Feature image: Gail Lalla gives a presentation to a middle school class in New Jersey on STEM and energy topics. Image courtesy of Gail Lalla.

Amplifying all voices in our green building community is important to do year-round—in February for Black History Month, however, it is our special honor to focus the spotlight on Black professionals in our industry and showcase the impact and thought leadership that is accelerating the sustainability movement. In 2023, four members of our community shared their thoughts with USGBC on the future of sustainability, mentoring the next generation and projects that inspire them:

Jessica Ford, associate vice president, JLL
Sanford E. Garner, founding partner and president, RG Collaborative, LLC
Gail Lalla, associate, business development manager, T&M Associates
Jared Williams, structural design engineer, Johnson Controls

What are the challenges of your professional role in helping to build a more sustainable world?

Ford: Challenges in my professional role to help build a more sustainable world include a shortage of economic incentives for developers, investors and builders. Many developers choose not to pursue LEED certification on new developments because it typically is a cost-driven decision, not an environmental one. In the case of redeveloping obsolete buildings, ROI remains a key focus of all transactions: “What’s in it for me?”

If we can start the conversation here, we will begin to uncover innovative ways to move the needle forward to a more sustainable world. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve net zero across all real estate portfolios by 2050. In order to achieve a more sustainable world, capital improvements are a necessity, and remains a challenge to fund. As a real estate professional, engaging tenants who care about sustainability is always a positive attribute; the challenge is that design-build decisions ultimately rest with the owner. We have to bring more value to LEED buildings beyond signage at the front entrance and the potential for higher rents. Technology and innovation are becoming the differentiators to deliver this message.

A group of women smiles in a row in front of a USGBC New Jersey logo wall

Jessica Ford (left) and Gail Lalla (third from right) at a 2019 Women in Green event with USGBC New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Medea Villeré.

Garner: Most people still intrinsically think “sustainable” equates to greater cost. The simple fact is that nowadays, short of whatever certifying system is used and its associative cost, there is very little increase over traditional cost. Most all major product lines have “green” inventory that have simply become their basis of supply. While development of an extremely high-efficiency building may have reasonable higher first costs, the long-term cost savings oftentimes outweighs that first cost increase. Running life cycle models and maintenance pro formas can also go a long way to addressing this concern of high first cost.

Lalla: Sustainability and resilience have become vital themes for me, both professionally and personally. Living and working in a coastal community has shown firsthand that the reality of climate impacts is pervasive and the solutions are lagging. One large challenge in moving the needle toward a more sustainable and resilient world is the significant time it takes to obtain funding to upgrade critical infrastructure. The unprecedented levels of federal funding to improve our country’s transportation, water, energy, and various climate needs will take considerable upfront planning and permitting, as well an increase in hiring the workforce. The sheer size and complexity of the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act, for instance, poses real challenges to implementation if local leaders and stakeholders are not already in the planning stages of how to efficiently apply for and utilize these monies for sustainable infrastructure.

My day-to-day role at T&M Associates is to help guide both local government leaders and private companies to prepare strategies, build partnerships and look at projects through the lens of resilience. I’m hopeful that the increased attention and private investment in ESG issues will lessen these challenges that we face in the built market. While the real estate industry is looking at ways to improve its energy, water, waste and emissions impacts, it is also taking the time to conduct risk assessments and mitigate the areas of growing exposure. It’s now more commonly understood that climate impacts threaten both our human health and economic interests.

Williams: Challenges primarily come from budget restrictions by the owner. This is why conducting a charrette is highly encouraged before a project is started. Relaying cost-saving information early, before the design phase, can support my company’s role in providing products that support a sustainability goal.

A man smiles in front of a lake, with a mountain and glacier in the background.

Jared Williams on a vacation, visiting Mendenhall Glacier. Photo courtesy of Jared Williams.

How do you think the industry could become more equitable and inclusive for Black professionals in green roles?

Lalla: It is still not uncommon to see a lower percentage of Black professionals in green roles. This is mostly attributed to the lack of exposure to the field. I navigated my career by researching and approaching key mentors and sponsors in sustainability consulting. My first mentor was my college professor, who at the time had just finished working with Lisa Jackson, who went on to serve as the first African American to become the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. My mentor learned a significant amount about environmental policy under Jackson’s leadership and went on to consciously introduce me to key players in the environmental industry.

I am now in a place where I can pay it forward by providing mentorship, internships and opportunities for more of those groups that have not had the same level of access and awareness to this growing field of work through T&M’s robust mentorship and internship programs. I strongly believe that STEM programs in marginalized and diverse communities are the catalyst for equitable access to green jobs and that the future of engineering is dependent on it. We are a major corporate sponsor of Project Lead the Way, which introduces students to an engineering- and architectural-based curriculum, and each year we perform classroom presentations and host field trips for students to provide them with insight into the industry. Through my role on the Market Leadership Advisory Board for USGBC New Jersey this past year, I was able to connect with new mentees when I was a featured panelist for a discussion called “What to See in a Career Mentor.”

