The Legacy Award recognizes individuals for their critical work within the community. Their character and the reputation they’ve built in their community as a leader for a sustainable future are notable, and their accomplishments and actions resonate with the people around them. The Michigan Green Building Collaborative (MiGBC) announces Renae Hesselink as this year’s Legacy Award Winner.
With a career dedicated to sustainability, Renae is no stranger to this work. She now has 4 awards, has been involved in numerous initiatives, and teaches a course on Sustainability Assessment and Reporting at GVSU. A feeling of responsibility for creating a healthier environment motivated Renae to learn more about green buildings and how the industry she was in could play a part.
In the early years, she graduated from GVSU with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and with a dual Master’s in Leadership and International Business from Baker College. Her career started in Supply Chain and Production Management where she dedicated 18 years before transitioning into a Sales and Marketing Role five years after joining Nichols Paper & Supply. Renae spent six years as VP of Sales and Marketing and then transitioned into VP of Sustainability. Nichols was acquired by Imperial Dade in 2021 and Renae continued in that role until her retirement in June 2024.
Renae has worked on over 100 LEED projects but one that stands out is leading her team at Nichols to achieve LEED O+M at their corporate headquarters in Norton Shores. They were among the first few LEED EB projects in the state of Michigan and received the certification two additional times (2015 & 2020). Additional accomplishments at that facility included achieving Energy Star Certification five times between 2009 – 2020 and being recognized as a Michigan Battle of the Buildings winner three times (2014, 2015, 2023). Renae continues to serve on the Sustainability Committee for International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), the industry trade association, and co-chairs the reporting working group within this committee. They are working towards creating sustainability reporting standards for the commercial cleaning industry.
Throughout her career, Renae has been a key player in many organizations and groups in Muskegon, Grand Rapids, and the greater West Michigan community. Renae has been a long-standing member of the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum, was an active member of the Grand Rapids Community Sustainable Partnership for almost all of the years that group existed until the transition to the Community Collaboration on Climate Change (C4), and has been teaching a class at GVSU titled “Sustainability Assessment and Reporting” since January 2020.
Renae is a founding member of the Muskegon Area Sustainable Coalition and has been involved with the City of Muskegon’s Climate Action Muskegon initiative since 2022. She has spent the past nine years managing Kitchen 242, a commercial incubator kitchen at the Muskegon Farmers Market. After retiring from Imperial Dade, she continued working for the City of Muskegon in the Farmers Market office, furthering her passion for building a more sustainable food system.
In addition to her work with sustainability organizations, she coordinated guests for two of Shelley Irwin’s WGVU Public Radio shows—Community Sustainable Voices and Getting Green—for over 13 years. Getting Green, an initiative of the USGBC West Michigan Chapter, focused on topics related to green buildings and sustainability.
In 2015, she was recognized with the Athena on the Lakeshore Award, which honors women who excel in their professions, contribute to their communities, and support the development of other women leaders. In 2016, Renae was inducted into the WM Sustainable Business Hall of Fame, recognizing her contributions to sustainable business practices in the region. Renae was also honored with the 2021 Volunteer of the Year award from WMEAC for her work in launching recycling initiatives in the Muskegon area.
With all of her accomplishments, Renae is most proud of when Grand Rapids could proudly claim the title of having the most LEED buildings per capita in the U.S. for several years. Another highlight was recognizing the importance of not just building green but also focusing on operations and maintenance, culminating in the publication of the Green Buildings of West Michigan case studies project and book. Additionally, establishing leadership in the Green Schools movement and helping transition the Michigan Green Building Collaborative from an all-volunteer structure to hiring our first paid Executive Director stand as significant milestones in our growth and impact.
As a regular volunteer of the program, Renae sees the Michigan Battle of the Buildings continuing to play a vital role in helping organizations reduce energy waste and is committed to supporting its growth and expansion. Additionally, she believes our K-12 schools still face significant challenges in sustainability and would love to re-engage in this area, particularly by working more closely with teachers and students to foster sustainable practices in the classroom. As MiGBC evolves, she hopes the organization continues to focus on these impactful programs, helping both businesses and schools create lasting change for a greener future.
People Renae would like to mention are as follows:
When asked if “there is anyone or anything specific that you have not mentioned that you would like to”, Renae stated the following:
What has always impressed her is that “when it came to sustainability efforts, competitors could sit in the same room and share their findings and share best practices so that all could benefit.” Renae has been a driving force for sustainability in West Michigan, and even in retirement, she continues to inspire and contribute to the community.
To add to her accomplishments, Renae was awarded at our 2024 Annual Party & Leadership Awards Ceremony on December 5, 2024. Hosted by the Michigan Green Building Collaborative, the evening event was held at the High Five in downtown Grand Rapids. The program included a keynote address by Sandra Lupien, Director, MassTimber@MSU, the Leadership Awards Ceremony, and the celebration of this year’s achievements.
