ORANGE COAST COLLEGE RECYCLING CENTER ACHIEVES FIRST SITES V2 CERTIFICATION IN CALIFORNIA--GBCI AWARDS OCC SITES GOLD CERTIFICATION

For Immediate Release: Costa Mesa, California. (March 19, 2019)

The Orange Coast College (OCC) Recycling Center, already a LEED Gold certified building, is taking sustainability initiatives to a new level by achieving the first Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) v2 certification in California. Owned and administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), SITES is the most comprehensive program for designing, developing and maintaining sustainable landscapes. In its continued efforts to provide public environmental education and active demonstrations of sustainability, OCC’s Recycling Center has achieved this unprecedented milestone in sustainability for the outdoor environment surrounding the busy, active recycling facility.

“The OCC Recycling Center’s dedication to creating a sustainable landscape for their community represents tremendous leadership in sustainable landscape design and development,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI. “By achieving LEED and SITES certification, OCC is proving their commitment to being green stewards not only in their building design and construction, but also with their attention and focus to creating a high performing, educational outdoor space. SITES has the power to transform land development to create a more sustainably built environment, and projects like this will play a critical role”.

OCC’s SITES Gold certified project helps educate the public and students about the many environmentally friendly elements incorporated in the outdoor space at the Recycling Center, and proves that incorporating sustainability is possible even in the confines of an active recycling center. Key public areas of the project include the following:

• A native plant garden designed to attract Monarch butterflies in the outside medians in front of the Recycling Center
• Interpretive signage that illustrates the reclaimed water reuse system and conservation of potable water in the native plant garden
• Rotating exhibits of public art created by OCC art students, made from recycled materials displayed at the Recycling Center

During special events, tours and other community activities, the public is invited to learn about and access the many other sustainable areas of the site including:

• Reflective pavement art within the community event area
• On-site food production gardens used in the Culinary Arts Department
• The Tea House designed by architecture students
• Recycled water/retention basin
• The Bioswale/Arroyo demonstration area
• Composting and recycling areas

“OCC’s Recycling Center has been a leader in Orange County’s sustainability world for nearly five decades and we are extremely excited to be the first SITES v2 certified project in the State of California,” said Rich Pagel, Vice President of Administrative Services and key member of the SITES Project team. “We believe in creating an environment in which we can not only talk about a sustainable future, but also demonstrate the benefits to our students and community.”

The SITES project team was led by OCC Recycling Center Sustainability Director Mike Carey and included a key integrated design team from the College’s landscape architecture, horticulture, grounds supervision, community support, finance, art and administration departments and programs, as well as expert SITES and sustainability consultants from Verde, Byline7 and Michael Baker International.

Final phases of art installation and signage currently are under way, and the Center is planning a plaque dedication ceremony as a part of Orange Coast College Green Coast Day on April 17, 2019, which is an event held during the week prior to Earth Day.

OCC’s Recycling Center represents the first SITES certification in California under the SITES v2 Rating System, and joins other projects in the state certified under the earlier SITES pilot rating system. The Center also will be seeking triple certification of LEED Gold, SITES Gold and TRUE Zero Waste certification in 2019.

About the OCC Recycling Center. The OCC Recycling Center is one of the largest, most active recycling centers in Orange County.  The facility has been a part of the OCC campus for nearly five decades, dedicated to the creation of a more sustainable environment.  The facility is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily, with the opportunity to recycle and visit between those hours free of charge. The OCC Recycling Center is located on Adams Avenue in Costa Mesa, between Pinecreek and Fairview.  Visit the website at:  http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/about_occ/recycling-center/Pages/default. and check social media for tours and event information.

About the Sustainable SITES Initiative. The SITES rating system is based on the understanding that land is a crucial part of our built environment and by fostering its resiliency we elevate its economic, environmental and social benefits. SITES creates regenerative systems and fosters resiliency; ensures future resource supply and mitigates climate change; transforms the market through design, development and maintenance practices; and enhances human wellbeing and strengthens the community. SITES is owned and administered by Green Business Certification Inc., and was originally developed through a collaborative, interdisciplinary effort of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin, and the United States Botanic Garden. The rating system can be applied to development projects located on sites with or without buildings and draws on the experience gained from a two-year pilot program involving more than 100 projects. Projects that have achieved certification include corporate headquarters, national and city parks, academic campuses and streetscapes. Learn more at www.sustainablesites.org.

About Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). GBCI is the premier organization independently recognizing excellence in green business industry performance and practice globally. Established in 2008, GBCI exclusively administers project certifications and professional credentials and certificates within the framework of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building rating systems, as well as the PEER standard for power systems, the WELL building standard, the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES), Parksmart, EDGE and the GRESB benchmark, which is used by institutional investors to improve the sustainability performance of the global property sector. Through rigorous certification and credentialing standards, GBCI drives adoption of green business practices, which fosters global competitiveness and enhances environmental performance and human health benefits. www.gbci.org.

