David Gottfried has over 25 years of multidisciplinary real estate, consulting and non-profit experience in the building industry: as a “green” management consultant, greentech advisory board member, real estate investment fund manager and developer, construction manager and founder of the U.S. and World Green Building Councils.

   The U.S. Green Building Council is the foremost green building organization in the world, now with over 16,500 organizational members from all sectors of the building industry, and 80 regional chapters. The World Green Building Council serves as the “UN” for councils being developed in 50 countries. Collectively, these organizations have likely done more for reducing our carbon dioxide consumption than any other entity in the world.

   Gottfried is the CEO of Regenerative Ventures, established in 1995 with its first venture, WorldBuild Consulting. The company has worked with over 100 building industry clients that strive to lessen their reliance on limited natural resources and wasteful practices, while boosting lifecycle based economics and quality of life.

   One of David Gottfried's greatest passions is public speaking. Gottfried's keynote talks provide an inspirational message of transformation and regeneration for us all, including: our own lives, organizations, countries and the world. He draws on his 25 years of organizational experience in founding 5 entities, the "greening" of his own life, and general observations as a systems engineer and integrative holistic thinker. Gottfried has been an international keynote speaker for over a decade, addressing hundreds of varied audiences in over a dozen countries. His incredible enthusiasm, hope, energy and unique vision is electric to the audience, helping everyone accelerate their personal transformation and awaken.

   Gottfried received his degree in Engineering and Resource Management from Stanford University, and is a regular lecturer for the University. Gottfried has won numerous awards and is the author of Greed to Green: the transformation of an industry and a life.

Speaking Testimonials:

David Gottfried is the father of the Green Movement. He started the U.S. Green Building Council in the U.S. and then took it around the world. He is a wonderful and inspiring spokesperson for the environmental movement." -- Art Gensler, Chairman, Gensler 

"David Gottfried is indeed, a pioneer, having led the way into the uncharted territory of environmentally responsible construction ...His legacy is here to stay..." -- Ray C. Anderson; Founder & Chair; Interface

“I had the pleasure of speaking on a three-person panel with David Gottfried in late July 2008. It was one of the most memorable presentations I've ever experienced. As I looked out into the audience I saw that every person - without exception - was mesmerized. Gottfried spoke from his heart, and the audience's heart was with him. He was engaging, powerful and made the audience think.  He brought introspection to all who heard him.  Quite simply, I was blown away.”
--Donald S. Simon, Partner; Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean, LLP

"David Gottfried is an extraordinary person, whose passionate idealism is infectious. Even more surprising is David's ability to create a vehicle to realize his ideals and to demonstrate a better reality within our current financial and social structure. He is one of the few people I know who talks about a better world, gets us to see it, and then helps all of us to realize it."  

-- Peter Ellis, AIA, RIBA, Design Partner; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

 "David Gottfried is a real estate developer, entrepreneur, and sustainability guru. He provides a great speech. David gave one of the most moving and inspirational talks to the Leadership Summit on Sustainable Design in San Francisco and he was a featured speaker with Dan Pink not so very long ago in Toronto. I think you will enjoy him: good sense of humor, relaxed, articulate, passionate, youthful. He has a fresh message." -- James P. Cramer, Chairman & Principal, The Greenway Group

Topics:

1) Leading the Green Transformation (Tailored to your industry with practical and visionary ideas)

   Global transformational change in how we conduct business, make products and manage our organizations is undergoing explosive growth. This societal cultural shift is fueled by understanding and embracing the principles of sustainability and life-cycle based value. The core of value includes efficient use of precious resources, environmental restoration and protecting our health. The results are tremendous: increased profitability for our businesses, the planet and our personal lives.
 
The building industry is leading the global revolution towards sustainability through creation of green buildings and sustainable communities. The catalyst of this leadership is the world¹s fastest growing industry coalition, the U.S. Green Building Council, now with 20,000 organizational members. USGBC¹s LEED® Rating System is now being used by over 3.6 billion square feet in 20,000 projects, representing more than 10% of the market. Over 60,000 professionals have passed the LEED Accredited Professional exam.
 
   The USGBC (and its LEED Green Building Rating System) non-profit coalition model for transforming the US building industry towards sustainability was leveraged in the 1998 formation of the World Green Building Council. The WorldGBC includes a UN of approximately 15 country councils and another 40
emerging ones.