By Lana Crouse

In a recent Community Digest published by the U.S. Green Building Council, USGBC’s Indiana branch announced the 2019 winners of its Arminda “Mindy” Hanni Service Award, which recognizes outstanding service in the field of environmental design and construction. The award is named in honor of the late Mindy Hanni, one of Indiana’s outstanding early adopters of LEED and green building practices. Hanni’s service helped to advance sustainable building practices throughout the state.

The recipients are Kirby Dipert and Luke Leising, both of whom have given many years of service and dedication to help push sustainability forward in the state. Through their dedication and involvement with their local USGBC Indiana branches and the state-level advisory board, they have proven to be leaders in their community.

Kirby Dipert is a field engineer with TRC Companies who provides energy management and efficiency programs, including smart grid technologies for utility customers. He works directly with utility customers to help them put programs in place, from lighting retrofits to manure pumps to anything else that saves a utility kilowatt-hours. Dipert holds a Professional Certificate in Sustainable Studies from Indiana University South Bend. Headquartered in Lowell, MA, TRC is an engineering firm with 140 offices around the country.

Dipert reflects, “My work involves meeting with utility customers and folks that are eligible for incentives and helping them with energy efficiency programs. Basically, we’re just trying to give money back to them. People think it’s too good to be true.” Dipert believes we all have opportunities to spread the word about energy savings through large presentations.

A lot of people are interested in energy efficiency or energy management, and Dipert’s recommendation is to “stick with it, stick with your heart, continue to work hard to make connections, and eventually, doors will open. Also, get credentialed for things like CEM (certified energy manager) or LEED…these programs are educational and can go a long way to set you up for job success.”

Dipert is passionate about sustainability education and works to champion the synergies of energy efficiency and renewable energy. He volunteers with the USGBC Indiana Market Leadership Advisory Board and serves as chair of the USGBC Indiana North Central Branch (South Bend).

As the founder and president of the Guidon Design firm, Luke Leising is focused on improving lives and empowering people through sustainable architecture and engineering. He provides leadership oversight in the design of creative and dynamic solutions. With technical experience as both a licensed architect and engineer, he leads complex, multidisciplinary design projects. Based in Indianapolis, Guidon Design provides sustainable design solutions to healthcare, government, higher education, and corporate clients.

Leising’s advocacy for LEED and sustainable practices is at the core of his passion to change the architecture, engineering, and construction industry in Indiana. His efforts at Guidon have allowed him to incorporate sustainability standards into high-profile projects throughout the state. Leising holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University with a specialty in structural engineering and a Master of Architecture from the Savannah College of Art and Design. He is a former U.S. Army Ranger and Sapper. Leising is a past volunteer with the USGBC Indiana Market Leadership Advisory Board and the current chair of USGBC Indiana’s Advocacy Committee.