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About Us
Deconstruction & ReUse Network strongly supports the green building movement by advancing the general environmental principal of "reduce, reuse and recycle" within the construction and demolition (C&D) industries.
Our goal is to educate and empower homeowners, building industry professionals and civic leaders to adopt the practice of deconstruction as a rational alternative to traditional demolition, thereby keeping C&D materials out of landfills, while simultaneously growing a robust network of individuals and organizations committed to the reclamation and distribution of reusable building materials.
Deconstruction & ReUse Network works hard to reconcile the interests of public-benefit stakeholders, such as environmental organizations, charitable nonprofits and local governments, with those of for-profit building industry professionals.
We know time is money, so our programs emphasize efficiency and expediency without sacrificing quality used building materials that deserve a second life.
Deconstruction is not a zero-sum game and Deconstruction & ReUse Network’s member contractors and architects know it!
About Deconstruction & ReUse Network
Board Members
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Lorenz Schilling
Lorenz Schilling founded Deconstruction & Building Materials ReUse Network, Inc. (Deconstruction & ReUse Network), an environmental and humanitarian nonprofit, that supports California’s green building movement by advancing the general environmental principal of "reduce, reuse and recycle" within the construction and demolition (C&D) industries. As President, Schilling works with homeowners, building professionals, other non-profits and local government to create waste management solutions and to help implement deconstruction practices, as well as, likeminded businesses and organizations endeavoring to reuse.
Schilling, who has been developing deconstruction programs since 2001 in Los Angeles and Orange County, ran Southern California operations for The Reuse People from 2003 though 2007. He founded Deconstruction & ReUse Network to meet the need for user-friendly deconstruction solutions for homeowners and to increase the humanitarian benefits of building materials reuse. He recognized that people wanted what was best for the environment and community, but needed a streamlined process to help them navigate through the unfamiliar practice of deconstruction.
Schilling is committed to developing deconstruction programs that offer simple solutions for homeowners to dismantle and reuse their home’s valuable physical assets rather than disposing of them. On average, a 2,000 square foot home may yield as much as 85% in reusable materials. In addition to the environmental benefits, the programs also help homeowners achieve significant tax savings based on their donation’s appraised value.
Partnering with regional Habitat for Humanity affiliates allows valuable reclaimed materials, such as windows, doors and appliances, to be reused or resold in the community. The organization also works with Corazon, a ministry that build homes in Baja California, to donate rough framing lumber. Schilling has personally delivered truckloads of lumber to Corazon that will be used to rehabilitate homes near their organization’s community centers.
Schilling says his background in hospitality management and technical recruiting has been an asset in the non-profit world, giving him the patience to listen and respond more effectively to industry challenges. As the president of Deconstruction Network, Schilling understands his responsibility to educate and empower others about the need for waste reduction and building material reuse. He embraces his mission and feels confident his hard work will help cities throughout California, and beyond, empower community members to achieve municipal waste diversion goals, while leading to the mainstream acceptance of deconstruction.
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Stuart David Arkin
Stuart D. Arkin has been a member of the Board of Directors of Deconstruction and
Building Materials ReUse Network (“Deconstruction Network”) since May 2008. Mr. Arkin has vast experience strategic business development; domestic & international commercial real estate brokerage; strategic partnerships/alliances and selected M&A.
Throughout his career, Mr. Arkin has made it a priority to participate in
philanthropic causes, which include: facilitating the selection and acceptance of Wal-Mart International’s COO/Seiyu Japan’s CEO to the Board of Directors of the Giuliani Sage Japanese-American Leadership Foundation in 2006; implementing a micro-lending project to assist families and children Barangai Holy Spirit, P.I. in association with the Rotary Club of Dansville NY, Rotary Tandang Sora of Quezon City, P.I. and Haligi Ng Bata of Quezon City, P.I. from 2003-2006; creating and implementing a high school student exchange program between The Ross School of East Hampton, NY and Lycée Antonin Artaud of Marseille, France from 2003-2004.
Mr. Arkin is a former membership chairman and board of governor of the YM/WREA,
the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York from 2001-2004; a member of ABNY, The Association For a Better New York and a Licensed Real Estate Broker. Mr. Arkin has a thorough working knowledge of Japanese Language and Culture, Spanish and French. Mr. Arkin is an alumnus of Baruch College and New York University in New York City. Mr. Arkin resides in Long Beach, California.
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Miranti Ojong
Miranti Ojong has over ten years of business experience in a variety of industries including Commercial and Residential Real Estate; Green Lending; Hotel Management and Real Estate; Hospitality Services and Construction. Currently, she holds the title of Green Builder Relations at Cal Green Lending, a green mortgage brokerage company in Calistoga, California. Ojong’s expertise in green business strategies and her work with Cal Green Lending has heightened the awareness of green building throughout the green building industry and the community.
