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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.