Richard Meier, FAIA, FRIBA
Celebrity Juror & Honorary Chairperson for NVC
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Michael Dorin, LEED® AP
Senior Vice President of Pre-construction Services - SKANSKA
Michael Dorin has been Senior Vice President of Pre-construction Services for Skanska USA Building in New York and New Jersey since 2007. Michael is a seasoned Construction leader with over 30 years of experience in a diverse range of markets, including Education, Healthcare and Commercial projects, collaborating with some of America’s leading designers. Most recently Michael has been responsible for the pre-construction of the United Nations Headquarters Renovation and Refurbishment Capital Master Plan, a $1 Billion, 5-year renovation of the entire United Nations Headquarters facilities.
Michael is an active member in the NJ United States Green Building Council supporting a community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation.
Donald Fram, AIA, NCARB
Chief Architect at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Donald Fram has been Chief Architect at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey since August 2004. During his 27 year Port Authority career, he has worked on a diverse range of transportation and regional development programs such as the World Financial Ferry Terminal, PABT Air Rights Program, Terminal B Modernization Program, AirTrain JFK, Jamaica AirTrain Terminal, Terminal B International Terminal, Northeast Corridor AirTrain Station, and most recently the design of a new Harrison PATH Station. His leadership had led to the adoption of the agency’s Sustainable Design Guideline (2006) and the ongoing development of a new Sustainable Infrastructure Guideline.
Carol Johnston
Passaic Riverfront Project Manager
Ironbound Community Corporation
Over the past 25 years, Carol had been responsible for program, staff and resource development in non-profit organizations in the rural southeastern part of the US, Mexico and Central America and more recently, in Newark. As Riverfront Project Manager, Carol’s primary interests are in securing and developing riverfront property in the Ironbound for open space, park and recreational activities. In addition, she is part of the Steering Committee working with the Federal and State government as well as other stakeholders to ensure that the clean-up of the Passaic River is carried out in ways that protect residents, workers and the River itself. Carol’s formal education is in the areas of sociology, MA and public administration, MPA.
Justin A. Mihalik, AIA, NCARB
Architect, Principal at Jarmel Kizel Architects and Engineers, Inc.
Justin A. Mihalik is a Principal-in-Charge of the Retail Design Studio and Operations at Jarmel Kizel Architects and Engineers, Inc., headquartered in Livingston, NJ. Jarmel Kizel is the winner of NJ BIZ Magazine’s New Jersey's 50 Fastest Growing Companies award in 2008. Justin currently manages the retail rollout of a major childcare development center, The Learning Experience, in more than 12 states with over 80 centers in operation and is the Principal in Charge of the American Headquarters of Salerm Cosmetica, a Barcelona based Salon products company with facilities in more than 30 countries worldwide. Prior to joining Jarmel Kizel, as a solo practitioner for 10 years, Justin completed over 250 residential, commercial, retail and institutional projects totaling more than $50 million in construction value. Justin worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey after graduating the New Jersey Institute of Technology School of Architecture in 1993. He holds a certificate from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and is instrumental in the New Jersey Chapter of the AIA as their Treasurer, and the Newark and Suburban Chapter of the AIA as their Past President. He believes firmly that in order for architects to remain at the forefront of the building industry, they must also instruct students on how to become great architects, and spends time and effort in nurturing the firm’s interns.
John Nastasi
Architect - Design Educator
John Nastasi is a practicing architect and design educator. He serves as the Principal of the award-winning design build studio, nastasi architects and is also the Founding Director of the multi-disciplinary Graduate Program in Product-Architecture and Engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken. Mr. Nastasi is an alumnus of Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, a recipient of Harvard’s Rice Prize for advancement in Architecture and Engineering and a 1996 recipient of the Young Architects Award from the New York Architectural League among other honors. He resides in Manhattan. Throughout his professional endeavors, John has remained committed to the creation of an architecture that is informed by philosophical thought while responsive to practical concerns. This philosophy continues to guide the work of the studio today which is distinguished by a consistency of process; a rigorous detailed investigation of real and theoretical issues; and a high level of craftsmanship that accompanies the art of making.
Damon Rich
Urban Designer and Waterfront Planner - Newark, NJ
Damon Rich is a designer and artist, and currently serves as the Urban Designer and Waterfront Planner for the City of Newark, New Jersey. His design work has been exhibited internationally at venues including the Storefront for Art and Architecture and Sculpture Center (New York City), the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Berlin), Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst (Liepzig), Netherlands Architecture Institute (Rotterdam), and the 2008 Venice Biennale. In 1997, he founded the Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people understand and change the places they live, where he served as Creative Director for 10 years. Damon has taught architecture and planning courses at the Cooper Union, the Pratt Institute, and the Parsons School of Design. He writes about architecture and politics for publications including the Village Voice, the Nation, Metropolis, and Architecture magazine. Damon has been awarded a New York State Council on the Arts award for his work with adult literacy and architecture, as well as a fellowship from the MacDowell Colony for his work on the history of urban renewal.
Rob Schmitz, LEED® AP
Board of Directors USGBC Emerging Green Builders – NJ Chair
Mr. Schmitz is an active member of the United States Green Building Council- NJ. He is on the Board of Directors for USGBC-NJ and has been the Chairman of the Emerging Green Builders for the state of New Jersey for over three years. In addition, Mr. Schmitz is the Champion of Sustainability for the American Institute of Architects for the State of New Jersey. Mr. Schmitz has over ten years experience as a Project Architect working in Red Bank NJ., with a Masters Degree in Architecture and a two year degree in Sustainable Design from NJIT. He has recently designed one of the first LEED Silver Residential Homes in the State of NJ. Mr. Schmitz gives tours of the LEED Silver Residential Home and also gives educational seminars to the AIA. The Residential home is part of a case study with the USGBC-NJ and Rutgers Green Building Center to help derive the metrics to provide evidence that green building doesn’t have to cost more and will be a healthy and safe place to live. The AIA NJ chapter has appointed Mr. Schmitz their Champion of Sustainability to create a cohesive plan to be implemented within all of their committee’s and offer educational opportunities to Architects. So the AIA can become a leader in Sustainable Design, while increasing the public’s awareness in sustainable design techniques. Mr. Schmitz is the one of 50 selected people for the USGBC-NJ chosen to speak to the public. To educate and promote green practices. So that both existing and proposed buildings can lower their energy consumption and reduce their environmental impact on the earth. He was ranked as the 2nd highest speaker in the chapter for 2008. He has recently been working with GREEN Sustainable Power Distribution Equipment that is environmentally friendly and helps buildings attain LEED certification for both the built environment and new construction.
