About Us

We believe all people, regardless of resources, should be able to be part of the larger green movement. This is why we are committed to creating opportunities for people who could otherwise not afford them.

“Giving is what makes all of life sustainable”

–Char Horst, GBF Chief Steward

Char Horst

Creating a way for the green building community to help those in need first occurred to Char at Greenbuild 2007. As she stood surrounded by thousands of passionately committed green building professionals, all united in the belief that sustainable buildings and communities are key to making this world a better place, she was struck by their energy and engagement in the green building movement. How to harness this powerful dedication into a way to “give back?” The Green Building Foundation began.

Char has many years of experience in both law and development, and is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and Williams College. She is the mother of two beautiful young people and is married to Scot Horst.

Kimberly Lewis

As the Vice President of Conferences & Events at USGBC for over seven years, Kimberly Lewis manages the direction of the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building.

Kimberly serves on the advisory boards of convention and visitors bureaus in three cities – Denver, Atlanta and New Orleans – as well as on the advisory board of Starwood Hotels Inc. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Political Science from Hood College in Frederick, Md.

Taylor Martinson

Between globe trekking and consistently seeking new experiences, Taylor can be found holding down the fort for the Green Building Foundation on Main Street in small-town Pennsylvania. A recent graduate with a degree in Mass Communication from Winona State University, Taylor completed a post-grad internship coordinating volunteers for a social services office in Minnesota. In order to help Char execute the vision for GBF, she courageously moved East where she also volunteers with local organizations in the Lehigh Valley area. Taylor is a member of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network.