Ron Holmes was a pre-med major when he realized he didn’t like being around sick people. He chose a different path that would exercise his natural aptitude and indulge his love of the outdoors, becoming a member of the first class to graduate with an Environmental Science degree from Youngstown (Ohio) State.

The day after graduation, he went to work for General Electric, launching a career of more than 25 years in a broad range of industries and roles.

“I have a bachelor's and master's in Environmental Science, and the majority of my career has been environmental science – health, safety, quality, facilities, infrastructure,” he said. “But I like to tell people I've made locomotives, light bulbs, jet engines and alcohol. Heavy manufacturing, bottling, distillation, processing – that has been my background.”

Holmes recently assumed a new role as Haskell’s Vice President of Sustainability. The newly created position marks another significant step in Haskell’s commitment to environmental stewardship and its goal to lead the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry in sustainable practices.

A Three-Pronged Approach to Sustainability

Frank Mangin, Haskell's Operations President for Design & Consulting, outlined the company's comprehensive approach to sustainability, which Holmes will spearhead:

• Client Support: Assisting clients in their sustainability efforts, particularly in facility operations.
• Embodied Carbon: Addressing the carbon footprint involved in construction, including materials, labor, and equipment.
• Internal Sustainability: Improving Haskell's own sustainability footprint in areas such as carbon emissions, water usage, forest preservation, and biodiversity.
   

“Ron will be looking across all three of these areas to help us improve how we operate on our job sites as we address embodied carbon, how we manage the carbon footprint of our own facilities, and our design and construction of buildings that will operate sustainably into the future,” Mangin said.

Global Perspective for Global Clients

Holmes' experience with global organizations, particularly his sustainability roles with Diageo, a significant Haskell client, will be invaluable.

“Ron’s previous roles with global organizations like GE and Diageo will be invaluable to Haskell,” Mangin said. “Having been responsible for sustainability at these companies will help us serve our clients large and small. His unique perspective, along with his wealth of knowledge and experience derived from the sustainability positions he’s held throughout his career, will give us more insight into their needs.”

Clients’ sustainability goals come in all shapes and sizes. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification requirements are stringent and can be costly. Haskell works with customers to create carbon-footprint reduction plan that suits their needs.

“Helping clients reach their goals, whatever they are, is what we do,” Holmes said. “You have folks who are from the top to the bottom of the spectrum. Some are prepared to pay the money to do all they can. Then others – I was on a call today with a customer who said they want to be sustainable but didn’t give us any guard rails. In that case, whatever suggestions we give should directly tie into what they're stating on their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governmental) information. We can come up with ideas to directly relate to those. And then we give them other ideas that are a little more far-reaching. That might cost more, but if they're serious, they'll pay for it. We at least know going in that what we're going to do will help them meet their goals.”

Acting Now for the Future

One of Holmes’ key objectives is to ensure that Haskell highlights and is recognized for its existing and ongoing sustainability initiatives.

“Increasingly, there are things that our customers want to see – simple things like policy targets and KPI tracking,” he said. “We’re doing a great deal that we’re not taking credit for. At lunch today, they showed me the new logo for the EV. I'm like, ‘Go!’ We’re doing these things, and we need to be taking credit for it.”

For Holmes, sustainability transcends professional responsibility; it is a personal mission rooted in his love for the outdoors and concern for future generations. His new role offers an ideal platform for making a difference.

“We build things, and we have to make sure we're doing the right things for the environment,” he said. “In every activity we do, we need to make sure we’re protecting the environment. We're not going to save the earth. The earth is never going to go anyplace. We're going to do the right things to save the next generations. That's, that's how I look at sustainability. I'm not saving the planet; I'm saving the next generations to enjoy the planet that I've enjoyed.”

Haskell is committed to its role as a leader in environmental sustainability in the AEC industry. We view our role in furthering sustainability in three dimensions: leading by example, through service and through active support of community organizations. Contact us to learn more and to discuss your next sustainable project.