Williams: LEED committees may explore pilot credits that promote equity and inclusion for Black professionals. For example, a credit can already be obtained if a LEED AP professional is associated with a LEED project. To promote inclusion, a pilot credit giving an additional credit for a LEED AP who is also a Black professional could be explored. Other groups where inclusiveness is an issue could benefit from this potential credit. Incorporating this idea in the Regional Priority credit category may also be used to promote equity based the project’s surrounding demographics.

Garner: The industry is no more or less inclusive as it pertains to green roles for persons of color. Most people are most comfortable working with known entities. As such, most people typically contract with whom they have always worked previously. If a project has an XBE (minority, women, veteran) goal, there tends to be more of a drive to widen the typical work pool. However, this approach can be challenging as well without prior relationships with XBE firms, as XBE companies may view the approach with suspicion when there may be questions of sincerity for engagement instead of simply checking a box.

A man in a T-shirt and vest smiles at the camera.

Sanford E. Garner is founding partner and president of RG Collaborative, LLC. Photo courtesy of Sanford Garner.

Ford: Increased exposure to client-facing meetings, internships and apprenticeships will only lead to professional development, employment opportunities and thought leadership. I joined the energy industry 10 years ago with a community development background. Without having an engineering degree, I had to lean on mentors, team members and a community such as USGBC New Jersey to build a new network. Today, I have grown that network through successful inclusion strategies to have more women of color sitting at the table. It takes a village, and requires intentional leadership around diversity, equity and inclusion. It is imperative for company leaders to voice their agenda on how to promote, hire and mentor Black professionals who are new to the industry.

Many Black professionals remain the first in their families to achieve a four-year degree. Graduating college is a significant milestone. Growing into leadership is an entirely different hurdle. We should continue to pose the question, Why aren’t there more Black professionals on our team, in our companies and in the C suite? This industry has enormous potential to push the envelope of DEI in every pitch or discussion and in hiring diverse candidates. Conversations such as these keep us focused on targets set forth by leadership. It truly starts at the top. Also, it is important to note that Black professionals entering the workforce have to be willing to jump in, ask questions and get a mentor—and then give back. I believe it must be a reciprocal process in order for it to produce sustainable results.

A woman in a business jacket smiles at the camera.

Jessica Ford is associate vice president at JLL. Photo credit: Hal Brown Photography.

What has been your favorite sustainability project or activity?

Williams: My favorite sustainability activity was a recent tour of the new Kansas City International Airport during its final construction phase. It was breathtaking to see LEED credits come together to make an astonishing structure. Open spaces for the public. Solar panels that power the parking lot. An abundant amount of daylighting. I was even fortunate enough to find a design my company was contracted to work on. It's a landmark structure that’ll be sustainable for the years to come. I applaud USGBC Central Plains for putting together such a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Lalla: A few years ago, I had the fortune of working with a sports equipment manufacturer who incorporated a green ethos into its entire business line. As the project manager, I evaluated ESG strategies and helped to create an energy study of the company's patented cardio technology that converts human energy into renewable energy. I was thrilled to work with a company that shared the same values for health, wellness and sustainability. It is not every day that I get to test-run human-harnessed renewable energy while shedding some calories!

A woman and a man wearing matching T-shirts rake leaves in a cemetery.

Gail Lalla and a colleague take part in an Operation Outreach volunteer service project at a burial ground for enslaved African Americans in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Gail Lalla.

Ford: I always enjoyed design-build pursuits. Project schedules are long, but the end product is supreme in terms of energy code compliance, building performance and building certifications goals. My favorite project is the soon-to-be-opened Perth Amboy High School authorized by the New Jersey School Development Authority. Teaching was my first profession. I saw firsthand the impact K–12 facilities have on student learning and social emotional development. Facilities built and designed as technology-forward are producing tomorrow’s leaders.

Developments like Perth Amboy High School continue to serve as educational structures for innovation and STEM programming, especially in underserved communities. The younger we expose the next generation to the sciences, technology and peer leadership, the greater their chances to join the workforce in these disciplines. Young people need to be pushed to be great, so why not have them give them the tools they need to be successful? Similar to professionals in Class A office buildings, students should feel excited to attend school each day. Dilapidated facilities will not inspire anyone to perform their best.

Garner: Educating clients and users about sustainable opportunities and approaches is always enjoyable. The market is experiencing so much movement nowadays, and new products are consistently being brought to market. While it can be hard to keep up with the latest and greatest product opportunity, it is exciting to see the market continually evolve in hopes of meeting clients' needs. Finding and exposing clients or users to green approaches they have not thought about or seen yet is always fun.

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