Coral
Gables, FL (October 2, 2019) — U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) South
Florida has announced the Finalist Nominees for the nonprofit organization’s
upcoming GalaVerde, its 2019 LEEDership and Green Awards Program.

The 10th
annual GalaVerde will recognize and honor those outstanding projects,
inspirational businesses, dedicated individuals, and instrumental individual
change agents who are leading the way to a more sustainably built environment
in our South Florida community.  A couple
of hundred attendees are expected at the awards ceremony on October 12, 2019,
at the University of Miami Shalala Student Center in Coral Gables, FL where the
winners will be announced.  The evening
will raise funds to support the nonprofit organization’s educational activities
and initiatives such as it Green Schools programs.

GalaVerde
2019 will include a pre- and post-event cocktail hours, dinner, a silent auction,
superlative networking (we call it “GREENworking”), and an abundance
of anticipation for the awards presentations and keynote address.

Carol Coletta, CEO of Memphis River Parks will serve as the
special keynote speaker for the evening. 
Carol has a deep implementation background with efforts such as the Reimagining the
Civic Commons initiative, a
national collaboration of foundations, nonprofits and governments to more fully
use and democratize civic assets – such as parks, libraries, and other public
spaces – to yield increased and more widely shared prosperity for cities
and neighborhoods.  Throughout her
career, Coletta has focused on efforts to transform cities and public places.  Her keynote will address social justice and equity,
sustainability and community.  Colletta will highlight an evening of
recognition and appreciation for the South Florida green-building community
during which the Community will recognize over 16 individuals and projects in
the region.

(cont.)

USGBC /
2

2019 GalaVerde
Awards finalists are:

PROJECTS

Community Champion

• Broward
  Addiction Recover Center
• OB
  Johnson Park

Commercial Interiors

• HKS
  Miami Office
• PortMiami
  Terminal E

Existing Buildings

• 701
  Brickell
• Miami
  Business School, University of Miami

Green Schools

• Alexander
  Montessori School – Ludham Road

Neighborhood Development

New Construction

• Center
  for Intelligent Buildings
• City
  of Doral Police Department
• Four
  Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club

Residential

• Lynn
  University Residence Hall
• Midtown
  29

Project of the Year

PEOPLE

Community Rockstar

• Pandwe
  Gibson, EcoTech Visions
• Caroline
  Lewis, CLEO Institute

Green Government Official

Green Dealmaker

• Cynthia
  McGuire, Greener Globe Realty
• Melanie
  Dawn Molina Wood, Coldwell Banker

Green Schools Advocate

• Barbara
  Martinez-Guerrero, Dream in Green
• Lisa
  Toy, Palm Beach County Schools

Rising Star – Student

• Nicole
  Gazo, Miami Palmetto Sr. High
• Natalie
  Lipsey, University of Miami

Rising Star – Emerging Professional

• Diego
  Cancel, City of North Miami
• Matthew
  Ferrer, United Franchise Group
• Samantha
  Varela, SEQUIL Systems

Sustainability Legend

• Kyle
  Abney, Abney & Abney Green Solutions
• Howard
  Tonkin, Urban Habitat

Volunteer of the Year

GalaVerde
awards finalists (as well as eventual winners) were selected by a panel of
industry experts from around the country. 
Submissions were sent to the judges “blind,” without any identification
of project or team or LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)
achievement.  Submissions were judged
purely on specific criteria and merits.

Sponsors
for the evening include:

• Calvin, Giordano & Associates, Inc. — Lanyard Sponsor
• Advanced Green Technologies – Cocktail Sponsor
• PGAL — Photo Booth Sponsor
• State Contracting & Engineering Corporatoin –
  Green Schools Awards Sponsor
• Johnson, Levinson, Ragan, Davila, Inc. – Project of
  the Year Awards Sponsor
• N2 Architecture & Design – Centerpiece Sponsor
• Lutron – Lighting Sponsor

The LEED
Green Building Rating System, overseen by the U.S. Green Building Council, is a
voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing
high-performance, sustainable buildings.  LEED addresses all building types and
emphasizes state-of-the-art “green” strategies in five areas:
sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and
resources selection, and indoor environmental quality.  LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) have
demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building techniques and the LEED
Green Building Rating System.

To learn
more about GalaVerde and the USGBC Florida, visit www.usgbc.org/usgbc-florida.  

Media:  To arrange for interviews with the keynote,
Carol Coletta or USGBC leadership, contact Sarah Boren, Director, USGBC
Florida, 904-535-0055, sboren@usgbc.org

Attached
with release:  GalaVerde logo (jpeg)

The
U.S. Green Building Council Florida, a nonprofit (501[c][3]) organization,
embraces the adoption of innovative building practices that conserve land,
energy, water, resources and materials. 
Its Mission is to
transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated,
enabling a sustainable and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous
environment for people to live, work, learn and play.  The volunteer-governed USGBC Community has
more than 5,000 members and friends providing educational programs and services
to the South Florida region from its Treasure Coast, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami
and Keys Branches.  To learn more:  Sarah
Boren, Director, USGBC Florida, 904-535-0055, sboren@usgbc.org
www.usgbc.org/usgbc-florida.

###

Related