It's the little things that can make the biggest difference. I was visibly nervous and just about to walk on stage for a master panel session at Greenbuild, and Kate told me, "Relax, you'll be great." And that's how it was with Kate, the leader of the largest green building conference in the world, with all the pressure of making sure every little detail is covered, and she was always ready with a disarming smile and ineffable kindness for all she met.
Her confidence, her poise made us stronger. Her grace made us all better.
And her impact on the green building movement can't be understated. She led the rise and tremendous growth of Greenbuild, an absolutely cathartic annual gathering that shined a light on the entire green building community. She may have eschewed the spotlight, but she ensured we all had a welcoming and inclusive place to come together to share, learn, and celebrate. She helped design and shape these events, which grew bigger and better, always higher and higher on the inspiration quotient. It was her enduring and invaluable mark on a movement that's changed the world. And it's no surprise that she then brought similar events to four other continents. While at USGBC she also helped launch the first ever Green Jobs Summit, the first ever Green Schools Summit at Sundance, and the first ever Resilient Cities Summit in Aspen. Kate did her thing and made sure all were unique and groundbreaking and hugely successful. In all she did, she was a force for a better world, shining so bright and bringing an unwavering passion to helping others.