CEO & President Quoted in San Diego Magazine's "Hatch" as Expert on Sustainable SITES Initiative

Following a conversation with Hatch, the publication that addresses innovation in San Diego, Barb Eljenholm, currently one of only 24 SITES AP's in California, was quoted in their article featuring the Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens. The SITES Certified project is one of only two currently in San Diego County. Read the article below:

Stone Brewing Recognized as a SITES Eco-Friendly Outdoor Space

 

SITES APs Team Up to Assist the OCC Recycling Center Achieve SITES Certification

Byline7, along with Verde and Michael Baker International, have teamed to assist the Orange Coast College Recycling Center achieve SITES Certification. The recycling center is a LEED Gold certified building, and hopes to not only achieve SITES certification, but also True Zero Waste. Four sites AP's assigned to the project include Barb Eljenholm, Robyn Vettraino, Anisha Malek and Lauren Mak. They will be working on the project with the Director of Sustainability for the Recycling Center, Mike Carey and his OCC team, USGBC and GBCI.

Byline7 Sponsors the USGBC Orange County 2017 Eco-Awards “Greenest in the County”. Judges Will be Determining Winners Throughout November.

Seeking the “Greenest in the County”, the Eco Awards judges for the U.S. Green Building Council in Orange County will be reviewing applications to honor organizations and people within the county for sustainable programs and green practices throughout November. The December 7th event will honor organizations and individuals that deserve the respect and spotlight of the green building community in Orange County.  The awards will be announced on the evening of December 7, 2017 at the Eco-awards event to be held at the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach.

Awards are being considered in the following ten categories:

1. Eco-City Award (This will be the 3rd Eco-city award announced in O.C. history)
2. Most Sustainable Company in Orange County>50 employees
3. Most Sustainable Company in Orange County<50
4. Most Sustainable land plan, landscape design, or open space in Orange County
5. Most Sustainable NGO
6. Healthiest Hotel, multi-family or overnight accommodation (includes dorm rooms or student housing, and multi-family housing)
7. Most Sustainable Restaurant/Retail
8. Most Sustainable Home (single family)
9. Most Sustainable or Healthiest School
10. Eco-Leader (most Sustainable professional, educator or elected official)

As a part of this competition, eight highly qualified judges with extensive environmental and sustainability experience, have been selected to review nominations. Judges include:

Vicky Betancourt, Founder, Coneybeare Cleantech, Creator of La Luisa in Columbia, South America. Former Executive Board Director, Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce.

Ann Cutner, Landscape Architect, Legacy LEED AP, Former Principal, IMA Design

Richard Demerjan, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Environmental Planning and Sustainability, UCI, Landscape Architect

Nancy Gardner, Board Member, Orange Coast River Park and Natural Communities Coalition. Former President of the Board of Surfrider Foundation and Former City of Newport Beach Council Member and Mayor

Meg Heisinger, Permaculture Designer and Educator, The Ecology Center

Chandra Slaven, Project Manager - Forward Planning for California with Blue Heron, and former Environmental Programs Director, City of Irvine

Shaheen Sadeghi, President and CEO, Lab Holdings, LLC, Former President, Quicksilver, Developer of the LAB, the CAMP and the Packard Building

Kevin Thornton, P.E., Project Manager, Director of Sustainability, PSOMAS

To register for the December 7, 2017 Eco-Awards event, visit:

https://www.usgbc.org/event/usgbc-orange-county-2017-eco-awards

Sponsors include VCA Green and Byline7.  Organizations wishing to attend or sponsor the event may contact Ray Dapp, Project Manager for OCGBC Orange County at rdapp@usgbc.org or by telephone at 949-933-9707.

The USGBC Orange County's mission is to engage all green building stakeholders to be the conduit of change for a more sustainable Orange County through innovative communication, education, resources and advocacy. The Market Leaders Advisory Board Members for the USGBC Orange County Community includes: Robyn Vettraino, LEED AP Homes, LEED AP BD+C, SITES AP, Verde Properties; Barb Eljenholm, AICP, LEED AP BD+C, SITES AP, Byline7; Aga Napiatek, LEED AP BD+C, ENV SP,  Psomas; Bret Hanson, Licensed Landscape Architect, LEED AP,  LPA; Bo Glover, ENC; Moe Fakih, LEED AP(Rater, O+M) CCP, GPR, BPI, WELL AP, VCA Green; Scott Kitcher, Sustain OC; Catherine Cunningham, Eikosphere; Joseph Marfi, Turner Construction and Chris Christie, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, Christie Development Services. The USGBC Orange County Project Manager is Ray Dapp, CCIM, CSM, LEED Green Associate, and the Regional Director for the Pacific for USGBC is Brenden McEneaney, LEED AP BD+C.

