WASHINGTON, DC - The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council is pleased to announce the jury for the 2011 Beyond Green™ High-Performance Building Awards. The jury is comprised of industry members whose commitment to excellence is longstanding and well documented. Our jury includes: Ron Burton, Tom Herron, James W Leach, and Charles Matta, FAIA. This year's program is being chaired by Helen English.

Helen English served as the Executive Director of SBIC between 1988 and 2008. She was instrumental in helping the Council broaden its vision to encompass a "whole building approach" to design. The education, advocacy and outreach activities - such as the Beyond GreenTM Awards Program - fully embrace that vision today. SBIC's programs continue to explore the complex interactions between sustainability, safety and security, accessibility, functionality, health, costs and aesthetics. Ms. English was part of the team that conceptualized the Whole Building Design Guide (www.wbdg.org) and the High Performance Building Council.

Ron Burton is the Vice President for Codes, Standards & Regulatory Affairs for BOMA International. Mr. Burton joined BOMA in 2001 and leads a team of professionals responsible for BOMA's building codes, standards and regulatory issue advocacy at the national level. His group also assists local BOMA Affiliates. Prior to joining the BOMA staff, Burton served as Senior Staff Vice President for Construction, Codes & Standards at the National Association of Home Builders. His experience in construction and real estate includes positions as an architectural/technical specialist with a major national window and door manufacturer and as President of a custom home building firm in Austin, Texas specializing in large custom homes and multifamily projects with an emphasis on innovative and energy efficient construction.

Tom Herron is the communications and marketing manager for the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). As NFRC's lead educator, Tom represents NFRC at approximately 20 industry trade shows each year, including GreenBuild, where he educates consumers and industry experts on the vital role fenestration products play in contributing to green building and sustainability. In 2009 Tom was elected to SBIC's Board of Directors, and he also serves as the secretary of their executive committee. Tom is a LEED Green Associate and holds an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Jim Leach, President of Wonderland Hill Development Company, is a Colorado builder with over 50 years of experience in the design, construction and development of sustainable planned neighborhoods and cohousing communities. Wonderland has been a pioneer in creating homes and communities utilizing sustainable design and building techniques. The company's work has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the National Council of the Housing Industry, the Urban Land Institute, and the National Center for Renewable Energy. He holds degrees from the University of Colorado and Stanford University in Architectural Engineering and Business Management and Construction Engineering. He is a leader in implementing energy-efficient strategies, leading-edge design, and community participation, resulting in award winning neighborhoods.

Charles Matta is Director of Strategic Programs & Resources in GSA's Public Buildings Service (PBS), National Office of Design and Construction. Prior to serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for PBS in late 2009, Matta headed the Center for Federal Buildings and Modernizations (2005-2009) where he oversaw a program of 120+ buildings nationwide. He advised the PBS leadership on federal architecture, design and construction innovation. He has represented PBS on Design Excellence Peer Reviews and has served as the agency's lead or co-lead on key initiatives including Building Commissioning, Continuing Education, and Building Information Modeling, garnering numerous federal and corporate awards. Before joining GSA, he established Matta Architects, a firm with a diversified practice in municipal, recreational, and residential projects. Mr. Matta is the recipient of several design industry awards including AIA Award for Excellence in Architecture for an embassy project in Washington. He holds a Master of Architecture degree and is licensed in VA, MD and DC, and certified by NCARB. He is a former President of AIA Northern Virginia and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

The Beyond Green™ High-Performance Building Awards program is open to all and offers three entry categories, High-Performance Initiatives, High-Performance Buildings, and High-Performance Products. The program will also include the Greg Franta Memorial Award, which recognizes a person or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to high-performance sustainable building design and construction.

Winners will be invited to speak at two separate events held in Washington DC in early 2012. Winning entries will also be posted on the Whole Building Design Guide.

The deadline for program entries has been extended to Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.

This year's Platinum Partner is Southern California Edison. Additional program sponsors include the National Institute of Building Sciences, and the National Fenestration Rating council.

About SBIC
The SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS INDUSTRY COUNCIL (SBIC) is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to unite and inspire the building industry toward higher performance-through education, outreach, advocacy and the mutual exchange of ideas. Council Membership is open to private and public organizations and individuals who share this mission. For more information about the Council, visit www.SBICouncil.org or call 202-628-7400.