8B — November 11 - 24, 2016 — Central New Jersey — M id A tlantic
Real Estate Journal
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C entral N ew J ersey Michelle (Cottrell) Raigosa, Design Management Services We spend most of our days working, so why not enjoy what you do!
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tremendously to develop the prototype, as education and quality control are the key components to its success. We launched the prototype in January of this year now reaping the rewards of our hard work in 2015. How do you contribute to your company and / or the industry? Offering consulting servic- es for sustainable practices is such a rewarding position in and of itself but to engage with such diverse profes- sionals with varying experi- ence about green building
strategies makes it even more dynamic. As a LEED consultant, I get to engage with different disciplines educating about the various environmental strategies to incorporate on specific projects. More importantly though, I am an educator in the marketplace about all the different practices to improve the built environ- ment not only for the planet, but also for people. As I in- teract with our current and potential clients, vendors, friends, family, and service providers, I have the oppor- tunity to influence a change in the traditional approach to design, construction, op- erations, maintenance, and lifestyle concepts. Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in, about your current posi- tion and why you choose your field/profession. When I was nine years old, I was asked to write about my favorite Ameri- can. I chose Frank Lloyd Wright since I was so fas- cinated with drawing and construction activities after watching my father build different structures from his own sketches. After be- ing exposed to green build- ing strategies and concepts while pursuing my Bachelor degree at the University of Florida, I was hooked on sustainability and the in- tegrated design approach. After graduating, I was on a mission to incorporate these features into the design pro- cess but struggled to find the right opportunity. But when LEED was released in 2000, I jumped at the chance to learn as much as possible about it. After earning my LEED AP credential, I was quite eager to work on my first project pursuing certifica- tion. Although I was exposed to many of the strategies of LEED, it was not until I started DMS in 2005, that I was able to witness the process in action. What unique qualities and/or personality traits do you feel make you most successful? When I started DMS, I relied on my experience as a licensed interior designer, owner’s rep, and a LEED continued on page 12B
ha t wa s your greatest profes- s i ona l accom-
Michelle (Cottrell) Raigosa President Design Management Services Years with company/firm: 11 Years in field: 16 Years in real estate industry: 24 Organizations: USGBC
plishment in 2015? Without a doubt, the de- velopment of a prototype under the LEED Volume Program for a national de- veloper. Not only was it our first time working with the LEED Volume Program, it was the first LEED Core & Shell, process-based ap- proached prototype and it was completed in under 7 months. Developing a pro- totype in this process-based nature allows for the utmost
amount of flexibility for our client, allowing for changes in size, location, construc- tion type, and even contract
type. Beyond the obvious, my background writing books and educating other profes- sionals about LEED helped
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