Chris R. Ladner
Chris Ladner is a Partner of Viridian.
Chris has a BS in engineering from Iowa State and is a LEED Accredited Professional and a Certified Energy Manager (CEM). Through his previous experience Chris has expertise in building HVAC systems, performance contracting, controls as well as knowledge of industrial controls.
In 2008, Chris was a Commissioner on the Arkansas Governor’s Commission on Global Warming. Through this commission greenhouse gas reduction policies will be developed for the Governor and Arkansas Legislators.
As a consultant to the Clinton Climate Initiative, Chris works with cities and other institutions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Chris currently serves as Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council National Chapter Steering Committee and holds positions on various USGBC sub-committees. He is an Arkansas delegate to the USGBC Southeast Regional Council and the regional Co-Chair. His past positions with the Arkansas Chapter of the USGBC include Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and coordinator of the annual Sustainable Arkansas conference.
Chris has participated in various types of LEED projects including: LEED-Neighborhood Development, LEED-Commercial Interiors, LEED-New Construction, LEED for Existing Buildings, and LEED-Homes.
As the team leader of a volunteer design team Chris is helping the Argenta Community Development Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas with their Green Homes project. The project is an effort to demonstrate the financial, environmental, and occupant benefits of the LEED-Homes sustainable standard in an affordable home project.
Chris has presented on sustainable design and construction to various groups including Master Speaker at the USGBC Greenbuild Conference, American Planning Association, National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB), the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), graduate architecture programs, and various sustainability conferences
Matt Bell is a Partner of Viridian.
He is a LEED AP with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Arkansas. His previous experience brings expertise in construction estimation and project management.
Previously, Matt was an executive in the construction industry as co-founder of Bell-Corley Construction, a commercial general contracting firm located in Little Rock. While at BCC, Matt Bell and Boyd Corley were recognized locally by Arkansas Business Magazine and nominated for Business of the Year in both 2005 and 2006. Nationally BCC was recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a member of the HOT 100 fastest growing businesses ranking 26th and the Inc Magazine Inc. 500 as the 44th fastest growing company in 2006.
Matt is also a partner in the Vertical Lofts residential real estate development located in Little Rock, AR. Vertical Lofts is a 22 unit townhome project that is registered to achieve LEED for Homes and is slated to be the first LEED Platinum home project in the state of Arkansas.
Jim Chidester is a project manager for Viridian.
Jim graduated Cum Laude with a BS Degree in Engineering with Professional Concentration in Mechanical Engineering from Arkansas State University.
He brings expertise in HVAC and Plumbing systems design, commissioning, energy studies and construction observation. Jim is a LEED AP, Certified Energy Manager and registered engineer in fifteen states.
Jim has served as a part-time Engineering Instructor at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, worked at several Central Arkansas Engineering firms and is currently owner of Chidester Engineering.
He is a member of ASHRAE and a former Chairman and current Vice-Chairman for the USGBC Central Branch.
April Ambrose is a project manager for Viridian.
April received her BS in a self-designed Environmental Education major from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas which includes an Arkansas high school teaching certificate. She is also a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction. Her previous experience brings expertise in lifestyle greening, education, advocacy, organizing, public relations, coalition building and project management.
April has participated in various types of LEED projects including: LEED-Neighborhood Development, LEED-Commercial Interiors, LEED-Core and Shell, LEED-New Construction, LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED-Homes. April is the founder, emeritus-Executive Director, Board Chair of Arkansas Earth Day Foundation, the Chair of the Little Rock Sustainability Commission and member of the Advocacy Committee of the Central Arkansas Chapter of USGBC.
April is a member of the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture LeadAR Class 13. LeadAR is a two-year program dedicated to the education of Arkansas’ emerging leaders to the economic and social changes affecting the state.
She has also served as a Representative/Board Member for the Arkansas Climate Awareness Project, Arkansas Environmental Education Association, Arkansas Earth Institute, Sustainar.org, Natural Foods Store and Earth Charter USA.
April has participated in, presented to, and consulted for many sustainability and greening projects including, but not limited to: Arkansas Business Publishing Group's Green Guide, US Green Building Council's Sustainable Arkansas Conference, Arkansas Earth Day Festival, Natural State Expo, Arkansas Festival Association Conference, Arkansas Green Restaurant Alliance, LifeQuest, Sierra Club, Arkansas Governor's School and many school/college campuses and media outlets.
