Staff
Russell Unger, Executive Director, LEED AP
As Executive Director, Russell has grown Urban Green Council exponentially in both membership and organizational capacity, while establishing it as a national leader in advocacy, education, and major initiatives for the green building movement. He has spearheaded GRPO, the Green Construction Skills Training Program for trade professionals, and convened the Green Codes Task Force at the request of Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Quinn. Russell drafted and led negotiations on many environmental laws - including the City's green building law (Local Law 86) - while serving as Legislative Counsel for three City Council committees. As the former Assistant Director in the New York City Mayor's Office of Contract Services, Special Counsel for Environmental Procurement; and Special Advisor on Sustainable Development to then-Speaker Miller of the New York City Council, his unique approaches to problem-solving established him as an industry leader on programs and lasting policy.
Katherine Abbott, Special Projects Coordinator, LEED AP
For over a year, Katie coordinated in-depth program research and development for Urban Green's Green Codes Task Force, convened at the request of Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Quinn, and the GPRO Green Construction Skills program - a job training program for trade professionals all over the country. Working closely with Richard Leigh, Urban Green's Director of Advocacy and Research, she has managed hundreds of program volunteers and leading industry experts and prepared their extensive research and recommendations for nationwide release. Katie holds a B.A. in Economics and Art & Art History from Bucknell University.
Christina Anjesky, Director of Development and Communications
Chris comes to Urban Green with extensive experience in the nonprofit and for-profit worlds. She’s held senior development positions at The Partnership for the Homeless and Make the Road New York, and managed the individual giving and Health and Safety Services programs at the American Red Cross in Greater New York. Prior to that, she honed her marketing and communications skills at Citibank and Random House. Chris holds a B.A. from The Ohio State University.
Yetsuh Frank, Director of Programs & Policy, LEED AP
Yetsuh is a LEED Accredited Professional and American Institute of Architects member with more than 12 years of experience in the design and construction of buildings. Previously, he was an Associate at Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, where he was chair of the Sustainable Design Group and Project Manager for a series of high-profile projects, including the Tutu Center; the Sports Museum of America; and the Geothermal Well Field infrastructure project for the General Theological Seminary in Manhattan -- the largest geothermal well field in the region.
Emma Gillespie, Programs Assistant
After a successful internship with Urban Green in Spring of 2009, Emma joined the full-time staff as a Programs Assistant earlier this year. While a student at Columbia University, she spent many seasons as a decorated member of the Columbia archery team and earned a degree in Urban Studies upon completing her senior thesis on urban sustainability last year. Emma has also interned with NEXUS, a Project of the Green Roundtable - a green building nonprofit in the greater Boston area.
Ellen Honigstock, Director of Construction Education, RA, LEED AP
Ellen has practiced architecture for over 25 years, most recently as the owner of her own firm specializing in energy-efficient retrofits for existing residential, commercial and institutional buildings. Ellen has been the Residential Green Building Advocate for Urban Green Council since 2007, working to increase the level of green building and LEED for Homes certification in the New York residential marketplace, and was also a member of the Green Codes Task Force. In addition, Ellen has substantial experience as an educator; she teaches the 1,000 Green Supers program for SEIU Local 32 BJ Thomas Shortman Training Fund, and is certified in a number of BPI programs. Her broad range of experience and credentials make her particularly qualified to manage GPRO, Urban Green Council’s Professional Building Skills program for the trades.
Jackie Keothavy, Manager of Communications and Online Media
In the Spring of 2009, Jackie was a freelance web designer and consultant brought in to implement Pentagram’s branding and identity work for Urban Green Council. Eventually she joined the staff to manage Urban Green’s thriving web presence. She worked for three years as and a UI Producer for a Chicago-based communications-for-nonprofit firm where clients included Writers Guild of America East Foundation, the Ad Council, Sierra Club, and the American Constitution Society. She has also done work for Columbia Records, Howard Brown Health of Chicago and Obama for America, and continues to focus on her creative writing when she’s offline. Jackie holds degrees in Psychology and English Literature from the University of Florida.
Richard Leigh, Director of Advocacy & Research, LEED AP
Richard - also referred to at Urban Green as "the knower of probably almost everything" - was Senior Engineer at the Community Environmental Center, an energy and environmental services company, where he provided technical leadership to NYSERDA's Assisted Multifamily Program; oversaw energy-efficiency work in existing multifamily buildings and new construction projects of all types; and led the Engineering Services Division. Dick has also worked as a consultant to the IEEE on standards and with private sector firms in electric utility planning both locally and internationally. He spent many years at Brookhaven National Laboratory developing energy efficient and solar technologies and studying national energy planning, and was Associate Professor of Physics at Pratt Institute for five years, where he still teaches part time. He holds a PhD in Physics from Columbia University; an AB from Oberlin College; a Professional Engineer's license from New York State; and is a LEED Accredited Professional.
Rachel Schuder, Programs Associate, LEED AP
Rachel is a LEED Accredited Professional who most recently worked as a project and office manager for Bright City Development, a small, women-owned and operated real-estate development company focused on green building in Brooklyn. Prior to joining Bright City, she served as a program coordinator for the Creative Capital Foundation and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, both non-profit artist service organizations in New York City. Rachel holds a BA in Studio Art from Bowdoin College and an Masters in Fine Art from Hunter College.
Alison Swedenberg, Office Manager
Alison originally began working with Urban Green Council as a volunteer and intern in Fall of 2009 and joined on as Office Manager shortly thereafter. Previously, Alison was a Senior Consultant at Webber Chase, a niche focused recruitment firm where she gained experience in staffing and office management.
Ben Weber, Development Assistant
Since 2005, Ben has worked in development at such non-profit arts organizations as Performance Space 122, The Kitchen, and Brooklyn Academy of Music. He is the founder and co-producer of Comedy Night at BAMcafé, BAM's one and only live comedy show. Ben got his B.A. at NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study where he created his own area of study entitled "Theatricality & Taboo."
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