In honor of National Volunteer Month, USGBC Orange County would like to highlight some of the amazing volunteers that make this community great. As membership chair, it is my pleasure to recognize these leaders and spotlight their commitment and contribution to greening the Orange County environment.

These leaders have been critical to creating dialogue in our local communities, stimulating green initiatives and empowering young professionals as they start their careers:

Barb Eljenholm, leadership and awards chair, AICP, LEED AP BD+C, SITES AP, CEO and president of Byline7, has valued her opportunities as a green building leader over the past 30 years. “Dedicating time to help people and the environment is a way of life to most of us who have been involved with the USGBC Orange County community over the past three decades,” says Eljenholm.
Robyn Vettraino, MLAB co-chair and president of Verde, reflected on her decades-long volunteering efforts: “I have made an impact through leadership by focusing on keeping Orange County unique and a market driver, creating the Eco-Awards, which continue to recognize the unique Orange County cities, organizations and individuals that are sustainability leaders. I’ve been involved in the leadership since late 2009, and developed out our advocacy team, and then led the Integration of our chapter with overall [USGBC] national.”
Joseph Marfi, MLAB LEED advancement chair, and currently LEED AP Fellow with LEEDWorks, is one of the founders of the USGBC Orange County community and has made a lifelong commitment to LEED education and decarbonization. He currently focuses his efforts on building decarbonization as a pressing and emerging issue.
Equity chair Jorden Segraves, director of SMS Architects, one of the founding members of the community and the leader of the upcoming Art and Architecture event in May, gives the following insight into art, architecture and equity: “Our world is designed and shaped through shared experiences and the role we choose to play in them. Art and architecture provide a connection to self and to the world, a way of communicating and bringing together ideas and space into a collective whole that avails the opportunity for connection, exploration and community.”
Alicia Chu Strayer, vice chair of Women in Green and vice president of ESG strategy at JLL, is our newest board member. She is inspired to steer the USGBC Orange County community because she understands that time committed for the community is also time for oneself. “As a woman, a mother and a sustainability professional in Orange County, I decided to steer the community to give back to the community that has been so rewarding to me in this chosen career. When I started out in sustainability over a decade ago…I remember seeing all the women leaders in the real estate community and thinking to myself, 'I will be one of them one day'!”

Our young professionals leaders also shared what they look forward to in the future of sustainability:

Jordan Venters, emerging professionals chair and LEED AP from Brightworks, looks forward to being part of the solutions to climate change. “There are so many young people who are looking to get involved in sustainability because they see our dire need to improve it. It’s an industry that I believe is pursued because your heart is in the right place and you want to make a positive impact. I would like to help other emerging professionals create their own network of individuals [with whom] they can build strong, professional relationships.”
Danielle Grace, vice chair for emerging professionals and energy analyst at VCA Green, describes how she turned her passion into a career. “I’m thrilled to be on the crest of a monumental wave of collective environmental consciousness that will push our world into a more thoughtful and sustainable existence. I’m also excited for the enthusiasm young professionals have brought and continue to bring to the table. We’d love to have you as part of this community, even if it’s only a few times a year.”

USGBC Orange County has been truly blessed to have these committed Market Leadership Advisory Board volunteers who, over the years, have acted as catalysts in the green movement and sustainable design in the county, as well as provided stewardship of the USGBC mission. As we read insights from these leaders, we are inspired to drive change and be part of the solution to the world's pressing problems.

I invite you all to our May 4 event in Irvine, California, "Purpose-driven Mobility in Orange County." I encourage you to participate and hear stories from Amazon, Gensler, Rivian and Soul Community Planet about how companies located in Orange County are changing mobility globally. See you there!

Sign up for the May 4 event

Celebrating USGBC volunteers in Orange County, California