Speaker: Yancy Wright,  Director, Sellen Sustainability

Topic: The Business Case for Green

Bio:
Born into a logging family in Southern Oregon, trained in architecture in Idaho and Rome, Italy, and immersed in construction in the Pacific Northwest, Yancy provides an acute understanding of our built and natural environments, and is renown for his ability to translate sustainability ideals into practice.

As Sellen Construction’s Sustainability Initiatives Manager he was instrumental in helping exceed sustainable goals on over 30 LEED projects for world class clients such as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Today, Yancy’s relentless pursuit of finding better ways to design and build catalyzed the launch of Sellen Sustainability, which is dedicated to sharing best practices that evolve our industry through in-depth consulting and training services.

Abstract:

Speaking from the perspective of a native Oregonian aware of the economic challenges facing the region Yancy plans to share his experience with changing construction business practices around sustainable initiatives that improve the bottom line.  It will begin with his personal story growing up logging in the Oregon forests with his father and how Yancy’s perspective evolved to see beyond the trees and value them as so much more than just a timber product.  He will share the results of several years working in a role he created to focus on sustainability and the journey of initiating cultural change within Sellen construction, a company of 600 people that is now ranked as the largest and greenest general contractor in the state of Washington. Working more recently as a sustainability consultant with great clients like Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation he will reflect on their evolution to adopt sustainable best management practices and share lessons learned on over 35 LEED projects. Yancy holds a masters degree in architecture, has worked in the commercial construction industry for 9 years and is extremely passionate about finding innovative solutions to design & build sustainably for less money.

View Yancy Wright's flyer here.

Date: Thursday, Oct 13, 2011

Time: Doors open at 5:00PM, Lecture begins at 5:30PM

Location:  OIT, 3201 Campus Dr. Room 237, DOW Center for Health Profesionals Auditorium

Cost: Cascadia Members and students; Free (RSVP MANDATORY)
General Audience; $10

The Transformational Lecture Series aims to inspire all building industry professionals to embrace their role in creating as sustainable built environment now, as well as ensuring that sustainability becomes integral to all development in the future. In an effort to both reduce cost and carbon emissions, and to inspire the local community, most speakers are notable local heroes and reside in the Pacific Northwest.