Critical Concepts Applied to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design: Insights from Karen Maggio

Executive SummaryKaren J. Maggio is the principal and founder of POM Resource Group, which is a consulting firm with a network of professionals and resources dedicated to providing sustainable planning and design services. She is a LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional) with over 20 years of experience in campus planning and facilities management. Karen has led and directed projects and programs including campus strategic planning, capital projects, facility operations, public safety, and emergency operations. Under her leadership, Mills College was awarded LEED platinum from the United States Green Building Council for the Betty Irene Moore Natural Sciences Building, received a prestigious Getty Grant for campus planning and launched an award winning sustainability program. The Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business at Mills College, a POM project, received a LEED Gold designation for sustainable design.Karen has taught at Mills College, Saint Mary's College of California, and Diablo Valley College. She addresses students, corporate and public sector leaders on issues related to the implementation of sustainability. Karen is a five-term planning commissioner for the city of Lafayette, California and a member of the Sustainable Lafayette Board of Directors. She earned an MBA from Saint Mary's College of California, completed an administrative internship and additional course work in design from the University of California at Berkeley and earned a BA from San Diego State University.POM Resource Group brings experience and knowledge in sustainable planning for new construction, renovation, and space reallocation. POM Resource Group engages stakeholders, establishes project goals, initiates integrated strategies, and facilitates the early scoping (i.e., opportunity for action) phase of projects.This article is one of a series of interviews with entrepreneurs and business leaders on the topic of sustainable business practices.Authors: Karen, thank you for your time today. Please tell us about yourself, - your background, where you grew up, and your schooling.Maggio: I am a native Californian. I was raised in Southern California on a family compound comprised of two homes and a carriage house with two apartments. We had animals, gardens, a multigenerational family and lots of interaction. Growing up in this environment gave me an appreciation for community and a relationship with nature. My higher education began with a BA and an RD in nutrition. After teaching nutrition and food technology, I became interested in larger conversations about sustainable planning and development. In addition to my MBA at Saint Mary's College, I took classes in land use law, design and architecture. In 2009, 1 became a LEED Accredited Professional with a specialty in building design and construction.Authors: Please tell us about your career experience.Maggio: For almost 24 years, I worked in higher education with a wide range of responsibilities from lecturing to directing the operations of a 135-acre campus. Mills College was a wonderful environment for me to grow, explore my interests and build my strengths. College campuses are much like small towns with infrastructure, services, community and resource challenges.Learning to balance budgets and needs is a daily challenge. About ten years ago someone suggested that I might be good at city planning and suggested that I consider serving on the Lafayette Planning Commission. I am currently in my fifth term on this commission and serving on the Environmental Task Force. This has been very rewarding work where I see long lasting improvements in the community.Authors: What was the driving factor behind your decision to create the POM Resource Group (POM RG)?Maggio: The idea for POM (project and operations management) Resource Group emerged after we completed a campus expansion program at Mills College of eight buildings in about six years. …