Inside Greenbuild LA: A Conversation with Conference Manager Eddie Yancey

As we look ahead to Greenbuild 2025 in Los Angeles, we wanted to get an insider's perspective on what attendees can expect from this premier event for sustainable building professionals. We recently sat down with Eddie Yancey, III, Conference Manager at Greenbuild, to learn more about the upcoming conference and its impact. From innovative new programming to networking opportunities and community initiatives, Eddie shares his enthusiasm and insights about what makes this year's event special.

What makes Greenbuild 2025 in Los Angeles unique compared to previous years?

The fact that we haven't had a Greenbuild event on the West Coast since 2022 in San Francisco has me very excited that we will be bringing fresh industry content to green building professionals out on that side of the country! With the unfortunate circumstances surrounding that region of the country from the devastating wildfires that shook that area earlier this year, I really hope that we can do our part in leaving a positive, lasting impact on the community.

What are the key themes or focus areas for this year's event?

This year, we will have an entire track of sessions throughout the entirety of the conference days that will be dedicated to topics and themes pertaining to the California region. It seems fitting that one of the main topic areas for sessions that will be presented at Greenbuild 2025 is Resilience. Other key themes will include a focus on: Building Performance & Monitoring, Community-Scale Solutions, Energy Efficiency, Renewables, Grid Integration, Material Innovation, Circular Economy, and Zero Waste, just to name a few.

What new or innovative sessions, workshops, or activities can attendees look forward to this year?

As we continually keep the interests of our attendees as our highest priority, we are constantly brainstorming ways to make our conference as relevant, engaging, and thought-provoking as we possibly can. New for this year is our Sustainable Finance & Investing Forum. This exclusive event is geared towards thought leaders, investors, and owners as discussions about evolving challenges and opportunities in commercial real estate will drive conversations. Attendance is by application only, so be sure to get yours in as seats are limited!

Our Innovation Stage in the expo hall is typically a favorite among attendees, and this year should not be any different as we have some sponsoring companies that are fresh faces that will be providing intriguing content. Since we pride ourselves on producing a conference that is "For the industry, by the industry," I'm thoroughly looking forward to our all-new summits in 2025 that are being curated by our hand-picked Summit Working Group committee members.

Past attendees know of how hot a ticket our workshops are. With the demand for attendance for them being extremely high, I'm thrilled about the seven all-new workshops that will be taking place onsite at Greenbuild 2025! LEED v5 is a popular topic right now, so don't miss out on those workshops!

What opportunities will attendees have to network and connect with industry leaders?

The special events that Greenbuild are known for are back, and I could not be more enthused about that! Our Gala, hosted at LEVEL 8 in Downtown Los Angeles, will have the ultimate L.A. experience with sweeping views of the city. The Sustainability Hub Activations will showcase the fantastic initiatives that local organizations are doing in the city. Local tours will range from studio & entertainment campuses to luxurious sustainable landmarks and leading research institutions, among others.

Our staple Women In Green Luncheon will continue to showcase industry-leading speakers. Other opportunities that will be available for attendees to connect with other industry professionals include our roundtables, speed networking, and one-on-one meetings.

How can attendees customize their experience with add-ons like tours, evening events, or specialized sessions?

Running around onsite between conference sessions and the expo hall can sometimes cause attendees to have tunnel vision. That's why we strategically incorporate our tours & evening events in such a way to provide an intimate, personal, and easygoing environment for attendees to let their hair down some and have engaging and authentic conversations with fellow industry pros.

Our Greenbuild App is also a great way for attendees to connect with one another. Be sure to purchase these add-on events in our easy-to-navigate registration platform while purchasing your Greenbuild 2025 pass here.

How do you envision attendees leaving the event inspired and equipped to make a difference?

We are currently in very unique times here in America. I feel that attendees will embark on a special journey at Greenbuild 2025 unlike any that we have previously produced. When you add in the devastation that the California region has recently faced along with everything that's taking place on an overall landscape in the USA, I truly feel like the environment at GB25 will be one filled with the utmost energy, enthusiasm, excitement, and jubilation. I am hopeful that attendees will leave the show feeling galvanized and ready to incorporate key strategies learned from the conference into their respective locales.

Why is now the perfect time to register for Greenbuild 2025?

Besides the fact that our registration prices for Greenbuild 2025 increase on August 29th, now is a good time to register for the conference because attendees get to share in the enthusiasm of upcoming exciting announcements surrounding lively onsite initiatives.

What's one thing you're most excited about for this year's event that you think everyone should know?

One thing that I'm really thrilled about is the Greenbuild 2025 Legacy Project. As the Los Angeles community continues their wildfire recovery efforts, I'm really looking forward to seeing how this year's Legacy Project will leave lasting impacts on this community with all that it's recently endured. Those attendees that are interested in learning more about the project can visit here.