PROFILES

the greater community. Sugar Hollow Solar is working on their B corp certification which they feel is another way to solidify their commitment to being a force for good. Franko grew up in a solar-powered, off-grid home in rural Southern Appalachia. She says, “Over time I realized how incredible it was that I valued & understood the energy we used. It's been most of my life's work to be an educator on the problems with resource extraction and I'm thrilled to be in a career where we offer tangible solutions to reducing our own carbon footprints.”

Don Nicholson

Don Nicholson is founder and chief technology officer at Nicholson and SUN, LLC. He is also a research professor in the physics and astronomy department at University of North Carolina Asheville. He holds a Ph.D in theoretical physics as well as a North Carolina contractor’s license. Nicholson is excited to be working with the dedicated people at Nicholson and SUN to complete a net zero neighborhood in Asheville. He is also part of a team working to eliminate the carbon footprint of the Sherrill Center at UNCA and the South Campus at Warren Wilson College. These projects will advance the art and science of net zero building and will share information about climate change. Nicholson says,“ Net Zero residential building is one way that I can contribute to the effort to leave a livable earth for future generations.”

Jody Guokas

For 18 years, Jody Goukas has been a home builder and developer. He’s the founder of JAG Construction, a premier contracting firm that focuses on sustainable residential building. Guokas holds a bachelor of arts degree in environmental science from Warren Wilson College. Guokas is excited to be working on the Craggy Park development, which features 45 greenbuilt certified homes in the heart of West Asheville. Craggy Park was an award recipient at the 2019 Environmental Excellence Awards in Asheville. Guokas says, “I feel it’s our responsibility to live in a way that will allow future generations to thrive on this planet. I also find beauty and magic in natural places that have been minimally touched by humans. I believe there is value in preserving these places and environments just for the sake of it.”

Chrissy Burton

Chrissy Burton has been a licensed architect for 12 years and has been at her current firm, Fisher Architects, for over four years. Burton describes our environment as “an amazing machine” and says we’re discovering new wonders every day. She wants her work to harmonize with the natural world in an effort to preserve these wonders for future generations. Burton is currently working on an addition and renovation to her home. She says, “I love renovation, preservation, and adaptive reuse. Continuing the life of an existing structure is the most sustainable form of practice in my opinion. When I am working on a renovation, studying and adapting the original design, I feel connected to the long history of the human built world.”

Kat Mcreynolds

Kat McReynolds has been a general contractor for three years. Her educational background was originally in business administration before she obtained her general contractor’s license. McReynolds is the owner of Green Room Builders, which specializes in new construction of compact, green built projects, including small multi-family rental homes. She and her team select materials and finishes for durability, sustainability, low maintenance and a minimalist aesthetic.

McReynolds’s first duplex build as a general contractor was also her first certification experience with the Green Built Homes program. She says, “Sustainable building is about meeting our housing needs while putting the least amount of stress on Mother Nature — the best artist, therapist and ancestor we've all got!”