Reich of E&Z: Embraces the importance of sustainable design

Name: Zoe Reich Title: Director of Sustainability Company Name: Edwards & Zuck Year Founded: 1929 Follow my company on Twitter @edwardszuck What year did you start your career in commercial real estate: 2010 Real Estate Organizations: CREW New York, UrbanGreen, USGBC, Professional Women in Construction, EarthShare New York What recent project or transaction are you most proud of? It's impossible to pin point just one thing I'm most proud of, because every day is filled with successes. If I had to pinpoint one thing, it's not a single project, but the state of the Sustainability Department at Edwards & Zuck as a whole. I joined E&Z in 2012 and was tasked with creating their sustainability department from the ground up. In the past 3 years, the Sustainability Department has not just survived, but it's thrived! We are now a major revenue stream for the company, have expanded our staff, and we have a diverse and innovative project portfolio. The entire staff at E&Z really embraces the importance of sustainable design and integrates it into our projects. As the sustainability field continues to evolve I look forward to seeing what new challenges are in our future to be proud of as well! Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career and why? First and foremost, my passion for the environment has been the strongest influence. I've been interested in the sustainability field since as long as I could remember which makes working in it truly rewarding and fun. Entering a field where I can combine my intellectual curiosity with having a positive impact really inspired me to push forward in my career. What is the first thing you do when you arrive in the office in the morning? I fill up my large water bottle with some warm water and squeeze some fresh lemon into it. It gets my brain ready to tackle the day! What time management strategies do you find to be the most effective for you? I make a list and prioritize each day. As new tasks / challenges pop up throughout the day or week, I'll do a quick reprioritization to make sure I am spending my time effectively. What is the best advice you have received and who was it from? Every successful person has failures. And every failure can be fixed. Put yourself out there, and if you fail, it'll get fixed, and you will be more successful for doing so. Matthew Donolli, our managing partner (and mentor!) told me this in the early months of my career at E&Z. List 3 women that you would like to have drinks / dinner with and where would you go? Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Rachel Carson, Frida Kahlo- A wine fueled picnic in Prospect Park What is your favorite quote? "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"- Bob Dylan What did you want to be when you grew up? A veterinarian, dentist, and environmentalist!