ASHRAE Tech Hour

Professional Bio

Marwa Zaatari is Chief Science Officer at D ZINE Partners and co-Chair of enVerid Systems Advisory Board. She leads the research and development of “Air as a Service” around heat exchanger coils, ventilation, filtration, and IAQ measurements. Her work continues to advance building science methods in assessing performance-based procedures to design and operate buildings to optimize energy and people efficiency. Dr. Zaatari is a Member of Board of Directors at USGBC, a Member of USGBC Green Schools, School Air Quality Leaders Network: Technical Advisory Committee, and is a member of several ASHRAE committees. Dr. Zaatari earned a PhD in Architectural and Environmental Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin with a focus on the built environment and a master’s degree in engineering management from The American University of Beirut, Lebanon with a focus on energy management.

Professional Bio

Robert Bean is a retired engineering technology professional who specialized in the design of indoor environments and high-performance building systems. Mr. Bean is an ASHRAE Fellow and ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer, recipient of the Lou Flagg Award, Distinguished Service Award, and instructor for the ASHRAE Learning Institute. He has authored many papers, articles, and course curricula, and has served on numerous technical committees related to indoor environmental quality, building, and energy systems.

Professional Bio

Deborah Steimel-Clair is a lighting and electrical design expert, resulting from more than 20 years of experience performing lighting design, building electrical systems design, project management, system studies, lighting education and code consulting. Her project experience includes both new and renovated construction for a wide variety of space types and uses across multiple states. Deborah’s extensive lighting design experience includes local and national award-winning projects that include aggressive LEED projects, advanced lighting controls, daylighting studies and analysis, and color-dynamic designs. Steimel-Clair has also been recognized nationally by the Building Design and Construction 40 under 40 list (2020). Her projects have been recognized regionally and nationally by the IESNA and Chicago Athenaeum of Architecture. Steimel-Clair is a licensed professional engineer (PE) and a certified lighting designer (LC).

Professional Bio

Erik Miller-Klein has experience with a wide range of projects and noise issues as an acoustical engineer. He is a registered professional engineer in acoustics from the State of Oregon, the only state with this certification. His background in science and music gives him a finely tuned ear to noise issues and a general curiosity to understand the fundamental cause of noise and vibration. Through this process he can create effective solutions that compliment the project design without impeding the function and operations. Erik’s expertise includes mechanical noise, architectural acoustics, vibration analysis and mitigation, and environmental noise. He has worked for the Providence Health & Services, MultiCare, University of Washington, City of Seattle, Group Health Cooperative, Boeing Corporation, Herman Miller, US Army Corp of Engineers, and US Department of Veterans Affairs. He has worked on new facilities, historic renovations, additions, and provided cost effective noise mitigation solutions for new and existing projects. Miller-Klein is a nationally recognized educator on acoustics and noise control. He is a Professional Engineer licensed in Acoustical Engineering, and board certified by the Institute of Noise Control Engineering of the USA. He served as Chair of ASHRAE TC2.6 committee on Sound and Vibration, and was a member of the team that helped compose the 2017 acoustical control section of the ASHRAE 189.1 High Performance Building Standard.

Professional Bio

Erin McConahey, PE, FASHRAE, has 27 years experience as an HVAC design engineer and sustainability consultant.

She is currently leading the Net Zero Carbon Buildings team at Arup, fulfilling their global commitment to collect Whole Life Carbon Assessment data each year. She is a Professional Engineer in California and Colorado, a - LEED accredited professional BD+C, and ASHRAE accredited High Performance Building Design Professional, an ASHRAE Fellow, and an Arup Fellow (one of 50 recognized for technical excellence within the 17,000+ person firm).

Erin’s specialties include: mechanical engineering sustainability consulting with current focus on building decarbonization expertise in low-energy comfort-cooling designs: natural ventilation, radiant cooling expertise in museum design expertise in multidisciplinary design and delivery processes including collaborative group process and use of BIM (Building Information Modeling) Diversity and Inclusion within engineering

Erin’s recent work includes: Guggenheim Abu Dhabi with Frank O. Gehry and Associates Broad Museum with Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Gensler S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanon with Morphosis Kolon Future Research Center, Seoul South Korea with Morphosis University of Southern California Stevens Hall with SmithGroup JJR California Science Center Samuel Oschin Pavilion and future Space Center with ZGF Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with DLR Google Spruce Goose with ZGF Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine with Yazdani Studio at Cannon Design Google Charleston East with BIG, Heatherwick, AAI, and HLW

