BUILDING PERFORMANCE ASSOCIATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Education and Events
Bethany Sowinski is the Director of Education and Events at the Building Performance Association, where she has worked since 2011. She is responsible for the coordination and development of conference agendas, presenter communication, continuing education accreditation, and on-site volunteer activities. Prior to joining BPA, Bethany worked in real estate, land conservation, sustainability research, and event planning. She has a B.A. in German from Bowdoin College and received a post-graduate Fulbright grant to teach English in northern Germany. She later earned her MBA in Sustainability from Duquesne University where she became passionate about reducing company and building energy uses and improving energy efficiency.
Job Titles:
- Workforce Development Programs Manager
Job Titles:
- Founder and CEO of Walker
Carla Walker-Miller is the Founder and CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services (Walker-Miller), a 21-year-old values-driven company that changes lives through energy. Her high performing firm helps electric and gas utilities achieve mandated energy reduction goals that reduce energy waste, create local jobs, decrease the energy burdens on families, and reduce harmful greenhouse gasses.
Job Titles:
- Director of Strategic Partnerships
Chris Docchio is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Building Performance Association. He builds strategic alliances and corporate partnerships that increase visibility, enhance businesses and foster new collaborations. He develops, administers and directs one of the largest trade shows in the home performance industry and elevates the conference experience with additional promotional and advertising opportunities. With almost three decades of sales experience and a B.S. in Marketing from Robert Morris University, Chris understands how to provide warm customer service and build corporate partnerships that last.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman / Urban Efficiency Group
- Social Architect
Darnell Johnson is a spiritual and social architect committed to engineering solutions that humanizes the socio-economic existence of disadvantaged communities. With over two decades of entrepreneurial experience and a fixation on advancing energy equity, his emergence as an "ecopreneur" is evolutionary. Darnell is the CEO and President of Urban Efficiency Group, a utility implementation contractor and community sustainability design firm. His industry-specific credentials include, but are not limited to, BPI-Building Analyst, Building Envelope, Infiltration Duct Leakage, Energy Auditor, Quality Control Inspector, Healthy Homes Evaluator, RESNET Rater, and EcoDistrict Accredited Professional. He believes that diversity brings strength, inclusion is indicative of an acceptance that is essential to growth, and equity is a human right that should be embraced as the standard and not an exception. By pragmatically implementing these beliefs, systemic change would be the resolve and "Stronger Together" would become a reality.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Chief Operating Officer of Elevate Energy
Delmar Gillus is the Chief Operating Officer of Elevate Energy, located in Chicago, Illinois. As part of the Elevate team, Mr. Gillus is responsible for implementing operational, workforce development, and project management processes in support of Elevate Energy's growing portfolio of clean energy projects. Mr. Gillus currently leads Elevate's core operational functions and also supports business development, program design, project coordination, engineering support, and contract management for Elevate's diverse energy efficiency and growing renewable energy programs.
Diane Chojnowski is the Content Specialist for the Building Performance Association. In this role, she contributes articles to the BPA Journal, resources to the BPA Resource Library, and manages the BPA Training Library. An industry veteran, you may know her from her years as the BPA Community Manager.
A native Iowan, Diane is passionate about the environment and all things green. She enjoys collaborating with industry experts to develop educational resources and tools that support energy efficiency and sustainable building practices.
Email Diane if you have resources, training, or articles you'd like to share: dchojnowski@building-performance.org
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair
- Director of Equitable Workforce Strategies at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council
- Vice Chair / Interstate Renewable Energy Council
Dr. Janell Hills-Thomas is Sr. Director of Equitable Workforce Strategies at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), an independent nonprofit working to build the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency. She has 17 years of experience in workforce development, 13 years of experience successfully developing work-based learning and registered apprenticeship programs. Dr. Hills-Thomas is an enthusiastic leader who is passionate about being a conduit for change to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion is embedded in all workforce initiatives. She thoroughly enjoys working to develop programs for underrepresented and underserved populations and BIPOC communities.
