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Meet the Cascadia Staff

> Jason F. McLennan, LEED AP, CEO, Seattle, WA
> Sandy Allen, Staff Accountant, Portland, OR
> Thomas C. Bland, Chief Operating Officer, Portland, OR
> Eden Brukman, LEED AP, Research Director, Portland, OR
> Sarah Costello, LEED AP, Development Director, Portland, OR
> Joanna Gangi, LEED AP, Executive Assistant to the CEO, Seattle, WA
> John LaRose, Program and Administrative Manager, Portland, OR
> Mona Lemoine, LEED AP, BC Co-Director, Vancouver, BC
> Mark Masteller, Alaska State Director, Wasilla, AK
> Bob Potter, LEED AP, Assistant Director of Operations, Portland, OR
> Joel Sisolak, LEED AP, Washington State Director, Seattle, WA
> Brandon Smith, LEED AP,  VP Business and Program Development, Portland, OR
> Darby Strong, LEED AP, Program Administrator, Portland, OR
> Jessica Woolliams, LEED AP, BC Co-Director, Vancouver, BC


mclennan_jason.jpgJason F. McLennan, LEED AP, CEO, Seattle, WA

Jason is a nationally recognized leader in the sustainable building industry.  He is the author of the Living Building Challenge an international green building program and co-creator of Pharos, the most advanced building material rating system in North America. Jason is known as an international thought leader in the green architecture movement and has lectured on sustainability across the US and Canada.  His work in the sustainable design field has been published or reviewed in dozens of journals, magazines conference proceedings and books including Architecture, Architectural Record, Dwell, Plenty, Metropolis, NY Times, The Globe and Mail, The World and I, Ecostructure and Environmental Design and Construction Magazine. He is the author of three books; The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, The Dumb Architect’s Guide to Glazing Selection, and the Ecological Engineer. The Philosophy of Sustainable Design is currently used as a textbook in over 40 universities and colleges and is distributed widely throughout Europe and North America.

He is a former Principal at BNIM Architects, one of the founders of the green design movement in the United States, where he worked on many of the leading high performance projects in the country including LEED Platinum, Gold and zero energy projects. At BNIM he created the building science team known as Elements, which set new standards for energy and resource efficiency on many of its projects in various building types. Jason is also the founder and CEO of Ecotone Publishing, the only dedicated green building publisher in North America. Jason was recently named one of the top 40 under 40 most influential individuals in the design and construction field by Building Design and Construction magazine.

sandy_allen.jpgSandy Allen, Staff Accountant, Portland, OR

Sandy joined Cascadia in September, 2008 upon relocating to Portland from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.  She graduated from San Jose State University with a B.S. in Business Administration – Accounting.  Except  for the years she spent raising her family, Sandy has always worked for  non-profit organizations including private foundations, education and community centers.  She is enjoying exploring Portland and all the exciting opportunities the city has to offer.  In her spare time, Sandy loves to travel with her family, especially to Zihuatanejo, Mexico.

tom_bland_headshot.jpgThomas C. Bland, Chief Operating Officer, Portland, OR

Mr. Bland is a Certified Public Accountant, with over 24 years experience working with small to mid-sized companies and not for profit organizations.  He has extensive experience in financial operations, board relations, corporate governance, risk management, operational administration, treasury and human resources. As an entrepreneur, he has participated in the creation and building of a number of organizations from the ground up, having been responsible for all administrative functions.  A scientist who became a CPA, he has a BS in Genetics from the University of California, an MS in Genetics from the University of Arizona, and is involved in numerous conservation and botanical organizations. He has traveled extensively worldwide, with a particular interest in World Heritage Sites, and places where he can experience first-hand, the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

eden-photo.jpgEden Brukman, LEED AP, Research Director, Portland, OR

As the Research Director for Cascadia, Eden is dedicated to the development and deployment of the Living Building Challenge and the Pharos Project. An architect and sustainable building advisor, Eden has focused her professional career on incorporating socially and environmentally responsible strategies into design and construction. Since 1996, her work has included research and implementation of sustainable policies, particularly related to building certification and the specification of appropriate building materials. Eden received a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master’s degree in Illustration from the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland. In joining Cascadia, Eden is looking forward to connecting with other enthusiasts, both at her formal workplace and in the extended community.

