Founder and Executive Director, Rebuilding Exchange and Managing Director, Delta Institute
Elise Zelechowski leads social venture strategy for the Delta Institute, and also serves in a dual role as Executive Director of affiliate organization, Rebuilding Exchange. She provides expertise and technical assistance to a range of Delta’s programs including economic and workforce development, green building and LEED, sustainability planning, policy development and analysis, waste management and recovery, and sustainable building deconstruction.
During her tenure at Delta, Elise has spearheaded a number of high-profile green building projects including the LEED Certification of the 4.2 million square foot Merchandise Mart Properties, the largest commercial building in the world. She has facilitated multi-stakeholder policy dialogues for the Environmental Protection Agency on market barriers to green development, sustainability planning and building deconstruction. She has written numerous technical and policy guides for clients such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Chicago Community Loan Fund, has consulted on sustainability to the Chicago 2016 Olympic Committee, Hostelling International, and Cook County, and launched the region’s first social venture dedicated to building a market for reclaimed building materials Rebuilding Exchange.
Elise is a TEDx speaker, was awarded the 2012 Green Entrepreneur of the Year award by Chicago Magazine, is a Chicago Community Trust fellow, sits on the Illinois Task Force on Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship and is a Board Member of the Building Materials Reuse Association.