

The Green Building Matters Podcast with Charlie Cichetti
Charlie Cichetti
Do green buildings matter to you? This podcast fuels your fire with inspiring interviews from industry and nonprofit leaders across the built environment.
Not sure if green building matters? Listen to the personal stories of our guests and let Charlie's passion help convince you why green buildings are essential to our shared future.
Each episode illustrates a unique journey through sustainability and towards resilience. Charlie explores the challenges and celebrations of the movers and shakers in the green building industry.
Hear behind the scene stories from the inner world of green and healthy building design, construction, and management.
Not sure if green building matters? Listen to the personal stories of our guests and let Charlie's passion help convince you why green buildings are essential to our shared future.
Each episode illustrates a unique journey through sustainability and towards resilience. Charlie explores the challenges and celebrations of the movers and shakers in the green building industry.
Hear behind the scene stories from the inner world of green and healthy building design, construction, and management.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 17, 2018 • 26min
RDH Building Science with Steve Kemp
RDH Building Science with Steve Kemp Steve Kemp has joined RDH Building Science in their Toronto office as a Senior Energy and Sustainability Specialist. At RDH, Steve will play a senior role in the development of their low-energy building design services, building-energy research, and team development in Toronto. Prior to RDH Steve lead MMM Groups Buildings-Sustainable division, the firm's world-renowned green building, energy modeling, and building performance monitoring group. With unsurpassed experience in building energy modeling (particularly for green buildings), Steve guides design teams through the process of choosing financially-appropriate, high-return energy-efficiency strategies. During and after construction, Steve's team works with owners to install metering systems to monitor energy use and find opportunities for improvements. Steve Kemp – Becoming Sustainability Focused Steve grew up in Canada and attended Dalhousie University where he earned three degrees. A B.Sc., Physics; B. Eng., Mechanical Engineering; and a M.A.Sc., Mechanical Engineering. Early on, Steve joined Enermodal Engineering and was surrounded by design decisions that embodied the same ideals as LEED prior to LEED making its stamp in the world. This was the turning point when he became sustainability focused. The Importance of a Mentor Steve was fortunate to work at Enermodal Engineering from 1998 to 2015. He was part of a team of eight that included three individuals he considers excellent mentors and lifelong friends. First, Stephen Carpenter, LEED Fellow in Canada. Second, John Coco who was essentially their measurement guru and started their commision group. Finally, Richard Lay who served as the mechanical design engineer. All three influenced Steve in very positive ways. Proudest Achievements Steve's proudest achievement was an invitation to help design a solar community in a small town south of Alberto consisting of 52 homes. "The design goal was to provide 90% of their heat from the sun." – Steve Kemp More recently, after transitioning to RDH, Steve is proud of the Joy Center for innovation and Partnerships at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. Steve helped win this net zero project and deliver a net zero building. "I believe the next phase of this high performance building and partnership is going to be very much enclosure focused." – Steve Kemp Advice for Success and Recommended Reading Steve encourages everyone to reach out to the decision makers before meetings take place to let them know what you are thinking and discuss. This alleviates any surprises and tension in the meeting. "More decisions happen outside of the meeting room than you think." – Steve Kemp Steve believes that the next big challenge we have is what we are going to do with all the existing buildings. He recommends reading How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built by Stewart Brand. To hear more about Steve's experience and leadership with sustainability, download and listen to the episode! Learn more about Steve Kemp: LinkedIn RDH Website Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2018 GBES

Oct 10, 2018 • 30min
Carnegie Mellon Profession - Vivian Loftness
Vivian Loftness is a University Professor and former Head of the School of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University. She is an internationally renowned researcher, author, and educator with over thirty years of focus on environmental design and sustainability, climate, and regionalism in architecture and design for performance in the workplace of the future. Her research has contributed to innovative design projects with leading architectural firms, the General Services Administration, and international governments. She has served on ten National Academy of Science (NAS) panels, the NAS Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment, and has given four Congressional testimonies on sustainability. Vivian Loftness – Sustainability Minded Early Vivian received her BS and MS in Architecture form MIT and has served on several National Boards. She is a registered architect and a LEED Fellow. She knew as early as high school she wanted to be part of the environmental movement. Vivian had the opportunity to travel to Finland on a Rotary Scholarship and focused on modern architecture and continues to be sustainability minded. Mentors with Different Backgrounds Vivian's first mentor was her father. He was a Physicist focusing of energy from the supply side while Vivian was on the demand side. He gave her incredible insight and taught her the way energy was going to change practice. She credits John Everhart, an MIT Advisor and Fred Dubin, an engineer she worked with. Lastly, she had the privilege of joining her husband, Volker Hartkopf at Carnegie Mellon who was involved in the heart of both energy and environmental design. "It's absolutely invaluable to have a partner and a spouse who is as dedicated to the same kind of revolution you are." – Vivian Loftness. Greatest Achievements Vivian's proudest achievements include serving on several boards in advocacy roles. Hence, accomplishments in research and practice. Vivian was part of a collaborative team that built a 7,000 square foot Living Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon to explore and research the next generation of lighting, facades, mechanical, networking and interior systems. "It's a real wonder to know that we've been able to transform education and practice to a certain extent." – Vivian Loftness Book Recommendations: Vivian recommends to start with books on biophilic foundations, cities and patterns. There is a series by author Stephen R. Kellert that she believes everyone should read. Amazon Link to Stephen R. Kellert books To hear more about Vivian's connection with sustainability, download and listen to the episode! Learn more about Vivian Loftness: LinkedIn University Website Profile Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2018 GBES