Sarah_Costello.jpgSarah Costello, LEED AP, Development Director, Portland, OR

Sarah joined Cascadia in September 2008 and is focused on expanding our Friends of Cascadia program, deepening our relationships with members, and exploring a wide range of funding opportunities.  As a fundraising consultant specializing in grants, Sarah has worked with a wide variety of non-profits including environmental organizations, colleges and universities, museums, and relief agencies. She was also the Director of Grants at Lewis & Clark College Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Sarah has a B.A. in History from Reed College and an M.A. in History from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

joanna_gangi.jpgJoanna Gangi, LEED AP, Executive Assistant to the CEO, Seattle, WA

Joanna comes to Cascadia from both the education field and the residential construction industry.  Originally from the mid-west, she graduated from Ball State University with a B.A. in History and Secondary Education where she focused her studies on multi-cultural and cross-cultural education teaching in Jamaica.  From there, she journeyed to New Zealand where she enjoyed teaching in a multi-grade classroom.  After relocating to Seattle she pursued a career in residential construction where she realized the true importance of changing the building community towards sustainability.  Joanna loves living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and enjoys anything outdoors, mostly if it involves a mountain and a snowboard.

john_larose_headshot.jpgJohn LaRose, Program and Administrative Manager, Portland OR

John has been with the Cascadia team since August 2009.  Born and raised on the east coast, John graduated from Binghamton University in 2007 with a B.A. in History.  Prior to his arrival at Cascadia, John worked in operations and development for an international non-profit organization based in New York, NY, and coached the women's soccer team at Bard College.  He is thrilled to be living in the Pacific Northwest, and grateful to be sharing his passion for progressive social change with his friends at Cascadia and with the Portland community.  After work, you can probably find John playing, coaching, or watching soccer (go Liverpool, go Timbers).

mona.jpgMona Lemoine, LEED AP, BC Co-Director, Vancouver, BC

(On maternity leave until spring 2010.)

Mona Lemoine joined Cascadia in August 2007. She moved to Vancouver from Winnipeg, where she worked in consulting for almost ten years spending the last several years focusing her energy on incorporating and promoting social and environmental sustainability as well as a collaborative process on the projects she was involved with.
Mona’s professional experience and qualifications include a broad range of professional and community leadership. She was a founding director of the Manitoba Chapter, CaGBC, serving a total of 4 years at the board level with the last two as Vice Chair. She was a director on the board of the Société franco-manitobaine (SFM) for 6 years, serving the last year as vice-president of the board and she was an ambassador for the Saint-Boniface Hospital & Research Foundation Radiothon de l'espoir CKSB 1050. Mona most recently served on the CMHC External Research Program Selection Committee, the Working Group on the Built Environment and Education Sub-committee for the Alternative Energy Branch.
Mona has traveled to more than 15 countries and has lived, worked and studied in Venezuela, Japan and Chile. She is fluent in French, English and Spanish - with elementary abilities in Japanese. Mona graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Environmental Design and Master of Architecture.

