ULI Minnesota: Young Leaders in Sustainable Development

When

2025-02-12
2025-02-12T08:00:00 - 2025-02-12T10:00:00
America/Chicago

Choose Your Calendar

    Where

    The TractorWorks Building, Washington Room 800 Washington Ave N Minneapolis, MN 55401 United States

    Pricing

    Pricing Members Non-Members
    Private $25.00 $35.00
    Public/Academic/Nonprofit $20.00 $30.00
    Retired $25.00 N/A
    Student $15.00 $20.00
    Under Age 35 $20.00 $30.00

    ULI Minnesota: Young Leaders of Sustainable Development

    Date/Time: February 12th, 8:00 AM - 10:00AM
    Location: 800 Washington Ave, Tractorworks Building – Washington Room
    CE: This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 1 hour of real estate continuing education.

    Join the Urban Land Institute of Minnesota’s Young Leaders Group (YLG) for an engaging education session focused on sustainable development in Minnesota. This session will bring together a diverse panel of experts who are shaping the future of sustainable design, development, energy efficiency, and municipal planning in the Twin Cities and beyond.

    The event will provide attendees with actionable insights into the challenges and opportunities of building net-zero projects, navigating sustainable funding programs, implementing sustainable land use practices from a municipal perspective, and reducing carbon emissions in the built environment. Whether you’re a young professional, industry veteran, or simply passionate about sustainability, this session will offer valuable perspectives on creating a more sustainable Minnesota.

    Session Agenda:

    8:00AM-8:15AM: Arrival and light breakfast.
    8:15AM-8:30AM: Overview of GreenStep Cities and their best practices model.
    8:30AM-9:00AM: “Little Mod” Case Study - including design and financing overview.
    9:00AM-9:15AM: Overview of energy modeling tools translated into project design decisions.
    9:15AM-10AM: Time for roundtable Q&A and networking.
     
    Panelists:

    · Jacob Zikmund – Double Jack Design Workshop
    Jacob is a local architect specializing in sustainable multi-family and hospitality projects in the Twin Cities and Duluth. As a values-driven entrepreneur, Jacob partners with developers to provide affordable, community-focused housing in neighborhoods like Saint Paul’s West 7th area. He will share insights into the design and development of net-zero projects, highlighting opportunities to enhance sustainability in urban environments.

    · Alex Zikmund – GRO Development
    A former civil engineer turned developer, Alex specializes in net-zero multi-family developments. He recently led the “Little Mod” project, an innovative urban infill duplex in Saint Paul featuring co-living suites and energy-positive design. Alex will share strategies for navigating grant programs, securing variances, and overcoming challenges to develop energy-efficient housing solutions.

    · Ray Bouchart, PE – Design Tree Engineering + Land Surveying
    Ray serves as the Sustainability Lead at Design Tree, where he focuses on reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption in both new and existing projects. With expertise in sustainability program compliance and funding opportunities, Ray will provide an overview of Minnesota's sustainable development landscape and practical advice for incorporating energy efficiency into various projects.

    · Erica Bjelland – GreenStep Cities
    Erica is a program coordinator with GreenStep Cities, a voluntary challenge, assistance, and recognition program that helps cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. She offers a high-level perspective on sustainable land use practices from a municipal standpoint and will share her efforts to expand the program throughout Minnesota. Erica will discuss how municipalities can implement sustainable policies and practices, contributing to the growth of sustainable development in the region.

    Networking Opportunity: After the panel discussion, connect with fellow professionals passionate about sustainability for roundtable Q&A over coffee and light refreshments.

    Sponsors: Double Jack Design WorkshopGRO Development and Design Tree Engineering + Land Surveying are proud sponsors of this event. 
     


    Speakers

    Panelist

    Jacob Zikmund

    Architect, Double Jack Design Workshop

    Jacob is a local architect specializing in sustainable multi-family and hospitality projects in the Twin Cities and Duluth. As a values-driven entrepreneur, Jacob partners with developers to provide affordable, community-focused housing in neighborhoods like Saint Paul’s West 7th area. He will share insights into the design and development of net-zero projects, highlighting opportunities to enhance sustainability in urban environments.

    Panelist

    Ray Bouchart

    Sustainability Lead, Design Tree Engineering

    Ray serves as the Sustainability Lead at Design Tree, where he focuses on reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption in both new and existing projects. With expertise in sustainability program compliance and funding opportunities, Ray will provide an overview of Minnesota's sustainable development landscape and practical advice for incorporating energy efficiency into various projects.

    Panelist

    Alex Zikmund

    Partner, GRO Development

    A former civil engineer turned developer; Alex specializes in net-zero multi-family developments. He recently led the “Little Mod” project, an innovative urban infill duplex in Saint Paul featuring co-living suites and energy-positive design. Alex will share strategies for navigating grant programs, securing variances, and overcoming challenges to develop energy-efficient housing solutions.

    Panelist

    Erica Bjelland

    GreenStep Program Associate Coordinator, GreenStep Cities, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

    Erica is a Program Associate with the GreenStep program at the Pollution Control Agency. GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations is a voluntary challenge, assistance, and best practice recognition program to help communities achieve their sustainability and quality of life goals. Erica's entire career has been focused on sustainable development. Before GreenStep, she was a Development Review Planner in Boulder County, Colorado and a Regional Energy and Environment Planner in Central Minnesota. She will provide a macro-level overview of municipal development and land use best practices.

    Moderator

    Griffin Dempsey

    Project Manager, Design Tree Engineering

    Hello! I'm Griffin, a dedicated Civil Engineer and Project Management professional based in the Twin Cities. In my multifaceted role as an Engineer, Project Manager, Marketer, and Business Development enthusiast, I find my days are best spent fostering meaningful connections within the context of elevating our built environments. My passion for our industry is driven by a continued curiosity and desire for improvement. I'm committed to actively engaging with our community to gain knowledge, make meaningful contributions, and push the boundaries of how we complete our projects. While I have a technical knowledge for our built systems, I am dedicated to learning more about the political, financial, and community drivers to our projects. I want to deliver projects that meet our future needs for housing, energy, stormwater quality, transportation, and industry. My professional journey has afforded me invaluable experience in a diverse range of areas, including Site Development for development projects, Municipal Engineering on behalf of local government, sustainable design for owners and operators, and accessible design for the benefit of end-users. Throughout my career, my primary goal has been to bring people together within the context of problem-solving to better our built environments. I believe that each component of our environment is part of a larger system, and every system has the potential for improvement. I'm a part of an exceptional team at Design Tree Engineering + Land Surveying, where we specialize in delivering high-value Civil Engineering services to our clients. Our commitment is evident right from the beginning of the project, as we engage with stakeholders, coordinate with local government and regulatory bodies, and collaborate closely with the design and ownership teams. Our dedication extends through the entire project lifecycle, from the design and bidding phases to construction, where we remain readily accessible for problem-solving. I'm committed to seeing my designs through to their full build-out completion. I welcome the opportunity to connect and collaborate with you. Feel free to reach out, and let's work together to create a better, more innovative future for our built environment. Cheers!

    Event Sponsors