Events

April Membership Meeting

When: 4/29/2021 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Join us April 29th to learn about local initiatives and tools architects can utilize to incorporate zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environments.

The first portion of the meeting the City of Charlotte Sustainability Office will present the City of Charlotte's Strategic Energy Action Plan (SEAP), the City's Sustainable Facilities Policy, and and other initiatives underway to achieve carbon reduction. 

The second portion of the meeting, the AIA Charlotte Climate Action Committee will discuss the AIA National Resolution for Urgent and Sustained Climate Action (19-11) and present the AIA Framework for Design Excellence, which seeks to inform progress toward a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment. The committee will highlight tools firm's can incorporate into practice to mitigate the negative impact buildings have on our environment.

Katie Riddle: Energy and Sustainability Coordinator
Katie is the project manager for the Strategic Energy Action Plan, leading both internal and external teams and initiatives to help Charlotte become a low carbon city. Prior to coming to the City, Katie worked in the private sector focused on environmental compliance and energy efficiency. She received a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from Sewanee: The University of the South



Emily Cantrell: RENEW Training Program
Emily is the Senior Manager of Talent Development for the City of Charlotte Economic Development Department.  She leads talent development initiatives spanning from business recruitment and expansion to workforce development and economic mobility. Emily has served the City for 16 years working in roles dedicated to economic development and organization development. She was Chief of Staff for Mayor Jennifer Roberts from 2015-2017.  She received a BA in Urban Studies from Furman University and a Master of Science in Organization Development from Queens University..

Heather Bolick: Sustainable Facilities Policy
Heather measures and ensures progressive energy and sustainability targets for City-owned facilities. Her responsibilities include maintaining the City's energy database, analyzing and reporting on energy utilization, and identifying opportunities for energy-efficient improvements. She chairs the Sustainable Facilities Oversight Team, which works to make sustainability a priority in building design, construction and renovation of City-owned and maintained facilities. Ms. Bolick also serves as the American Cities Climate Challenge On-Site Renewables Team Lead where her team brought a 35-megawatt, utility-scale solar project to Duke Energy to serve the city, which will help offset about 25% of the city's buildings' carbon emissions over the next 20 years.

Heather graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in 2005 received a M.S. in Earth Science, Environmental Systems Analysis from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  She holds the designation of professional energy manager. Heather is also an adjunct faculty member with the Sustainable Technologies Program at Central Piedmont Community College.