Mark_Masteller.jpg

Mark Masteller, Alaska State Director, Wasilla, AK

Mark joined Cascadia in April 2009 after working for 28 years in Alaska as a wildlife biologist and, most recently, as director of the Alaska Center for Appropriate Technology, a group dedicated to sustainable economic development.  In this role he worked in project development and design of the state's first LEED-Gold commercial/industrial building, numerous green building and energy-related workshops and seminars, and was co-founder of the Bioneers in Alaska project.  In the state with the highest energy consumption per capita in the world, and with some of the most visible early impacts of global climate change, Mark is dedicated to expanding Cascadia's Alaska program to help people address the significant challenges found across this geographically and culturally diverse and beautiful state.  Mark graduated from Colorado State University with Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Wildlife Biology.

bob.jpgBob Potter, LEED AP, Assistant Director of Operations, Portland OR

Bob joined Cascadia in January 2007.  Originally from the East Coast, Bob graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004 with a B.A. in Philosophy and Environmental Studies, and relocated to Portland shortly thereafter.  A few stints in AmeriCorps brought Bob to The Rebuilding Center, a non-profit community reuse center where he was involved in project management and volunteer coordination.  From there Bob migrated to Cascadia where he works on the operational and technology side of things.  He enjoys anything Mac, cycling, and getting lost in the Pacific NW.

joel_sisolak.jpgJoel Sisolak, LEED AP, Washington State Director, Seattle WA

Joel joined Cascadia in October 2008 where he continues his work of 15 years in the non-profit sector promoting social and environmental sustainability.  Prior to joining us, he directed an environmental organization that partnered with local  public and private agencies to protect King County’s primary drinking water supply.  He's also served in various consulting and leadership roles with organizations promoting affordable housing, habitat conservation, and the arts.  Joel brings rich experience with and a strong commitment to collaboration with public and private organizations in the stewardship of the region’s natural capital.  Joel holds a masters of urban planning from the University of Washington with an emphasis on sustainable land use and infrastructure.  When he's not working or off planting trees with some habitat restoration effort, Joel dabbles in acrylic painting, semi-vegetarian cooking, and sitting meditation (though rarely all at the same time).

smith_brandon.jpgBrandon Smith, LEED AP,  VP Business and Program Development, Portland OR

Brandon Smith has been helping to lead the Cascadia Chapter since 2004.  He is currently the Vice President Business and Program Development and is responsible for Cascadia’s Green Building Value Initiative.  Brandon also develops new programs and explores avenues for Cascadia to expand its work in helping to transform the built environment towards true sustainability.  Previously, he was in charge of Cascadia’s business operations including accounting, technology, and human resources. He graduated from the University of Florida with a Master’s Degree in International Business and has lived and studied in France and Mexico.

Darby_Strong.jpgDarby Strong, LEED AP, Program Administrator, Portland OR

Darby developed a mean crossover dribble as a grade school student and daughter of a former Ohio State basketball player. While she no longer (mostly) employs her patented head fake, she continues to nurture her thirst to save the planet. Darby has filled the lane in a variety of creative and business enterprises, including stints at a burgeoning software development firm, the world famous Chicago International Film Festival, assisting on a critically acclaimed Universal record production, closing commercial mortgages, conducting design meetings for a production builder and most recently, providing energy efficiency assessments and alternative energy paths for residential and commercial properties in the Savannah, Georgia area.

Darby studied liberal arts at Hocking College near Athens, OH and at Columbia College in Chicago. She is pleased as punch to be where she belongs in the Pacific Northwest. (Although she wonders exactly what “pleased as punch” means…)

JessicaJessica Woolliams, LEED AP, BC Director, Vancouver, BC

Jessica Woolliams has been working to mainstream sustainable buildings through advancing  policy, programs and training for the last decade. Jessica brings extensive green building consulting experience in both the public and non-profit realms. As a consultant, Jessica was helped establish Green Buildings BC, Canada's first green building program in 2000. Through her work at Harvard University she managed the design and implementation of Harvard’s first GHG Inventory, Harvard’s first LEED certification and Harvard's first renewable energy purchases that brought Harvard to being the 2nd largest higher-educational purchaser of green power in North America. Her work as the Manager of Harvard's Medical School Green Campus Office, and the work of her staff, was paid for through the energy savings they generated. Jessica was a founding director of Light House Sustainable Building Centre. She has published both academically and professionally and has lectured at Harvard, BCIT, SFU and UBC.