Q&A with Myron Rivers of USGBC

You were recently appointed was Executive Director for the Cincinnati Regional Chapter of the USGBC. What does your job entail?
In my role as executive director I am primarily responsible for setting and carrying out the strategic plans and policies in conjunction with the board of directors and the membership. In addition to overseeing the daily operation of the organization there are 4 key areas that my job will focus on:

1) Creating a clear vision that is shared with others in order to provide unity within the organization
2) Engaging the community and developing relationships
3) Managing the financial needs of the organization and leading fundraising efforts
4) Supporting the board of directors

What is your background and how will you use that experience in this new role?
I have spent the majority of my professional career working first the African American Chamber as the Director of Sales & Marketing where I was responsible for crafting and protecting the organizations brand as well as responsible for membership development. I then worked for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber as the director of economic inclusion where I helped corporations develop or increase the amount of money spent with minority and women owned businesses. My hope is to bring my knowledge of nonprofit management acumen and community experience to help grow the organization.

What exactly does the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) do? What is it’s purpose?
The USGBC is a non-governmental nonprofit who educates and advocates for the addition to the number of sustainable and LEED certified buildings in our region. Our purpose is to transform the way buildings and communities are planned, designed, built, and operated enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous built and natural environment that improves the quality of life.

What do you hope the USGBC Cincinnati Chapter will achieve in the city in the next 6 months, year and 5 years?
In the short term I hope to increase our outreach and help to educate the average Cincinnatian on the benefits of healthier more sustainable buildings. Also I would like to increase the amount of sustainable buildings and homes available to low-to-moderate income individuals and families. In the long term, I hope this chapter can help to make LEED certification a thing of the past; that sustainable design is fully integrated into the DNA and fabric of the built environment in Cincinnati.

How do view the green movement as progressing and changing?
The Green movement is one of if not the most progressive movements of our time. Not long ago the environmental lobby was thought to be for tree-hugging purist and die-hards; that is no longer the case. My 5-year-old is learning how to recycle as part of the regular curriculum in school. The average consumer has the ability to purchase a wide variety of green cleaning products, that use less packaging in a mass produced market. These changes have occurred within the past 5 years. Not to mention the fact that in almost every construction project in any major city there is discussion of LEED, and almost every fortune 500 company has a sustainability report or policy in place. These are all monumental shifts in the way that we approach the endurance of our natural resources in an attempt to save the planet.

How do you view the tri-state’s progress compared to other chapters in the nation?
We are not in a tier 1 market but this chapter has always been ahead of the curve as it relates to progress. Let me to answer this questions with some little known facts:

• Cincinnati was the 8th USGBC Chapter (created almost 10 years ago
  
• Ohio is home to more LEED certified schools than any other state
  
• Cincinnati (per capita) has more LEED certified buildings and LEED accredited professionals than Chicago and New York City
  
• emersionDesign (located within the Hamilton business development center) is home the first LEED Platinum office in the world
  
• Cincinnati was the first (and perhaps the only) city in the country to offer a 15 year tax abatement for the building a LEED certified home

Coupled with a very progressive corporate community Cincinnati is truly on the cutting edge of sustainable and green buildings.

What have you heard about Neyer Properties with regards to being green?
I know that Neyer Properties has a real commitment towards sustainability and being green, in addition to being a member and sponsor of the USGBC. I look forward to working with Neyer properties in creating a more sustainable Cincinnati.

For more information on the USGBC visit: www.usgbc.org