Oct 3, 2018 • 42min
Mission Green Buildings and Matt Grace
Matt Grace is currently a Sustainable Buildings and Communities consultant in Canada and served in the same capacity in the UK from 1995 to 2007. He has over 25 years of experience and has excellent experience in net zero energy buildings, LEED of all types, Built Green, Living Building Challenge, WELL and many other aspects of sustainability. His professional goal is to work with project teams to make more of the construction industry more sustainable. Matt Specializes in Green Building Rating systems such as LEED (BD+C, ID+C, ND), BREEAM and BuiltGreen. Matt Grace – Enthusiasm Nurtured Matt was only 15 years old when he became interested in energy and everything going on with the climate. He went into engineering at The University of Manchester and specialized in Aeronautical Engineering. Matt then went to Cranfield University for one year of intensive coursework in Energy Conservation and The Environment, Sustainable Development. Matt wanted to solve the world's energy crisis by building wind turbines. "You can't be a good engineer without having that creative zest as well, it's not just about the science." – Matt Grace Proudest Moment Matt is very proud of what they have done at Mission Green Buildings. He has a great team and loves to watch the interactions they have with clients. "I am very pleased that I have been able to arrange my life so I have pretty low environmental impact; I've been able to bike to work and most meetings and I can reduce my own personal environmental footprint." – Matt Grace Recommended Books/Routines/Rituals Over the years, Matt has read many books regarding the industry. He recommends the following books to our listeners. How Buildings Work: The Natural Order of Architecture by Edward Allen Building Revolutions: Applying the Circular Economy to the Built Environment by Dave Cheshire Zugunruhe: The Inner Migration to Profound Environmental Change by Jason F. McLellan In addition, Matt shares what routines/rituals make him successful. Have Fun Biking to work-avoid driving or taking transit Guided Meditation Have a stand up meeting with the whole team 10-15 everyday-best thing he has ever started. Matt's Advice and Words of Encouragement Matt earned his Professional Engineer License and advises that engineers log the hours and take the test. This gives engineers the confidence, logic and rigor behind decisions being made. "I would encourage anybody going down that path of coding to pursue a Professional Engineering designation. It's really a good backstop for any career." – Matt Grace To hear more about Matt's success, download and listen to the episode! Learn more about Matt Grace: LinkedIn Website Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2018 GBES

Sep 26, 2018 • 29min
"Always Look Behind You" with Amanda Madrid of Cushman & Wakefield
Amanda Madrid is a Commercial Property Manager with 25+ years of experience in managing property operations to minimize costs and maximize income while achieving excellent client satisfaction. Amanda is a high-energy leader with excellent communication and negotiation skills who works effectively with staff, clients and fellow executive team members alike to consistently achieve or exceed operational objectives. Amanda Madrid – Early Adopter of LEED for Existing Buildings Amanda was an early adopter of LEED for existing buildings and help Charlie get his start on the LEED consulting side. Being Energy Star since 2008 the next logical step was to look at how you can make things better in the industry. LEED was the logical next step. Amanda is adventurous and always looking for something new and with Charlie's energy and tenacity they took the LEED journey together. As a result, they had to convince ownership that this was a move toward the future and sustainability, not the mainstream. Precious Resources Instilling Sustainability Amanda has always been sustainability minded. She grew up in a Latin America country where the resources are precious. As a result, living in New York she was conservative and valued what she had. Amanda recognized waste and immediately wanted naturally to do something about it. "I had the vehicle to do that; I've had that here at my properties. I've always been empowered to do that and once again, why not?" – Amanda Madrid The Importance of a Mentor When Amanda first started her career she did not have a mentor. She went through some tough times growing up in this career and believes that having a mentor might have alleviated those. Amanda now has a mentor that she values and still has to this day. "The day I have the opportunity to be one for somebody, I'll do it in a heartbeat." – Amanda Madrid Greatest Achievements and Quality Routine Amanda's proudest achievements are her children. Additionally, she is also proud of gaining the respect and trust of her team as they value her leadership. She is trusted and valued which consequently makes Amanda to want to give more. It's all about relationships. As part of her daily routine, Amanda uses blocks of uninterrupted time. She found herself scrambling from one thing to the next. This helps her to keep things organized and reflect. Amanda's Advice Always set out to accomplish and do what you love to do in your career. She advises to educate yourself, listen, be respectful and know when to be quiet and lear. "Always look behind you and see what you've left behind that was not finished or forgotten." – Amanda Madrid To hear more about Amanda's success with sustainability, download and listen to the episode! Learn more about Amanda Madrid: LinkedIn Website Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2018 GBES

