USGBC-SC Chapter Announces the election of three new board members

MT. PLEASANT, SC – December 15, 2011 – The staff and currentboard of USGBC-SC Chapter are happy to welcome new board members fromacross the state. The USGBC SC is devoted to facilitating the growth ofgreen building practices in South Carolina, namely healthy andefficient buildings. The Board of Directors of this Chapter provides thestrategic guidance for the implementation of this mission. We areextremely pleased to have three of the most dedicated thought leaders ingreen building in South Carolina step forward to volunteer their timefor this very important cause. The citizens of South Carolina should beproud to have such devoted stewards looking out for the manner in whichwe construct buildings in our state, said Adam Bernholz, 2011 Chair ofthe South Carolina Chapter.

Melissa Le Roy, SC Chapter Executive Director adds, The new boardmembers, along with the existing board members will add additionalknowledge and skills to help ensure the Sustainability of the SouthCarolina chapter as we continue to lead the journey in transforming thebuilding industry. 

New members include:

BrentTrenga, LEED AP, of Mt. Pleasant is the Chief Green Officer ofGreenWizard. Trenga currently serves as Chairman for the Chapter’sEducation Committee. Trenga received his BA from Penn State and studiedabroad in Rome at the Sedi de Roma Design Studio. 

MaryGatch, LEED AP, is the President of DwellSmart in Charleston. Gatchdeveloped the DwellSmart concept based on a convergence of trends and acompelling gap in the retail market.  A graduate of the University ofGeorgia where she obtained her BBA in management information systems,Gatch has played a key role in the ground-floor startup of fivesuccessful companies.

RickHuffman, ASLA, is principal and founder of Earth Design Inc. inPickens, brings  over 26 years of experience in nursery management,campus management, landscape architecture, environmental design,horticulture, bioengineering, and ecology. Huffman’s also bringsexpertise in native plants as they occur in natural models by surveyingregional eco-types across the southeast. Huffman is the founder andformer president of the South Carolina Native Plant Society, where hebrought awareness of these natural models to the forefront throughpublic presentations and workshops on a statewide level.  Huffman isalso the recipient of the 2003 Environmental Educator of the Year Awardfrom the Environmental Educators Association of South Carolina. 

The three new members join a fifteen-member board that oversees USGBC SCChapter’s finances, governance, policies and practices, regulareducation and trainings, strategic planning and statewide outreach.
 
 
About USGBC-SC Chapter
USGBC South Carolina Chapter is a nonprofit membership organizationwhose mission is to transform the way buildings and communities aredesigned, built and operated in South Carolina, enabling anenvironmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperousenvironment that improves the quality of life. Formed in 2004, andcurrently 400 members strong across the state, USGBC SC is a chapter ofthe United States Green Building Council, the nation’s foremostcoalition of leaders from across the building industry working tosignificantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings ontheir occupants and on our environment.