Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Announces Newest Group of Accredited Professionals

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is pleased to announce the latest class of accredited Green Roof Professionals (GRPs). On Aug. 12, 2010, these individuals successfully completed a multi-disciplinary exam in Toronto, Ontario, encompassing five areas of concentration, including pre-design, design, contract management, quality assurance and support, and maintenance. GRP accreditation verifies that the individual has attained the level of interdisciplinary knowledge of best practices associated with the successful design, installation and maintenance of green roof systems. GRP accreditation also provides continuing education credits for AIA, ASLA, APA and LEED.

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities said congratulations to the following new GRPs:

• Jeffrey Beaton; • Betsy Davis; • Pat Heroman; • Jessica Hutcheon; • Pearl Lande; • Bruce Oliver; • Carolyn Smith; • Kent Thompson; • William Traver; • Lisa Ward; and • Wolfgang Werner.

“We are very pleased with the caliber of the new GRPs and the fact that they come from both the green arts side, i.e., the living components of a green roof, and the black arts side, i.e., the non-living components,” said Jeffrey L. Bruce, chair of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. “Industry experts from both the black and the green arts have worked hard to develop training materials and a professional exam that cover best practices across the spectrum of professionals, in order to improve multi-disciplinary knowledge and practice in the field.”

“Our recent North American industry survey reports the American green roof industry grew by more than 16% in 2009 and we are proud that the Green Roof Professional accreditation keeps pace with the growing demand for qualified professionals in the sector,” said Steven Peck, founder and president of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. “The GRP accreditation continues to help protect the industry from inappropriate practices and provide additional support to those who attain the designation,” he added.

The GRP designation is supported by four professional development courses offered in different locations throughout North America. See www.greenroofs.org for an updated course calendar.

Source: Green Roofs for Healthy Cities