Sep 19, 2018 • 33min
Green Building Comedy vs Concrete Jungles with Eric Corey Freed
Eric Corey Freed is a nationally known architect, author, speaker and thought-leader based out of Portland, Oregon. Eric has 25 years of experience with deep green and innovative buildings. He is the Founding Principal of organicARCHITECT, a visionary design practice focused on biophilic and regenerative design. Additionally, Eric serves as a Sustainability Disrupter at Morrison Hershfield. Eric Corey Freed – Concrete Jungle to Rolling Hills Eric grew up in Philadelphia and went to Overbrook High School. Living in a city with a strong sense of urban planning. His environment at the time was a concrete jungle of asphalt and graffiti and it was an unnatural place to play. Consequently, Eric sought out nature. Behind his house, a fence with a hole in it lead to a golf course and ultimately a sustainability career! He earned his B. Arch from Temple University and his Masters in Ecological Design from San Francisco Institute of Architecture. "We went from a concrete jungle to rolling hills...it was our hidden escape." – Eric Corey Freed The Journey From the age of 8 years old, Eric knew he wanted to be an Architect. During college he was able to live a year in Rome and then he worked for Beverly Willis in New York. He was planning his escape from New York and started reaching out to mentors. One of the mentors he reached out to offered him an opportunity in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Eric jumped at the chance. "New York is an exciting place to be but not when you are broke." – Eric Corey Freed Light Bulb Moment In Sante Fe, Eric built a dozen houses out of unusual materials and was able to apply this to his practice. Becoming restless, he went to San Francisco. Eric had 21 interviews in 3 days and was offered 21 jobs. He lasted 6 months at one of these jobs and then was ready to branch out on his own. His firm was originally his namesake, but his clients referred to it as organicARCHTECT. "I knew if I could speak passionately about sustainable architecture it would start to attract clients." – Eric Corey Freed Bucket (and Book) List Eric creates a bucket list each year. He wants to travel to Japan and scuba dive in the Maldives. Books he recommends are The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson and I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara. To hear more about Eric's passion to affect change and make an impact to build green, download and listen to the episode! Learn more about Eric Corey: LinkedIn Website Blog Portfolio Twitter Publications: Architect Registration Exam (ARE) Study Guides (Series of 7 books) "Green$ense for the Home: Rating the Real Payoff from 50 Green Home Projects" Green Your Home All in One For Dummies "Sustainable School Architecture" "Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies" Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2018 GBES

Sep 12, 2018 • 18min
How to Keep Up Your Credentials with Charlie Cichetti
Charlie Cichetti, host of Green Buildings Matters, shares a public service announcement on how you keep up your credentials. Charlie discusses LEED and WELL AP credential maintenance to clear up any confusion, and he also answers frequently asked questions. Charlie Cichetti – LEED Exams Around 2009, professionals were rushing to take the LEED AP exams for fear they would get more difficult. These professionals were wanting to be grandfathered in; therefore, Charlie's company was doing a lot of training preparing individuals for the exams. The following 2009 credentials are still in place today. Tier 1 LEED GA (Green Associate), Tier 2 LEED AP (Accredited Professional), LEED BD+C (Building Design and Construction, LEED ID+C (Interior Design and Construction), O+M (Operations and Maintenance), LEED ND (Neighborhood Development) and Homes. A Few Frequently Asked Questions What if am an old LEED AP only? Technically you don't need to do anything, and are referred to as a legacy LEED AP. For those of you who opted in or tested in to the elite LEED AP with specialty: You have to earn continuing education every 2 years. 30 general hours total (of which, 6 of those 30 hours must be LEED specific to your specialty). After the major updates in June 2009, all professionals had to test into the LEED Green Associate and specialty credentials. Charlie Cichetti did take and pass all LEED exams. "As a consultant and as an educator and as a trainer I wanted to see what it was like to take and pass all of these LEED exams and be ready for the rating systems, building projects, and to help others pass the exams." – Charlie Cichetti Resources The LEED CMP (Credentialing Maintenance Program) Guide provides information on the requirements to be LEED specific. The purpose of the LEED CMP Guide is to make sure you are keeping current and if not you could lose your credentials. "Why this change? The folks at GBCI want to make sure that you are continually learning, staying up to date and you stay competent and know what is going on today." – Charlie Cichetti To hear more about how to keep up your credentials, download and listen to the episode! Resource: LEED CMP Guide Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2018 GBES

