PAVE THE WAY AWARDS Pioneering Women in Sustainability
2018
Sarah Beatty
HON OR EE S
Green Depot, Greenmaker, & Montgomery Builds
Majora Carter
Jin Jin Huang Safari Energy, LLC
Karen Haycox
Majora Carter Group
Habitat for Humanity New York City
Dianne Dillon-Ridgely
Maria Molland
Chante Harris
Samantha Sax
Interface, Inc.
Capalino+Company A • Women’s eNews
THINX
Elad Group
Pioneering Women in Sustainability
2018
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arah Beatty is an accidental entrepreneur and mission driven builder. She is the co-founder of Montgomery BUILDS(tm) (2013)– a multi tiered renovation project dedicated to the revitalization of downtown Montgomery AL. Sarah is the founder of Green Depot (2005) and Greenmaker Inudstries (2010). Green Depot is a one-stop shop for sustainable “green” building materials with locations serving New York, Seattle and Portland, Oregon. Greenmaker Industries is a product development manufacturer committed to offering energy efficient, and healthy alternatives to conventional building materials. Current product lines include DecoPlast and GMI coatings & finishes. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Sarah worked for 16 years in media as VP of Marketing & Global branding at MTV: Music Television and SVP of Marketing and Off-Air Creative for USA Network. Senator Kristin Gillibrand nominated Green Depot is a 2010 winner of the EPA Environmental Quality Award. Sarah is a LEED accredited Professional.
Sarah Beatty
Green Depot, Greenmaker, & Montgomery Builds
“I am most proud of HOW we work. Being authentic, open minded, resilient and human centered in business matters and fosters ingenuity. Diversity and sustainability are inextricably linked.”
1 • Women’s eNews
Pioneering Women in Sustainability
2018
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Majora Carter
Majora Carter Group
ajora Carter is a leading urban revitalization strategy consultant, real estate developer, and Peabody Award winning broadcaster. She is responsible for the creation & implementation of numerous green-infrastructure projects, policies, and job training & placement systems. “Majora Carter redefined the field of environmental equality, starting in the South Bronx at the turn of the century. Now she is leading the local economic development movement across the USA.” -- TED At Sustainable South Bronx, Carter deployed MIT’s first ever Mobile FabLab (digital fabrication laboratory) to the South Bronx - where it served as an early iteration of the “Maker-Spaces” found elsewhere today. The project drew residents and visitors together for guided and creative collaborations. After establishing Sustainable South Bronx and Green For All, she opened a private consulting firm to help build social enterprise and economic development in low-status communities - which was named Best for the World by B-Corp in 2014. She has served on the board of US Green Building Council, and quoted in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture: “Nobody should have move out of their neighborhood to live in a better one.” Her work is characterized by an emphasis on talent-retention, on the corporate and community levels.Clients include industry leaders in many fields, municipal and federal government agencies, and leading educational institutions across the US.
“I consider it a huge success when someone from a low-status community where I am working, who’s worked hard and built their education up, sees and experiences our projects and decides to stay, instead taking their example, consumer spending, and their reinvestment capital with them.”
2 • Women’s eNews
Pioneering Women in Sustainability
2018
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Dianne Dillon-Ridgely Interface, Inc.
lifelong advocate for human rights, female empowerment, and sustainability, Dianne Dillon-Ridgely made her first foray into the environmental field as a college intern during the early days of the Environmental Protection Agency. Since then, the Dallas-native has traveled around the globe promoting women’s rights and fighting for environmental sustainability. For nearly a decade, she served as the United Nations representative for the World YWCA, advocating for education and political access for women in international conferences and negotiations around the world. She attended the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio by appointment of the White House, followed by the 1997 UN General Assembly on the results of Rio, and the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa – the only person to have participated on all three US delegations. During the 1980s, Dianne served four terms as the president of the Association of Iowa Human Rights Agencies. In the late 1990s, she served as CEO of the Women’s Environment and Development Organization. From 1997 to 2014, she served on the board of Interface, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of modular carpet tiles and global leader of sustainable design. And for more than a dozen years, she contributed her expertise, insights and boundless energy to CIEL as a member of our Board of Trustees beginning in 2002, including as the first female Chair of the CIEL Board (2014-2015). Dianne has now retired as a non-executive director at Interface, Inc. global manufacturer of modular carpet tiles and leader in sustainable design, which she served since 1997. She is currently Executive Director of WNSF (the Women’s Network for a Sustainable Future); chair of the CIEL board; and NWF trustee plus other NGOs.