JD is a project manager for Viridian.
JD is a LEED Green Associate and holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Arkansas and a Masters in Public Service from the University of Arkansas, Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock. He was the 2009 recipient of the Shannon Butler Bridge Builder Award, given to the student in each graduating class who exhibits a selfless "bridge-building" attitude exemplified by the former Clinton Foundation deputy director and current director of City Year Little Rock.
A native of Maumelle, Arkansas, he joined Mike Beebe’s 2006 Gubenatorial campaign as a research assistant and field coordinator. In 2007 he became Governor Beebe’s personal assistant and later served as a special policy assistant on sustainability and environmental issues.
In 2008, JD worked with the Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) and C40 Cities in Melbourne, Australia. There he worked on the Foundation’s many energy efficiency projects around the country aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through initiating new policies and projects in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane.
Through his work in Melbourne, JD recognized the overlap between Arkansas’s environmental issues and policies and CCI’s work around the world. Later, as part of his work with the Governor’s office and his graduate studies at the Clinton School, Arkansas became the first U.S. state to partner with CCI’s building retrofit program.
During the 2008 Arkansas Legislative Session, JD worked in the Governor’s office with legislators to help create the Sustainable Building Design Program. He also worked closely with executive agencies on developing regulations and guidelines to help make state buildings and work practices more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
JD is member of the Arkansas Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council Advocacy Committee.
Michael Sanders is a project manager for Viridian.
Michael is a Project Manager for Viridian. Originally from Hughes, Arkan-sas, Michael has acquired a wide range of skills that have led him to become an accomplished mechanical designer.
Through his previous mechanical system experience combined with his unique design knowledge, Michael has expertise in building HVAC sys-tems and the coordination involved with LEED certified designs. He played a lead role in projects when his previous firm first began to pur-sue LEED.
During six years at Crafton, Toll, Sparks & Associates, Michael served as a Mechanical designer with AutoCAD and BIM expertise in Revit MEP, As the first MEP CAD Standards coordinator for the entire firm, Michael or-ganized and maintained company-wide standards for all MEP depart-ments, such as file organization, CAD design tools, drafting procedures and software development.
Currently, Michael provides building commissioning, energy modeling and LEED consulting service for Viridian.
Brendan is a Project Manager for Viridian.
He holds a B.A. in Politics from Hendrix College and J.D. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law.
A native of Chicago, IL, Monaghan practiced law for several years, transitioning out of the profession in 2008 to work with the upstart tech company Capsearch.com His experience in the sustainability movement began as a young teenager when he worked on the constructing a straw bale house in Northern California. Between college and law school, Brendan honed his understanding of the details of the commercial building process while employed with a construction crew in Northwest Arkansas.
With his background in sustainability and education in the law, Brendan has the experience and knowledge to guide clients through the intricacies of green building certification.
J.R. Anderson, P.E.
J.R. Anderson is a Commissioning Agent for Viridian.
J.R. received his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering-Co-Op and his Master of Science in Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Past employment includes Anderson Engineering, Delta Process Management, Kemmons Wilson and Great Dane Trailers though he has over 45 years as a practicing engineer and business manager.
He brings expertise in mechanical engineering, commissioning, systems design, energy management, strategic planning, CADD, testing and balancing and building controls.
J.R. is a local, regional, and national active member of the Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), including serving as an officer as Secretary, Vice President, and President of the local chapter. Presently serving as the Chair of the Technical Energy, and Governmental Affairs Committee and a member of the Board of Governors of the local Memphis Chapter. Serving on the Region level as Vice Chair of Chapter Programs.
He has served for ASHRAE on the national level as a voting member of the T.C. 7.9 committee on Building Commissioning; as a voting member of GPC-OP The Commissioning Process, and as a voting member of GPC-1-1996R HVAC Commissioning. He is a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers for 20 years, serving in all local officer capacities, including President. He is a founding member of the Society of Computer Graphics Association in Memphis and a member of the US Green Building council and corresponding member of the New Construction Energy and Atmosphere Committee.
