Building Energy Exchange is delighted to announce the promotion of three employees: Katie Schwamb, advancing to Director, Educational Resources; Helen Chananie, advancing to Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives; and Will DiMaggio, advancing to Manager, Education and Engagement.

The three promotions mark the introduction of new departments at BE-Ex: Educational Resources (fka Projects), Education & Engagement (fka Programs & Communications), and Strategic Initiatives.

The Educational Resources team produces impactful educational content—case studies, reports, technology primers, on-demand learning content, and more—on a range of key topics at the intersection of buildings and sustainability, to accelerate the transition to a healthful, comfortable, and low-carbon built environment.

The Education & Engagement team is responsible for the development and delivery of technical trainings, panel events, and symposia, the delivery of our event series, strategic communications, and audience engagement.

Strategic Initiatives, a newly created department, focuses on capacity building, expanding BE-Ex’s reach and impact by growing a network of independent energy efficiency hubs across the country

Katie Schwamb, Director, Educational Resources

Katie Schwamb, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, guides the development of BE-Ex’s educational resources, spanning low-carbon multifamily retrofits, high-performance building technology, and resiliency and efficiency in affordable housing. Among her many projects, Katie is responsible for the Decarbonizing New York City Offices initiative, aimed at accelerating decarbonization within commercial tenant spaces, and most recently, the Future Housing Initiative, a multi-project endeavor to drive the transition towards equitable, low-carbon multifamily housing with real world data.

Katie brings years of sustainability consulting to bear as a thoughtful collaborator and nimble project manager, bridging clients and project partners, design consultants, and BE-Ex team members, to execute first-in-class resources on building decarbonization.

Helen Chananie, Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Helen Chananie has had a profound impact on BE-Ex’s body of work, responsible for a host of industry resources on a range of topics—from residential steam heating upgrades, commercial lighting retrofits, and energy efficiency master planning, to high-performance construction standards. A guiding voice for the organization, Helen has been central to the growth and strategic direction of BE-Ex’s Women in Sustainability and Energy series and sits on the Steering Committee for the City’s NYC Accelerator program.

Helen’s new role recognizes her involvement in the Building Performance Partnership (BPP), a growing network of partner resource hubs across the country established by BE-Ex and IMT. As Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Helen will focus on capacity building, leveraging the BPP and other partner networks to replicate BE-Ex’s success in cities across the country.

Will DiMaggio, Manager, Education & Engagement

During his four-year tenure at BE-Ex, Will DiMaggio has been involved in all aspects of the organization’s communications apparatus, driving audience growth, increasing engagement, and improving digital accessibility.

Will has been central to BE-Ex’s educational series, producing events, digital assets, and written resources on buildings, technology, and climate policy. In 2022, Will helped produce High Rise / Low Carbon, an educational series in partnership with NYSERDA, delivering a six-part event series and holding a lead authorship role in the High Rise / Low Carbon Partner Profile: 345 Hudson report. Will also supports BE-Ex’s educational offerings on the Climate Mobilization Act, producing live education, articles, policy briefs, and tools, like the widely used LL97 Carbon Emissions Calculator.

Will’s new role expands his involvement in all aspects of BE-Ex’s educational programming and strategic communications initiatives.

Congratulations to Helen, Katie, and Will on all of their important contributions to the organization. We look forward to their continued success!