Matt Genaze
Username
Matt Genaze
Proposer First Name
Matt
Proposer Email
matthewg@zeroenergy.com
Proposer Last Name
Genaze

Boston 2021 Areas of Focus

Proposer Company/Organization
ZeroEnergy Design
Proposer Job Title
Architect
Proposed Session Description
This is an idea for a session with 3 to 4 presenters that started in the high performance construction or architecture professions as a significant career change. Either regular architects and contractors that had an epiphany and jumped head first into high performance and achieved some significant success. Or preferably chefs that became architects, or a home DIYer that became a home builder, etc.. Why did they make the jump? What did these people learn? What were their biggest struggles? How did they overcome those struggles? What are the upcoming struggles they are predicting? What are the upcoming opportunities they are preparing for?
Diversity and Inclusiveness
I would think that "career change professionals" come from more diverse backgrounds than typical architects and contractors that went through the normal process and are thereby more likely to be white males. I would hope that the presenters that are ultimately found would be a diverse crowd and help convey to the audience, specifically the younger attendees, that architecture and construction careers are potential for anyone regardless of age, skin color, and or gender.
Learning Objectives
Attendees would leave with an awareness that the high performance architecture and construction industries are open to anyone and everyone regardless of their age, gender, or race.
Attendees would be presented with resources and skills for entering the high performance architecture and construction industries as part of a career change.
Attendees will leave with unique insights and anecdotes not available through traditional industry sources for how to overcome obstacles when entering the high performance architecture and construction industries. They will also be provided with unique insights about anticipated upcoming struggles opportunities in the industry.
Attendees will be left with inspiring stories to reflect up on as they continue to chart their professional career in high performance architecture and construction.
Has this session been presented before?
No
Additional Comments
This session proposal is an idea. I know these "career change professionals" are out there, but I don't personally know any of them myself. NESEA would need to rely on their network and outreach to pull together the 3 or 4 presenters.
Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 1 - No prior knowledge needed.
Session Format Details
Each presenter speaks for 10-15 minutes followed by a moderated Q&A session from the audience for 20 minutes. The 20 minute Q&A is a very important part of this session to allow the audience to dig deeper into the issues most important to them.
Recommended Length
90-minute session

Strongest Content Connection - Boston 2021

Comments about your speaker roster
I know these "career change professionals" are out there, but I don't personally know any of them myself. NESEA would need to rely on their network and outreach to pull together the 3 or 4 presenters.
Reviewer 1
Washington, Maria
Proposal #
111
Committee Decision
Rejected
Full Description
This session is important because it will encourage young professionals that whatever obstacles they are currently observing in the profession or their personal lives are not insurmountable. It will encourage "developed" professionals that have not yet drank the high performance kool-aid that old dogs really can learn new tricks. Possibly most importantly, it will provide some basic inspiration during a troubled time.