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 effective programs and lasting policy.

Katherine Abbott, Green Construction Skills Coordinator, LEED AP

For over a year, Katherine has coordinated in-depth program research and development for Urban Green's major Green Construction Skills initiatives: the Green Codes Task Force, convened at the request of Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Quinn, and the GPRO Green Construction Skills programs - a job training program for trade professionals all over the country. Working closely with the 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.

Monica DeSimone, Bookkeeper/Executive Assistant

Monica’s combined experience in the construction industry and non-profit sector brought her to Urban Green. For several years, she worked as a job cost analyst and office manager at Paul Davis Restoration and did development work for Ruotolo Associates and the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth.

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.

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.

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."