Alex Boetzel
Vice President
CPHC
As Green Hammer’s Vice President and lead Construction Manager, Alex has helped define the firm’s growth as a leader in ultra energy-efficient construction. Working for over 20 years in Europe and the US, he has managed a diversity of complex and innovative projects, including three Passivhaus projects and three LEED Platinum homes in Portland, as well as the largest private solar array installation in Austria. A German native, Alex started his career in construction as a "Zimmermann", an apprenticed and certified carpenter and timber framer. He is a Certified Passivhaus Consultant and is passionate about helping to nurture and strengthen Passivhaus technologies that advance energy-efficiency, carbon-neutrality, indoor air quality and make buildings feel as good as they look. Alex’s understanding of best-practice Passivhaus detailing, air-sealing technology and materials, and building science is practically unparalleled in the Northwest. His expertise is an invaluable asset both in the design studio and on the construction site.
Andrew Morphis
Energy Crafters Division General Manager
BPI Certified TECH
Andrew originally was hired on to Green Hammer in 2007 to take over as the lead framer. It wasn't long before his previous knowledge as a small business owner and contractor began to shine. Andrew has built the bones of many LEED-H platinum certified buildings for Green Hammer and in doing so developed his keen interest and knowledge in high performance construction. In 2008 Andrew began the formal education process that eventually allowed him to become a part of an elite group of Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified home performance technicians. He now is Green Hammer's lead technician and manages the Energy Crafters division of Green Hammer founded by Designer Jesse Schwartzberg.
Carlos Aceves
Carpenter
Daryl Rantis
Daryl Rantis is a licensed architect with more than 25 years of experience and an extensive background in traditional neighborhood design and environmentally sensitive architecture. A long-time member of the Congress for New Urbanism and a graduate and visiting professor of Kansas State University, Daryl apprenticed with nationally recognized architects Helmut Jahn, of Murphy Jahn Architects of Chicago, and with the late AIA Gold Medal winner E. Fay Jones of Arkansas. Daryl recently joined Green Hammer’s design team. Daryl and his five-person office in downtown Asheville, NC, Rantis Architects, have worked with a variety of clients, emphasizing sustainable design and smart growth concepts. He is a Certified Charrette Planner, and has associated with nationally known New Urbanist planners Duany Platter-Zyberk (DPZ) of Miami and Seth Harry and Associates of Woodbine, Maryland, on several New Urbanist design projects in Western North Carolina and other locales. A member of the WNC Green Building Council, Rantis participates in several urban design charrettes each year as a team leader or as a team consultant. His work has appeared in New Urban News, American Bungalow, Fine Homebuilding and other publications.
Dylan Lamar
CPHC
Architectural and Energy Consultant
In addition to his role as an Intern Architect, Dylan holds a deep understanding of building-science and is one of the most experienced Passivhaus designers in the country. His Passivhaus training began in 2004 when he designed the first low-income Passivhaus residence in the country in collaboration with Katrin Klingenberg (Founder and Executive Director of Passive House Institute US). Since that time he has designed and consulted on over 20 Passivhaus projects throughout the US, taught Passivhaus consultant trainings, and was responsible for the translation of the Passivhaus energy modeling software from metric into US-standard units.
He has degrees in structural engineering and architecture and worked for five years as a research assistant studying building-energy issues at the University of Oregon and the University of Illinois. In his early college years he also spent summers working in carpentry and heavy timber framing. Dylan’s approach to building design is well informed by both the technical and the poetic. His view of sustainability starts with a deep consideration of human-ecosystem interrelation and this foundation is the source of his inspiration in using his technical talents. In 2010 he authored Urbanize and Insulate: The Development of a Fossil-Fuel Exit Strategy, published by Green Hammer and presently used as a text in several area college courses.
Fernando Lopez
Carpenter
Gene Wixson
CPHC
Gene is a Green Hammer construction manager who blends technical expertise, field experience and excellent interpersonal skills. He is equally at home writing scopes of work for subcontractors, explaining an air sealing detail to a volunteer or digitally modeling a complicated 3D connection. A Certified Passive House Consultant, he has been building sustainable projects for more than a decade and wrote LEED into the Lewis & Clark College building standards when he was Student Body president there.
Gene is currently the lead consultant on the CAPACES Leadership Institute, where he sits on the design team and closely interfaces with the client and the field construction staff to ensure that this project is on track to be the first certified Passivhaus office building in the country. Gene understands that beautiful, cost effective, durable and healthy buildings are formed in the design studio and on the construction site and is excited to contribute in both spheres.
Jan Fillinger
AIA, CPHC, LEED-AP
Architectural and Energy Consultant
Jan Fillinger manages Green Hammer’s Design Team. He is a Certified Passivhaus Consultant and LEED-accredited professional with 25 years of experience in design that emphasizes environmental responsibility, beauty, efficiency, comfort, functionality, and cost-effectiveness. His projects include multi-family, religious, library, civic, mixed-use, office, and hospitality projects, as well as hundreds of residences. His work has won numerous awards and has been featured in magazine and newspaper articles.
In 2010 he completed the award-winning Orchard Street House, Eugene’s first Passivhaus building. Jan is currently the lead Passivhaus consultant to St. Vincent DePaul and Bergsund-DeLaney Architects on a new three-story subsidized multifamily housing project currently in construction document development in Eugene, and slated for completion in 2012.
