This USGBC Firm - Professional Development Self-Assessment instrument was designed and created by Thom Lowther, Jean Valence, Traci Ferguson, Karol Kaiser and Katin Imes.

Please address any assessment questions to: tlowther@usgbc.org
Please address any technical questions to: dir.dev@digitalreef.net

About the USGBC Firm – Professional Development Self-Assessment Team

Thom Lowther

Project Lead, Co-Author: Professional Development - Organizational Self-Assessment 2006
Project Lead, Co-Author: USGBC Firm – Professional Development Self-Assessment 2009
Co-Author: USGBC Chapter – Education Self-Assessment 2010

For more than 30 years Thom Lowther, Ed.S has been involved with professional and organizational development. His experience includes working in the public sector, the private sector, higher education and associations. Thom is currently the Continuing Education Systems (CES) Director at the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington, DC. He oversees the quality and delivery of the continuing professional education provider program, the educational development support services, and the Knowledge Resource Exchange.

For more than 14 years Thom was the Continuing Education System, Senior Director at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Washington, D.C. He was responsible for the quality and delivery of the continuing professional education program, new program development, the AIA/CES Registered Providers and the professional records of AIA members. He also served as the Institute’s liaison on mandatory continuing education (MCE) issues with state licensing boards and international professional associations. Thom has presented at more than 300 national and International events on a variety of subjects related to professional development within the design build industry. Among Thom’s achievements, he initiated and co-authored the original Professional Development Organizational Self-Assessment and was the contributing author of "Situational Approach to Mentorship," for Professional Practice 101: Business Strategies and Case Studies in Architecture (Andrew Pressman FAIA, John Wiley & Sons, 2006.)

Jean R. Valence

Co-Author: Professional Development - Organizational Self-Assessment 2006
Co-Author: USGBC Firm – Professional Development Self-Assessment 2009
Co-Author: USGBC Chapter – Education Self-Assessment 2010

Jean R. Valence, FSMPS, Hon. AIA, is Vice President and Director of Strategic Development at Symmes Maini & McKee Associates, Inc., an integrated architecture and engineering firm in Cambridge MA. For SMMA, Jean is responsible for marketing, staff professional development, and advancement of the firm's strategic plan.

Jean is an Overseer of the Boston Architectural College, having completed terms as a director and vice chair of the board. For the AIA, Jean has served on numerous committees and task forces including jury chair for the decade long Continuing Education System Awards of Excellence program. She was is also a founder and faculty member of the AIA/CES Firm Leadership Summits, and served on the AIA/NCARB advisory committee for the "The Emerging Professionals Companion." For the Green Build Certification Institute, Jean participated in two focus groups regarding the development of the new LEED Fellow program. For her decade of work in the professional development of design professionals Jean was awarded an Honorary Membership in the American Institute of Architects.

Jean is author of The Architect’s Essentials of Professional Development (New York. John Wiley & Sons: 2003) and co-authored the marketing case study "Richards Roth & Caruso Inc.," for Professional Practice 101: Business Strategies and Case Studies in Architecture (Andrew Pressman FAIA, John Wiley & Sons, 2006.)

Katin Imes

Technical Manager, Systems Designer, Software Developer
Professional Development - Organizational Self-Assessment 2006
USGBC Firm – Professional Development Self-Assessment 2009
USGBC Chapter – Education Self-Assessment 2010

Katin has been programming computers profesionally for over 20 years with the last decade focused on Internet development, online courses and distance learning, online communities, social networking software, and Open Source development.

Even with programming as a mainstay, his career has always been based on bridging between technology and people. Katin offers training seminars and workshops in various aspects of digital technology, technical team building, communications, and telecommuting management.

Katin is the Director of Development at Digital Reef Services in Portland, Oregon.

Traci Ferguson

Co-Author: USGBC Firm – Professional Development Self-Assessment 2009

Traci Ferguson, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP is a budding entrepreneur and owner The ecoGuru. The ecoGuru is a design firm for custom architecture as well as interior design & LEED consulting. Traci strives to design all of her projects with sustainability as the primary focus.  Traci has been in the designer for over 8 years working at numerous design firms along the California Central Coast.

As a LEED consultant, she has been the LEED AP of record for 4 LEED Certified projects. Two of those projects have won awards for their sustainable efforts from their communities. Traci is also active in her community obtaining LEED Certification for the homes built in 2009 by the San Luis Obispo Habitat for the Humanities Chapter. In 2008 Traci joined the Habitat Building Committee to develop a LEED standard of sustainable housing. She is currently working towards LEED Certification for 16 affordable housing units that will be built by Habitat by 2012.

Traci grew up in the heart of Los Angeles and attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for a Bachelors degree in Architecture. Combining Art, Modern Design, Eco Architecture and a passion for Smart Building, she has become The ecoGuru! As a full time Green Consultant, Eco Designer and LEED AP, Traci has creative and practical ways to reduce energy and water consumption for any home or office. Designing contemporary & sophisticated interiors are one of Traci’s strongest talents. www.theecoguru.com

Karol Kaiser

Co-Author: USGBC Firm – Professional Development Self-Assessment 2009

Karol Kaiser, LEED AP joined USGBC Education & Research Department in 2005 to direct the development and delivery of high quality LEED and green building education programs to support lifelong learning for a diverse audience of green building professionals. Prior experience includes building an award winning in-house education and training program for Einhorn Yaffee Prescott; serving as Director of Education Marketing for ULI-the Urban Land Institute, and supporting architecture students, intern-architects, and architectural educators as Director of Education Programs at The American Institute of Architects.

Andrea Raggambi

Project Lead, Co-Author: USGBC Chapter – Education Self-Assessment 2010

Andrea Raggambi is the Manager of Education Development Services (EDS) at the U.S. Green Building Council.  This newly created business unit within USGBC Education was established to provide support to any organization or entity needing to enhance or build capacity in areas of quality continuing education program development.  EDS directly supports efforts to meet the growing demand for continuing professional education of green building professionals in the field. Andrea’s prior experience includes providing extensive strategic planning, leadership development and association management training and consulting support for the 850 state and local chapters at the National Association of Home Builders. As the manager of the American Institute of Architecture’s Continuing Education System, Andrea also provided extensive training and consulting support to the 285 AIA chapters. Andrea’s has additional marketing experience as the Marketing Manager for LeapFrog Solutions and CommTek Communications.