Board and Staff

Bruce Hoffman is President of Gulf Geoexchange and Consulting Services, Inc. (GGCS), which presently serves as the lead consultant company in the efforts of Shreveport, Louisiana to manage, develop, and implement the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency & Conservation Strategy (EECS). The EECS is a detailed framework to explain how Shreveport will spend allocated funds to create jobs, to reduce greenhouse gases, and to show how allocations can be leveraged so that funding will continue to be available to the city. GGCS is also the consultant for the parishes of Pointe Coupee, Bienville, and Caddo.

Mr. Hoffman believes that outreach and education is needed to reach the entire state of Louisiana in why energy efficiency and sustainability is necessary. He is a LEED Accredited Professional in the USGBC, a member of the AIA, and a 30 year member of the AAPG.

His background brings education and experience in physics, engineering, renewable energy, information technology, and architecture to the problem of sustainable architecture and community development. He received his bachelor’s degree in Physics from MIT, his doctorate in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton University, and a Masters in Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley.

He has taught at the University of California at Berkeley, the University of British Columbia, and now serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Tulane School of Architecture. He is author of over 50 scientific papers and named inventor on 10 U.S. patents. His built work spans from residential, commercial, to institutional buildings in the U.S. and Canada, including serving as project architect of the Center for Interactive Research on Sustainability in Vancouver. His architectural projects in Louisiana include research laboratory and animal care facilities.

Ella Stelter is originally from Texas where she attended the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin. Her last semester was spent organizing an independent studio focused on housing issues in South Africa, where she studied for two weeks. She has been working as an architect and project manager in New Orleans since 2007, and takes great joy in seeing her projects in use in her local community.

Ella is currently the program and grant manager at the New Orleans Public Library Foundation. Since moving to New Orleans, Ms. Stelter has been using her web and organizational skills to help organizations such as the USGBC Louisiana, Architecture For Humanity, and the Green Collaborative. She recently founded Nestiv, and online architectural marketplace.

Gus Levy, CPA graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.S. in Accounting. After beginning his career with what was then a “Big 8” accounting firm, he worked for smaller firms in both New Orleans and Baton Rouge before starting his own firm, The Levy Company, in 1995. The firm, now in its 16th year, provides tax, accounting, and advisory services to small businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals.

Mr. Levy is past-president of the National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana and has served as a Board member with Volunteers in Public Schools, Jewish Federation of Greater Baton Rouge, Capital Area CASA and Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. He lives with his family in Baton Rouge.

Adrienne Thorpe is an engineer based in the New Orleans office of CDM Smith. She has a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a MSc in Sustainable Development from the Imperial College of London. Ms. Thorpe specializes in Sustainability and Energy Planning, Energy and Water Audits, and sustainable building projects. She has been in the industry since 2003 and also has an extensive background in Quality Management programs and environmental management systems. Ms. Thorpe is a nationally-recognized speaker and writer on water efficiency and sustainability.

Originally from Georgia, she relocated to New Orleans to work for Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center as the campus Energy Engineer. She was previously employed by the Sustainability Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Tucker is a licensed Louisiana contractor and solar installer, and brings to South Coast Solar years of project management experience with clients that include the Louisiana Superdome, Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Tulane University and Zephyrs Stadium. Tucker has years of legislative and government contract procurement experience, having served as a consultant for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) with the Livingston Group, headed by the Honorable Robert “Bob” Livingston, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He has also consulted on classified research projects for the Department of Defense.

Tucker is the former President of an electronic display and advertising consulting firm specializing in large format LED video display systems for stadiums, arenas, and commercial applications.

In 2003 he drafted and successfully lobbied The Louisiana Arts and Entertainment Industry Development Fund legislation signed by Governor Foster, which was designed to assist, promote, and fund Louisiana music and entertainment businesses. Tucker co-founded and currently serves as President of the Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association (GSREIA). GSREIA is a 501 (c) (6) trade association representing solar and renewable energy firms throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. It is the official chapter of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) based in Washington, D.C..

Linda brings experience in both the utility industry and the public and non-profit sectors to all projects that Baynham Environmental, LLC manages. Her corporate experience includes working on energy efficiency, demand response, green power and climate change programs for Entergy Corporation, a 4-state, 2.6 million customer utility based in New Orleans. Baynham Environmental’ s expertise is rounded out through her work with nationally recognized organizations including the Rocky Mountain Institute and the International Institute for Energy Conservation, plus her work in the public sector at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Programs, the Louisiana Governor’s Office, the White House Office on Environmental Policy and the New Orleans City Council and Entergy New Orleans Energy Smart energy efficiency programs.

