Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/901018
The positive culture Aaron has cultivated resonates throughout his company, the Master Builders Association, and our region. that neighbors of Green Canopy new development sites can vote on the colors they use in their exterior schemes. It's something they call a "commitment to community sustainability" and it's not done for publicity; they actually care about their community. How novel, right? "Aaron is an inspirational force in the Puget Sound- area residential home building industry. He and his team continue to push the limits at the intersection of sustainability and business in new and exciting ways. I commend Aaron and Green Canopy for all they do for our association, our communities, and our region." —Aaron Adelstein, Director of Programs & Products, Master Builders Association Who is this madman romping around town, practicing civic responsibility and sustainability? Aaron is probably known most for his green hat, but a close second would be his pioneering advocacy and action in the green building realm. The techniques and tools he and his crews employ on every project stride the line of innovation. I don't have this on record, but I think he reads Built Green checklists to his kids before bed. He names his homes—typically after iconic female figures of the region. He builds affordable homes along with the megaliths that get all the attention; both instances are just as pretty and impressive, technologically speaking. "Aaron's drive to transform the market is indicative of not just his desire to align business, community, and sustainability, but of the work and thought that he puts into this effort. He is truly a leader in this regard, constantly innovating and aligning actions with his words. Aaron is a collaborator, mentor, and leader all at the same time." —Leah Missik, Built Green Program Manager AARON IS THE TYPE OF PERSON YOU GET ANGRY AT FOR BEING SO PERFECT. Talented, caring, humble. A few more coveted adjectives. How can we be more like Aaron? His influence, and green building practices, are not-so-slowly and absolutely saturating the industry. It helps that Aaron serves on the Association's board of directors. As I type this sentence, Aaron and Green Canopy are at the Built Green Conference, spreading their gospel of good across the green-building landscape— hopefully beyond. AARON IS THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO DIGS INTO A GARBAGE CAN TO SEPARATE RECYCLABLES FROM TRASH. The positive culture Aaron has cultivated resonates throughout his company, MBAKS, and our region. Choosing to build green not because it's the niche thing to do, but because it's the right thing to do, warrants kudos. More than a simple article can provide. But if even one more person can read about Aaron's worth to our industry and association, acknowledge his spirit and success, and see the good he and his company do for our region, then it's a good start. "Aaron can seem enigmatic to some because he's difficult to pin down. He is a disciplined business mind— as fierce and pragmatic as you would expect from a third-generation banker and Foster School MBA grad. Yet his unwavering passion for social and environmental justice seems counterintuitive … like the trucker cap on his head and Wendell Berry poetry on his lips. One way to understand my friend and CEO is that he is true to his heart and that's what drives him. He has a vision to make the world a better place and the grit to execute a business plan to make that vision a reality." —Sam Lai, Co-Founder and Chief Acquisitions Officer, Green Canopy AARON IS THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO IS ACTIVELY CHANGING HOME BUILDING FOR THE BETTER. The next time you see Aaron and his hat, say hello and know that underneath that green brim lies the future of home building. You don't have to tell him that; he already knows. He just won't admit it. 35 WINTER 2017 master builder