Ojong is also founder and president of MIRANTI Real Estate, offering residential property investment, renovation, construction management, and international hotel asset management and operational consulting. Her entrepreneurial endeavors don’t end there, she is also the founder of My Kitty Mall, an e-commerce business selling cat products and supplies to online consumers.
After graduating from Cornell University with a Bachelors of Science in Hospitality Management and a concentration in Real Estate Development, Ojong went on to earn a Certificate in Construction Practices from San Diego State University. She always knew she wanted to be in construction and with a concentration in Real Estate Development under her belt and now holds a general contractor’s license.
Ojong is an active member of the Residential Green Building Advocacy Committee of the U.S. Green Building Council in San Francisco and she continues her alma mater support as a Cornell ambassador. She currently resides in San Francisco, but will be making her move to Calistoga this year, where her Fiancé and business partner at Cal Green Lending, resides.
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Jason Scheurer
Jason Scheurer has been in the construction business since 1983 and has extensive experience in all aspects of the industry. From his apprenticeship days as a framer, to a Field Project Manager for residential foreclosures (Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac), Jason has become an industry leader. After working at various construction companies throughout Southern California, Jason formed his own remodeling company in 1995 and began working in the greater LA/OC areas as a Licensed General Contractor.
With many successful years as a Licensed General Contractor, and studying to become an Environmental Building Scientist, Jason had the opportunity to create a unique company (Living Green Homes Construction and Development, Inc.) to help grow the “Green Revolution” in the Orange County area. With this in mind, and his accomplishments within the building science arena, Jason has become one of the go-to Contractors in the energy efficiency and Green industry. Jason has the knowledge and expertise to build and remodel residences and buildings with important features including Comfort, Indoor Air Quality, Energy Efficiency, and Health/Safety, which he, in turn, shares with other green advocates, builders and consumers. He has educated, advised and provided services including whole house energy assessments, green products, and renewable energy.
Jason’s ability to secure more than twenty-five (25) different manufacturers and distributors to participate in a sponsorship program in his one-of-the-first of its kind all green homes in OC, called Project 319 - www.LivingGreenOn319.com, has set the stage for Living Green Homes to become a leader in Green Products and Technologies.
Project 319 has received media attention locally and regionally and will be among the first “Net Zero Energy Homes” built new in Orange County. Jason has worked hands on with city officials and building inspectors to expand innovative technologies, green products, and help introduce new building codes, to ensure that they have the most current information on the explosive “Green Building Revolution.”
As an advocate of green building practices, Jason’s goals are to inspire, motivate, and assist developers, investors, asset managers, homeowners, and the community to understand the importance of building and living green as regulatory and market forces shift the industry toward green built environments that are healthier, safer, more resource efficient and less polluting with better indoor air quality.
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Matt Macko
Through years of hands-on experience in the construction and development fields, Matt Macko came to appreciate firsthand the need for progress in green building. From the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business, Matt received degrees in economics and finance, as well as, an Entrepreneurial Certification. Meanwhile, he was the President of the University of Colorado's Real Estate Council and the owner of two successful businesses. During schooling and as a post-graduate, he successfully built and managed one of the greenest residential projects in Connecticut.
Matt is now a LEED Accredited Professional, RESNET Energy Rater, Certified Green Building Professional and Certified Sustainable Building Advisor, as well as, Chair of the Bay Area LEED Users Group (BAyLUG), board member of the California Deconstruction & ReUse Network, active member of the Northern California Chapter of the USGBC and board member of the Emerging Green Builders Association. Through the various projects he's managed, Matt personally encountered many of the challenges associated with sustainable development and has the experience, knowledge, and leadership to overcome new hurdles in future projects.
Matt recently returned from Washington D.C. where he co-wrote the new LEED 2009 exam. As a result, he regularly presents on the changes to LEED throughout Northern California.
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Our Team
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Myles McGray
Los Angeles Regional Manager
Myles McGray is a native Michigander with a B.A. from Oakland University. Currently, a graduate student in the College of Environmental Design at Cal Poly Pomona, McGray's academic focus lies in the development, implementation, and reuse of sustainable built forms. With work experience in both the environmental field and various building trades, he is pleased to have found a union between the two at Deconstruction & ReUse Network (DRN.)
McGray joined DRN in 2008 as an intern where he worked alongside founder/president Lorenz Schilling. As a certified LEED AP he has been instrumental in the development of the organization's standards and procedures, and has supported the executive team's participation at trade shows, partner meetings and Green Building conferences. He has experience in environmental education and worked as a coordinator on a habitat restoration program through Marin Conservation Corps. After years as a firsthand witness to the tolls of demolition and building material waste, McGray was thrilled when asked to help join the DRN team to help bring the message of deconstruction to the masses. In his newly appointed position, McGray will manage projects and partnerships in the South Bay, Palos Verdes and Long Beach areas of Los Angeles County.