Richard has been with Siemens for 15 years. He is responsible for managing the Building Automation sales force for southern Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His focus is providing energy efficiency and automation solutions for commercial entities. Richard brings his experience to bear on large, complex construction projects which require detailed project development for optimizing building performance and lowering operating costs.

 

Mr. Burvant received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1994 from Louisiana State University. He began his career in the offshore oil and gas service industry providing structural design for heavy crane deployments. Richard is a newly accredited Green Associate and has become a LEED champion for Siemens in the Gulf South area. Richard lives in Mandeville with his wife Karin, his daughter Sarah, and son Richard.

James d’Entremont is an attorney based in the Baton Rouge office of Moore, Thompson & Lee, APLC. His areas of expertise include professional liability, commercial, construction, environmental and product-related litigation, as well as counseling clients in managing risks related thereto. He has LEED commercial interior project experience and is a frequent speaker and author on emerging areas of law, including presentations to regional, national and international audiences on topics such as the management of LEED-specific liability risks, the growth and evolution of green building codes and green building litigation.

W. Geoff Gjertson, AIA is an architect and Associate Professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Prof. Gjertson graduated from Rice University in 1992 with a Master’s of Architecture degree. He currently teaches the Professional Practice sequence of courses as well as third and graduate level Architectural Design. Prof. Gjertson is the co-director of the Building Institute, a “hands-on” design/build program which serves the community. Prof. Gjertson has practiced architecture since 1994 and is licensed in the state of Louisiana. His private practice work such as the Golden Residence and previous work with Holly and Smith Architects such as the Columbia Theatre, Rolling Residence and the SLU Classroom Building have won several state and regional awards. Prof. Gjertson is the Past President of the South Louisiana Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. His work has been published in professional and academic Journals such as Architectural Record, the Journal of Architectural Education, the Journal of Interior Design, and Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Regional and National proceedings. Prof. Gjertson’s on-going research and teaching focuses on design/build, service-learning education and community/professional outreach. Of particular note, he is the faculty advisor for the design, construction, and performance monitoring of the BeauSoleil Louisiana Solar Home. Additionally, the Building Institute is designing and building homes in the community through partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority, and local contractors.

Jeff Greer is the President of Jeff Greer, LLC, a provider of energy efficiency and consulting services. He has served numerous businesses as consultant, providing internal control, growth strategy, and implementation for a variety of service, wholesale, and manufacturing businesses in the southeast region. Following Katrina, Mr. Greer consulted with a prominent New Orleans based architectural firm.

 

Since Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Greer has been involved with rebuilding and building the New Orleans region. He regrets that the Green building movement, which makes sense both economically and environmentally, remains a second or third consideration to many in their building designs and thoughts. Mr. Greer wishes to help educate the populace that “going green” technology is at our fingertips and is here to be implemented to save energy and reduce operating costs for the individual as well as for the commercial and governmental entities.

Josh has worked for Shell since moving to New Orleans in 2008, and currently holds a surveillance role supporting offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Prior to this, he served for eight years in the U.S. Air Force as a Civil Engineer, and continues to serve in the Air Force Reserves. Josh has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Masters in Engineering and Environmental Management. He is a LEED Green Associate and a registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State of Louisiana.
Josh has always been committed to the environmental & sustainable development aspects of his work; promoting sustainable building and groundwater management principles while in the Air Force; managing water quality monitoring and as a member of the sustainable development employee network at Shell. Through his involvement with the USGBC, he hopes to expand awareness of green building principles by identifying opportunities in the energy sector and other major industries.

Andrew Liles is an adjunct lecturer at the Tulane School of Architecture and owns his own practice in New Orleans. Mr. Liles’ education includes a Bachelor of Architecture from Mississippi State University and a Master of Architecture from Tulane University. Mr. Liles focuses practice in the southeast with projects ranging from small commercial to regional residential work. A LEED Accredited Professional (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), he helped found what became the Mississippi Chapter of the US Green Building Council, serving on both the Executive Board and the Board of Directors.

 

Mr. Liles has the expertise of a licensed professional as well as a unique role as a studio professor and lecturer at the Tulane School of Architecture. He has been a project architect for both award winning and sustainable architecture and lives in New Orleans with his family.

John Thompson is President of Thompson Building Energy Solutions, LLC. Mr. Thompson possesses comprehensive knowledge of building commissioning, energy modeling, and energy conservation consulting. In addition to being a LEED Accredited Professional, Mr. Thompson is a Certified Building Commissioning Professional (CBCP), a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), and a Certified Sustainable Development Professional (CSDP). Mr. Thompson has experience consulting in health care, education, commercial real estate, and military facilities.