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Steve Skodak
Chief Executive Officer
Steve Skodak is the Chief Executive Officer at the Building Performance Association. In this role, Steve is responsible for the overall strategic operation, management, and administration of all staff and activities. He works closely with the Board of Directors to realize the association’s mission and vision for the future.
In his 30 years of management, Steve has gained extensive executive-level experience working with a diverse group of allied professions to develop membership strategies. Most recently, Steve was Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Painting Contractors Association where he led efforts to modernize the association and restore financial stability. Prior to that, he held successive executive positions with the YMCA, Optimist International Foundation, and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.
Steve holds a bachelor’s in communications and marketing from Missouri State University and is a Certified Association Executive and Certified Fundraising Executive. He has served on several organizational boards and volunteer panels, including the Saint Louis Council of Charitable Gift Planners and United Way.
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Nate Natale
Chief Operating Officer
Nate Natale is the Chief Operating Officer at Building Performance Association. In this role, he oversees the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of BPA. Nate focuses a significant portion of his time managing all aspects of the association’s conference and education work- including site selection, program development, logistics, fundraising, and communications. Nate also convenes, manages, and facilitates stakeholder groups, and represents the association through participation with a variety of external industry partners. This includes his work on BPA’s workforce development initiative launched in 2021. He worked in education, both in the classroom and behind the scenes, for a number of years before transitioning to association management. Prior to joining Building Performance Association in 2010, Nate spent four years managing many aspects of the conference and continuing education programs of The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society. He earned a B.S. in Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Professional Writing degree from Chatham University.
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Jean Nagy
Chief Financial Officer
Jean Nacy is the Chief Financial Officer at Building Performance Association. She is responsible for long term forecasting and risk management. She has over 30 years in the field of finance in many industries. Jean received her BS in Accounting from the Pennsylvania State University.
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Kara Saul-Rinaldi
Vice President of Government Affairs, Policy, and Programs
Kara Saul-Rinaldi is the Vice President of Government Affairs, Policy, and Programs at Building Performance Association. She leads the organization’s public policy and government affairs initiatives and represents the association's mission to policymakers and stakeholders through her firm, the AnnDyl Policy Group. With over 20 years of experience in policy and communications strategy and legislative and regulatory experience, Kara has worked for members of Congress, testified before congressional committees and appeared in a variety of media outlets as a leading energy and climate policy expert. Kara has a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego. Kara continues to author articles on energy policy for trade publications and provide keynote and panel presentations on energy and climate policy.
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Bethany Dittmar Sowinski
Director of Education and Events
Bethany Dittmar Sowinski is the Director of Education and Events at Building Performance Association, where she has worked since 2011. She is responsible for the coordination and development of conference agendas, presenter communication, continuing education accreditation, and on-site volunteer activities. Prior to joining Building Performance Association, Bethany worked in real estate, land conservation, sustainability research, and event planning. She has a B.A. in German from Bowdoin College and received a post-graduate Fulbright grant to teach English in northern Germany. She later earned her MBA in Sustainability from Duquesne University where she became passionate about reducing company and building energy uses and improving energy efficiency.
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Chris Docchio
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Chris Docchio is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Building Performance Association. He builds strategic alliances and corporate partnerships that increase visibility, enhance businesses and foster new collaborations. He develops, administers and directs the largest trade show in the home performance industry and elevates the conference experience with additional promotional and advertising opportunities. With almost two decades of sales experience and a B.S. in Marketing from Robert Morris University, Chris understands how to provide warm customer service and build corporate partnerships that last.
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Katie Miller
Director of Marketing and Communications
Katie Miller is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Building Performance Association. She joined the team in March 2018 and has over 12 years of experience working in marketing. As the Director of Marketing & Communications, Katie is responsible for messaging and outreach to BPA members and stakeholders. She also oversees the management of building-performance.org and social media platforms. Katie also directs all marketing and promotional efforts for BPA events, membership opportunities, and programs. She works closely with strategic partnership staff and maintains relationships with allies and sponsors who support the mission of the association. Previously, Katie worked for a large mechanical contractor, directing marketing efforts for both the residential and commercial sales divisions. Katie earned a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from West Liberty University.
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Gypsy Matlak
Accounting and Business Administration Manager
Gypsy Matlak is the Accounting and Business Administration Manager at Building Performance Association. She handles accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll and HR responsibilities. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. Previously, Gypsy managed companies in the window, door and sunroom industries. She was also the Business Manager for the Baierl Family YMCA, where she gained her non-profit experience.
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Robyn Hall
Customer Service Manager
Robyn Hall is the Customer Service Manager at Building Performance Association. She manages conference registrations, continuing education credits, and scholarships, and additionally serves as a support to conference education. Robyn previously worked in marketing, public relations, and media advertising sales. She graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Journalism with a specialty in Advertising. Robyn joined the team in 2010 and has held several roles within the organization.
