Board Members & Team

James Donaldson

James earned a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and a Master of Architecture Degree from Virginia Tech. Prior to joining Johnson Fain, James was practicing in San Francisco with a focus on high-end residential and tenant improvements during the ‘dot-com’ boom. James’ knowledge of the building industry is complemented with his interest in green building technologies and advanced computer modeling. James has co-taught architectural courses with Scott Johnson at both Berkeley and USC and has been a guest speaker at USC’s BIM symposium. His commitment to green building technologies has led to speaking engagements and leadership positions with a number of organizations including AIA LA Committee on the Environment. He is involved in the US Green Building Council and was a Co-Chair on the Greening Committee for the 2016 Greenbuild Conference. In addition, James leads the Johnson Fain Sustainability and Resilience Lab within the firm. ×

Mike Horgan

Mike Horgan is a Certified Passive House Consultant and Zero-Net-Energy & Passivhaus design-builder and licensed general contractor in both Massachusetts and California living full-time now on the Central Coast region of California in San Luis Obispo. He’s the founder of Horgan Design-Build, Inc; runs Cairn Collaborative Consult-Design-Construct, LLC; and provides education for builders and architects with In Balance Green Consulting as a construction specialist. He is on the advisory board of the Tri-County Regional Energy Network in California; is Vice-President of Passive House California; co-chairs the Building Decarbonization Task Force in San Luis Obispo; and was named the City of San Luis Obispo’s Climate Coalition Climate Champion of 2019. Combining an academic background in economics, education, and linguistics from Worcester University and Boston University with over two decades of construction experience, he focuses on helping builders and architects transition from baseline practices to designing and building more responsibly, resulting in higher-performance, healthier, more efficient and comfortable homes built to Zero-Net-Energy and Passivhaus standards. ×

Christian Kienapfel

Christian Kienapfel, born in West Berlin and raised in Germany, holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Applied Sciences in Cottbus. He furthered his education in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar, earning another Master's Degree in Architecture from Virginia Tech. With over 20 years of international experience in the architectural profession, Christian is a principal at PARAVANT Architects. His expertise spans the planning of various building types in the U.S., Germany, Italy, Malaysia, and Costa Rica. Christian has also contributed to academia, teaching architecture and interior design studios, and serving as a guest lecturer at international conferences. He is a Certified Passive House Designer (CPHD) and is actively involved in multiple Passive House projects in Southern California. ×

Jay Gentry

Jay Gentry is a graduate of UCLA Business School, attended Fuller Seminary, and served in the USAF (Instructor Pilot). He has over 40 years of experience as a Marketing and Sales consultant to American businesses and has held executive level positions in manufacturing, consulting services, and real estate development. In 1980 Jay founded Con-Com-T, Inc., a sales and marketing consulting firm, through which he has worked with leading companies in manufacturing, IT, financial services, building products, home improvement, and construction. Recognizing the importance and urgency of action on climate change, in 2008 Jay narrowed his focus to the emerging Building Performance Industry. Since 2008, Jay has been consulting with and training contractors to help them gain the knowledge and skills needed to find and win opportunities to make homes and other buildings more efficient, comfortable, healthy, and environmentally responsible. He was a founding member of Efficiency First and is currently on the board of Passive House California. Jay continues to champion energy efficiency and environmental responsibility in the built environment, including retrofits and new construction. ×

Cyril Petit

Cyril is a versatile engineer, graduated from a French engineering school, who worked in different industries like railroad, aeronautics, aerospace, automotive and the building construction one. He has always been passionate about the technologies of the future, no matter what industry he worked for. Before starting the company Construction Progress (aka CPHBA), he developed 3 patents while working in Research and Development for the Millet Group, already creating smart and efficient new lines of products fighting discomfort problems and energy overconsumption. Cyril moved to California in 2014. Since then, he has been able to provide his support and expertise to local builders, engineers, architects and homeowners with a green mindset. ×

Avril Martin

For over twenty five years Avril Martin, owner of The Silver Lining Interior Design, has been transforming space for clients. She has a design degree from UCLA Extension, is both NCIDQ and CCIDC certified and has taken numerous Build it Green seminars. ×

