Ben Austin
Sustainability Lead
J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc.
Ben Austin is the Sustainability Lead at J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc, a commercial general contractor headquartered in Madison, WI. In his role, Ben works across Findorff projects with owners, design teams, and construction partners to define and deliver on project sustainability goals. Internal to Findorff, he also leads an internal group named Findorff Footprint, to drive sustainability efforts within Findorff-owned buildings and within their culture. Ben has degrees in Civil Engineering and Sustainability Leadership, in addition to being a LEED and WELL Accredited Professional.
Andy Weiland
Business Manager
Oregon School District
Andy brings a passion for sustainability and function. After beginning his career in Illinois where he oversaw the building of a new elementary school in 1999, he moved to Oregon, Wisconsin and has overseen over 100 million dollars in construction including multiple additions and 2 new schools. As the business manager he oversees the finances, facilities, transportation, food service, risk management and safety areas within the school district. Andy is a lifelong learner who is always looking for ways to improve the organization to the benefit of the students, staff and community. He brings an ability to listen to diverse stakeholders and find solutions that meet all interests with efficient solutions.
Alex Harris
Project Manager
HGA
Alex Harris is a project manager with substantial experience on a wide range of sustainable design, retro-commissioning, commissioning and energy audit projects for a variety of building, including schools, hospitals, laboratories, airports, and offices. His specialties include optimizing HVAC controls for comfort and energy efficiency and mechanical troubleshooting. Additionally, Alex is skilled with building energy modeling, solar PV and geothermal design consulting.
Kevin Frost | PE
Senior Energy Engineer
Slipstream
Kevin models energy efficiency in building and consults with building owners, architects and engineers to implement building energy efficiency measures. His background in HVAC design and field experience as well as his analytical skills allow him to recommend advanced energy analysis and recommendations.
Kevin has a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Manus McDevitt
Principal
HGA
Manus McDevitt has more than 25 years of experience in energy-efficient HVAC design and engineering systems. He has been extensively involved in the sustainable design industry from early in his career and co-founded Sustainable Engineering Group (SEG) in 2004 (now part of HGA)—a leading engineering firm focused on energy optimization and sustainable design. Manus’ team was involved in energy analysis and modeling of the two new elementary schools for Sun Prairie School District, along with commissioning, geothermal design, solar PV design and measurement and verification services.
Sam Dunaiski
Distributed Resources Director
RENEW Wisconsin
Sam Dunaiski is the Distributed Resources Director at RENEW Wisconsin, a renewable energy advocacy organization. Sam creates partnerships between solar developers and homeowners, businesses, nonprofit organizations, utilities, and government entities. His work includes renewable energy education, solar project consulting, promoting renewable energy projects, and advocating for better distributed energy policies for Wisconsin. Before joining RENEW, Sam worked as an operational meteorologist. He holds a BS in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is also the co-chair of the Sustainable Madison Committee.
Kerri Modjeski
Principal
Forest Edge Elementary School
Kerri is thrilled to serve as Principal at Forest Edge Elementary School. She has been with the Oregon School District since 1995. During this time, she served in many capacities, including classroom teacher (at BKE, RCI, and OMS) and as Administrative Intern at both OMS and BKE. Before coming to Forest Edge, Kerri was the Principal at Brooklyn Elementary School for nine years.
Maria Welch | AIA, NCARB
Design Specialist, Architect, and Associate
Bray Architects
Maria Welch is a design specialist, architect, and associate at Bray Architects. She has worked on over a dozen K-12 schools, developing solutions that cultivate unique learning environments, solve functional concerns, and celebrate each school’s identity. Maria holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. In 2020, she was recognized as a Rising Young Professional by The Daily Reporter.
Chris Eger | AIA, LEED® AP BD+C
Project Leader, Architect, and Associate
Bray Architects
Chris Eger is a project leader, architect, and associate at Bray Architects. He is involved in all aspects of a project, from master planning to construction administration. With over 20 years of experience, he has worked on many K-12 educational projects, nearly all of which meet a minimum of LEED Silver sustainability standards. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
Matthew Matenaer
Business Customer Relations
Madison Gas and Electric
Matthew Matenaer is a licensed professional engineer in the state of WI and works in Madison Gas and Electric’s Business Customer Relations dept. He oversees the On Demand Savings program at MGE and works with large time-of-use customers to help them manage their electricity and natural gas costs.
