dc greenworks staff
Peter Ensign, LEED AP BD+C, GRP – Executive Director
Peter has an extensive background in residential design and construction, as well as sales and marketing. Peter has 15 years experience working with some of the DC Metro Area’s most prominent design/build firms, where he developed award-winning projects. An active member in the business community, Peter served as a founding member of the Board of Directors of Bethesda Green. He also served on the Board of Directors of The Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce with a term on the Executive Committee as Vice President of Community Development. Peter holds a degree in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied under renowned architect, Louis Kahn and landscape architect, Ian McHarg. He has training in multiculturalism and diversity through Visions, Inc., and facilitation through the RBF Network. Peter lives in Silver Spring with his wife, Cheryl, and daughter, Olivia, where he enjoys gardening, movies and reading bedtime stories.
Andrew Benenati, GRP – Project Manager
Andrew has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park where he studied Landscape Architecture, focusing on urban design and development. Andrew is an accredited Green Roof Professional (GRP) specializing in green roof design and coordination. Prior to joining dc greenworks, Andrew worked as landscape designer for a residential design-build company. Andrew’s journey with dc greenworks began in 2010 as a part-time consultant, managing a project through the Mayor’s Green Summer Job Corps. Coming on full-time as a Project Manager in 2011, Andrew designs, coordinates, and oversees installations of all dc greenworks‘ green roof and low impact development projects. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys traveling abroad, vacationing on the beach and spending time with his family and friends. He plays in organized kickball and soccer leagues year round, and is a diehard Maryland Terrapin and Dallas Cowboys fan, who enjoys the thrill of attending as many of his teams sporting events as possible.
Abe Weiner – Project Manager
Abe holds a B.A. in Anthropology with an emphasis on environmental studies from Eastern University. He has worked for several environmental organizations, including Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies and Creation Care Study Program. Abe’s strong interest in local agriculture, urban sustainability, and community development, brought him to dc greenworks. As a Project Manager, Abe is responsible for the rain barrel and urban agriculture programs. He has worked in Colorado and Washington states and abroad in New Zealand and Samoa. He loves his famliy and friends, his guitar, his newly planted garden… and his dog, Yogi.
Azalee White, Office Administrator
Azalee joined the staff of dc greenworks in August, 2011. For the prior 10 years, Azalee was Finance and Administration Specialist at endpoverty.org coordinating efforts with NGOs in a number of developing countries. With this background, Azalee has brought expertise and a refreshing touch to our operations. Azalee’s experience includes management of financial operations for several companies as a General Manager and VP of Operations and Administration, as well as training in property and casualty insurance. Azalee has served on the Board of Directors of construction and medical organizations. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband George, and loves to vacation with her family.
Erik Vollmerhausen, GRP – Project Manager
Erik has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Maryland, College Park. Erik has worked in the landscaping and construction industry for 10 years, and has an extensive background in farming and agriculture. Erik joined dc greenworks in March 2011to help install and manage dc greenworks’ largest green roof project at American University. Since then, he has assisted with the installation of several green roofs and rain gardens, installed over 75 rain barrels in DC, and been an integral part of the dc greenworks green roof maintenance program. Erik is now a Project Manager at dc greenworks, managing several school and multi-family greening projects through grants from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the District Department of the Environment implementing low impact development strategies that reduce stormwater runoff. In 2012, Erik will begin a master’s program through North Carolina State University in biological and agricultural engineering. In his spare time, Erik enjoys playing sports and spending his time outdoors.
Alex Shtogren – Communications Manager
Alex has broad marketing and communications experience in infrastructure, energy, and sustainability. He has worked for a decade at both the local and an international levels after earning a joint MA/MBA from American University in 2002. When he is not managing the online communication for dc greenworks, he represents the organization in the Water Working group of the mayor’s Sustainable DC initiative. In his free time, he actively seeks out urban green spaces along the East Coast, from New York City’s High Line to the Lewis Botanical Garden in Richmond, VA, and enjoys jogging Washington’s Potomac and Anacostia waterfront trails.
Dan Triman, LEED AP, CSBA, EIT – Green Factotum
Dan has installed and maintained green roofs for dc greenworks since 2008. He is instrumental in our outreach to DC area schools for environmental education programs and projects. Dan has completed the coursework for Green Roof Professional through Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. Dan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park. He is a LEED AP and a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor. Dan provides consulting and contract work for several companies and organizations in the DC Metro Area, including solar panel installations, natural building construction, LEED and green building consulting, and sustainable business consulting. Dan has written Green Jobs resource guides for both Portland, OR and more recently for the DC market, called the DC Metro Area Green Career & Jobs Guide. In his free time Dan volunteers, plays soccer, bikes around DC, and loves visiting National Parks to hike and camp