Tracy Blair

Tracy was born and raised in Leyland, Lancashire, and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture at Huddersfield University in Yorkshire, England. She furthered her education in the United States, passing the National Council for Interior Design Qualification and gaining her CCID (Certified California Council for Interior Design Certification) accreditation. Along the way, she accumulated knowledge from Sustainable Works and became a LEED AP, all while practicing interior design for residential and commercial properties in Los Angeles. Designing interior environments led her to renovate and manage real estate. Tracy decided to combine her passion for built spaces and our collective living environment by educating her clients and renovators as a Realtor, focusing on her expertise as a Certified Passive House Designer (CPHD) ×

Jason Scheurer

Jason Scheurer has been in the construction industry for over 30 years and as a pioneer in the construction and management of environmentally responsible buildings. He has vast experience as a General Contractor, Project Manager, Project Estimator, and has been in the Energy Efficiency field for over 15 years. He has built one of the first Net Zero Energy Homes (NZEH) in Orange County, California. This home was certified by Build It Green as a GreenPoint Rated home that achieved an astonishing 210 points. Jason’s mission is to first - “Do No Harm” and help teach and educate the green construction industry and the end consumer about the rights and wrongs of our existing building stock and how to make these buildings perform at their BEST by applying House-as-a-System, Building Science and Energy Efficient techniques through the standards established by Passive House Institute, Building Performance Institute, Build It Green and National Comfort Institute. Jason is a BPI Approved Super Proctor, has numerous certifications with BPI, Build It Green, National Comfort Institute, etc. As a “Building Scientist” Jason takes his profession to heart and educates contractors and homeowners towards energy efficiency in residential buildings across the nation. Jason has taken training classes on the CPHD/C course, and is a Certified Passive House Tradesperson (CPHT). ×

Brian Pearson

Brian S. Pearson, grew up on farm land in New Mexico and is a descendant of a multi-generation San Francisco family, he is now proud to call Oakland home. These two traits, a closeness to nature and a view of layered history, help define his approach to architecture. He has been a CA licensed architect since 2009 with a focus on residential projects. Ever looking for greater efficiency, quality and beauty in his designs lead him to the Passive House movement and has been CPHD since 2018. Before studying and practicing architecture he worked as a carpenter and furniture maker. When not absorbed in all things building, he enjoys reading, movies, being in nature, hiking, camping and traveling. ×

Hannah McKay

Hannah McKay is a Certified Passive House Consultant and recent architecture graduate from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. A Vermont native turned SLO resident, she joined the team to help promote Passive House California on social media. She has done build work in Ecuador and Tanzania and is excited to the growing popularity of Passive House and sustainable materials in California. ×

Steve Mann

Steve Mann is a California HERS Rater and Certified Energy Analyst (CEA), LEED AP+ Homes and Green Rater, and a certified Passive House Consultant, Tradesperson, Trainer, and building Certifier with the Passive House Institute. He has been actively involved in high-performance residential construction, in a variety of roles, including owner/builder, for more than 15 years. His two most recent design/build projects are Net Zero Energy, and are both LEED Platinum and Passive House certified. He is currently working on several Passive House projects as Certifier or Consultant. His former non-profit experience includes President of the California Association of Building Energy Consultants and President of the San Luis Obispo chapter of Habitat for Humanity. ×

Jessica Weber

Jessica is a graphic designer and web developer from Vancouver Island. She's worked for years creating online and print materials in the Passive House industry for several organizations across North America. Jessica is passionate about the environment and volunteers in her spare time with the Surfrider Foundation in an effort to protect our oceans and beaches for future generations. ×

Raven Maier Bell

Raven Maier Bell is a Bay Area native and UCLA graduate studying International Developmental and Labor and Workplace Studies. Since graduating, she has worked on social and environmental justice issues in the public and private sectors, such as access to clean air and water, fresh food, waste reduction, sustainable disposal, energy efficiency, and affordable housing. As a consultant, she works with the UCLA International Institute as an instructor for their summer institute and as a researcher on various projects relating to studying the intersections between indigenous populations in the U.S. and environmental justice. Joining Passive House, she will work on social media and membership engagement to promote the Passive House way, working towards sustainable, energy-efficient buildings. ×