Erin has formerly served as: Trustee Board member of Arup's Trustee Companies: Ove Arup Partnership Trustee Ltd., Ove Arup -Partnership Trust Corporation Ltd. and Arup Australia Holding Ltd. (2012-2017) Arup Americas Region Diversity and Inclusion Advocate (2012-2017) Member of Arup Americas People Executive: advising on Human Resources policy (2008-2012) Leader of Arup Americas Graduate Induction program (2008 - 2018) Faculty of Arup Americas Design School program (2001-2018) Project Director for the Arup Global Revit Standards project to create a common firmwide data taxonomy and template that can be used as the core content in 5 regions and 30 countries. (2018-2019) S. Department of State, Bureau of Overseas Operations Industry Advisory Group (2016-2018) S. General Services Administration National Registry of Peer Reviewers (2008-2010) Certified Diversity Professional (2013-2019) Faculty member: Shaping Sustainable Futures (Arup masters level course) with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (2020-2023)

Professional Bio

Mick Schwedler, PE, FASHRAE, LEED® AP BD+C has been active in the development and support of HVAC systems for Trane since 1982. As an applications engineer his areas of expertise include system optimization (in which he holds patents), chilled water and geothermal heat pump system design, and electrification of heating in hydronic systems. His primary activities “Feed the Roots” by assisting engineers in appropriate application of products and systems in buildings, and system education through publications, blogs and presentations. He has provided technical systems education to tens of thousands of engineers through Trane’s Engineers Newsletter Live series, and ASHRAE webcasts. Mick has also given in-person and virtual technical seminars throughout the world, and published many articles within the industry. Prior to his work with Trane, Mick received his MSME from the University of Wisconsin Solar Energy Laboratory and BSME from Northwestern University.

Mick served as 2021-2022 ASHRAE President. He is an ASHRAE Fellow, recipient of ASHRAE’s Exceptional Service, Distinguished Service, and Standards Achievement Awards, and was Chair of SSPC 90.1-2010. Mick also Chaired the Advanced Energy Design Guide Steering Committee and was on project committees for the 50% Hospital and Office Buildings AEDGs.

Mick chaired the USGBC LEED Technical Committee, served on the LEED Steering Committee and is a past member of several USGBC technical and education groups. In addition, he authored portions of the original ASHRAE Green Building Guide, and served on technical groups for the New Buildings Institute.

Professional Bio

Meet Karine Leblanc, engineer, bestselling author, and international speaker. She is the western sales manager for prefab Modular Solutions at Daikin Applied, where she uses her engineering background, coaching, and relationship-building skills to motivate and develop a winning sales team.

She has a mechanical engineering degree from Ecole de Technologie Superieure in Montreal, a University focused on applied engineering and technology. She is a Genos emotional intelligence certified practicioner. She is a certified John Maxwell coach, trainer, and speaker, a certified behavioral analysis consultant, a Heroic Public Speaking graduate Alumni and an eSpeakers certified virtual presenter.

She is the best-selling author of How to Be Human in a Technical World available on Amazon.

Not your typical engineer™, Karine served on the board of directors for ASHRAE from 2014 to 2017 and holds the distinction of becoming the first female Region X director and regional chair since 1959. She is the Past-President of the National Speaker Association Los Angeles Chapter. She has received the ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award and John F James International Award.

In recognition of her exceptional contributions to the University of Quebec, she was awarded an honorary medal during its 50th-anniversary celebration. Furthermore, Karine's outstanding contributions to her Alumni granted her the esteemed title of Leadership Ambassador.

Professional Bio

Mr. Vernon is the Chief Executive Officer at Mazzetti Inc and has nearly 30 years of experience in the research, planning, and design of healthcare facilities. His contributions to the industry include serving as a founding member of the Built Environment Network, whose intent is to advance knowledge in the healthcare facilities network. In addition, he was one of the Co-Coordinators for the Green Guide for Health Care, served on the board of both Practice Greenhealth and Health Care Without Harm, and wrote the section on hospitals for CalGreen. He was also principal author for the World Health Organization’s Health in the Green Economy, as well as AHA’s Sustainability Roadmap for Hospitals – A Guide to Achieving Your Sustainability Goals. He particularly excels at helping his clients anticipate what the future holds, and how that will impact the operations of their facilities; partnering with them to plan and finance; and ultimately, working to get critical projects done to ensure long-term/sustainable operations that make sense.

He has worked all over the country, and in recent years has branched out into the developing world, including work in Haiti, Liberia, and South Africa—some of which has been on a pro-bono basis. His passion is not only helping to upgrade or rebuild the healthcare facilities in these regions, but also helping to ensure the health of their communities, which are often centered on these facilities.

