By Rachael Berry, Graphics Associate
The 9th annual GreenFest was another one for the books this year!
The festival's “Showcase of Innovation” allowed people to hang out, share ideas and educate each other on how to make our lives not just greener, but easier. With beautiful weather all weekend, events were able to happen without a hitch. USGBC MA took part in the festivities by partaking in a GreenFest Talks series to showcase some of the latest and greatest environmental innovators. These stimulating presentations told the stories of breakthroughs that are changing the way we use the resources around us. These talks ( available online), led by Grey Lee and organized by Derrick Duplessy included;
How a Baby Turkey Changed My Life– Derrick Duplessy felt anxiety and stress so great that he considered suicide. He's now on a mission to help other entrepreneurs deal with stress and anxiety. In this talk, he explored how a chance meeting with a baby turkey helped him see life differently and what we can learn from it.
Wastewater can create Beautiful Things– Ugly can beautiful. Imagine all the waste from our buildings being turned into beautiful greenhouses. Lauren Valle on Nu Ecological focused on how transforming waste water can save money, time, and create remarkable resources that improve our buildings.
Biomimicry: Mother Nature's solutions to Human Problems– Peter Lawrence from Biomimicry New England talked about the possibilities of learning from microbes, plants, and animals who have been engineering solutions to biological problems for centuries
The event was free and included music, inspirational speakers, an eco-fashion show with upcycled fashions and opportunities to drive an electric car. Be sure to check out some of the aweosome pictures from the event, and to mark you calenders for next year's 10th GreenFest! Big thanks to GreenFest for hosting an amazing, innovative and flatout fun weekend!
Global Head of Sustainability, Superior Essex
Sustainability Director, Steven Winter Associates
PE | Associate, LeMessurier
Vice President, AEW’s Architecture & Engineering group
Interior Designer, Jacobs, Boston
Senior Vice President, Market Transformation and Development U.S. Green Building Council
AIA LEED AP BD+C | Senior Associate, Gensler Boston 
LEED Fellow, WELL AP | Founder and Principal, Ecoworks Studio
AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP
LEED AP BD+C | Environmental Sustainability Manager, Armstrong World Industries
Assistant Professor of Exposure Science | Director of the Healthy Buildings program
Managing Director, Harvard University Office for Sustainability
Principal & Director of Certifications and Consulting, Epsten Group, Inc.
Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Jamestown
Director of Sustainability Programs, DASNY | LEED AP BD+C
Associate Principal, BuroHappold Engineering
Senior Vice President, Sustainability at Kilroy Realty Corporation
Co-Founder, Facilitator at The Laurentia Project | LEED AP BD+C, LFA
Vice President of Sustainable Development, Shaw
Founder and President, Board of the Healthy Building Network
Building Technology Director, Kingspan North America
LEED® AP ID+C, BD+C, USGBC Faculty, WELL® AP, WELL Faculty and Fitwel Ambassador
Workplace Strategy Expert and Researcher, EYP
Principal, Integrated Ecostrategy
Senior Vice President, International WELL Building Institute
Principal, Bruner/Cott
Architect, Associate, and Sustainability Design Leader, Stantec Architecture and Engineering
FAIA, LEED Fellow, Long Green Specs
Products & Materials Specialist, BuildingGreen
Director of Acquisitions and Development
Director of Restorative Enterprise, Interface
Sustainability Manager, Consigli Construction Company