For more information visit: https://www.usgbc.org/usgbc-orange-county

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Women Owned Businesses Adding Value to Infrastructure Progress

For Immediate Release:  Orange County, California.  August 2, 2016

The growing number of companies led by entrepreneurial women, which have increased nationally by 45% since 2007, are helping to shape and sustain the future of our nation’s infrastructure. Of the 11.3 million nationwide women-owned firms, five in Southern California are focusing extensive effort on mobility, transportation and water resources, while becoming trusted advisors, not only to each other, but to many of our powerhouse agencies and authorities.  Focused on quality management, community relations and outreach, planning, public affairs, marketing and event management, these firms are paving the way for the critically needed engineering and construction of our roads and transit systems, water systems and vital public health and safety needs.

Costin Outreach Group was co-founded in 2013 by Sara Costin Mockus, President.  The firm is a stakeholder engagement firm specializing in local and regional land use development, oil and gas, transportation projects and issue and candidate campaigns.

PQM, Inc. is led by Erin Archer Hoy, CMQ/OE, CQA, President and Owner.  Originally founded by her father, Don Archer, PQM celebrates 10 years in the industry, as Quality Management Consultants striving to raise the quality standards on infrastructure projects.

The Greenway Group, Inc. was founded in 2015 by Marisa Greenway, President.  The Greenway Group offers multidisciplinary public outreach, event management and business development within the transportation industry across Southern California.

Connected Consulting is led by Marnie O’Brien Primmer, CEO and former Executive Director of Mobility 21.  The firm provides strategic consulting and offers a comprehensive suite of services focused on delivering government relations, public engagement, partnering and project facilitation, events and brand management services

Byline7, was founded in 2015 by Barb Eljenholm, AICP, LEED AP, CEO and President.  The firm focuses on community relations, marketing, communications, PR and meeting facilitation for clients.  Byline7 specializes in building programs, brand, reputation, culture and consensus.

Collectively, these women-owned firms work with DOTs, transportation authorities, local agencies, self-help counties and hundreds of clients across the nation.   They have worked as leaders in our nation’s top agencies and engineering firms and are heavily involved in WTS, Mobility 21 and Focus on the Future, supporting the transportation focus and mission of these organizations. Contact:  Sara Costin Mockus (310) 806-3825, Erin Hoy (714) 848-4000; Marnie O’Brien Primmer (949) 698-2856; Marisa Lennon Greenway (714) 292-6308, Barb Eljenholm (949) 500-6814.

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http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160803005310/en

 

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• Event: Mobility 21 Summit-Empowering California. Friday, October 21, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, California:   http://mobility21.com/

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Article: XYHT publishes article by Gavin Schrock, PLS, About the Future of Surveying Forum which was Facilitated by Byline7.

To see the magazine visit:

www.xyht.com/surveying/future-of-surveying-forum/

• Press: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (RELEASED BY NCEES)

NCEES Hosts Forum to Strengthen Future of Surveying Profession

January 29, 2016

The NCEES Future of Surveying Forum, held January 22 in San Diego, California, brought together representatives from 18 surveying-related organizations to identify key elements and strategies to strengthen the future of the surveying profession. This is the first time organizations with varying perspectives on the profession have come together to discuss its challenges and collaborate on increasing the number of professional surveyors.

A significant element identified during the forum is improving the image of the profession. Participants believe boosting the profession’s image and increasing public awareness will help keep surveying relevant in the future. Other important elements include addressing changes in technology and the varying definitions of the practice of surveying.

Some of the strategies identified to address these elements include rebranding the profession to promote an updated image and increase public understanding of surveying and developing a consistent message to support the new image.

“Collaboration within the profession is crucial to reversing the declining number of professional surveyors,” explained NCEES Chief Executive Officer Jerry Carter. “Working together to create a consistent message for everyone to use will provide a more effective approach to addressing this issue. The full forum report will provide recommendations on how professional organizations can continue what we started with this meeting.”

Representatives from the following organizations participated in the forum:

• ACEC Council of Professional Surveyors
• American Association for Geodetic Surveying
• American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
• ASCE Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute
• American Surveyor magazine
• Bureau of Land Management
• Colonial States Boards of Surveyor Registration
• International Federation of Surveyors
• MAPPS
• National Association of County Surveyors
• National Geodetic Survey
• National Society of Professional Surveyors
• Point of Beginning magazine
• NCEES Emerging Engineers and Surveyors Group
• Surveying and Geomatics Educators Society
• U.S. Geological Survey
• Western Federation of Professional Surveyors
• xyHt magazine

Byline7's CEO and President, Barb Eljenholm, AICP, LEED AP BD+C served as the facilitator for this forum developed to strengthen the future of the surveying profession.

For more information about NCEES and the Forum, visit: ncees.org