Our Community
Our Only Path Forward is Together
You’re in the weeds. You’re a department of one. You’re shouting in an echo chamber. You know there must be another option. You know how impactful buildings are, want to do something, but you don’t know what or how. mindful MATERIALS is the building industry’s collective opportunity to move the materials sustainability needle forward. Whether you are new to this work or have been fighting the good fight for decades and there is a place to learn, grow, and drive impact. mindful MATERIALS was created for the industry by the industry. Join us in our collective work.
Small but mighty
Our Team
Did you know that a group of unicorns is called a blessing? Well, consider us blessed at mindful MATERIALS. We’ve all independently arrived at this organization driven by that same nagging feeling that we could help accelerate progress if we all came together. We all bring something unique — and maybe a little magical — to this mix. We're a small but mighty team bolstered by the genius and support of our broader community of changemakers.
Lona Rerick
Chair
Associate Principal, ZGF Architects
Myrrh Caplan
Vice Chair
National VP, Sustainability, Skanska
Steve Kooy
Past Chair
Technical Director Health + Sustainability, BIFMA
Arthur Clarke
Secretary
Director of Sustainability + Impact, HTMX Industries
Brent Trenga
Board Member
Director of Sustainability, North America, Kingspan
Nora Rizzo
Board Member
Ethical Materials Director, Grace Farms Foundation
Rand Ekman
Board Member
Chief Sustainability Officer, HKS
Katie Rothenberg
Board Member
Vice President, ESG, AvalonBay Communities
Barbra BatShalom
Board Member
ED, Sustainable Performance Inst. CEO, BuildingEase
Jane Abernethy
Board Member
Chief Sustainability Officer, Humanscale
Driving change + innovation
Our Board
Our Board of Directors, comprised of leaders from across the building ecosystem, is pivotal in providing strategic governance and oversight, ensuring alignment with our mission, vision, and values as a charitable 501c3 non-profit.
Materials cool kids
Working + Engagement Groups
Mindful MATERIALS’ Working Groups contribute to mindful MATERIALS' strategic goals by supporting the creation, review, or dissemination of tools and resources. Engagement Groups exist to help connect the mindful community, encourage peer-to-peer learning, and share the latest on holistic materials sustainability.
Content Advisory Board
The Content Advisory Board (CAB) develops and updates the data (certifications, eco-labels, general information, etc.) that will be included in the Common Materials Framework and how that data is organized. The goal of the CAB is to provide a cross-section of industry stakeholder input and ensure industry alignment on the Common Framework.
Current Members:
Annie Bevan, mindful MATERIALS
Michaela Shaw, Hightower
Jack Dinning, Brightworks Sustainability
Jeff Frost, Brightworks Sustainability
Mary Dickinson, Perkins&Will
Maria Papiez, EwingCole
Rachelle Schoessler Lynn, Gensler
Ralph Bicknese, Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects
Lona Rerick, ZGF Architects
David Cordell, Perkins&Will
The CAB is not currently accepting new members.
Introducing
The Forums
mindful MATERIALS Forums assemble proven materials leaders in the building industry, from the owner, AEC, and manufacturing sectors, to find common ground, identify alignment opportunities, build shared resources and knowledge, and accelerate impact by sending a clear market signal.
Owner Forum
Owner Forum members are early adopters, actively investing in areas that foster sustainability and accountability. They recognize the significance of minimizing their organizations’ environmental impacts and see a need to align their voices to scale holistic, industry-wide change.
AEC Forum
AEC Forum members are at the forefront of innovation, actively investing in several crucial areas. They diligently assess their progress toward fulfilling material pledge commitments while developing, solidifying, and rolling out materials programs within their organizations—in some cases, even publicly.
Manufacturer Forum
Manufacturer Forum members are early adopters: manufacturers prioritizing the pursuit and upkeep of holistic, third-party verified certifications and have embedded sustainability into their product development processes, underscoring their commitment to quality and sustainability.
Our Work Would Not Be Possible
Continuous improvement and accessiblity of the Common Materials Framework, development of the Collaboration Hub, endorsement of the need for a common language, clear market signal and connected data, creation of free, accessible resources and events, and broader advocacy for sustainable materials are all made possible through the incredible generosity of our sponsors and Forum members.