Henderson Engineers Acoustics Technology Specialist, Josh Thede, was recently elected the Volunteer Chair for the U.S. Green Buildings Council (USGBC) Emerging Professionals, Central Plains chapter.

Thede first became involved with the USGBC Emerging Professionals group through his previous employer in Seattle, Washington. After accepting a position with Henderson Engineers, Thede sought out the Kansas City chapter and has been a member for two years. This past year, he was nominated to be the vice chair and took on the responsibilities of coordinating events and behind the scenes operations for the organization.

“When I moved to Kansas City, I wanted to seek out the emerging professionals group here because I enjoyed the educational events back in Seattle, learning about sustainability and green buildings. It was also a great way for me to connect with other young professionals in the building industry,” Thede explained.

As 2017 came to a close, the group held an election for the new emerging professional’s officers where Thede was unanimously voted to lead the chapter as Volunteer Chair in 2018. His duties will include coordinating with the Director of the Central Plains Chapter, Julie Peterson, to organize monthly meetings as well as building tours, educational opportunities, and happy hours. The USGBC Central Plains Chapter also hosts large annual events, including a bar crawl and bike tour.

“It is inspiring to surround myself with a community that encourages constant exploration of how buildings effect the Earth and the wellbeing of occupants,” Thede noted.

As a subgroup of the Central Plains Chapter, Thede hopes to expand upon the efforts of his predecessors by organizing new chapter events that will drive attendance and create a larger network of emerging professionals.

“I would also like to align the emerging professional’s purpose with more national USGBC initiatives,” Thede said.

In March, Thede and two other USGBC staff attended WEALTH Day at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka. The event focused on advocating for statewide policies regarding water, energy, air, land, transportation, and health. Thede participated in discussions related to Kansas policy updates for the environment, met with nonprofit sustainability organizations, and was able to speak briefly with members of the Kansas legislature.

The USGBC is a membership-based organization, dedicated to promoting sustainability through LEED certified building design. The mission of the organization is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.