MS in Sustainability Management (MSSM) alum Jessica Bollhoefer (’12) is doing exactly what she set out to do when she began the program in the spring of 2011 – working with green buildings. Combined with her undergraduate background in architecture and her prior professional experience in construction, Jessica’s education in the MSSM program has proven invaluable to her in her current role as a Senior Sustainability Consultant at Goby L.L.C., a LEED and Energy Star consulting firm.
1. What is your current job?
I am a Senior Sustainability Consultant at Goby L.L.C., a LEED and Energy Star consulting firm. We aim to optimize the performance and cost efficiency of real estate by providing expertise in high impact sustainability planning, monitoring, and implementation for commercial, office, and real estate operations. We provide services including building retrofits, energy audits and simulation, Energy Star consultation, utility incentive opportunities, LEED consultation, marketing for green building achievements, real estate portfolio analysis and planning, risk management, and strategic initiative alignment.
2. Do your current job responsibilities align with the professional goals that you originally had when you began the MSSM program?
Absolutely. I have an undergraduate degree in architecture, so when I entered the MSSM program at Columbia, I knew that I wanted a career that focused on real estate development, renewable energy ventures, and green design. My current position in the Green Building industry allows me to utilize my newly acquired skills from the MSSM program, my educational background in architecture, and my professional experience in the fields of construction and real estate development.
3. What skills has the MSSM program taught you that you think have proven useful to your current position?
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