“I really believe, as humans, we are hard-wired to be in nature, so our buildings need to be beautiful and functional in ways that make us feel like we are in nature, whether we’re in the heart of Iowa or the heart of Manhattan.”
3 • Women’s eNews
Pioneering Women in Sustainability
2018
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hante Harris is a champion of growing technology, sustainability and innovative businesses As an Associate Vice President at Capalino+Company, Chante drives long-term, sustainable growth for companies through the complex process of winning procurement opportunities, securing pilot projects, undertaking design challenges, and launching community impact initiatives. She is passionate about civic engagement and a fierce advocate for women’s representation and advancement. Chante is based in New York City, where she serves on the Board of Directors at the Kota Alliance, an alumna to the prestigious Coro Fellowship, a Recruitment Associate for WIN.NYC, and an Insider Ambassador for Her Agenda. In her free time, she enjoys podcasts, meditation and writing about pioneering, underrepresented women trailblazers.
Chante Harris
Capalino+Company “I am always thinking about how I can bring innovative solutions to the City, where communities feel educated and are part of the conversation. I am looking forward to continuing to advance social innovation and impact through cross-sector solutions to unique challenges like sustainability in urban environments.”
4 • Women’s eNews
Pioneering Women in Sustainability
2018
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Karen Haycox
Habitat for Humanity New York City
aren Haycox is an experienced leader in the affordable housing space and joined Habitat for Humanity New York City as CEO in August of 2015. During her tenure at Habitat NYC, Karen has instituted a bold new vision for the organization that includes the launch of the Habitat NYC Community Fund, the organization’s emerging CDFI; a founding partnership in the Interboro Community Land Trust, the NYC’s first city wide land trust and, a development pipeline that has Habitat well on its’ way to serving 2021 families by the year 2021, more than tripling the families served throughout its history. The diverse cross section of projects includes Sydney House, a 56-unit co-op underway in the north Bronx, which will be Habitat for Humanity’s largest single-structure, multi-family development ever built anywhere in the world. Previous to Habitat NYC, Karen served as Vice President, Fund Development at Southwest Solutions in Detroit and also held a number of senior positions with Habitat for Humanity International in Atlanta including leadership roles on the organization’s annual Carter Work Projects and on international and domestic disaster relief efforts. Karen is deeply involved in New York’s LGBTQ and housing communities, including serving on the board of the Stonewall Community Development Corporation and serves on the board of the Housing Partnership, which assists in the development, promotion, and revitalization of New York City’s affordable homeownership and rental housing through an assortment of specialized programs.
