Green Building United Staff

Executive Director

Rich Freeh

he/his/him

Rich is Green Building United’s Executive Director. In this capacity he supports GBU’s staff, Board of Directors, and membership in achieving GBU’s vision to transform the communities it serves through green building education and advocacy. Prior to joining GBU, Rich served as the Network Team Director at the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, a membership organization of city and county sustainability professionals in the U.S. and Canada, and as Senior Program Manager with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability. He holds a Master’s in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. Rich lives in the Olde Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia with his fiancée Hannah and their three cats.

Education & Engagement Manager

Marjorie Alexander

she/her/hers

Marjorie (she/her & they/them) is responsible for supporting Green Building United’s programmatic work. Shortly before joining Green Building United, Marjorie moved from Los Angeles where she contributed much of her time to Sierra Club, other environmental non-profits, and various affordable housing advocacy groups. She is excited to be part of GBU in the movement for sustainable building and climate resilience here in Philadelphia. Marjorie holds a masters of science in environmental studies from Green Mountain College and brings additional experience in event planning and management, construction, and GIS.

Marjorie is also the host of A Sustainable Mind podcast where she interviews the change-makers behind some of today’s most impactful environmental campaigns, organizations, and startups.

Contact Marjorie with questions related to education, events, and volunteer opportunities.

Program Manager

Isabelle Coupet

she/her/hers

Isabelle supports Green Building United’s Building Energy Performance Program and helps to grow and support the Philadelphia 2030 District. She holds a bachelor's in architectural engineering from Drexel University. Isabelle is interested in sustainable building practices and designs for the purpose of developing and implementing sustainability goals.

Program Director

Sophia Winston

she/her/hers

LEED Green Associate

Sophia Winston (she/her) is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (’16) and has a Master’s of City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania (’21) where she concentrated in Land Use & Environmental Planning and focused on the intersection of data and planning for climate resilience. In 2018 she was selected as a Fulbright Grantee to Brazil and became interested in sustainable development and land use planning during her time spent there. As Program Director, Sophia manages the organization’s program team and subsequent initiatives and oversees the Climate Ready Community Partnership - a capacity-building program for local organizations to incorporate climate resilience and sustainability practices into design, construction, and operations. She also manages with the implementation of the Philadelphia 2030 District and works with partners in the state of Delaware to provide green building education to the state's Division of Libraries.

Policy and Communications Manager

Daniel Marzec

he/him/his

Daniel Marzec (He/Him/His) manages and supports GBU's policy and communications. With a decade of communications experience, Daniel received his Master's degree from Drexel University in Communications, Culture, and Media, and was most recently the communications director to the New Mexico Speaker of the House in Santa Fe. As communications director, Daniel aided and supported the passage of some of the nation's most robust carbon reduction legislation and goals along with a framework for transitioning the state to a clean energy economy.

Daniel is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for white water rafting and conservation and has long worked with leaders, stakeholders, and communities in ensuring equal access to opportunities and resources while building resiliency in our built environment.

Development Manager

John Ivey

he/him/his

John Ivey (He/Him/His) is Green Building United’s Development Manager. He is responsible for creating and executing fundraising strategies across all of GBU’s revenue streams: sustaining corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants, major event sponsorship and support, contracts, and individual giving. Before coming to GBU, he earned a Master’s of Science in Public Policy degree from Drexel University, where he focused mainly on community development and housing inequality. Prior to his time at Drexel University, he worked as a Contract Administrator at the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), a Washington, DC-based research funding non-profit, and as a Senior Consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton.

Senior Program Manager for Community Engagement

Karen Igou

she/her/hers

Karen is Green Building United's Delaware Program Manager. She oversees the Delaware Pathways to Green Schools Program, and the EPA-funded Building Climate Resiliency through Community Partnerships, Engagement, and Education program in Northeast Wilmington, where she supports and collaborates with the GBU Delaware Community on education and policy initiatives. Prior to joining GBU, Karen was a small business owner in the sustainable agriculture field and a social worker addressing housing and employment insecurity. She has also been a climate, ecological, and social justice activist and organizer for over two decades. Karen holds a Bachelor of Social Work from North Carolina State University and substantial experience in sustainable farming, biodiversity, and furthering social movements through non-violent direct action.