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Richard Burns,
CEO/Chairman of the Board/Founder

Rick has been a licensed Real Estate Broker in California since 1974 and in Arizona since 1995. He is also a licensed California Contractor.

He has been researching "Green Development" for over six years and currently has four projects in development in Arizona, which he plans to be the most advanced technologically "Green" housing developments in the country.

He is a third generation developer/builder, his grandfather having started building in Southern California in 1918.

Mr. Burns currently owns or has owned homes, apartments, mobile home parks, industrial projects, and raw land.

He is a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) '72 with a major in Real Estate and Finance.

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Allan Shechet,
President/Founder

Allan has a business degree from Pepperdine University and a Masters degree from Fielding Graduate Unversity in Organization Development. He is certified as a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute in Newtown, PA, and has many years of project management experience with technology and construction projects.

As a Licensed Real Estate Agent Allan became enthusiastic about the concept of return on investment and as President of American Green Standard he is committed to making green improvements which are environmentally sound and cost effective now.

Allan's knowledge of green building and the concepts of energy conservation extends into his own life with an emphasis on energy efficient remodeling and a car that uses no gasoline and can be refueled at home.

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Bruce Hoffman,
Director of Apartment Certification and Leasing

Bruce has been involved in all aspects of real estate throughout the Western region of the U.S. for 25 years. His real estate experience and success includes sales and leasing transactions in California, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada. Bruce specializes in consulting and marketing for large and small companies, as well as property owners, relative to leasing and purchasing property. Bruce was born and raised in Los Angeles and has been an invaluable asset to property and business owners, throughout his career.

Licensing: California Real Estate Brokers License #985404.

Community Associations: Member, Board of Governors of Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

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Chris Olson,
Director of Operations

Chris is a licensed general contractor and Certified Green Building Professional. He has headed development and construction operations for some of California's leading developers completing some of the most notable apartment and condominium projects in Southern California.

Chris' interest in water and energy saving technologies dates back to the early nineteen eighties when he teamed with the City of Glendale, Az and created the WEST HOME PROJECT. WEST was an acronym for Water and Energy Saving Technologies and the project was a demonstration home designed to showcase these technologies to the public.

This interest has grown over the years to become a passion leading Chris to design and build hundreds of "Green" projects in Washington, Arizona and California. In a recent interview Chris stated "For years I have been saying that water and energy conservation will become a necessity in the future. The future is here and both government and the private sector are racing to bring America into the Green Age".

C. ALAN NICHOLS, Mechanical Engineer, P.E., C.E.M., B.C.F.E., LEED AP

Al has been actively involved in green building for over 30 years. Green was just a color when he got started in energy conservation. He founded the Southern Arizona chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers and has received many honors for his work in energy conservation.

He graduated from University of Arizona with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and did Graduate Studies at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Systems Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Operations Research.

  • Active Registration:
  • USGBC LEED Accredited Professional, 2004.
  • Mechanical Engineering, Arizona & California, 1995 to Present.
    • Board Certified Forensic Examiner - American Board of Forensic Examiners, 1997.
  • Association of Energy Engineers Certified Energy Manager, 1992.
  • Technical Assistance Analyst, Arizona Institutional Conservation Program, 1987.
  • Affiliations:
  • Association of Energy Engineers Senior Member, Past President and Founder, Southern Arizona Chapter.
  • American Board of Forensic Examiners. Life Fellow Board Certified Examiner.
  • American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers Inc. Tucson Chapter, Member and Past President.
  • American Society of Plumbing Engineers Member.
  • Tucson/Pima County Metropolitan Energy Commission, Past Chairperson.
  • Building Code Committee to review Tucson/Pima County Building Code.
  • The U.S. Green Building Council, Corporate Member.
  • Arizona Solar Energy Association, Member.
  • Tucson Citizens for Solar, Member. Solar Chiefs of Arizona.
  • Honors:
  • Energy Users News Award, Best Mixed-Use Facility for the Community of Civano, 2002.
  • Electric League of Southern Arizona Leadership Award Recipient. 1994.
  • American Consulting Engineers Association "Clifford C. Sawyer Achievement" recipient for individual technological achievement in application of engineering principles in the field of solar energy and evaporative cooling processes. 1991, 1993.
  • American Consulting Engineers Association "Engineering Excellence Award" for photovoltaic lighting. 1992.
  • Arizona Governor's Award, Exceptional Design Recognition for Nichols residence. 1986.
  • University of Arizona Scholastic Honors. 1969.
  • AIA Corner Stone Award Nominee for Skill, Responsibility and Integrity in the Construction Industry. 1995-97.
  • Marquis Who's Who in Science and Technology.
  • Over sixteen energy and engineering excellence awards, including one national award for energy conservation and energy awards presented by the Governor to School and Cities for Nichols Projects.
  • Publications:
  • The Easy Does It Solar Water Still.
  • The Tracking Solar Cooking Oven.
  • Reflections on a Solar Cooker.
  • Case Studies of Indoor Air Quality.
  • AEE and ASHRAE Newsletter (Southern Arizona Chapters) Editor.

Dadla Ponizil, CGBP

Dadla trained in electrical engineering (EE UCSD) and systems thinking with a career in control engineering and automation systems. He has also worked in the construction trade as a general contractor.

He developed an energy efficiency workshop and facilitated it in numerous presentations throughout the county. He is certified by the Building Performance Institute (www.BPI.org) as an Envelope and Heating Professional; certified as a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rater, a California Green Building Professional, and a GreenPoint Rater (www.builditgreen.org). The California Home Performance Contractor's Association (www.CBPCA.org) Energy Star program provided necessary training for his work in providing residential building assessments and upgrades.

His business, Ponizil Energy (www.ponizilenergy.com) diagnoses and upgrades residential and small commercial buildings with the overall goal of improved energy and water efficiency; increased renewable energy use; greater occupant comfort, health and safety; site preservation; community improvement and resource conservation.

Dadla continues his building industry education, most recently at The California Center for Sustainable Energy (www.energycenter.org)

He serves on the Encinitas Environmental Committee advising the city on sustainable management practices.

Winston Brock Chappell

Winston, a Los Angeles native, studied art history at Harvard University and received a Master of Fine Art in design from California Institute of the Arts. He specializes in the design of custom residences in both traditional and modernist styles. His work has been featured in Architectural Digest. He was selected to participate in New Blood 101 and Millennium Models Exhibitions at the Pacific Design Center and won the Gran Prix Snaidero prize.

He is Design Director for Sustainable Ventures LLC whose developments set a new paradigm for home building in the areas of sustainable design, energy efficiency and water conservation. In the area of architectural history, he has taught workshops in the renovation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings, lectured at the State Conference on Historic Renovation, and, currently, is a docent for the Downtown Walking Tour of the Santa Monica Conservancy.