According to the Institute of Human Excellence a new generation of leaders are needed to cultivate Awareness and Responsibility. These new successful leadership qualities are described below, and are values I have lived my life by.

1. A global vision and a sense of responsibility for the whole system.
2. A long-term vision and a sense of responsibility for future generations.
3. An understanding of the need for environmental sustainability.
4. A duty of care for staff, customers, stakeholders and the community.
5. Agility and the capacity to change direction in response to new criteria.
6. An inclusive consciousness based on Trust rather than Fear as before.
7. The capacity to inspire by example and by virtue of values alignment.
8. Emotional literacy leading to humility, and minimal ego needs.
9. A willingness to admit mistakes and not to blame mistakes of others.
10. A commitment to the personal development of self and others.

I am trained in architecture, and am currently in the process of taking the Architectural Registration Exams in order to obtain my official license. I believe that architecture is not just about the facade and making grand statements, much like Frank Gehry would have you believe, but it is about utilizing the fabric of humanity to create thoughtful spaces to eat, sleep, work, play and pray. Thoughtful spaces are conscientious of their surroundings, are inviting to children, grandmothers and everyone in between, and tread lightly on the environment. I work from the inside out and am a true believer that form follows function in every sense of the saying, whether we’re discussing architecture, urban planning, or a chair.

I grew up in northern New England (New Hampshire & Vermont), and was raised to appreciate the environment - which wasn’t so hard considering I was surrounded by some of the most beautiful forests, lakes, mountains, rivers and fields that I have ever seen in my lifetime. While my family drove across the border to recycle months of collected glass, metals and paper, tourists would come in the summers and leave cans, bottles and plastic bags along rivers and in the woods. It was easy to detest this sort of disregard for nature and its beauty. Even in the city I am bothered when I see someone drop trash on the ground as though it’s going to dissolve into the asphalt. I am horrified by the amount of trash that collects under the subway platform and between the tracks. How do people learn this behavior? I have decided it’s because they are not taught otherwise, and I’m hoping that one person at a time we can help each other help ourselves.

My goal is to offer a variety of resources including starter plants (vegetable, flowering and foliar), architectural salvage materials, sustainable resources, community awareness and professional design services. This website is just the beginning.