To learn more about this event visit our Annual Party & Leadership Awards Ceremony Page.
Data Management and Research Intern
Chloe (she/they) is a returning Data Management and Research Intern for the summer of 2025. In this role, they will be focusing on the Automated Benchmarking Service and developing case studies for the website. Currently a rising senior at the University of Michigan, Chloe is pursuing a major in Data Science with minors in Environmental Studies and Energy Science & Policy, and is doing research with the Energy Equity Project. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking with her dog, and baking.
Data Management and Research Intern
Viraj is passionate about transforming energy data into actionable insights. At MiGBC, he focuses on Automated Benchmarking Services (ABS), helping businesses track, analyze, and optimize their energy usage effortlessly. With a background in data analytics, automation, and research, he works on streamlining energy reporting, integrating utility data, and enhancing benchmarking efficiency.
Currently pursuing a Master’s in Information Technology & Management, Viraj enjoys simplifying complex datasets and making energy data more accessible and impactful for businesses and communities. His goal is to leverage automation and data-driven strategies to drive sustainability and help organizations make smarter, more efficient energy decisions.
Board of Directors
Principal Supervisor – Energy Partnerships, DTE Energy
Tamika works as a Principal Supervisor for the Energy Waste Reduction team at DTE Energy. She oversees a team of energy managers that work with commercial and industrial building owners and customers in the DTE Energy service area to achieve their energy efficiency goals. Tamika holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a M.S. in Engineering Management from Eastern Michigan University. Tamika is also a Certified Energy Manager.
Board of Directors
Attorney, The Business Law Group
Andrew earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Michigan State University and a law degree from Cooley Law School. Andrew is an attorney with an extensive background in civil litigation, business matters, franchise law, sports and entertainment law, and landlord-tenant matters. He has helped dozens of businesses and individuals with a variety of issues from starting up a new business venture to collecting debts to contract drafting and negotiations to general counsel to drafting and reviewing franchise agreements to evictions.
Board of Directors
Area General Manager, West Michigan Trane
Jeff joined Trane in 2007 in Madison as operations leader for a territory covering the state of Wisconsin and the western half of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Over the next ten years, he went through a progression of roles and expanding leadership responsibilities culminating as head of construction for a territory covering the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and parts of 5 other states. In 2017, he relocated to West Michigan and started leading the customer facing efforts in supporting the needs of communities with their indoor environmental needs from supporting sustainable designs to maintaining performance of the buildings.
Board of Directors
Building Commissioning Specialist, Western Michigan University
DeVon Miller is the Building Commissioning Specialist at Western Michigan University. DeVon has over 8 years of experience in Facilities Management, over 15 years of experience in project management including energy conservation, building automation systems, building commissioning, and is a Building Commissioning Professional and LEED Accredited Professional with ASHRAE and Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) respectively. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.
Board of Directors
Retired, Steelcase
An accomplished speaker on sustainability, operations environmental performance, and environmental strategies David educates and inspires community, customers, and business influencers through numerous board and community activities, national conferences, and educational events. David has a Bachelor’s in Microbiology and Public Health from Michigan State University and a Master’s in Management from Aquinas College. David participated as a member of the foundation committee that formed the West Michigan Chapter.
Board of Directors
Director of Business Development, Michigan Women Forward
Armed with a heart dedicated to service and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Cornerstone University, Ana Jose strives to be an advocate for those without a voice. Born and raised in a small Dominican province called Ingenio Consuelo, Ana’s roots are reflected through her work with the community. During her four years with Bethany Christian Services, she developed programs to secure housing for youth from overseas, specifically those from Central America. Ana’s ability to create and implement effective programming has allowed her to seamlessly step into the role of Program Manager at the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The initiative that Ana will continue to grow and improve is called Transformando West Michigan, which focuses on Hispanic business owners that have the desire to gain knowledge and experience in differing fields, such as financial education or food safety certification. Her personal goal for the program is to facilitate opportunities for growth within Hispanic businesses. As a business owner herself, Ana operated West Michigan Mortgage and Financial Services (2004), in which she found great success helping people to understand the value of homeownership, which allowed her to become instrumental in helping families secure FHA loans. She has also created programs to help families improve their credit and secure properties in the city of Grand Rapids. Ana graduated from the Latino Talent Program at Ferris State University in 2015 and finds inspiration from the local community, her family, and Hispanic culture. She enjoys spending time with her husband and children and strives to be a good mom, daughter, and friend.
Board of Directors – Secretary
Manager of Product Innovation, Consumer’s Energy
As Manager of Product Innovation for Consumers Energy, Lisa leads a portfolio of pilots and research projects to explore and test potential new products for the utility’s business customers. This work looks at emerging technology, civic partnerships, and programs that offer customers solutions in energy efficiency, energy demand-side management, electrification, and renewables, while working to support the company’s Clean Energy Plan. Prior to Consumers, Lisa was Director of Marketing and Communication at the Capital Region Community Foundation and held a variety of customer experience roles at MSU Federal Credit Union. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Alma College and a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications from Michigan State University.