Contact: Myles@reusenetwork.org
888-545-8333 ext. 502
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Kristiaan Vergel-de-Dios
South Bay/Beverly Hills Representative
Kristiaan Vergel-De-Dios joins Deconstruction and ReUse network following several years of working in the construction industry. He has owned, operated and managed his own companies, which have focused on providing construction, property preservation and design services. As a business owner himself, Vergel-De-Dios has developed invaluable skills in project management and anticipating clients’ needs.
His experience on build sites has also helped him to realize the many benefits of deconstruction and critical need to advance the industry. As an agent for Deconstruction and ReUse Network, Vergel-De-Dios will be overseeing the growth of the organization in the Orange County region. In his new role he will be responsible for generating new business, facilitating project services for property owners and working with contractors, architects, nonprofits and policy makers to educate and advance deconstruction and reuse practices in the region.
Vergel-De-Dios has a Bachelor of Science degree in Visual Communications from Platt College in Newport Beach, CA.
Contact: kris@reusenetwork.org
888-545-8333 x112
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Nicole Tai (a.k.a. reusemama)
Bay Area Representative
Nicole Tai joins Deconstruction & ReUse Network to spearhead the organization's development efforts in Northern California. Her dedication and extensive experience will be a valuable asset for DRN.
She has a BS in Conservation Resource Studies from UC Berkeley and her Masters in [Sustainable] Community Development from UC Davis. She is a co-founder of the non-profit organization Reuse Alliance (Astoria, NY), and was an integral part of start up and development efforts for the "ARROW Reuse Center for
Building Materials" (Astoria, NY) and Build it Green NYC (New York, NY). Amongst
other related talents and experience, she has extensive grant writing experience
and is an accomplished public speaker.
Contact: nicole@reusenetwork.org
888-545-8333 ext 201
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Cherie Gannon Taylor
Napa/Sonoma Area Representative
Cherie Gannon Taylor has an extensive background in marketing and project management and is an avid supporter of ReUse. Most recently, Ms. Taylor spearheaded outreach for the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Santa Rosa.
In her role at DRN she will assist local property owners with deconstruction and ReUse solutions, as well as facilitate the ReUse of surplus materials for local businesses. Additionally, Ms. Taylor will develop and implement community outreach programs and oversee local marketing efforts to expand awareness for DRN and the ReUse industry at large.
Ms. Taylor has a Bachelor of Science / Art degree from the University of Colorado; is a former member of the American Society for Training and Development; and served on the Board for Santa Rosa Figure Skating Club for five years.
Contact: cherie@reusenetwork.org
888-545-8333 ext 218
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Lyndsy Czapla
Orange County Area Representative
Lyndsy Czapla joined Deconstruction & ReUse Network to help increase awareness for the organization in Southern California. She creates outreach campaigns and meets with city officials and policy makers on behalf of the organization.
She also contributes regularly to the Recycle Your House blog to help educate homeowners and building professionals on the importance of waste diversion and reuse in construction. Ms. Czapla holds a bachelors degree in political science from Purdue University and a masters degree in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma.
Contact: Lyndsy@reusenetwork.org
888-545-8333 ext. 113
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Paula Wise
Marketing & Production Manager
Paula Wise has a diverse background in sales, marketing and sales management. She joined Deconstruction & ReUse Network, Inc. (DRN) in 2007 where she serves as Marketing and Production Manager and she is a Certified Green Building Professional (CGBP.)
Ms. Wise works closely with the organization's public relations, marketing and civic outreach teams to increase awareness of deconstruction principles and DRN's mission to reduce construction waste and facilitate reuse of building materials and salvage surplus in California.
Prior to joining DRN Ms. Wise spent thirteen years in the telecommunications and wireless communications industries. Post 9/11, she developed a disaster prevention/recovery seminar hosted by the Los Angeles/Orange County market, which was later adopted for use nationally by Focal Communications. While working for TelePacific Communications, Ms. Wise was the liaison between her employer and the Building Industry Association of Southern California. From 2006 to 2008, she was an active participant on the Orange County chapter's new member committee. Ms. Wise's extensive experience and entrepreneurial spirit is helping advance DRN's awareness in California's Green Building industry.
Contact: paula@reusenetwork.org
888-545-8333 x 101
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OUR OPERATING MANTRA is SMILE
Together we can break from the chain of home-wreckers before us!
Simplify: Our programs must be user-friendly so more people will participate.
Motivate: Our programs must offer tangible benefits.
Integrate: We must seek to ally the interests of property owners with those of a broad range of professional participants.
Listen: We must take into consideration the needs of differing stakeholders.
Experience: Education happens through effective experience. We must get industry professionals in the game and teach through participation.
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