Patrick Pizzo
Director of Facilities and Operations, East Meadow Public Schools, East Meadow, N.Y.
Since 2008, Patrick has led a department of 117 people in supporting the goals of his district. He demonstrates effective leadership with staff and has provided employees with guidance and direction for improved performance and efficiency. In the East Meadow School District, innovation and success are fostered though collaboration and open discourse. These strategies have resulted in a successful, widely recognized and comprehensive green cleaning program. Patrick works with teachers, parents, administrators and community groups to share the goals and objectives of the district to the benefit of the district’s students.
Patrick holds a Master of Business Administration from Long Island University and is pursuing his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Chicago. The focus of his dissertation will be the impact of the physical environment on student achievement.
Philip J. Poinelli, FAIA, REFP, LEED AP
Principal, Symmes Maini & McKee Associates, Cambridge, Mass.
Phil’s professional and community contributions span four decades in architecture, specifically centered on innovative planning and design excellence in K-12 education environments. He is president of the Northeast Region of the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI), and co-chair of the AIA/CAE national K-12 Education Subcommittee. A longtime member of the Boston Society of Architects (BSA), Poinelli served in multiple volunteer roles, including as a 20 year-member of the BSA’s Educational Facilities Committee.
Poinelli is a lecturer on educational programming and planning at Boston Architectural College. He is a frequent speaker and author on the topic of educational planning and design, having authored several journal articles and presented research topics at international, national and regional education conferences.
Phil is a graduate of San Diego State University’s Educational Facilities Planning program.
Greg Stack
K-12 Thought Leader, NAC|Architecture
Greg is an education architect, designer and writer. As the K-12 Thought Leader for NAC|Architecture, Greg analyzes research and best practices, encourages the use of evidence-based design, and works firm-wide to develop deep knowledge in the planning and design issues of learning environments. Greg is interested in how students learn and the conditions that best enhance the learning process.
He has authored articles on a range of K-12 subjects, and has presented analytical perspectives on K-12 topics at a variety of national and international conferences. He has planned and designed numerous K-12, college, university and specialty education buildings during his 33-year career in architecture.
Carol J. Walker, LEED AP
Assistant Vice President for Business Affairs, