Triangle Emerging Green Builders

The Triangle Chapter of USGBC is partnering with the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at UNC to present Rob Watson, one of the Founding Fathers of LEED and Dennis Quaintance, owner of Proximity LEED Platinum Hotel.

Rob Watson, ECOTECH International, Chairman, CEO and Chief Scientist

Under Rob's direction as a "Founding Father of LEED" and as its national Steering Committee Chairman between 1994 and 2005, LEED became the most widespread and fastest-growing standard by which green buildings are measured worldwide.  A pioneer of the modern green building movement for over twenty years, in 2007 Rob Watson founded ECOTECH International and its subsidiaries, American SINOTECH and American INDOTECH to meet the fastest growing demand for green building technologies and services in China, India and the U.S.As the Director of International Energy and Green Buildings Programs at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Mr. Watson worked in China on green building programs and market development since 1997.  He is a green building adviser to the municipalities of Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai Shenzhen and Shenyang and has assisted the Chinese government to develop energy-saving standards for commercial buildings and residential buildings that reduce energy consumption by 50%.  The recipient of several national and international awards for green buildings, in 2005, China's Ministry of Construction (MOC) recognized Rob with one of the first "Green Innovation" awards--the only foreign expert so honored--for his work on green buildings in China.

Dennis Quaintance, Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants&Hotels, CEO and CDO (Chief Design Officer)

Beginning his career in the hospitality industry at 15 years old, Dennis quickly worked his way up to leadership positions at several hotels around the Northwest.  In 1979, he moved to Greensboro, NC to help a friend open Franklin's Off Friendly restaurant.  Dennis teamed up with Mike Weaver to form Quaintance-Weaver and opened Lucky 32 restaurant, which now includes a second Lucky 32 Kitchen and Wine Bar in Cary along with the four-diamond, 131 room O'Henry Hotel and adjacent Green Valley Grill.  In 2007, the 147 room Proximity Hotel and neighboring Print Works Bistro opened as the first hotel and restaurant to gain Platinum certification with the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.  The proximity employed over 70 sustainable practices in the construction process, some of which include: solar hot water heating for over 60% of annual needs, regenerative drive elevators, geothermal refrigeration, recycled 87% of construction debris, over 40% of the construction materials and 70% of the furniture, fixtures and equipment were sourced locally, over 20% recycled content used, 100% local artwork, local food purchasing for the bistro and 55% of the site is pervious and planted with native species.

The event is free, but you do need to register by emailing cse@unc.edu. Free parking is available in the business school deck.  The GreenDrinks reception will begin following the lecture at Loudermilk Foyer.  Please join us to welcome our new 2010 Board of Directors.