We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” – Howard Zinn

Rushing’s mission is a world where people and planet flourish; This starts with one conversation and one system at a time.  

 As Principal and Director of Sustainability at Rushing, Stefanie provides sustainability strategy development and LEED management and administration. She brings well-rounded experience working with architecture firms, public entities, and developers, assessing sustainable solutions for their projects. Stefanie applies her technical skills to perform energy studies, carbon accounting, and climate change resiliency analysis for projects of various types and locations. She has been an integral part of over 150 LEED projects with a focus on LEED-NC (New Construction), CS (Core & Shell), CI (Commercial Interiors), and Homes- Multifamily.

Stefanie has a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon, specializing in sustainable design, and a Master of Urban Design and Planning from the University of Washington, specializing in environment and infrastructure. Her research focused on climate change and resiliency planning, large-scale infrastructure, low carbon, and zero-carbon development. She has contributed to six publications focusing on climate resiliency, with another four publications in progress on (1) forecasting mitigation losses due to climate change events and (2) applying resiliency as an adaptation measure to infrastructure.

Stefanie currently serves as the Chair of the LEED Energy and Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group (EA TAG), focusing on decarbonization and resiliency. She previously served as a member of USGBC’s LEED Sustainable Site TAG, focusing on ecosystem serves as well as providing general LEED process experience.

Stefanie has won multiple awards including the Presidential Volunteer Service Award from Barack Obama and the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award for her work regarding climate resiliency, adaptation, and green building.

In her spare time, you will find Stefanie listening to local rock-bands and spending outside time with her husband and son.