Build It Green! Staff

Justin Green - Program Director
Justin has overseen the development of BIG!NYC from inception. Justin managed the 2 deconstruction projects for the Durst Organization that generated the materials that launched BIG!NYC. Before BIG!NYC, Justin worked on Community Environmental Center’s efforts to establish a statewide loan fund for the installation of energy efficiency measures. Justin’s previous experience managing construction crews in residential development prepared him for his work at BIG!NYC. He also previously worked as Loan Associate with Low Income Investment Fund monitoring loans to non-profit housing developers and for an educational Internet company during the first Internet boom. He owns the cute white Jack Russell named Lucy. Justin loved dumpster diving so much that he decided to make it into a full blown career. To the ongoing distress of Christine, all of their home furnishings and most of his clothes consist of found items and materials (except their mattress – not his choice.)
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Forrest Gillespie - Donations Coordinator
Forrest is the donations coordinator and event planner here at BIG!NYC, and has been with BIG!NYC since its inception. He initially helped unload trucks at our temporary warehouse and put together our first shelves in the dark & subzero warehouse. He keeps our trucks moving and the great finds coming into the warehouse, and bears a striking resemblance to James Dean. From founding a theater in Chico, CA to working Alaskan fishing canneries to delivering organic vegatables in Turkey to ghost writing autobiographical novels for famous to be left un-named politicians, Forrest has done pretty much everything. He's also been known to put on monthly plays at various local venues.
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Harvey Jaswal
Harvey is our Vocational Counselor, handling affairs in our ongoing partnership with the Consortium for Worker Education (CWE). Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Harvey has an undergraduate degree in Biology, specializing in Ecology, and Master's in Sociology from the University of British Columbia. While he's worked in public service management for both the North Vancouver School District and in Eco-Restoration (reforestation) in Northern Canadian clear-cuts, its his budding career as a bar reviewer for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle which has proven most relevant. Harvey's claim to fame is that he played basketball against Steve Nash once in high school on Vancouver Island, which provided him with street cred. amongst his co-workers, for about 5 minutes.
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Nate deVelder
Nate is the IT and warehouse manager here at BIG!NYC. Compliments and complaints about the website can be directed to him! Nate has a degree in Music from Boston University and is currently studying physics and calculus towards a second degree in engineering. Nate loves building just about any projects he can get his hands on, but is currently most interested in alternative energy installations and flexible form rammed earth (earthbag) building. Nate is originally from upstate New York, but has lived in Boston, Mexico, and even Staten Island! Update: Nate is now in Massachusetts so you won't see him around the warehouse anymore!
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Matt Grayson
Matt is the fix-it guru of Build It Green! NYC. If we have any mechanical problems in the warehouse, we know who to call. Matt works on a seasonal basis for BIG!NYC, in between leading South American work trips for Habitat For Humanity and Global village. He is also involved in industrial archeology, and loves finding and studying unique pieces of industrial history.
Lucy
Lucy is Justin's feisty Jack Russell. She works hard to keep mice and small children in line at Build It Green! NYC, and can often be seen in her native habitat, the paint room, chasing anything that moves. Her favorite pastimes are eating, sleeping, and tearing apart stuffed animals.

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