THE PANEL

NATHAN KIPNIS

Nathan Kipnis, AIA, LEED AP is the principal of Nathan Kipnis Architects, Inc., which is recognized as one of Chicago's premier green and sustainable architectural practices. 

Mr. Kipnis received his Master of Architecture with an emphasis in Energy Conscious Design from Arizona State University in 1985.    His undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado at Boulder. 

Mr. Kipnis has received several awards and distinctions including having his design built for the ‘Green Homes for Chicago' international design competition, and serving on the City of Chicago's ‘Green Team' for the ‘Green Bungalow Initiative'.  He also received the 2007 Environmental Stewardship Award from the City of Evanston.  Mr. Kipnis is currently a co-chair for the Renewable Energy Committee for the City of Evanston's Climate Action Plan.   His work has been widely published locally and nationally, and has spoken at numerous architectural conferences and events, including the Chicago AIA, Archeworks, GreenBuild, The Midwest Renewable Energy Association, the Chicago Center for Green Technology, and Northwestern University's ‘Green City Summer Institute'.

MICHELE FITZPATRICK

VERDE DESIGN STUDIO, LTD.

Michele Fitzpatrick is the founder and president of Verde Design Studio located in Chicago, IL.  A designer since 1984, Michele began to design furniture for her clients 10 years ago.  In 2005, she opened Verde Design Studio featuring a collection of fine, hand built furnishings with an eco conscience. Michele has quietly built a reputation for being the designers source for sustainable,  nontoxic, custom furniture.

MICHELLE QUARANTA 

COLORI CHICAGO

As a child Quaranta, a Chicago native, joined her father on 5 a.m. excursions to the family's road construction sites, and soon found herself clocking in. After starting her own construction business in 1999, Michelle realized that as much as she loved building from the ground up, her passion for bringing color into these spaces was undeniable, and she soon found herself living a modern day Cinderella story filled with luxury paints, creativity and a chic Bucktown address.

Colori, Chicago's hippest color and eco-paint boutique, is greener than ever before. Located in the heart of Wickerpark along North Avenue, owner Michelle Quaranta has steadily added to her assortment of green offerings. Her exclusive products are flying off the shelves with the launch of LoVo, a new low-VOC paint from C2 Paint in addition to her recent Yolo Colorhouse and Elements by California Paints. 

 
MIKE BALESTERI

BALESTERI CONSTRUCTION

Mike Balesteri is a dynamic young builder from Western Springs, Illinois, specializing in high quality remodeling and new  residential and commercial construction throughout the Chicago Area.

Mike strives to implement eco-friendly materials and environmentally friendly design into his construction that make a difference in the lives of our children.

TERESA FISTER

BLUE PEARL STONE TECHNOLOGIES

Teresa is the founder and owner of Blue Pearl Stone Technologies, LaGrange, IL, a natural stone, recycled and eco-friendly material manufacturer of countertops and building products since 1985.

Teresa graduated from Denver University, completed a Masters in Rome Italy, and Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Chicago in 2003. She has been a vegetarian since 1978.