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Tiffanie LaBruyere-Drown
Learning & Development Manager
Tiffanie LaBruyere-Drown is the Learning & Development Manager at Building Performance Association. In her role, Tiffanie leads the design, development and support of the Learning Management System. She is tasked with creating the learning technology strategy to ensure BPA has the best learning system in the industry with a relentless focus on continual improvement, innovation, and end-user adoption and usage. In the last 10 years, she has worked with a variety of Learning Management Systems, developed online learning courses and designed virtual learning certificate programs. Tiffanie attended the University of Missouri - Columbia, College of Business Administration and has completed certificate programs with the Association for Talent Development.
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Xavier Walter
State Outreach Coordinator
Xavier "Zave" Walter is the State Outreach Coordinator at Building Performance Association. He began his career in home performance in 2008 after serving in the United States Navy and spending years in the construction and finance and lending industries. As State Outreach Coordinator, Zave organizes support for contractor needs, advises state governments on how best to use their resources to advance the home performance industry, and furthers the association's policy positions at the state level.
Zave has over a decade of experience conducting energy audits, air sealing, and whole-home retrofits under the Home Performance with Energy Star Program. He is a presenter and teacher with thousands of hours in both classroom and field settings. One of his greatest passions is helping others understand the value of making homes more comfortable, safe, and efficient. Zave is a BPI Certified Building Analyst, Energy Auditor, QCI, as well as a RESNET HERS Rater and 2015 IECC Plans Examiner.
Outside of his passion for energy efficiency, Zave co-owns a popular campground and fishing lake called Camp Holly at the confluence of Holly River and Brushy Creek in Webster County, West Virginia. He enjoys exploring, farming, and live music.
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Russell Boyd
State Outreach Coordinator
Russell Boyd is a State Outreach Coordinator at Building Performance Association. In his role, Russell works with our state level stakeholders to develop projects and industry efforts around workforce development and BPA’s other key issues. Russell leads from a "think critically, act creatively" framework and pulls from his diverse background, which consists of a decade of experience as a strategist, creative, advocate, community organizer, and project manager. Russell holds a Bachelor of Public Administration from Texas State University and a Master of Professional Studies in Political Management with a focus in Advocacy Politics from George Washington University, In his spare time, he enjoys performing, DIY projects, filmmaking, yoga, cooking, reading, taking care of plants, curating events, exploring nature, and creating experiences with family and friends.
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Maria Lewis
State Outreach Coordinator
Maria Lewis is a State Outreach Coordinator at the Building Performance Association. Most recently, she was the Financial Empowerment Center and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Manager for the City of Syracuse, New York. In her role at BPA, Maria collaborates with local stakeholders to create strong, resilient, diverse workforces.
Maria is a dedicated wife, mom, grandma, and friend. She and her husband own a live-streamed radio program on Facebook titled, “I Know I Can Radio.” This program provides resources, live interviews, and shared testimonies to help build communities with positive messaging. Maria loves to help others, and her passion is providing people with the tools they need to make a better tomorrow for themselves and the next generation.
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Ruben Perez
Research Analyst
Ruben Perez is a Research Analyst at the Building Performance Association. Ruben has made it his mission to focus his efforts on supporting and advancing non-profit organizations, most recently as a project manager and data analyst with Girl Scouts of the USA. He has more than 25 years of experience under various business models ranging from online advertising to FinTech to eCommerce. Ruben graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering
Ruben is a self-described naturally curious person who likes to build things and solve problems. He enjoys spending time with family and friends and his 5-month-old Goldendoodle puppy, Millie.
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Macie Melendez
Editor in Chief, Building Performance Journal
Macie Melendez is Editor In Chief at the Building Performance Journal. In this role, she oversees the entire online publication. The Editor In Chief is responsible for managing all content and ushering each blog, article, and sponsored content through the full process from content acquisition and editing to final publication. She previously worked at the former Home Energy magazine where she started as Assistant Editor and worked her way up to Executive Editor before pursuing a freelance writing career.
Macie has been a writer and editor for nearly two decades, working in various mediums from print magazines and newspapers to online education and script writing. She is passionate about the written word and helping the planet—even if that comes in the form of editing. Macie holds a BA degree in English from San Diego State University.
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Lois Miller
Meeting Planner
Lois Miller is the meeting planner at the Building Performance Association. She has been working on conferences with the BPA team for almost 13 years. Lois works on site selection, planning and onsite management for the regional and national conferences. Lois is a certified association executive with over 30 years of experience managing trade shows and conferences for non-profits.