Participate in a Committee or Branch
Each Chapter committee and branch hold regular meetings where programs and initiatives are planned and all are looking for new members to engage to help grow our impact in the current year and beyond. Working with the committees and branches is a great volunteer opportunity. To learn more about participating in a specific committee or branch, please review the list below. If you have further questions, please contact the Chapter at 312-245-8300.
Chapter committees and contact information:
The Chapter’s skilled and diverse membership is its most valuable asset. Our members participate in a variety of committees that develop programs and events for various segments of the region’s green building community and/or assist the Chapter in a variety of operational functions that help us achieve our goals.
Affordable Housing Task Force – staff liaison, Doug Widener
Education and Research Strategy Committee – co-Chairs: Helen Kessler and Jason Westrope – staff liaison: Katie Kaluzny
Strategies, plans and implements a wide-variety of green building educational programs. This committee is currently looking for volunteers for the following:
• Help determine the programming and assist during two credential maintenance days
• Help determine the programming and assist during a joint CSI/USGBC-Illinois Greener-by-Design, green products fair and conference
• Help develop and review RFPs (requests for proposals) for USGBC-IL educational sessions
• Participate with commercial real estate sub-committee (formerly Integrated Business Transactions sub-committee) to further develop programs of interest to the real estate community
• Participate with the research sub-committee – to identify one or more research projects and potentially participate in them
Emerging Professionals – Committee co-Chairs: Candis Queen or Ryan Hasse – staff liaison, Joan Martin
Plans programs especially designed for college students and young design professionals including the annual Natural Talent Design Competition. This committee currently needs help planning networking events for 2012 and building a team for Rebuilding Together Chicago in April.
Green Healthcare Task Force – staff liaison, Katie Kaluzny
Green Schools – Committee co-Chairs: Doc Kotecki and Stuart Brodsky – staff liaison, Doug Widener
Plans events and advocacy for school districts, schools, and school professionals.
Membership Strategic Committee - staff liaison, Joan Martin
Plans regular membership networking events to both provide opportunities and increase Chapter membership. This committee is looking for members to reach out and personally welcome new chapter members , recruit members to join and become active with the Chapter, and to plan the Annual Member Meeting and Networking events. This committee is currently looking for co-Chairs to work with the staff liaison at the Chapter level and for volunteers at the Regional branch levels.
PR and Marketing Strategic Committee- staff liaison, Pam Jackson
Supports the promotion of Chapter educational programming, special events, conferences and tours. Will help coordinate the content for the Chapter’s new blog, Greenbytes. This committee is currently looking for help in many areas, if you have an interest in marketing and promotion, contact the staff liaison.
State and Local Government - Committee co-Chairs: Kelly Dougherty and Jaime Peters – staff liaison Doug Widener
Develops programs and events specifically for local and regional governments and policymakers. Also tracks local/state green building related legislation/policies and conducts green building related presentations for local governments.
Residential Green Building – Committee Chair: Jason La Fleur
This committee develops educational content for programs and provides training for advocates & experts specifically for the residential building market and homeowners.
Chapter branches and contact information:
The Illinois Chapter’s service region covers all of Illinois, excluding metro St. Louis. We have seven Branches which work within their region to provide green building education and advocacy outreach. Each Branch has a steering committee with many dedicated sustainable professionals who work in tandum with the Chapter staff to support the green building professionals in their communities. If you are interesting in working with any of these branches, please contact the branch chair. View the Illinois Branch map here.
Central Illinois Branch – Chair: Adam Sass
Chicago Branch – co-Chairs: Jason Franken and Meghann Maves
The Chicago Branch is our largest branch and works strickly in the downtown area. Currently the committee is looking for help with membership and development. The Chicago Branch PR Committee is looking for creative people who have marketing skills to help support over a dozen events this year. This branch will help you expand your Chicago network while driving up awareness of USGBC-IL programs.
Fox Valley Branch – Chair: Pat Gosselin
North/Northwest Suburban Branch – Chair: Marshall Hjertstedt
South Suburban Branch – Chair: Larry Alport
Rockford/Northern Illinois Branch – Chair: Mike Dudek
West Suburban Branch – co-Chairs: Ed Choklek and Anna Sedjo
