USGBC South Florda Chapter
Board of Director Bios
Kyle Abney, President
Kyle Abney, LEED AP, is a state licensed general contractor and the Principal of Abney + Abney Green Solutions, a full-service commercial and residential green building consulting firm. Kyle represents the Chapter in South Florida and throughout the green building industry as the organization's chief ambassador and spokesperson, and presides over all Chapter affairs and Directors meetings. Prior to becoming President, he was Vice-President of the organization and served in a number of other leadership positions.
A 1999 graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelors Degree in Architectural Design, Abney became the first person in the United States to receive a formal construction degree in green building when he earned his Masters Degree in Building Construction with a concentration in Sustainable Construction in 2001 from the Rinker School at UF.
While at the University of Florida, Abney was the founding President of the first student chapter of the USGBC. He later served as a founding Board member of the USGBC’s Central Florida Chapter and the Florida/Caribbean Regional Council, and is the founding Chair of the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach Branch of the USGBC’s South Florida Chapter. Abney also sits on the Florida Green Building Coalition’s Board, and is a founding steering committee member of the Treasure Coast Builders Association’s Green Building Council.
Kyle was born in Okeechobee and currently lives in Palm City with his wife and business partner, Harmony.
Robert Cannellos, Vice-President
Robert Cannellos, a LEED AP and Sustainability Consultant with the Spinnaker Group, is currently a Certifying agent on numerous LEED projects in Southern and Western Florida. He has been a much sought-after speaker throughout South Florida on the subject of LEED NC, CI, LEED for Schools and LEED ND, and has been a featured speaker at many green-building conferences. His writings on green building have been highlighted in various Florida publications. Robert has also helped run point on helping local governments understand LEED and FGBC standards, including in such advocacy efforts the writing of green-building ordinances and helping establish green government certification requirements.
While pursuing a degree in Architecture from Arizona State University in the late 1990s, Robert began exploring the relationship of the built environment and its integration with nature while in the Sonora desert of Arizona, investigating earth sheltering, adobe and "rammed earth" building techniques, and solar heating/cooling in the Sonoran desert. Robert has extensive experience in sustainable planning and design of high-performance buildings and the application of all LEED certification standards, and was instrumental in establishing the new LEED 2009 regional credits for the Florida and Caribbean Climate zone, which is targeted for release by the USGBC in April 2009.
Robert has been active in the USGBC for almost nine years. In addition to being a member of the South Florida Chapter's Board of Directors, he is serves on the Florida-Caribbean Regional Council, and is the co-founder and Chair of the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach Branch.
Robert was born in Syracuse, New York, and currently lives in West Palm Beach. He enjoys skiing, hiking, bicycling and art, and is a seasoned percussionist.
Carlos Duarte, Secretary/Treasurer
Carlos Duarte is a Senior Project Manager for Turner Construction Company. Carlos holds a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering (Universidad Catolica de Colombia); earned his M.B.A. (Inalde Business School, Universidad de la Sabana Bogotá); and secured his P.E. from the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta. Canada.
Since 2005, the majority of Carlos' efforts for Turner have been
tied to creating clear and attainable project objectives and requirements, as well as overseeing costs, time, and scope, for the construction of multi-million dollar healthcare facilities, primarily in the greater Miami area. His work with Turner has also included project management responsibilities for a $100 million five-star, five-diamond resort and spa in Virginia, and a trauma brain center in Maryland (both seeking LEED Silver Certification).
In addition to the two projects mentioned above, Carlos has participated in several LEED projects since 2002, starting his involvement with Green Building in Canada and later following in the United States. Of note, he completed the first LEED Silver hospital in Alberta, Canada. He is presently managing the construction of the Miami Intermodal Center, a $400-million project in Miami.
In addition to serving several terms on the USGBC South Florida Chapter's Board of Directors, Carlos is also Treasurer of the nonprofit organization. Other community-service activities include involvement with the Association of Colombian-Canadian Professionals of Alberta, for which he served as President from 2004-2005.