Job Titles:
- Pacific Northwest National Labratory
- Research Engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Edward Louie works as a Building Energy Efficiency Research Engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Prior to PNNL, he worked as a residential energy technician. Louie has a master's degree in energy and environmental policy and an undergraduate degree in civil and environmental engineering. He is passionate about bringing together people and the explicit and tacit knowledge they possess from both the white collar and the blue collar ends of the spectrum to create cultures, norms, approaches, policies, and programs that are respectful and create win-win situations for everyone involved. Louie wishes to see homes that are simultaneously affordable, resilient, easy to build and remodel, have low embodied carbon, and that are healthy and energy efficient become the norm. It will take many actions and changes to get there including consumer education, upskilling the existing workforce, shifts in cultural norms about construction trades work, onboarding workers from a greater diversity of sources and backgrounds, diffusion and utilization of new approaches, and acceptance and tolerance of some growing pains. As a board member of the Building Performance Association, he will strive to help the organization take actions that best serve its members, sponsors, and allies.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Senior Policy Advisor at NESCAUM
Emily Levin is a Senior Policy Advisor at NESCAUM (Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management), an association of state air agencies that promotes regional cooperation and action to address air pollution and climate change. She leads NESCAUM's Building Electrification Initiative, working with Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to advance policies for zero-emission buildings. Emily previously worked at VEIC for 15 years, most recently as Director of Strategic Market Development leading national market development and strategic partnerships for innovative and equitable decarbonization. In a prior role as Principal Consultant, she designed and advised on building decarbonization and energy efficiency programs in multiple states and helped launch the TECH Clean California initiative to accelerate statewide adoption of clean space and water heating. Emily also serves on the Building Performance Association Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of the Association of Alaska Housing Authorities
Griffin Hagle-Forster is the Executive Director of the Association of Alaska Housing Authorities. Having entered the building performance sector as a weatherization installer in his hometown of Medford, Oregon in 2006, he is professionally committed to buildings and energy systems that deliver the health and prosperity people everywhere deserve. He serves on the board of directors of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center and is currently renovating his 1950s Cape Cod in Anchorage for comfort, resilience and the decarbonized world to come.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Administration
Gypsy Matlak is the Director of Business Administration at the Building Performance Association. She joined our team in 2014 and handles accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, HR and office administration. She has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. Previously, Gypsy managed companies in the window, door and sunroom industries. She was also the Business Manager for the Baierl Family YMCA, where she gained her nonprofit experience.
Hal Smith is a seasoned entrepreneur and the driving force behind Halco, a business he established in 1984. With nearly four decades of relentless dedication, Hal has emerged as an industry trailblazer and visionary leader. Under his guidance, Halco has evolved into a multimillion-dollar enterprise, with a footprint spanning four strategic locations in Upstate New York.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Manager for Industry Development
Haley Pegg is the Marketing Manager for Industry Development for the Building Performance Association. She is a marketing and communications specialist with a diverse range of experience in nonprofits, startups, and agencies. With an educational background in journalism and a drive for innovation, she is a skilled and passionate writer, storyteller, and creator. In all her roles, she has honed skills in content creation, email campaigns, SEO, strategic planning, and more.
In addition to the many hats she wears, she is deeply involved in her local professional community. She served two years as Executive Director and Board Member of the American Marketing Association - New Orleans Chapter. She is also involved in various leadership, management, and networking programs.
She received her B.A. in Mass Communication from Loyola University in New Orleans, LA, where she resides today.
Jean is the CFO for the Building Performance Association. She is responsible for long term forecasting and risk management. She has over 30 years in the field of finance in many industries. Jean received her BS in Accounting from the Pennsylvania State University.
Job Titles:
- Resident and Current Director of Operations
Jose Diaz Jr is a New Jersey resident and current director of operations for Allied Experts. He entered the trades via residential HVAC in 2000 and was introduced to building science by completing projects in various energy programs. In 2012, Jose joined Allied Experts further expanding into weatherization and acquiring training and certifications such as EPA, lead removal, BPI Analyst, and mold remediation.
Along with the team at Allied Experts, Jose has championed diversity within the workforce by training male and female candidates from various backgrounds outside of the trades. This has provided the fortunate opportunity to see direct benefits of delivering improved energy efficiency, health, and environmental performance to residential homeowners, improving comfort and quality of living.
Kara Saul-Rinaldi is the Chief Policy Officer at the Building Performance Association. She leads the organization's public policy and government affairs initiatives and represents the association's mission to policymakers and stakeholders through her firm, the AnnDyl Policy Group. With over 20 years of experience in policy and communications strategy and legislative and regulatory experience, Kara has worked for members of Congress, testified before congressional committees and appeared in a variety of media outlets as a leading energy and climate policy expert. Kara has a master's degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego. Kara continues to author articles on energy policy for trade publications and provide keynote and panel presentations on energy and climate policy.
Kathe Stewart, along with her brother, is co-owner of Precision Air Conditioning & Heating, a family-owned HVAC company. The Stewart family has served Memphis, TN area customers since 1973, and specializes in the design, installation, testing, and service of residential air conditioning, heating, indoor air quality, insulation, and total home comfort solutions. Stewart has also been a California attorney since 1992.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing and Communications
Katie Miller is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Building Performance Association. She joined the team in March 2018 and has over 12 years of experience working in marketing. As the Director of Marketing & Communications, Katie is responsible for messaging and outreach to BPA members and stakeholders. She also oversees the management of building-performance.org and social media platforms. Katie also directs all marketing and promotional efforts for BPA events, membership opportunities, and programs. She works closely with strategic partnership staff and maintains relationships with allies and sponsors who support the mission of the association. Previously, Katie worked for a large mechanical contractor, directing marketing efforts for both the residential and commercial sales divisions. Katie earned a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from West Liberty University.