Board of Directors – Treasurer
President, Cella Building Company
Peter is president of Cella Building Company, specializing in sustainable new construction and redevelopment of under-utilized properties. Peter has experience in all phases of the development process from site selection through operations. By focusing on the impact on people, planet, and profit; Peter and the Cella Building Company team look to incorporate the principles of the triple bottom line to all projects in which they are involved.
Board of Directors – Vice Chair
Principal / Mechanical Engineer, Ignyte Design
Jon is a Principal at IGNYTE Design and a registered Professional Engineer, licensed in multiple states. He provides expertise in sustainable design and carbon reduction for healthcare, higher education, government, and large commercial clients across the country. He has extensive experience working with facilities management teams to assess existing systems, plan for future capital projects, reduce their carbon footprint, and maximize their return on investment. When Jon isn’t helping clients, he’s spending time outside with his wife Kelly and daughters Adelyn and Amelia. He’s passionate about gardening, woodworking, and classic cars.
Board of Directors – Chair
PE / Associate / Senior Civil Engineer, Fishbeck
Ryan Musch is a Senior Civil Engineer and leads the Site Development Group at Fishbeck. Ryan has over 15 years of experience in Site and Civil Engineering and has focused much of his efforts on Sustainable Design within his Site Development and Civil projects. Ryan has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Calvin College, a Masters of Business Administration from Grand Valley State University, and is a LEED Accredited Professional and Sustainable SITES Accredited Professional.
Program Manager, Lansing 2030 District
Audrey (she/her), a lifelong environmentalist, has joined the MiGBC to champion the Emerging Lansing 2030 District. With over 15 years of experience in complex project and program management, Audrey brings a combination of technical expertise and enthusiasm for sustainable solutions.
As a dedicated climate activist, Audrey is committed to addressing pressing environmental challenges through community engagement and informed action. Audrey is a Michigan native with a Masters of Science in Packaging from Michigan State University and enjoys spending time outdoors, participating in endurance sports, and caring for animals.
Communications Manager
Ally (she/her) is our Communications Manager. She is in charge of working on our weekly newsletter, social media presence, website updating, blog, and more! Directly prior to this role she spent five months with us as our Website and Usability Intern. She is a graduate of Michigan State University where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and her Bachelor’s Degree in Comparative Cultures and Politics. She is passionate about combining her skills and love of design with environmental advocacy, as well as learning new ways to better the environment in her daily life.
In her free time she is an avid gardener, bike packer, and Great Lakes visitor. Though on a regular day she can be found spending most of her time with her two cats or taking care of her many houseplants.
Program Manager
Kayla (she/her) is the lead for our programs where she focuses on data management, educational events, and assisting local organizations with energy efficiency initiatives. Before joining MiGBC, Kayla performed energy audits, led internal educational sessions to bridge MEP design with energy efficiency, and collaborated with design engineers on reducing energy loads. She also has 4 years of experience in the brewing industry where she created her own sustainability internship tracking KPIs and implementing waste reduction strategies.
Kayla completed her associate degree at GRCC before transferring to the University of Michigan and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Environmental Studies. She is passionate about equitable, energy efficient, and ecologically conscious buildings. In her free time, she enjoys running, gardening, spending time with family, and working on creative projects.
Event & Membership Manager
Wendy (she/her) coordinates our event planning, membership management, tracking & planning program impact and community engagement, as well as sharing in the development of all programs. Wendy is most passionate about mitigating climate change, reducing energy consumption, and environmental conservation.
Wendy comes to MiGBC with fifteen years of account management, event planning, volunteer training, and administrative experience in the non-profit and corporate sectors with a focus on the education environment. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Resource Management and Environmental Studies.
Wendy spent her childhood days on the shores of Lake Superior and is a Yooper at heart. In here spare time she likes to keep active. She has been a long distance runner since middle school, is a certified advanced NAUII scuba diver, practices hot yoga, and loves to spend time exploring nature and traveling.
Executive Director
Cheri (she/her) is a LEED Accredited Professional with extensive experience and a genuine passion for energy & water conservation. Other areas of interest include indoor environmental quality, clean/renewable energy, access to healthy food and all things related to educating and promoting a healthy built environment. Prior to her work in non-profit Cheri spent most of her career consulting & partnering with private sector corporations to reduce resource consumption within their facilities through the implementation of energy conservation technologies and improved operational practices.
Mrs. Holman is a Past Chair of our Board of Directors after serving as Treasurer for 2 years. In early 2008 Cheri founded the LEED for Existing Building Advocacy Group. She served as a subject matter expert for the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) LEED for EB Operations and Maintenance test development in 2008 and the Commercial Reviewer exam test development in 2009. In 2010 & 2011 Cheri served as a Greenbuild conference session reviewer.
