Hollywood, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2009)—The Association for Retail Environments’ Jo Rossman has become a LEED Accredited Professional. As manager of sustainability & designer programs, Rossman has driven initiatives to help members and retailers create healthy, productive, eco-concious store environments profitably. An international award-winning journalist and former educator, Rossman has been with A.R.E. since 2003. In her current role, she has developed member networking venues, a sustainability news digest, and online resources and reports and is co-developing a webinar series, among other programs. This new professional credential demonstrates her commitment to ensuring that A.R.E.’s sustainable initiatives not only meet the needs of members and retailers, but are consistent with commonly accepted standards in the marketplace.

Her achievement complements the design and manufacturing expertise of Lisa Russell, LEED AP. A practicing designer for 14 years, Russell is spearheading the association’s comprehensive technical initiative, Sustainable Retail Environments: Product Guidelines and Operational Best Practices, due for release at GlobalShop 2009. In addition to webinar co-development, Russell is guiding the greening of the association’s operational practices.

A.R.E.’s leadership in sustainable retail environments is supported by the professional credentials of these critical staff members. Learn about the association’s sustainable initiatives at www.sustainable-retail.com.

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About LEED AP
LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process. LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED Rating System. More than 77,000 people have earned the credential since the Professional Accreditation program was launched in 2001.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED provides building owners and operators with the tools they need to have an immediate and measureable impact on their buildings’ performance.

About A.R.E.
Members of the Association for Retail Environments, formerly NASFM, are retail environments professionals and proven industry leaders—companies that are well known for excellent craftsmanship, topflight service, and cutting–edge innovation. Member companies offer a full range of products and services for retail environments, and include store fixture suppliers, retail design firms, suppliers of visual merchandising products, and suppliers of materials and equipment for the retail environments industry. Member capabilities include importing, exporting, consolidating, installing, project management, engineering, design, and more.