Originally from Colombia, Carlos spent much of his life in different countries in Latin and North America. Carlos and his wife, Pilar, and their two children currently live in Weston.
Rob Hink, Immediate Past President
Rob Hink, LEED AP, is Principal and Owner of The Spinnaker Group, a highly respected consulting firm whose team has extensive knowledge and experience in the application of the USGBC LEED rating systems. The Spinnaker Group helps companies achieve green-building goals including design consulting, commissioning and energy modeling. The Spinnaker Group also provides sustainable-design and LEED-related training specifically tailored to meet the needs of organizations.
Rob's firm is currently involved in more than 100 LEED projects, both locally and internationally. The firm's spectrum of clients includes 1450 Brickell, MET II, Boca Ciega High School, St, Andrews School, Staples, FIU, and UM, as well as municipal, county, state and federal projects. Rob is also working with the Colombian government on green initiatives.
As the Immediate Past President of the USGBC South Florida Chapter, Rob sits on the organization's Board of Directors and is involved in various Chapter initiatives.
Rob was born in Iowa. He and his wife, Virginia, live in Weston.
Carole Schafmeister, Chair, Miami-Dade and the Keys Branch
Carole Schafmeister, FCSI, is an Architectural Representative for D&B Tile Distributors, a 45-year-old company with 10 branches and showrooms throughout South Florida. D&B distributes marble, stone, glass, porcelain tile products, setting materials and equipment to the architectural, design and construction communities.
She previously owned her own tile installation business -- That Woman’s Tile Company. Carole has been working within the construction industry for more than 35 year -- from South Florida to the Bahamas to Atlantic City (NJ) -- assisting various construction firms in the building of hotels, casinos, power plants, golf courses, shopping centers, theaters, office buildings, public service plant facilities, laboratories and residential. Her work has included construction job superintendence, office administration, contract management and negotiation.
Carole earned her M.B.A. from SE Louisiana University. In addition to her duties as a member of the Chapter's Board of Directors and Chair of the Miami-Dade and the Keys Branch, Carole also serves as the Co-Chair of the City of Coral Gables Go-Green Task Force, and is a member of the Green Building Committee of the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA). Carole is a past National Vice President and Secretary of the Construction Specifications Institute. (CSI honored her by naming her a Fellow ... "in recognition of her devotion, service and leadership at all Institute levels and her exemplary talent in organization, motivation and communication that inspires others to their full potential.”)
Carole's other member-association involvements include the International Interior Design Association (IIDA); NEWH The Hospitality Industry Network; and the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale Chapters of CSI. She is a past member of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
A prominent advocate for and author concerning sustainability, Carole has penned articles for CSI, CTDA, NAWIC and D&B Tile Distributors. She was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and currently lives in Miramar. She enjoys traveling, fishing, all types of performing arts, designing and making beaded jewelry.
Jill Cohen, Chair, Broward Branch
Jill Cohen is a Registered Landscape Architect (RLA), Certified Planner (AICP) and LEED AP with more than 26 years of professional experience focused on planning, urban design, landscape architecture and sustainable design. She is the principal of her own firm, JBC Planning & Design.
Jill is formerly an Associate with Miller Legg, working closely with municipalities and institutional and private clients on projects involving planning, site planning, and land-use, platting, processing and permitting, due diligence and documentation. She also worked on revitalization and LEED sustainability projects, as well as assisted cities in securing grants for project improvements and redevelopment.
Jill received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the State University of New York and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Syracuse University . Throughout her career, she has tapped her technical expertise and knowledge to serve communities as a "Steward of the Land", and over the past 10 years she has increased her effectiveness as a volunteer by working with policy makers and the business community toward the broad goals of sustainability.
