ginger Scoggins, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, is ASHRAE’s President for the 2023-24 term. Scoggins previously served on the ASHRAE Board of Directors as president-elect, treasurer, vice president and director and regional chair.
For her time and dedication to ASHRAE and the industry, she is the recipient of the Exceptional Service Award and Distinguished Service Award. She chaired the ASHRAE Building Headquarters Ad Hoc committee, leading the Society’s $20 million fully net-zero-energy building renovation project.
Her theme for the 2023-24 ASHRAE Society Year is “Challenge Accepted: Tackling the Climate Crisis.”
“We are living in a climate emergency. Our desire to be more comfortable has brought us to a place where we need to make uncomfortable decisions. We can accept the challenge of our day regarding the impact of our buildings on the climate crises by equipping our members with the knowledge they need to design and renovate buildings to address the greenhouse gas emissions of our industry.”
In addition to her time served on the Board of Directors, Scoggins has served as chair of the Appointments Roadmap Committee, chair of the Members Council, coordinating officer of the Communications Committee, coordinating officer of the Conferences and Exposition Committee, coordinating officer of the Chapter Technology Transfer Committee, coordinating officer of the Honors and Awards Committee, coordinating officer of the Membership Promotion Committee, coordinating officer of the Research Promotion Committee and coordinating officer of the Student Activities Committee. She has also served as the ASHRAE representative to the Technical Advisory Committee of the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Fund, is a member of the United Nations Environment Programme and is a member ASHRAE Task Force for Building Decarbonization, among other Society participation.
Scoggins’ theme highlights the urgency of addressing the climate crisis, examines measures to reduce human impact on the natural environment and offers strategies for making the built environment more resilient and sustainable.
“An understanding of how climate change affects building planning, design, construction and operation is necessary to properly execute projects going forward. ASHRAE is committed to equipping our members with sufficient knowledge and tools, expanding our efforts of designing energy efficient buildings and providing meaningful leadership, action, resources, and advocacy to the global built environment.”
Scoggins has 35 years of experience as a licensed mechanical engineer and is a certified commissioning agent and certified energy manager. She is the president and owner of Engineered Designs, Inc. in Cary, N.C. – a full-service consulting engineering firm – where she works on the design and commissioning of projects ranging from $4 to $90 million in construction cost. Her focus is on designing high-performing buildings across a wide variety of markets.
Scoggins is a 1986 graduate of Tennessee Technological University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
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Henry Chamberlain directs the staff of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, a federation of 85 U.S. local associations and 19 global affiliates in 17 countries. BOMA represents the owners, managers, service providers and other property professionals of all commercial building types, including office, industrial, medical, corporate, and mixed-use. BOMA International is the partner individuals in the commercial real estate industry choose to maximize value for their careers, organizations, and assets.
He also leads BOMI International, provider of critical education and expertise to industry professionals with property, facility, and building systems management responsibilities. BOMI delivers courses, certificate programs, and industry-standard designations—Real Property Administrator (RPA®), Facilities Management Administrator (FMA®), Systems Maintenance Administrator (SMA®), Systems Maintenance Technician (SMT®), and the High-Performance Sustainable Building designation program (BOMI-HP®)—with a proven record of increasing job performance and company efficiency.
Prior to joining BOMA International, he was director of communications for the Gannett Company during the launch phase of the Nation’s Newspaper, USA TODAY. He began his career in Washington working in the press office of a national presidential campaign. Chamberlain is a member of The Real Estate Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the National Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). He also facilitates the Real Estate Association CEO Summit. He is a graduate of the University of Vermont.
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Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE, is the EVP/Chief Executive Officer of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a dynamic network of more than 96,000 architects and design professionals throughout 200 chapters committed to enhancing the built environment.
Woods previously served as President & CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) where she led efforts to expand the organization’s programs and markets while growing and strengthening its membership base.
Prior to joining NIBS, she was the Sr. VP & Chief Marketing Officer at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), where her team was responsible for all marketing and revenue-generating programs – including marketing the International Builders Show, sponsorship sales and partnerships with major national companies.
Woods is the author of the book "Never Get Their Coffee: Empowering Fearless Leadership" and currently serves as Chair of the Board for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). She also currently serves on the Board of Visitors for the University of Maryland School of Architecture, previously served as Vice Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council Board of Directors and is a global speaker. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland in College Park and lives with her husband and daughter in Howard County, Maryland.
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Laurie A. Gilmer, P.E., CFM, SFP, LEED AP, CxA, is vice president and COO at Facility Engineering Associates (FEA). Gilmer’s primary areas of expertise include facility systems assessments, energy management, sustainability and facility management organizational analyses. Her leadership at FEA has allowed her to positively influence their clients’ growth and knowledge of improved asset management.
Gilmer is a published author, regularly contributing to multiple facility management publications, and she co-authored IFMA’s second manual in the Sustainability How-to Guide Series, “EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.” She has been instrumental in raising awareness for the ENERGY STAR program through the IFMA Energy Challenge, contributing energy analysis to IFMA’s 2017 O&M Benchmarking Report.
Gilmer represents IFMA on ASHRAE’s Efficient Building Operations Multi-disciplinary Task Group. During the pandemic, Gilmer represented IFMA on ASHRAE’s Epidemic Task Force. She is also a member of the National Visiting Committee of Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Center whose mission is to prepare technicians to manage building systems and energy use by advocating for advanced technical education. She is a past member of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Council’s Building Operator Certification program advisory committee, and was the committee’s first chair.
A member of IFMA since 2005, Gilmer is an IFMA qualified instructor. She is also the past chair of IFMA’s Sustainability Facility Credential scheme committee. Additionally, her strong leadership skills and expertise in energy, engineering and FM have allowed her to greatly contribute through service with IFMA’s Health Care Council, Airport Facilities Council, and her local IFMA chapter. Gilmer currently serves on IFMA’s global board of directors as Past Chair.
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| Presenting: Friday, October 27, 2023: 8:10 AM
Bio: Sue Hall’s work over the last 30 years with Climate Neutral Business Network/SEA has focused on supporting companies and other stakeholders create business-based solutions to environmental problems. A graduate from Harvard Business School (HBS) in 1991 (MBA, High Distinction, Baker Scholar), she was offered a Charles Williams research fellowship to continue her investigations at HBS into how leading edge corporations could secure competitive advantage from their sustainability leadership. Her work since has supported profitable sustainable innovation for companies spanning several continents (Asia, Africa, US, Europe) and dozens of major industries on environmental agendas spanning forestry/biodiversity, energy/climate change to smart growth and sustainable communities. Since 1999, her work has focused exclusively on companies’ strategic response to climate change: her clients have repeatedly demonstrated that radical low-carbon/climate neutral commitments can successfully maximize Fortune 500 companies’ returns to both their core business development objectives and the climate. >> Read Susan's full bio here
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