The Green Building Initiative (GBI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Vicki Worden, a long-time consultant to GBI and an accomplished leader in the sustainability and non-profit sectors, as its new Executive Director. Worden was part of the original launch team that brought Green Globes® to the United States and served as Vice President of Commercial Programs for the organization from 2005 to 2010. In that role, Worden became a national spokesperson and champion for green building, resulting in significant recognition of Green Globes® by designers, building owners, and all levels of government.
“We are pleased to have Vicki rejoining the team and bringing not only her technical knowledge but her significant leadership skills to the table,” stated Jay Thomas, Chair of GBI’s Board of Directors and Vice President, Marketing of Sika Corporation, a leading supplier of products and systems to the building sector and motor vehicle industry. “Vicki has a unique understanding of GBI’s Green Globes® and Guiding Principles Compliance offerings as well as more than 20 years of experience in non-profit management. We’re delighted to have someone of her capabilities joining the leadership team.”
In a related move, GBI announced that Jerry Yudelson would be stepping down as the organization’s President after a 15-month tenure. “We greatly appreciate the market knowledge and innovative ideas that Jerry brought to GBI,” Thomas said. “During his time here, GBI was able to bring new rating systems to market, expand our membership and support base, and develop a new revenue model for the organization that our new Executive Director will enhance and implement with the GBI team.”
Yudelson said, “It’s time for GBI to transition to a longer-term management structure, and I’m pleased that I was able to bring valuable insights to GBI and the Green Globes brand during my time here. I look forward to returning to the writing, speaking and consulting work that I have engaged in since 2006.”
Worden will work with the GBI Board of Directors in the advancement of GBI’s tools and certification programs, the Green Globes® brand, and its solution-based approaches in support of designers and building owners.
“GBI has accomplished a great deal in the last 10 years,” stated Worden. “The next decade will bring even more change in terms of technology, building performance challenges, and potential solutions. I look forward to working with practitioners, owners, and the green building community on new ways to advance our understanding and definition of high performance and green building.”
As a sustainability and strategic management consultant over the last decade, Worden has worked with diverse organizations on sustainability challenges, including the International Code Council, supporting development of solar thermal, solar collector, and rainwater harvesting standards; the International Parking Institute; and the Specialty Sleep Association. Worden is also the former Executive Vice President of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA), where she was a staff member from 1994-2004 and represented 8,000 members before Congress, federal agencies, and the residential construction industry. Additionally, Worden holds an MBA from Loyola University in Maryland and a BA in political science and international relations from West Chester University.
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