Jill was one of the founding members of the South Florida Chapter's Broward Branch. She serves as a member of the Branch Governing Council as Vice Chair of the Branch and Chair of the Broward 2030 Committee. In addition to membership in the American Planning Association and the American Society of Landscape Architects, she is also a member of the Broward League of Cities, having served on that entity's Green Initiatives, Water Resource, Growth Management, Education and Affordable Housing Committees. She is also a member of Broward Days, having served on Regionalism and Urban Development, Education and Affordable Housing Committees. Jill is also a member and past graduate of the Leadership Broward Program, in which her team’s community project won the 2006 award for the Agency for Community Treatment Extreme Landscape Makeover Award.
Originally from Long Island and Brooklyn , New York , Jill and her son, Dylan, currently live in Weston , Florida.
John Szerdi, Chair, Treasure Coast and Palm Beach Branch
John Szerdi (M. Arch, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP) is President of LDG Florida Architects, located in Lake Worth, FL, and Vice President of Living Designs Group, located in Taos, NM. John has been a licensed Architect in Florida since 1980 and in New Mexico since 1998. He is also a licensed General Contractor in Florida (since 1977). John received both his BA Architecture (1975) and his MA Architecture (1977) from the University of Florida. He has been a LEED AP since 2004. He also is an adjunct faculty member in Architecture at Florida Atlantic University and was a tenured professor (18 years) at Broward Community College.
In addition to his duties as member of the Chapter's Board of Directors, John is also the Chair of the Chapter's Treasure Coast and Palm Beach Branch. He is a much sought-after speaker, with numerous conference talks to his credit. One that jumps out from his portfolio was his presentation to the State American Institute of Architects 2008 State Convention on the subject of The EcoCentre, The Living Office Building, as the architect for that year’s prime example of green architecture in South Florida.
John has extensive experience integrating "Living Machine" technology and other natural energy and water systems in diverse environmental project applications for distinctive image and branding benefits, including the El Monte Sagrado Resort (Taos, NM), SundyHouse Resort (Delray Beach, FL), EcoPlex Office Building (West Palm Beach, FL), Yaxche School (Taos NM), EcoCentre, The Living Building (Lake Worth, FL), and Destiny, Florida’s first Eco-sustainable City. He is the environmental green consultant for Destiny, FL, and the green consultant for the City of Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency.
John was born in New Jersey and moved to Florida with his family in 1963. He and his wife, Jamey, and their three children (one of whom, their oldest daughter Joelle, just received her Bachelor of Design in Architecture from UF), live in downtown Lake Worth in a completely restored (recycled) 1931 Dade County Pine home near the Intracoastal and beach. They're a self-professed boating, fishing and swimming family.
Paul Carty
Paul Carty, LEED AP, is an accomplished builder with 20 years of experience in the South Florida construction management industry. After graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s in Building Construction, Paul joined State Contracting and Engineering Corporation (SCEC) to begin his career in 1988. Paul returned to SCEC in 2008 as Vice President and partner.
A licensed Florida General Contractor, Paul has overseen numerous projects in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. His building portfolio includes dozens of educational facilities, as well as roadways, bridges, libraries, parks and recreational facilities, toll plazas, and office buildings.
Paul's interest in green building was sparked when he became project executive of the first LEED building in Broward County, leading the construction team on the South Regional/BCC Library in Pembroke Pines. This pioneer project achieved Silver certification in 2007. Paul has since been involved in numerous other green projects, including the Fort Lauderdale campus of Pine Crest Preparatory School.
Born and raised in Trinidad, Paul came to the States for college. He resides with his wife, Dee, and three children in Davie.
Matt Greer
Matthew S. Greer is Chief Executive Officer of Carlisle Development Group, the largest developer of multi-family affordable housing in Florida. Founded in 1997, Carlisle Development Group is a fully integrated real estate company that has developed, leased and managed developments throughout Florida totaling more than 7,500 residential units and more than a billion dollars in current development activities. Carlisle Development Group is a well known corporate leader in Florida, most recently receiving South Florida Business Journal’s Business of the Year award for Real Estate Services.
