Sustainability in Entertainment

Melanie Peck
Director of Workforce Development, USGBC California

Melanie Peck is the Director of Workforce Development for USGBC California, where she spearheads the organization's mission to build robust workforce pipelines and on-ramp workers into high-road Green Jobs, with a focus on equity and career access. Melanie brings over twenty years of deep experience in workforce strategy and culture, including her pivotal role as the Director of People and Culture at Seattle City Light. In that capacity, she successfully championed talent acquisition, workforce development, and apprenticeship programs, while also leading critical enterprise equity and social justice initiatives to ensure fair access and inclusion across the workforce. Prior to this, Melanie spent more than 10 years at The Energy Coalition as Director of Workforce, Education, and Training, where she led statewide environmental education and STEM curriculum development, preparing thousands of K-postsecondary students for energy-sector careers. Guided by a philosophy that prioritizes people and serves others, Melanie leverages her comprehensive background—which spans government, utilities, and non-profit grants administration—to ensure USGBC-CA's programs, like the Green Building Corps, provide the certified skills necessary to future-proof California’s workforce and accelerate state decarbonization goals through inclusive opportunity.

Elizabeth Christy
Education Programs Manager, USGBC California

Elizabeth Christy is a key figure in education and workforce development at USGBC-CA, channeling her unique expertise in regenerative landscape design and environmental justice to accelerate urban sustainability efforts. After graduating from Temple University with a degree in Environmental Studies, Liz cultivated an extensive background in hands-on ecology, managing native plant restoration projects at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and overseeing specialized gardens, orchards, and sanctuaries at Longwood Gardens. Her career shifted to urban-focused community impact after moving to California, where she served as the Program Manager for Eco Urban Gardens, developing and implementing impactful Farm-to-Table and Farm-to-School programs. Liz now applies this deep understanding of community health and environmental ecology to her role as lead for curriculum development and the Green Schools program at USGBC-CA, supporting programs that ensure California’s green buildings integrate seamlessly with resilient, healthy local environments. She continues to volunteer for the LA County Arboretum and the California Native Plant Society, reflecting her lifelong commitment to conservation and sustainable urban design.