I oversee the development of curriculum for continuing education in the green building field for AIA and USGBC/GBCI credit. I also create, maintain and teach exam prep for LEED credentials, including Green Associate and LEED AP with Specialty.

Heather DeGrella is a green building consultant and the Sustainability Programs Director with Sustainable Perspective Group in San Antonio, Texas. She provides technical assistance to building owners and construction/design professionals with green building best practices that encompass site preservation, water and energy efficiency, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality, operations, and long-term goals.Heather has pursued her passion for sustainability through graduate study at the University of Texas at Austin, practical application on a variety of projects and through professional service as an active member of the U.S. Green Building Council, Central Texas- Balcones Chapter and the AIA Committee on the Environment. As a founding member and past chairperson of the USGBC CT-B Chapter, Heather helped build an organization that has successfully unified building professionals from Austin to San Antonio behind the goal of “changing the marketplace” for green building.Heather was recognized in 2008 for her leadership in bringing the issues of sustainbility to the forefront of the local building industry as a recipient of the San Antonio Business Journal’s “40 Under 40 Rising Stars” award. She currently serves as the Mayor’s appointee to the Citizen’s Environmental Advisory Committee tasked with identifying and creating strategies for carrying forward the vision of Mission Verde. As an advisor to Build San Antonio Green, Heather helped to establish San Antonio’s first green homes rating system. Heather authors articles for the San Antonio Business Journal and the San Antonio Express-News on topics of sustainability, and frequently presents on green building issues.

Prior to joining SPG, Heather had 11 years of experience at the national award winning firm, Lake|Flato Architects, as a project designer, project manager, and construction administrator for a number of institutional clients, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and private owners. She also led Lake|Flato's internal Green Team, ensuring that knowledge of best and most current sustainability practices was shared throughout the firm.http://www.lakeflato.com

As a founding member of the USGBC Central Texas - Balcones Chapter, I was instrumental in growing a 20 member, all-volunteer committee into a 700+ member organization with paid staff that spans 55 counties, including the cities of Austin and San Antonio. During my term as the Board Chair in 2008, we executed the search for our first Executive Director, underwent an extensive organizational diagnostic, and revamped our strategic plan.