Keith O'Hara is a dedicated home performance contractor in the San Francisco Bay Area, deeply committed to fixing homes. Licensed in General, HVAC, and Insulation contracting, he heads Eco Performance Builders, where he and his team of 23 professionals have completed over 1,200 home performance and electrification retrofit projects.
Lois Miller is the meeting planner for the Building Performance Association. She has been working on conferences with the BPA team for 13 years. Lois works on site selection, planning and onsite management for the regional and national conferences. Lois is a certified association executive with over 30 years of experience managing trade shows and conferences for nonprofits.
Job Titles:
- Editor in Chief at the BPA Journal
- Editor in Chief, BPA Journal
- Writer and Editor
Macie Melendez is Editor In Chief at the BPA Journal. In this role, she oversees the entire online publication. The Editor In Chief is responsible for managing all content and ushering each blog, article, and sponsored content through the full process from content acquisition and editing to final publication. She previously worked at the former Home Energy magazine where she started as Assistant Editor and worked her way up to Executive Editor before pursuing a freelance writing career.
Macie has been a writer and editor for two decades, working in various mediums from print magazines and newspapers to online education and script writing. She is passionate about the written word and helping the planet-even if that comes in the form of editing. Macie holds a BA degree in English from San Diego State University.
Job Titles:
- Affiliate and Allied Partnerships Manager
Maria Lewis is based in Riverdale, GA, and is the Affiliate & Allied Partnerships Manager at the Building Performance Association. She brings 20+ years of experience collaborating with stakeholders at all levels to effectuate positive, sustainable change from the ground up. Before she joined BPA, she was the Financial Empowerment Center and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Manager for the City of Syracuse, New York.
In her role at BPA, Maria collaborates with national, state, and local stakeholders to create strong, resilient, and diverse partnerships that support the Home Performance and Energy Efficiency industries. She manages all BPA Affiliate convenings and Allied partnerships through committees, conferences, workshops, and webinars. Maria leads BPA's efforts to build awareness of and promote solutions beginning at the local level.
Maria is an alumnus of the AmeriCorps NY program and has continued her support and passion for the program through her work with BPA. She holds a master's degree in human service with over 26 years of experience working with the underserved and underrepresented population in multiple cities nationwide.
Maria is a dedicated wife, mom, grandma, colleague, and friend. She and her husband own a live-streamed radio program on Facebook titled "I Know I Can Radio." This program provides resources, live interviews, and shared testimonies to help build communities with positive messaging.
Maria loves to help others, and her passion is providing people with the tools they need to make a better tomorrow for themselves and the next generation.
Maria has contributed via written articles and video interviews that have been published in the BPA Journal. Here are her latest:
Job Titles:
- President of Total Home Performance
Matt Hargrove, the President of Total Home Performance (THP) located on Maryland's Eastern Shore, embarked on his entrepreneurial journey straight out of college. In 2009, from the confines of his parents' garage, he laid the foundation for THP, a comprehensive home performance and weatherization contracting company.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Indoor Climate Research & Training Division
Paul Francisco is the Director of the Indoor Climate Research & Training Division and IREC-accredited weatherization training center at the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission. He is also a Sr. Research Associate at Colorado State University's Energy Institute. He has been performing housing research for over 30 years with a focus on energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Francisco also trains building performance practitioners on building diagnostics, ventilation, healthy homes, and indoor air quality. He is an ASHRAE Fellow, was the chair of ASHRAE 62.2 for five years, and has chaired ASHRAE's Environmental Health and Residential Buildings Committees. Francisco is a certified BPI Building Analyst, Energy Auditor, Quality Control Inspector, and Healthy Home Evaluator.
Job Titles:
- Center for Energy and Environment
- Senior Director of Residential
Rebecca Olson is the Senior Director of Residential and Community Energy at the Center for Energy and Environment. She directs activities related to all residential and community-based programs including energy audits, new home consulting work, pilot project implementation, local government energy action planning, contractor engagement, and equitable workforce development. She leads a strong team that works across disciplines to bring the most effective energy efficiency solutions to residents, owners, contractors, and communities.
Since 2006, Olson has had various roles in the energy efficiency industry including Energy Auditor, Building Science Educator, and Program Director. She has served on various trades and community related boards including the MN Building Performance Association, the Building Performance Institute's (BPI) Standards Technical Committee, and the Minneapolis Energy Vision Advisory Committee.
Olson has a BA in architecture from the University of Minnesota.
Job Titles:
- Director of Programs and Partnerships