“At Habitat NYC, we believe in the pivotal role that a safe, decent and affordable place to call home plays in the life and stability of a family. Habitat families report better health outcomes, better grades and attain higher education levels. They often find more stable or enhanced employment opportunities and become more civically engaged. More than 86 percent of Habitat Homeowners in New York City and around the world are single female heads of household. I am proud of the commitment and passion that my entire team demonstrates for this work, but as a female chief executive with a workforce that is 44 percent female, I am particularly proud of the role that the women on my team play in providing a hand up to other women.” 5 • Women’s eNews
Pioneering Women in Sustainability
2018
J Jin Jin Huang
in Jin Huang has 16 years of diverse technical experience in energy, electric grid system and advanced building design and is adept with communicating with people to accomplish change. A LEED Accredited Professional and Certified Energy Manager with expertise in design and construction management in the commercial and residential sector, she currently serves as the Director, Project Development, for Safari Energy, LLC, a leading provider of commercial solar energy services to large real estate owners and operators. Previously serving as a Senior Engineer at Con Edison New York, she is recipient of three Environmental Health and Safety awards for collaborative work with the FDNY and Department of Buildings (DOB). She was the recipient of the Energy Storage North America Policy and Utility Champions Award for the development of the Demand Management Program. She also led the development of a cross functional team across NYC agencies and NYSERDA in 2014 to develop test procedures and a process for resolving permitting issues for battery storage deployment.
Safari Energy, LLC
“I was brought up on the philosophy of Buddhism where everything is interconnected. My dream is to be able to maximize my impact in helping minimize our anthropogenic footprint as we progress as a society. I believe energy is a key part to that. That is what drives me and keeps me pushing forward on issues that may seem impossible at times. My career decisions have always been driven by where I think I will be able to make a difference.”
6 • Women’s eNews
Pioneering Women in Sustainability
2018
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he THINX mission is to create the most innovative period solutions that empower our people and sustain our planet, while breaking taboos about menstruation and reproductive health everywhere. We are a company committed to combating period poverty and menstrual inequity in all its forms in the U.S. and around the world. Our innovation in period-proof underwear has been recognized by top industry publications, such as Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2017, Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Most Brilliant Companies of 2016, and TIME Magazine’s Top 25 Inventions of 2015. THINX was named a Gold winner in the Most Innovative Consumer Product of the Year category in the Best in Biz Awards of 2017. THINX and Icon create underwear that champion and support bodies throughout different stages of life. From first periods to post-menopause and all the little leaks in between, THINX and Icon aim to empower their customers with sustainable solutions, all while breaking taboos around menstruation and incontinence.
Maria Molland THINX
“Our goal is to always create products that empower women— from their first period to post-baby, as well as later life.”
7 • Women’s eNews
Pioneering Women in Sustainability
2018
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Samantha Sax Elad Group
amantha Sax is the Chief Marketing and Design Officer for Elad Group, one of the nation’s leading real estate companies, overseeing a multi-billion-dollar portfolio. In this role, Sax leads all aspects of Elad Group’s dynamic marketing and sales operations and directs the interior design for all residential and commercial projects. From establishing the first ever partnership with Bergdorf Goodman that allowed residents of a luxury condominium red-carpet access to exclusive personal shopping and design services, to a penthouse furnished with the largest collection of Lalique ever (valued at nearly $1 million), Sax has developed innovative partnerships with some of the world’s most sought-after brands. Sax has also spearheaded the launch of many significant residential projects, including 108 Leonard, 22 Central Park South, One West End and 250 West Street in Manhattan, as well as The Carlyle Residences in Los Angeles. As evidenced by the success of a portfolio of prestigious properties, Elad Group has incomparable expertise in successfully restoring and renovating iconic landmarks into ultra-luxury residential buildings that offer premier design elements and modern amenities. A primary focus for Sax is the restoration and conversion of these landmarked properties, which is a uniquely challenging and important aspect of sustainability. Most recently, Sax spearheaded the grand transformation of 108 Leonard, an elegant 19th century McKim, Mead and White-designed landmarked condominium conversion located in Tribeca. Careful efforts were made in the preservation of the property, with a team conducting extensive research and intricate repairs that have brought the building’s historical identity back to life.
“Restoring landmarked properties is essential in preserving the city’s rich history and iconic architectural gems. These properties offer breathtaking details and design elements that would be impossible to recreate today. The level of craftsmanship in landmarked properties is phenomenal. It is an honor to be a part of transforming these historic masterpieces by marrying the richness of the past with the fresh, contemporary design of today.”
8 • Women’s eNews