He’s very active on committees that have a large impact on the codes and standards involved in the design of healthcare facilities. He chairs the Electrical Systems Technical Committee for NFPA 99 and co-chaired the ANSI/IEEE White Book: Recommended Practice for Electric Systems in Health Care Facilities. He also chaired the R&D Committee for the Healthcare Guidelines Revision Committee (HGRC), and, in that role in particular, he’s exploring the future of healthcare, and the relationship of buildings to the delivery of that care. He’s also the Vice Chair for ASHRAE 189.3, and a member of The Center for Health Design’s Research Coalition.

Professional Bio

Doug Cochrane is a graduate of Ryerson University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed professional engineer in Ontario. He is also a LEED AP and has a certificate in sales development from Humber College.

Mr. Cochrane is currently an independent consultant, after having spent nearly 30 years in equipment sales. Doug started in inside sales and has held additional roles as software coordinator, chiller and applied systems specialist, territory manager, branch sales manager, regional commercial sales manager, and engineering sales manager.

Mr. Cochrane joined ASHRAE in university and has participated in chapter, region, and society activities ever since. He has served as Chapter President, DRC, ARC, CRC Chair, and GGAC RVC. He has also served on Finance Committee, Nominating Committee, CEC, TC 9.1, and Building EQ Committee.

Professional Bio

Jay Enck, BCxP, HBDP, BEAP, LEED Fellow, LEEP AP, received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic University.

He is credited for the creation of the Holistic Commissioning® process, is a well-established, innovative leader in commissioning, operational efficiencies, building forensics and enclosures, green design, and sustainable development. With over 40 years of experience in engineering, construction, and building operations in multiple market sectors, Jay is a widely sought-after subject matter expert who is frequently quoted in articles and serves as a speaker at industry conferences.

Mr. Enck has been an ASHRAE member for 22 years. He serves as a contributing author for several ASHRAE industry guidelines and standards and also serves as Chair of ASHRAE Standing Standard Project Committee 300 and Standard 230.

Professional Bio

Reinhard Seidl, P.E. is a registered Mechanical Engineer with an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

He has over 25 years of experience in commercial and industrial HVAC and control system design and commissioning. Initially with a Dutch construction company specializing in industrial projects in Africa and the Middle East, subsequently with a design-build construction company in California, and currently as a Principal with Taylor Engineering. Mr. Seidl has experience in a wide range of project types, including petrochemical, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, clean room, heavy industrial, hospital and office buildings.

Mr. Seidl has been an ASHRAE member for 25 years. He serves on Technical Committee 7.05 and 7.09, as well as Standards Project Committee 205 and Standing Standards Project Committee 300.

Professional Bio

Richard H. Rooley (FREng FASHRAE, Presidential Member ASHRAE) is a Consulting Engineer in London, UK. He has designed HVAC systems and developed operation and maintenance procedures for commercial, health, defense, public buildings and housing. He has project managed complex engineering and building projects and has worked with universities in research on indoor air quality and the process of building design, construction and use. He acts as an expert in litigation, and as an arbitrator and mediator in disputes. In seeking solutions to problems in buildings, he has used teams of professionals, from inside and outside the HVAC industry.

His extensive experience in the investigation of failed buildings because of cost, time, indoor air quality, failure to meet the brief and misrepresentation of intentions provide a strong basis for his work. Mr. Rooley founded the Teambuild competition in 1990.

Mr. Rooley has been a member of ASHRAE since 1976 and has served as Chairman or member of many Councils, standing and technical committees. He served as ASHRAE President (2003–2004), he is a Fellow of ASHRAE, received the Paul Anderson Award, the Exceptional Service Award, the Award of Merit and the International Activities Award. He is also a Life Member.

Outside America, Mr. Rooley is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Service Engineers. He has degrees from Trinity College, University of Dublin, in Civil Engineering and in Law and Management and post graduate studies at London South Bank University.

Professional Bio

Dr. Stephanie Taylor received her MD from Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts and subsequently practiced pediatric oncology and did research in cellular growth mechanisms. Alarmed by the high number of patients acquiring infections during their in-patient treatment, she became determined to better understand the role of the built environment in patient outcomes.

To learn about the design and management of buildings, she obtained her Master’s in Architecture at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. Dr. Taylor now works as an international consultant and research leader in designing and operating hospitals and other commercial buildings. Her unique approach is to use health data of building occupants to determine which indoor air and design characteristics support or harm human health. She has published in Nature, Science and other peer reviewed journals, is a Distinguished Lecturer for ASHRAE, and a regular contributor to Engineered Systems magazine.