As CEO, Matt is responsible for the company’s development strategy and for overall management of its Development, Management and Construction operating units. Prior to joining Carlisle Development Group in 2004, Matt worked for Explorador Capital in San Francisco and for Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Division in New York.
In 2009, Matt was named a South Florida Business Leader Mover & Shaker. Matt was also named the 2009 Young Leader of the Year by the Southeast Florida Chapter/Caribbean District Council of the Urban Land Institute. Florida Trend Magazine and the South Florida Business Journal have also featured Matt as an Up and Comer in the community. In addition to his volunteer responsibilities as a member of the USGBC South Florida Chapter's Board of Directors, Matt is active in a number of charitable organizations including the Young Presidents Organization (YPO); the United Way’s Young Leaders Group; the Greater Miami Jewish Federation; Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe (Miami-Dade’s foster care oversight organization); and the Hold the Line campaign to protect Miami-Dade County’s natural habitats from development. Matt holds a Master of Science cum laude in Real Estate Development and a Bachelor of Arts in History cum laude, both from Columbia University.
Nick Gunia
Nick Gunia, LEED AP, was born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Miami. He graduated from Dartmouth College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Nick earned his Juris Doctor degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law, where he was on the University of Miami Law Review.
He began his career at the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York City, where his practice areas included mergers and acquisitions, banking and investment management. In 2003, Nick relocated to Miami to serve as Vice President and General Counsel of K.G. International, Inc., a leading Miami-based marketing and distribution firm. In 2006, Nick launched Alterna Corp., the leading green building products distributor in the Southeast, and thereby fulfilled his long-time goal of combining his passion for environmental sustainability with his career in distribution.
Nick is also a Co-founder and Chairman of Dream in Green, a Miami-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which is focused on expanding its Green Schools Challenge, a program for educating K-12 students about environmental and energy challenges by getting them directly involved in solutions to those challenges at their schools. Dream in Green serves more than 50,000 students, teachers and administrators at 43 schools in Miami-Dade County, the nation’s fourth largest public school district.
In addition to his duties as a Director of the Chapter, Nick is the former Chair of the Miami-Dade and the Keys Branch of the Chapter, and still serves on that Branch's governing council.
Nick and his wife, Maria, live in Miami with their French bulldog, Bunny.
Donna Hagerott
Donna Hagerott, LEED AP, is a Development Associate with Trammell Crow Residential. In this role, she is responsible for pursuing new development opportunities, product design and the pursuit of entitlements to meet all local jurisdictions. Donna represents the owner throughout construction and then continues to work with the property management team, providing direction for marketing and operations.
Prior to joining Trammel Crow Residential in November 2005, Donna was a Project Architect for Tseng Consulting Group. During her 10 years with the firm, Donna was responsible for the design, construction documents and construction management for numerous multi-family developments throughout South Florida . Her clients included Trammell Crow Residential, Gables Residential, Wood Partners, Cornerstone Group and Epoch Properties.
In addition to her duties as a member of the USGBC South Florida Chapter's Board of Directors, Donna is active in the Chapter's Broward Branch. She is also the Chair of the Chapter's Commercial Real Estate Committee.
Donna graduated for New York Institute of Technology with a Bachelors Degree in Architecture in 1988. She was born and raised in New York , and loved the cold weather so much, she relocated to sunny Florida the day after she graduated college. Donna and her husband, Sean, and their two children live in Davie.
Sandra Lee
Sandra Lee, LEED AP, AICP, directs the Environmental Planning Department at Calvin, Giordano & Associates (CGA) -- a multi-disciplinary consulting firm in operation since 1938 providing services to the public and the private sector throughout southeast Florida. Sandra works out of the firm's Fort Lauderdale office, coordinating their regulatory permitting, environmental planning, site assessment, resource management and environmental technical support services and staff. Prior to joining CGA, Sandra was with the Growth Management Division of Monroe County. A resident of the Florida Keys for nearly 10 years, Sandra became very familiar with the environmental sensitivities and government programs protecting the Keys, a designated area of critical State concern.
