Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Green Building Council announced the appointment of Rebecca Flora to the position of Senior Vice President, Education and Research, replacing Peter Templeton, who was named president of the Green Building Certification Institute in mid-November. The appointment is effective January 15, 2009.

“Rebecca’s leadership as executive director of the Green Building Alliance in Pittsburgh makes her uniquely qualified to lead USGBC’s far-reaching education program and expanding research initiatives,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “Under her guidance Pittsburgh rightfully has become a national leader in green building market transformation.”

“I’m thrilled to join the incredible team at USGBC,” said Flora. “Research and education are delivering practical, effective solutions to environmental and health challenges in our industry. I welcome the opportunity to expand these important initiatives and contribute to USGBC’s mission of market transformation.”

Fedrizzi noted that USGBC’s education program has grown rapidly to meet market demand by evolving a holistic, integrated family of education offerings that include support for the LEED AP credentialing program, technical training for LEED implementation on projects, LEED Faculty training, and an expanded roster of third-party approved courses on a variety of subjects offered through the Education Provider Program, many of which provide the additional benefit of CEUs. These offerings are complemented by a growing portfolio of distance learning options, educator resources, green job training materials, and international green building education programs. Greenbuild365 is USGBC’s online education portal providing access to this rich catalog of offerings, as well as access to case studies, podcasts, webinars, online training and more.

“Given the importance we place on education, and the growing scope of our research agenda,” said Fedrizzi, “Rebecca’s broad expertise, her LEED credentials and experience, and her creative energy will add significantly to our organization.”

Fedrizzi noted that Flora has been deeply involved in USGBC’s growth and development as an active volunteer, providing leadership to USGBC’s board as outgoing chair, to the core committee of LEED for Neighborhood Development, and as chair of the host committee of Greenbuild 2003 in Pittsburgh. She has served on the Pittsburgh Civic Design Coalition, and recently was an advisory board member for the University of Pittsburgh’s Mascaro Sustainability Initiative, and a board member of Phipps Conservatory and the Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development. Additionally, she has been an adjunct faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School of Public Policy and Management.

A LEED AP, Flora holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Science from Plattsburgh State University of New York.