Andrew holds a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Management from the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University, and a Bachelors in Political Science from American University in Washington DC. He participated in the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs in St. Louis, and holds certificates from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and the National Outdoor Leadership Schools (NOLS). A Colorado native, and the youngest of 5 older sisters, Andrew is a committed practitioner of creative social and environmental responsibility. He has installed solar panels in South America, deconstructed buildings in Colorado, and farmed Brownfields in Pittsburgh. Since co-founding GTECH in 2007, Andrew has been featured on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, presented at the Brookings Institute, The National Vacant Properties Conference, The Imagining Solutions Conference and has been honored at the White House as an emerging leader in the field of social innovation. In 2008, Andrew was awarded a prestigious, international Echoing Green Fellowship for social entrepreneurs with business partner Chris Koch. He sits on the Boards of GTECH, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, and Manchester Bidwell’s Green Tech Advisory Board. He lives in Pittsburgh, near a park with his wife Julie and dog Jasper-Bacon. His favorite words are gumption & grit and he enjoys sandwiches outside.

Chris has provided expertise on urban blight reduction strategies and social entrepreneurship to organizations such as the Brookings Institute, Great Lakes Urban Exchange, and Princeton University. Chris holds a Masters of Public Policy and Management from the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University, and a BS in History from the same. In 2008, Chris was named an Echoing Green fellow, and in 2009 GTECH was selected as one of 19 of the most innovative social enterprises worldwide, out of a pool of 1500 applicants.

Mo started her studies at Allegheny College, completing internships at a bio-intensive farm near York, PA, at the Ecosystem Center in Woods Hole, MA, and on a Long Term Ecological Research site. Coming home after college, she joined the ‘04-‘05 PULSE team, interning at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, conducting the regional hunger study, while educating residents about nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Returning to graduate school, she furthered her environmental studies, completing a Masters in Environmental Science and Management. During her time there, she interned at the Environmental Management Assistance Program at the Small Business Development Center and GTECH. After graduation, she joined the GTECH team full time, putting her environmental studies and love of the region to work. She is a co-coordinator for the 2009 Three Rivers Bioneers Conference.

Before coming to GTECH, Khari was the National Political/Policy Director for the League of Young Voters/Education Fund. He also is the elected democratic chairman of Pittsburgh's 22nd Ward. Khari has received a number of awards from various organizations including: Pittsburgh Acorn, Pittsburgh Magazine, the Pittsburgh League of Women Voters, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. He sits on several boards including: Bethesda Presbyterian Church Center, The Pgh Chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, Pgh ACLU, Pgh Chapter Americans for Democratic Action, and The Mattress Factory, a contemporary art museum. He attended Indiana University of PA where studied political-science. Khari lives in Pittsburgh, with his wife Chelsa, their son Thaddeus and newborn Issiah.

Growing up in Baltimore City, Claire witnessed many serious issues such as poverty, violence, and addiction. This fueled her passion for social justice from a young age. In Baltimore, she volunteered with the Center for Poverty Solutions and the local food bank. In high school, she became more aware of the state of the environment and her passion expanded to include bringing an end to global warming. These passions continued when Claire attended Cornell University, as she took many environmental courses and became a Master Composter. Through college, she had several internships including teaching 3rd graders at a Baltimore City public school, compiling data at the Social Security Administration, and researching at an environmental consulting non-profit. Since age 14, whenever she's home in Baltimore, Claire works at Greg's Bagels, a fantastic bagel shop. After graduating from Cornell with a double major in Economics and Psychology, she moved to Pittsburgh to pursue a career in environmental sustainability and now loves her work at GTECH Strategies where she is able to help solve problems of both environmental sustainability and social justice. She has been very fortunate to be able to travel to such locations as the Galapagos Islands, Bangladesh, and Australia. She is a long-time vegetarian and enjoys music, nature, and coffee.

Lauren came to Pittsburgh via China, South Africa, Thailand, and six other countries when a world-wide study abroad program, based out of the University of Pittsburgh, forged local friendships and new career paths. After graduating from Syracuse University with a major in English Textual Studies and working for a year and a glass art studio in Newark, NJ, Lauren moved to the ‘Burgh to join the environmental non-profit community. She first served as an Americorps Public Ally, completing a ten-month professional development program and internship. She then worked as a program associate at the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association where she installed rain barrels and educated the public about stormwater issues. Before GTECH, Lauren was the Environmental Education Coordinator of Composting at the Pennsylvania Resources Council, where she spent two years leading composting workshops and working on large scale composting projects in the city of Pittsburgh. Lauren’s favorite things about Pittsburgh are its trees, history, and thrifty vintage clothing.

Prior to graduate school, she worked in Santa Fe, NM as a sustainable landscape designer for five years implementing Permaculture based designs. She brings passion for steel towns, community-led design and local food to the GTECH team.

Josh is a Massachusetts native, but grew up and went to school in Ohio. He likes to spend his free time playing soccer and enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking. The environmental issue that he is most passionate about is conservation, and his other environmental interests include land use, community development, outdoor recreation and education, and environmental management. Josh worked as a volunteer intern with Environment Ohio doing environmental activism work in Columbus, Ohio during the spring of 2011, while working on senior research that focused on sustainability in small businesses and on “fracking” in the Marcellus Shale. He is working with GTECH’s vacant land use team on projects throughout the Pittsburgh area.