In addition to serving on the USGBC South Florida Chapter’s Board of Directors, Sandra serves as the Chapter’s Membership Chair and the Membership Chair for the Broward Branch. She is also on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Subcommittee of the Broward County Climate Change Task Force, and has recently been appointed as a 2010 Board member to the South Florida Association of Environmental Professionals.
Sandra obtained a Bachelors degree in Biology with a special emphasis in Botany, and a Masters degree in Ecological Systems from St. Cloud State University, located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, near where she grew up. She currently lives in Oakland Park. Sandra has one adult son, Erik, who is currently living in north Florida.
Brian Lomel
Brian Lomel is a Principal and Sustainable Consultant for TLC Engineering for Architecture. A mechanical engineering graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Brian is a professional engineer registered in both Florida and Georgia. A LEED AP and a Registered Commissioning Authority (CxA), Brian has more than 20 years experience in engineering consulting.
As an expert in green design, Brian was part of the multi-city tour of the "Growth of the Green Building Initiative" series, which he presented to architects, engineers and contractors across Florida. He has been a featured speaker at numerous conferences including Florida American Institute of Architects State and Local Conferences, the "Tropical Green" conference presented by Metropolis Magazine, and the Academy of Architecture for Health’s national conference. He regularly speaks about green building design to local groups including the Urban Land Institute Southeast Florida/Caribbean District Council; the Commercial Real Estate Women South Florida Chapter; the Sierra Club Palm Beach Chapter; the Broward Regional Real Estate Senior Analysts Committee; the Commercial and Industrial Real Estate Brokers Association; and the Florida Landscape Architects and Land Planners Association state conference, amongst others. Additionally, he has taught continuing education courses on green design for architects, civil engineers and contractors.
In addition to serving on the USGBC South Florida Chapter's Board of Directors, Brian is Chair of the organization's Education Committee. Past President of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Florida Chapter, Brian also consulted on the fact-finding surveys tied to President Bush's energy policy and the impact on the GSA Courthouse HVAC Design Excellence Program.
Originally from Georgia, Brian and his wife, Angela, live in Wilton Manors.
Gary Pirtle
Gary Pirtle is President and Managing Member of Pirtle Government Contracting, LLC, a Disabled Veteran-owned construction-management, design-build, and General Contracting firm with the ability to self-perform concrete. Gary is a LEED AP, a Florida-licensed General Contractor, and a Professional Engineer.
Over the course of the past 10 years as the Assistant Vice President at Pirtle Construction Company, Gary has been responsible for the construction of more than 25 major projects in Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Notable projects include the FAU Pine Jog Environmental Education Center and Pine Jog Elementary School, both LEED Gold Certified projects in West Palm Beach. The Pine Jog Elementary School was the first LEED Gold Certified K-12 facility in Florida. As a LEED AP, Gary ensures that all of the firm's LEED projects are on track to meet or exceed the targeted certification level.
Gary has more than 30 years of construction management experience. He started Pirtle Government Contracting after completing 20-plus years with the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps where he served as a Navy Civil Engineer Corps Officer and retired with the rank of Commander. While serving in the Navy, Gary worked on numerous MILCON and Navy Special Projects including Housing, Barracks, Jet Aviation Fueling Facilities, Runway Repairs and Extensions, and Pier Construction. His experience for the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps also gave him construction management skills in interdisciplinary engineering, construction contracting, and utilities management.
Gary holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Civil Engineering, from the University of Alabama and the Georgia Institute of Technology, respectfully. In addition to his responsibilities as a Director of the USGBC South Florida Chapter, Gary is highly involved in other civic organizations, including the U.S. Navy League – Fort Lauderdale Chapter (Vice President) and the South Florida ACE Mentor Program (Board member).
Originally from Tennessee, Gary and his fiancé, Vickie, now live in Fort Lauderdale. Gary is a proud father of two grown children -- his daughter Heather, living in Seattle, Washington, and his son Chris, who lives in California with Gary's three grandchildren.
