Chris leads Urban Green's Communications, Development and Education teams. Responsible for growing our reach and our network of sponsors and members, she comes to Urban Green Council with extensive experience in the nonprofit and for-profit worlds. Chris has 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.

Sean leads Urban Green’s Research team. He is responsible for identifying and executing studies that reveal industry trends and influence building design. He has worked in the energy and utility space for over 10 years and has specialized in building science and analysis. Sean has improved energy efficiency and asset maintenance programs at Pacific Gas & Electric and Sempra utilities in California. He has conducted research with the NRDC and USGBC, managed mechanical design projects with Integral Group and helped sustainability software startup Sefaira build its product and develop a portfolio of architectural and engineering clients. He has worked on hundreds of commercial, educational and specialty projects across North America to optimize envelope and HVAC design. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a M.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University.

Laurie Kerr leads Urban Green’s Policy team, which is advising New York City on how to achieve 80% carbon reductions and helping research and craft the specific strategies to achieve its sustainability goals. She also advises on Urban Green’s research, strategy, and public programs. A licensed architect with over 15 years experience, Laurie is a national leader in the development of green building and urban sustainability policy. As Deputy Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability, she was responsible for developing the city’s signature green building policies, including the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan, the NYC Green Codes Task Force, the Mayoral Challenges to Universities and Hospitals, and the Energy-Aligned Lease. Subsequently she was the Founding Director of the City Energy Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council, which is helping 10 major American cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta, adopt policies similar to New York’s. Kerr was awarded the AIANY’s Public Architect Award in 2012 and was elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in 2015. She serves on the board of the Global Cool Cities Alliance, the Cornell Alumni Advisory Board for Sustainability, and the Building Energy Exchange, and is the inaugural Director for Sustainability at AIANY. She holds a BA in Engineering and Applied Science from Yale, an MS in Applied Physics from Cornell, and an MArch. from Harvard.

Chris works to advance Urban Green’s policy priorities with government and professional associations. He has experience in energy and water policy with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, and Conservation Law Foundation. Chris is a licensed lawyer in NY and Ontario, Canada, holding a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, and Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University, as well as a Master's in Environmental Management with a specialization in energy from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Bessie is responsible for account management and outreach for our Energy Code and GPRO training courses. Prior to Urban Green, Bessie worked at Long Island University as a Sustainability Coordinator to promote sustainability initiatives on campus. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and an M.S. in Environmental Sustainability from Long Island University.

Melissa supports Urban Green’s education programs and training courses. Her prior experience in the environmental field includes involvement with higher education sustainability at Second Nature and stormwater management work with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Northeastern University, with a focus on urban issues and a minor in Sustainable Business Practices.​

Sam supports administrative and operations processes at Urban Green. She is responsible for assisting with finance, human resources, and information technology business. She comes to Urban Green with experience in administrative roles, both in university and hospitality settings, and a background in biochemistry research. Sam holds a B.S. in biochemistry from Pace University.