Sep 5, 2018 • 38min
Sustainability in Mexico and Beyond with Jorge Lopez
Jorge Lopez, Founder and current Chairman of Eosis, Inc., joins Charlie Cichetti. Jorge received the LEED Fellow recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2016. He spends his time between Austin, Texas which he calls home and Mexico where he is from and has several sustainability projects. Eosis is a independent high-performance energy-modeling and LEED consulting firm, based in Austin, Texas. Jorge Lopez – Traveling, Sharing and Learning Jorge studied architecture and graduated from ITESO (Universidad Iberoamericana) specializing in sustainable design and construction. He then graduated from the Architectural Association in London, receiving a Masters degree in Housing and Urbanism. In 2014, Jorge participated in the program Leadership in Sustainability at the UBC in Vancouver. Although Jorge is based out of Austin, Texas he travels frequently to México and Latin America. He has lectured and participated in forums in different cities, the US and Latin America, and teaches graduate courses at several universities such as UNAM, ITESO, Ibero and ITESM. "I love traveling for this." – Jorge Lopez Sustainability Concept is Essential A consultant with an architecture firm from New York City introduced Jorge to the sustainability concept. He discovered that sustainability is a great way to give purpose to the design. Clients want sustainability and having the tool to design with sustainability is essential. "Having this lever of energy modeling and letting the client know what the consequences of their decisions became a powerful tool." – Jorge Lopez Consequently, the architecture firm began to design LEED buildings. Several Early Influencers and Achievements Jorge has several mentors that he admires. He also learns from those he dislikes if they have great careers and are intelligent. In addition, Jorge mentors others and believes it is very important for them to learn sustainability information. Greatest achievement…."is having my own firm and keeping it going." – Jorge Lopez Advice Jorge shares is the importance of the research from the World Green Building Council about the impact of green buildings. To hear more of Jorge's sustainability entrepreneurship story, download and listen to the episode! Learn more about Jorge Lopez LinkedIn Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2018 GBES

Aug 29, 2018 • 25min
The Importance of Passion for Sustainability with Jenn Mahon
Jenn Mahon, Sustainability Consultant with Sustainable Investment Group (SIG), joins Charlie Cichetti. Jenn is based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is not only a LEED expert but is also out in front of the New Wellness Real Estate movement. Jenn Mahon - Sustainability Radar Jenn went to the University of Minnesota. She has a Bachelor's of Design in Architecture and a Minor in Sustainable Design. Sustainability became a hot topic her sophomore year of college during her minor program. Eventually the university built programs around sustainability. Jenn had an early interest in architecture and grew up sustainability minded. Her career path included working in advanced programs for a large general contractor, also. "I have an engineer brain but I also have this artistic side - I really love to build things." –Jenn Mahon Jenn also graduated from Boston Architectural College in 2013 with a Masters of Sustainable Design. She worked with M. A. Mortenson Company for several years gaining valuable experience in rating systems even outside of LEED. Sustainability Minded Leads To Success Jenn is always sustainability minded in her personal life. She loves the outdoors and growing up, her family instilled the value of awareness of fixing and not always throwing things away. Jenn stayed at Mortenson for 6 years and wore various hats including advanced green building programs and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to show clients virtual models of all facets of the project. Jenn started to work on additional sustainability reporting which moved her into their sustainability department. Due to her success and growing interest in multiple green building programs, Jenn joined the team at SIG and works on LEED for New Construction and Core & Shell projects in Mexico, New York City, and more. Jenn is also currently working on Fitwel and LEED projects in San Francisco and Las Vegas. Additionally, Jenn is a WELL AP and Fitwel Ambassador. "I like working on Well and Fitwel projects that deal a more with the occupant health and well-being - it's a different conversation now." – Jenn Mahon Jenn is currently a certified LEED Green Associate, LFA, GGP, Fitwel Ambassador, and WELL AP. Early Influencer During Jenn's sophomore year of college she had the opportunity to be part of a group that went to a conference in Denver where William McDonough spoke. Although the speech was depressing regarding what is really going on around us, this speech helped Jenn change her focus to sustainability. To hear more of Jenn's sustainability success story, download and listen to the episode! Learn more about Jenn Mahon: LinkedIn Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast! Copyright © 2018 GBES