Elsi Rose
Elsi Rose, LEED AP, was born in Central America and was raised in Germany, England, the US and tropical El Salvador. She received a Bachelor of Design degree in Architecture at the University of Florida, where she met her soul mate, Robert. Together, they moved to New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Architecture at Pratt Institute.
Elsi is the Development and Capital Management Coordinator at the City of Miramar. She serves on the Development Review Committee and Community Appearance Board, where she has the opportunity to review new development and redevelopment within the City, propose sustainable design solutions, and make recommendations for compliance within the Land Development Code. She is also a member of the City Manager’s Executive Team, the Media Advisory Team, and the Miramar Green Champions.
Other professional experience includes work within the private sector in residential, commercial, and institutional architectural design; work within the public sector includes urban planning, public art, and streetscape design.
Elsi has been an active member of the Chapter since the inception of the Broward Branch. She served as the Programs Chair for the Broward Branch before her current position as the Programs Chair for the Chapter. She is a member of the City of Pembroke Pines Streetscape Committee and a graduate of the Miramar-Pembroke Pines Chamber of Commerce Leadership XIX program.
Elsi and Robert live in Pembroke Pines. “La Familia Rose” has two masterpieces, son Arthur (the environmentalist) and son Alexander (the rocker).
Hector Samario
Hector Samario, LEED AP, a Senior Sales Consultant with FPL Energy Services (FPLES), works directly with municipalities, counties, school districts and universities to develop energy and water conservation strategies aimed at reducing both greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and overall cost of operations.
Before joining the FPL Energy Services team, Hector spent time with Honeywell and Booz Allen Hamilton. At the latter, he worked as an Economic Systems Analyst conducting research and analysis for the US Southern Command, one of nine unified Combatant Commands that make up the Department of Defense.
After graduating from California Polytechnic University at Pomona with his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Hector spent 20 years as a pilot in the US Navy, where he served in a variety of positions: Advisor to the Royal Saudi Naval Aviation Command; Officer in Charge for Middle East Detachment; Exercise Director for Latin America and the Caribbean; Flight Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS America; and Flight Instructor at the Navy’s Flight School in Pensacola. Hector received his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Florida in 1999 while still serving in the US Navy.
Hector is involved in multiple activities with the USGBC South Florida Chapter. He is former Chair of the Broward Branch of the Chapter and still serves on that Branch's governing council. In addition to his responsibilities on the Board of Directors, he is also the Chapter's Green Schools Advocate. Outside the USGBCSF, he stays "green" -- chairing the Green City Advisory Board of the City of Pembroke Pines; serving on the Broward County Climate Change Task Force; and serving on the Sustainability Committee for the Broward League of Cities.
Hector and his wife, Lisa, live in Pembroke Pines. They have two beautiful children, Natalie and Harrison.
Lou Zaccone
Lou Zaccone is the General Manager of Trane South Florida. With more than 30 years experience with Trane in various leadership roles and assignments including Corporate Vice President of the Western hemisphere, Lou has ultimate responsibility for the organization’s performance in the South Florida Market in all businesses including Equipment Sales, Service, Parts, Building Automation Controls, Turnkey Contracting and Energy Services. He leads a team of more than 250 skilled professionals who each oversee specific areas of expertise, all with the same goal of ensuring customer satisfaction and financial performance in this marketplace.
Lou attended the University of Delaware where he majored in Mechanical Engineering Technology while on a full baseball scholarship. He later played baseball for the Cape Fear Crocs, a minor league farm team for the Kansas City Royals.
In addition to his duties as a member of the Chapter's Board of Directors, Lou is highly involved in various professional and community-based organizations including the Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA), ASHRAE, Baptist Health Foundation, The Broward Alliance, South Florida Healthcare Forum, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation, and TEC Florida.
Lou was born in Philadelphia and currently lives in Fort Lauderdale with his wife, Jennifer.