Jan was raised in Switzerland, where his exposure to the innate craft, powerful architecture and enduring cultural aesthetic of centuries past instilled in him a deep appreciation of- and commitment to- quality, environmental sensitivity and aesthetic creativity. After leading a large office in Berkeley for ten years, he moved to Oregon where, as a founding partner in 2002 of Solarc Architecture and Engineering, he helped pioneer integrated team design in the Northwest with a focus on the skillful combination of building science, function, craft, and cost effectiveness. In 2006, Jan formed STUDIO-E Architecture to apply his expertise on higher-density design-build and mixed-use projects emphasizing exceptional energy-performance and real carbon reduction.
In addition to his design and consulting work, Jan teaches design and construction technology at the University of Oregon School of Architecture.
Leland Gilmore
Cabinet & Furniture Shop Manager
Born and raised in Oakland, California, Leland came to Green Hammer from a family of carpenters. He grew up working for his pop doing seismic retrofitting and framing. Now Leland is learning finish carpentry skills and is a huge help in the cabinet shop. He graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science in English Literature and a Minor in Sustainable Urban Development. He hopes to attain a master’s degree in Urban Studies with a focus on Sustainability. Leland has spent a lot of time traveling in South America and hopes to someday contribute to sustainable education and practices in rural areas and maybe even represent Green Hammer in building schools.
Leland likes to spend his free time chucking himself off bike ramps, mountaineering, rock climbing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and being outside. He’s a little shy at first, but once you get to know him he’s a big sweetheart!
Michael Spatzek
Project Manager
With a vibrant personality, big smile, and positive attitude to boot, Michael stands testament to a great truth - that the highest of high-performance homes can be built without having to check the fun at the door. Michael joined the Green Hammer team in July of 2006 and considers the crew to be his family away from family.
As a project manager, he seamlessly connects the many pieces of the building process puzzle. He has several LEED-H Platinum homes under his tool belt, including the completion of the first gut rehab project to receive LEED-H Platinum certification in Oregon, located in Metzger. Of special note in his book are the earthen floors laid in this NE home.
Though originally from Chicago, Michael's interest and experience as a framer blossomed out West. Before moving to Portland, Michael spent ten years exploring the mountains of Central Idaho, where he developed his craft and passion for all things natural. He was drawn further West to the great city of Portland in pursuit of culture and a building team that did things a little differently.
Nick Sommerhiser
Green Paint Assitant Manager
Green Hammer Cabinet Builder & Finisher
Nick is a painter extraordinaire! Since he was hired on as a painter Nick has excelled beyond expectations and has been delivering excellent skills and customer service to all of his Green Paint clients. In 2009 Nick was featured with Steve Thomas formally of 'This Old House' on the Discovery Channel's 'Renovation Nation Program'. (SEE IN THE MEDIA) He has a passion for sustainability and would one day like to attain his LEED Accredited Professional certification. Nick is a Portland native. He graduated from Portland State University with a degree in geography with an emphasis on alpine environments, sustainability and Northwest ecosystems. Growing up under the roof of a carpenter, Nick has always worked side jobs in construction and painting. He also worked at local snowboard shops during high school and college.
He’s been heli-boarding and traveled around Europe, but finds recreating in his backyard Cascades the most fulfilling recreation.
Rob Cellini
Project Manager
BPI Certified TECH
The role of a project manager takes a new form each day - new challenges to solve and new hats to wear. It is this variation that Rob loves and finds exciting. Since joining the Green Hammer team in 2008 as a project manager, Rob has managed the completion of several new homes and remodels (including this Net Zero Remodel). His professional green building experience in combination with his steady ability to see the big picture has aided him in these projects.
Rob has been swinging a hammer for most of his life. A native of New Jersey, Rob worked construction with his dad before attending Notre Dame University. After graduation he traveled around the country a while before settling in Berkeley, California. A quick leap up north found him back in Portland in search of a building company that matched his personal building philosophy.
When not juggling the construction process at work, Rob stays active on the Ultimate Frisbee field. And sometimes can be found scaling rock outcrops, or hiking and exploring the great outdoors around the state.
Stephen Aiguier
President & Founder
Certified Passive House Consultant
Equal parts talented craftsman and business entrepreneur, Stephen has guided the maturity of Green Hammer Inc. from a sole proprietorship into a flourishing small multi-faceted corporation with twenty-five plus staff. At Green Hammer, he is involved with all projects and is likely to be the first face to greet you when you begin the building process.
Stephen founded Green Hammer Inc, in the winter of 2002, bringing with him an extensive working knowledge and expertise in a diversity of trades. Stephen's life before Green Hammer included a degree in Community Development and Applied Economics from the University of Vermont, time as a Financial Analyst for an organic chocolate importer and even the Sustainability Coordinator for a 1200-acre organic Agro-Tourismo in Italy.
Stephen's business philosophies are oriented toward developing economic clout for individuals and local companies working towards a framework of sustainable business practices. Much of his time outside the office is dedicated to the non-profit and government boards that he is involved with, which work to advance the local market for green building and combat global climate change. These include: the Build Local Alliance, which he co-founded in 2005 as a non-profit focusing on making market connections in the local Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forest market to facilitate the flow of local FSC forest products to local building project; the Western Columbia Chapter of the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, where Stephen has served as the committee chair since January of 2008. Further involvement includes serving as a committee member for both the Bureau of Development Services Technology Advisory Group (TAG) and the city of Portland's High Performance Green Building Policy steering committee, established by Commissioner Saltzman.
Zoe
Green Hammer Mascot
Zoe is our security system, quality control manager, company morale leader, part time excavator, and all around spirit team. She might look tough, but she's a cream puff inside.