BetterBricks announced the 2007 winners of its annual awards at recent ceremonies in Seattle, Portland and Boise. 

Winning architects, engineers, developers, building owners, building operators, service providers, facility managers and emerging leaders demonstrated exemplary work in improving the energy efficiency of commercial building projects.

Portland winners include:

Advocate:
Winner: Bill Nesmith, assistant director of conservation for the Oregon Department of Energy
Finalists: Amy Cortese, sustainability coordinator for Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, LLP and Ralph DiNola, principal at Green Building Services

Building Operator/Service Provider:
Winner: Terry Taylor, director of facilities for Gresham-Barlow School District
Finalist: Todd Murphy, facility manager for Emcor Facilities Services

Designer:
Winner: Clark Brockman, associate principal and Studio Leader for SERA Architects
Finalist: Jeff Reaves, president of Group Mackenzie

Emerging Leader:
Winner: Scott Steele, president and founder of Steele Associates Architects
Finalists: Brandon Smith, COO of Cascadia Green Building Council and Renee Worme, sustainability manager at Gerding Edlen Development

Owner/Decision Maker:
Winner: Kevin Cavenaugh, owner of Cavenaugh & Cavenaugh
Finalist: Jon Carder & Byron Courts, president and director of Engineering Services at Melvin Mark Companies

Special Judges’ Award for Technical Innovation:
Winner: Scott Criswell, Owner of SAC Software Solutions

Puget Sound winners include:

Advocate:
Winner: Norman H. Strong, FAIA, partner, Miller Hull Partnership
Finalists: Mark Frankel, technical director, New Buildings Institute and Diane Sugimura, director, Department of Planning & Development, City of Seattle

Building Operator/Service Provider:
Winner: James J. Walker, facilities engineer, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Finalist: Holly Townes, senior energy management engineer, Puget Sound Energy

Designer:
Winner: Richard Franko, principal, Mithun
Finalist: Lisa Rosenow, CSBA, LEED-AP, Mechanical Engineer & Sustainable Building Advisor, CDi Engineers

Emerging Leader:
Winner: Clara Simon, Sustainability Manager, Capital Projects Office, University of Washington
Finalists: Teresa Burrelsman, sustainability program director, Callison

Owner/Decision Maker:
Winner: Edward J. Peters, capital projects director, Edmonds School District and Douglas Howe, president, Touchtone Corp.
Finalist: Medrice Coluccio, regional CEO PeaceHealth and Sharon Coleman, development manager, Vulcan Inc.

Idaho winners include:

Advocate:
Winner: Ben Shedd, documentary film producer and director, Shedd Productions
Finalists: Steven D. Benner, architect, associate stockholder, CSHQA

Building Operator/Service Provider:
Winner: Darrell Buffaloe, associate vice president, facilities services, Idaho State University

Designer:
Winner: Dale Bates, president, Living Architecture
Finalist: James D. Coles, president, Design West Architects

Emerging Leader:
Winner: Shelby Stuart, project engineer, Musgrove Engineering
Finalist: Suzie Hall, ASID, LEED AP, Cornerstone Design

Owner/Decision Maker:
Winner: Chris Heyer & Kent Oram, senior management team, Idaho Central Credit Union

The BetterBricks program is funded by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, which is supported by local electric utilities.