A native Angeleno, Ben Stapleton is a recognized sustainability leader, who brings to this position extensive experience and connections across real estate, technology and innovation. He launched and managed the La Kretz Innovation Campus in Downtown Los Angeles, most recently serving as SVP, Operations & Finance for the LA Cleantech Incubator (LACI). The Campus has become an epicenter for sustainability in the region featuring events with prominent local, national and international leaders, while being home to a community of cutting-edge businesses and nonprofits. At LACI, Stapleton led major operational growth, program development, and partnerships to triple revenue for the non-profit. Simultaneously, he helped lead efforts that resulted in the La Kretz Innovation Campus becoming an iconic green building for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the City of Los Angeles, with multiple certifications, as well as pilot projects targeting waste, water, and energy efficiency. Stapleton has also held the positions of Managing Director of the LA Better Buildings Challenge and Vice President & Cleantech Practice Group Lead at JLL. He has served on the boards of LA Bioscience Hub and USGBC-LA. Representing competing schools in Los Angeles, Stapleton holds a MBA from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business, and a Bachelors of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.

I am currently the Director of Sustainable Projects in the Office of Sustainability at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. With experience in implementing energy efficiency and water conservation policies and programs for the City of Los Angeles, I manage the Department's La Kretz Innovation Campus that supports the development of clean technologies in Los Angeles. Prior, I managed the City’s first Weatherization program which received over $16 million in funding, including a $9 Million American Recovery Reinvestment Act grant. The program provided direct energy efficiency saving measures to low-income communities across Los Angeles.

Before joining LADWP, I worked as a Community Development Coordinator throughout the 95 Neighborhood Councils in Los Angeles. In this role, I established operational systems and by-laws for collective engagement throughout the neighborhood council system.

Previous to my work in government, I was a college instructor at local Southern California colleges and universities including Cal Poly Pomona and Mt San Antonio College. I have also have taught online courses and designed course curriculum for multiple universities.

Richard has been in the industry for more that 22 years, working to reshape

the C&D recycling industry to increase diversion and transparency,

Richard has held the position of Corporate Director of Recycling and

Material Recovery for the Solid Waste Association of North America

(SWANA) for the last 12 years, sat on the Board for the Los Angeles

Chapter of the US Green Building Council for 6 years, and currently sits on

the board of the Construction and Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA) where

he heads the Legislative Committee.

Elizabeth Levin is a Manatt Real Estate partner in the Firm’s Los Angeles office.

She is experienced in a wide range of complex real estate transactions,

including complex leasing, development, construction, acquisitions, dispositions

and joint ventures. Liz works with owners, tenants, operators, developers,

lenders and investors across a variety of industries, including retail, media,

hospitality, technology and energy. Clients turn to her for her ability to manage

large real estate projects with long-term relationships, such as build-to-suit

leasing, multiyear construction projects, management and development

agreements, publicly funded developments, and joint ventures and other

partnerships. She is a trusted advisor to longtime clients on the development

and leasing of assets as diverse as historic entertainment venues, research and

development laboratories, large office towers, hospitals, and shopping centers.

She has represented tenants in every major market in America and in many

international markets. If you’re viewing the skyline of New York, Los Angeles,

Chicago, Seattle, Austin, Mexico City or many other metropolitan cores, you’re

likely viewing at least one project Liz has negotiated on behalf of her clients.

Liz’s practice includes the growing field of sustainable and renewable real estate development. She

represents owners and solar operators on power purchase agreements for solar energy, represents

lenders and developers in tax credit- and incentive-funded real estate development projects, and advises

owners and users of all types on “greening” their real estate portfolios.

Melissa Gutierrez-Sullivan is a senior level sustainability expert with 15+ years of experience in driving change and strategy on climate change and ESG integration across various sectors. As Head of ESG at CIM Group, a Private Equity firm based in Los Angeles, Melissa oversees the integration of the ESG program into all of CIM’s sectors - real estate, infrastructure, and lending. Melissa works with each of the verticals within the organization to integrate ESG programming and is responsible for overseeing the ESG strategy and program implementation, and executing results across various reporting tools including GRESB and UN PRI. Melissa is a professional who is passionate about creating value for investors, future-proofing assets, and decarbonizing the planet.

Prior to CIM, Melissa worked at JP Morgan for 6 years before moving into the world of sustainability. Since Melissa began working in sustainability in 2007, she has managed various sustainability related programs including: thought leadership guidance for large tech and financial institutions, green building certifications, Corporate Sustainability Reports, PACE Financing, and Revolving Loan Funds.

Melissa has conducted educational workshops and spoken on numerous panels, including panels for Cushman & Wakefield, Bisnow, IMN, USGBC-CA, Greenbuild, and more.

Kairee is Senior Vice President responsible for the development and implementation of portfolio-wide policies and programs in Sustainability, Innovation and Community Impact. Kairee oversees h³experiences®, an initiative that brings The Swig Company’s elevated experiences for building clients and community impact programs together. h³experiences® provides flexible, urban experiences designed to inspire and connect, elevate workplaces, enhance wellness and sustainability, and engage with communities in and around our buildings.

Within the Asset Management Team, Kairee plays a key role in acquisitions due diligence, conceptualizing new and value-add projects and establishing Company procedures and best practices. Kairee brings over 20 years of commercial construction management experience and joined the Swig Company in 2016, overseeing the successful repositioning and sale of 300 Lakeside. Kairee has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Davis. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and ULI member.

Randall Loker is a Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at Paladin Realty, where he aids in defining and implementing Paladin’s investment strategy throughout Latin America. He serves on the firm’s investment and ESG committees. Prior to joining Paladin Realty in 2007, Mr. Loker was a Project Manager for public homebuilder Toll Brothers, where he oversaw a number of condominium projects in Northern California. Mr. Loker began his career as a Civil Engineer for international consultant Camp Dresser & McKee in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mr. Loker graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science and Engineering degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering and has a Master’s degree in Real Estate Development from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Christine is a seasoned leader in the energy and sustainability sector, currently serving as the Vice President of Cumming’s Sustainability & ESG services. With over 30 years of experience, she leads Cumming Group’s efforts in sustainability strategies, Net Zero project development, and ESG initiatives, driving forward innovative solutions to address climate change and decarbonization. As a LEED AP, ENV SP, and Certified Inspector General, Christine’s diverse background includes managing projects in both the public and private sectors, with expertise in decarbonization, sustainability initiatives, and renewable energy strategies. With roots in electric utility design and construction, she has a comprehensive understanding of transitioning to clean energy sources.

As the National Accounts Manager of Façade Solutions for Saint-Gobain North America, Roger has over

30 years of experience in the construction and building materials space with extensive expertise in

building shell and glazing technologies. Roger began his career with Saint-Gobain Glass Solutions in

1991 and has held several Sales & Business Development roles in Europe and North America. He

currently specializes in developing façade solutions for light and sustainable construction across the

United States and is based in Southern California.