Aug 22, 2018 • 21min
Top 10 Tips to Make Your LEED Project a Success
Today is a special episode where host Charlie Cichetti shares his "Top 10 Tips to Make Your LEED Project a Success." Many of the tips focus on new LEED projects, but the principles can be applied to some older projects too. Listen to the entire episode to hear Charlie unpack each tip for you! Top 10 Tips to Make Your LEED Project a Success Decide to go for LEED early. IPD. Set expectations of each team member on the design + construction iteam early. Don't just chase LEED points and check boxes. Use the Energy Model as collaboration after getting modeler up to speed on wish list ECM's. Keep a consistent LEED update meeting format and agenda so everyone comes prepared. Partner with the Contractor, share examples, and then have subs sort LEED data to the top. Make sure your LEED Online data is consistent so you don't get flagged (people count, SqFt, etc.). Commissioning (Cx) expectations set early and try to avoid wasted testing visits. When LEED Review comments come back, use narratives and only answer what they are asking for! Market Your Building as a Green Building! To hear host Charlie Cichetti unpack all of his "Top 10 Tips to Make Your LEED Project a Success," download and listen to the entire episode! Helpful Links from the Podcast: LEED Credits Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram Don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes if you truly enjoyed the show. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!

Aug 15, 2018 • 35min
Brothers in Sustainability
Michael Cichetti, Director of Marketing and Sales at Green Building Education Services (GBES), joins Charlie Cichetti in this episode. Residing in Atlanta, with an entrepreneurial spirit, he is passionate about sustainability in the green building industry. Michael and Charlie are brothers and share the same passion for focusing on the green building movement and environmental sustainability. Michael Cichetti - Early Inspiration Growing up in Blue Ridge, Georgia, Michael fell in love with the outdoors. Most importantly he enjoys the natural wonders of the mountains and the area he grew up in. As a result, he went to college at Georgia State University, receiving his business management degree in 2010 and currently lives in Atlanta. Early on, Michael had one professor that really stood out in an entrepreneurship class. This professor is an angel investor. Hence, he was able to introduce experts to the class to give real world hands-on expert advice. Therefore, Michael was intrigued and was able to apply this experience to his current work. Right out of school Michael was hired on at a real estate law firm as a Title Curative Specialist. He then transitioned to SIG and GBES and focuses on helping commercial real estate professionals be more sustainable which he is very passionate about. "Being able to work toward a good cause like sustainability really makes me feel like I am spending my time in a valuable way." - Michael Cichetti Big Learning Curve Michael initially lead the sales department with Sustainable Investment Group (SIG) and now Green Building Education Services. Michael works on the company's marketing and strives to boost sales to help scale the company. In the early years of these companies, most of the business SIG earned was through word of mouth for doing great work. So, a sales department was new to the company, and Michael, had to figure out what worked best by trying a lot of different things. Therefore, it was very challenging and big learning curve, but he appreciated the opportunity to learn so much so quickly. "I had to throw everything against the wall and see what stuck." - Michael Cichetti As a result, Michael brought in new business to SIG. Furthermore, Michael has an entrepreneurial mindset and is very successful. Most noteworthy, his vast background allows him to share his knowledge which is beneficial to clients' careers. Survival and Sustainability When Michael was young, his interest in a survival course given by Tom Brown Jr. certainly made an impact. Michael explains that Tom Brown Jr. was raised by native americans and they taught him about sustainability and how to rely on the land. This intrigued Michael and consequently he continued to read and explore in this arena. "Taking things from nature, choosing the trees that will actually help the other surrounding plants and animals flourish more." - Michael Cichetti Michael was very fortunate to have the exposure to the outdoors. Because of this exposure, he loves the sustainability story of the native american ways. Michael is a highly encouraging person. He believes the green building movement and sustainability are here to stay. Above all, today there is more of a need for us to be sustainable in every industry. To hear more of Michael's journey with SIG and GBES where he shares his daily routines and rituals that help him be productive and a better employee, download and listen to the episode! Learn more about Michael Cichetti: LinkedIn Tom Brown Jr., The Tracker Hal Elrod, The Morning Miracle John Medina, Brain Rules Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES: Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram Don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes if you truly enjoyed the show. We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!


