About The ReUse People of America

Prior to founding TRP in 1995, Ted was managing partner with an investment banking firm that provided financial services to young technology companies. Now, in addition to guiding TRP's national expansion program, he consults with private companies and government bodies on a variety of demolition and waste diversion projects. A graduate of Ohio State University and a licensed demolition contractor, Ted served three terms as board president of I Love a Clean San Diego and is an advisor to Urban Habitat Chicago.

Bay Area native Sal Vaccaro is a graduate of Santa Clara University and played professional baseball for three years before embarking on a business career. He is currently president of Synergy Environmental, Inc., the most experienced asbestos, lead and mold abatement contractor in Northern California. A TRP board member for over five years, Sal is a member of WESTCON Professional Organization, NARI, National Lead Council, and Environmental Information Association.

Shay is an engineer and construction professional with 20 years experience in government contracting. As president of DTC Engineers and Constructors, he has led the design and construction of government projects in 26 states, Puerto Rico, Central America, Asia, and the Middle East for the U.S. departments of defense and homeland security. He holds degrees in engineering and business administration from Vanderbilt University and sits on the boards of several nonprofits. He has authored publications on government contracting, sustainable design and construction, and youth mentoring.

Educated as an architect, with extensive post graduate training in sustainable building, Wally is president of Greymar Associates, a full service architectural and real estate development company that specializes in sustainable building. With over 30 years of industry experience in U.S. and international projects, he serves as director and COO of the Central Coast Chapter of the USGBC, has held local and regional positions with the National Association of Home Builders, the Urban Land Institute, and the Building Systems Council, and is the first U.S. citizen to be accepted to the Japanese 2X4 Home Builders Association.

Greg has worked in deconstruction and adaptive reuse solutions in Chicago and surrounding areas since 2008. Prior to that, he interned on Capitol Hill, with the UK Parliament and with the U.S. Embassy in Nepal. A graduate of Colby College in Maine, where he became committed to pursuing a career in innovative environmental conservation, development, and stewardship, Greg received graduate degrees in Regional Planning and Social Anthropology from Cornell University and the London School of Economics. Greg serves on the U.S. advisory board of Operation ASHA.

Carl founded Wholesale Lumber Associates in 1990 to distribute affordable new and used building materials to lumber yards in low-to-moderate income areas of Baja California. As a former contractor, realtor, housing rehabber, construction lender, L.A. Community Design Center and San Diego/Tijuana Habitat for Humanity board member, Carl knows the value that TRP materials contribute to affordable construction and micro-enterprise in Baja California. Carl earned his undergraduate degree at USC and an MBA at UCLA Anderson School.

David has enjoyed an entrepreneurial career spanning 40 years. He successfully launched three hi-tech manufacturing companies and, in addition to sitting on the board of The ReUse People, has been an officer and director at the San Diego World Trade Association, Computer Electronics Marketing Association and a founding member of the MIT Enterprise Forum, San Diego Chapter. He is the owner and president of The Crellen Company, an Internet development firm.

Jeff had his first experiences with architecture as a child and spent many years behind the hammer during adolescence, gaining knowledge of real world field conditions. He is the owner and lead architect of Jeannette Architects, Inc, located in Long Beach California and specializing in custom residential homes that preserve the delicate balance between the built structure and its impact on the environment. Jeff received his architectural degree from the University of Arizona.

Charles has been in the construction business since 1972 and owns Dura Construction Company, which specializes in site-improvement construction—everything from simple home improvement projects to sophisticated underground work. The company also sells pavers, bricks, mulch, sand, gravel and other hardscape supplies. Charles is board president of ReCONNstruction Center, a nonprofit used building-material outlet in New Britain. He holds an associates degree in civil engineering from Hartford State Technical College and numerous professional licenses. On a personal note, a major portion of his own home is built from used building materials.

Jeff worked in construction for 20 years, most of that time as a project supervisor. He holds a degree in Residential Building Technology with a green-technology emphasis and is a member of the teaching pool and advisory board for the green-building program at College of the Canyons in Valencia. Jeff, who helped to build Arizona’s award-winning, first net-zero energy house for Habitat for Humanity brings to his position a passion for educating the public about home energy efficiency using earth-friendly reused and recycled products.

A Bay Area native, John was a longtime TRP customer and the first-place winner of the 2009 ReUse Contest before joining the TRP team in 2010. Prior to that he was active in the construction industry, working primarily on renovation and restoration projects and always incorporating as much salvaged material as possible. John also brings with him a solid professional sales background. In addition to working for smaller public and private high tech companies, John spent five years at Oracle Corporation as a sales manager for Northern California and the telecommunications sector.

Kristin is a Sacramento Area native with deep roots in both the farming and development communities, most often opposing forces in the Central Valley region of California. She has remained in Real Estate related fields throughout her career, in both Wyoming and California – initially in Real Estate Sales and later in Real Estate Financing. Her first and most enduring interest has been in historical, older structures with unique and/or superior structural and architectural integrity. Into which, deconstruction dovetails nicely, as another option for preservation over demolition.

A certified Master Builder, Mike founded his award-winning company, Stonewood Homes, over 20 years ago. A second company, Rock Forest, specializes in solar vent fans and land acquisition and development. Mike’s lifelong interest in materials salvage and reuse can be seen in the reclaimed stained glass, fireplace mantles, lighting fixtures, pine flooring, and wainscot incorporated in his homes, and in his volunteer work with a local church camp — all of which prepared him for what he considers the “perfect job” with TRP.
 

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Rick helped his father deconstruct a tobacco warehouse and reinstall the materials in his retail stores while still in college. As a supply officer, he later managed numerous large warehouse operations for the Marine Corps. He was in auto sales and management for 12 years and has been doing residential home loans, and renovation and construction loans, for the past eight years. Rick’s plans include working with his father to deconstruct homes and old commercial buildings in Durham and the surrounding area, and starting a reuse warehouse with the 40-year accumulation of materials his father has removed and saved from buildings over the years.

Arthur, a Certified Green Building Professional, joined TRP in 2005 and is the Los Angeles Regional Manager, serving Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties and parts of the California Central Coast. Prior to working with TRP, Arthur was director of a national fundraising center representing environmental and political organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Greenpeace. Arthur’s background is in marketing and advertising, including years spent with several major international ad agencies.

Prior to joining TRP in 2005, Cheryl was assistant manager for a custom cabinet manufacturing facility in San Diego. Before that, she was a bank operations manager for 16 years on Orcas Island in Washington, and worked in the fishing industry for 12 years. Cheryl's knowledge of construction along with her business acumen has reestablished the TRP reputation in San Diego as the organization of choice for deconstruction and building-materials salvage.

Before joining TRP in 2007, Ken had accumulated over 25 years experience in real estate management and development. With very few exceptions, all of his developments were renovations and restorations in Chicago and Chicago's North Shore area. From single family houses to commercial properties, Ken renovated, restored and created adaptive reuse solutions to old structures. Hence, the move to TRP was a natural progression. He holds a BA from Southern Illinois University and an MBA from Northwestern University.