Ben Evans is federal legislative director at the U.S. Green Building Council, helping lead the council’s advocacy work in Washington promoting green buildings and sustainable communities. Ben brings more than 20 years of experience working in politics, government affairs and communications, mostly in the energy sector. He has extensive experience developing policy, creating strategic advocacy campaigns, building stakeholder coalitions, and engaging with Congress and the executive branch. He has been quoted or published in national media outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, Politico and Reuters. Prior to joining USGBC, Ben was vice president of public affairs at the Alliance to Save Energy, overseeing the Alliance’s work to advance energy efficiency policy, including government affairs and policy communications. Prior to that, Ben he director of public affairs at the National Biodiesel Board, the biodiesel trade association. Previously, he was a reporter covering politics in the Washington bureau of The Associated Press and at Congressional Quarterly, where he covered the landmark Energy Policy Act of 2005. A native of Memphis, Tenn., Ben has a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Charleston. He lives in Baltimore with his wife, two children and a golden retriever.

Executive Director, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). Maron is a passionate thought leader who is well known for her work to accelerate progress towards local sustainability, environmental justice, energy, and climate goals. Over her twenty-plus year career in the private and public sectors, she has led the development and implementation of far-reaching solutions to a broad set of urban challenges across the disciplines of urban planning, local government policy, infrastructure, and economic development.

Vice President of Policy and Strategic Partnerships, Philadelphia Energy Authority. Katie brings more than a decade of broad policy, program, and coalition-building experience to her work as Vice President of Policy and Strategic Partnerships at the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA.) In this role, she drives the strategy and development of energy projects alongside municipal and institutional partners, leads policy at the local, state, and federal levels, and supports efforts to develop long-term, solution-scale funding for PEA programming.

Senior Director, Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability, Urban Land Institute. Kara Kokernak is a Senior Director on the ULI Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real Estate team and leads Decarbonization and Net Zero thought leadership, specifically focusing on ULI’s Net Zero Mission Priority “journey to zero” and convenings/campaigns around the real estate value chain for tenants, utilities, and embodied carbon. Prior to ULI, Kara spent 15 years in sustainability consulting, initially at global consulting firm, DNV GL, she managed utility energy efficiency contracts and new construction, existing building, and campus green building projects. More recently, at RE Tech Advisors, Kara managed commercial real estate ESG program strategy and implementation. Kara is also an adjunct professor at American University, her undergrad alma mater, in the Environmental Studies program where she teaches courses in energy, sustainability and her favorite course, a capstone research project for seniors preparing to enter the workforce. Kara lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband, three kids, and senior rescue dog.

Laura Slutsky is a Director at Guidehouse in the Housing & Community Solutions practice, located in Philadelphia. She supports public-sector and commercial clients nationwide on housing policy and programs, affordable housing finance, grants management, and community investment strategies. Laura has over fifteen years of public and nonprofit experience in housing, community development, disaster recovery, and sustainability. She led the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Philadelphia District Council for six years, serving as a convener and thought leader on key land use, real estate, and community impact issues.

Director of Commercial Programs, Philadelphia Energy Authority, LEED AP O+M. Lisa is Director of Commercial Programs for the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA). She joined PEA full-time in 2023 after serving as program consultant to PEA for four years. She also consulted with Indigenized Energy Initiative, working with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Montana to develop a comprehensive solar program on the reservation. She led sustainable energy education and workforce development initiatives at Penn State at the Navy Yard from 2014-2018. Prior to that she was a consultant at two design and consulting firms, Re:Vision and Kitchen & Associates. Lisa serves on the Governance, Finance and Executive Committees of GBU. Lisa has her MBA from Yale University and B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont. Lisa is passionate about sustainability and the power of community to transform the world.

As Vice President of Development for HumanGood, Ms. Anderson and her team focus on advancing HumanGood’s affordable housing development and preservation initiatives on the east coast. With more than 20 years of experience, she is recognized for her advocacy in developing new affordable housing communities for older adults who need secure homes in the greater Philadelphia region. She is a board member of several organizations including the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation, Regional Housing Legal Services, PA Developer Council and Women in Housing and Finance (PA). HumanGood is the seventh-largest nonprofit senior living provider in the country and owns 100 affordable housing communities across five states (California, Delaware, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington) with more than 8,880 residents.

Gregory Heller is a Director at Guidehouse in the Housing & Community Solutions practice. He has 20 years of experience in affordable housing and community development. At Guidehouse he works with both public-sector and commercial clients on housing programs and policy, community finance, real estate advisory, and local reinvestment strategies. Prior to joining Guidehouse, Greg held a senior leadership position in Philadelphia’s local government as executive director of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, and prior to that ran a national consultancy focused on social-impact real estate. Greg serves on a flight of ULI’s national Public-Private Partnership Product Council.