USGBC Names LaForce, Nee to Executive Team

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Green Building Council, developer of the LEED green building program, has announced that Colette LaForce has joined the organization as chief marketing officer, and Nancy Y. Nee has joined as senior vice president of product management.

The new appointments come during a critical time for the industry served by USGBC and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) – as property developers, architects, infrastructure providers, and financial institutions come together to support critical sustainability goals for the global built environment.

“We are thrilled to welcome Colette and Nancy to the USGBC team,” said Peter Templeton,  president and CEO, USGBC and GBCI. “Their expertise in developing world-class product offerings and go-to-market strategies will be invaluable as we continue to expand the reach of our green building solutions and our mission to transform the built environment.”

LaForce will lead the organization’s global marketing and communications efforts, focusing on elevating the USGBC and GBCI brands, expanding global adoption of green building standards, and driving engagement with stakeholders across the globe.

An award-winning marketing executive, LaForce has more than 20 years of C-suite experience at technology, professional services, cleantech and AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) sector leaders. She is the former chief marketing officer of semiconductor provider AMD, Dell Services, energy advisory firm ICF, and global standards nonprofit NSF International.

She currently serves as an independent board director at AEC firms Ulteig Engineers, FGM Architects, and Argus Consulting.

As SVP of product management, Nee will lead USGBC’s organizational transformation into a product-centric model, ensuring that leadership products – including LEED, PERFORM, TRUE and SITES – will continue to be at the forefront of global green building standards.

With a doctorate in designing sustainable systems from Case Western Reserve University, Nee has more than 20 years of experience driving customer-centric and sustainable solutions across various industries, including consulting services, education/training, financial services, healthcare, insurance, and technology.

She has held senior executive leadership roles in product, technology, and executive operations, including as chief transformation and strategy officer and chief product and digital innovation officer for Treasury Services at The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. She currently serves as an advisory board member at Verity, a Gevo, Inc. company.

The new additions to USGBC’s senior leadership team come as the organization announces the first projects to achieve certification under LEED v5, the world’s most comprehensive green building standard, emphasizing decarbonization, quality of life, and ecological conservation and restoration.

LaForce and Nee will discuss the requirements and opportunities of LEED v5 at the 2025 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, Nov. 4-7 in Los Angeles. Greenbuild is the premier event for green building professionals, bringing together leaders, innovators, policymakers and visionaries committed to building stronger, more resilient buildings and communities.

For more, go to www.usgbc.org.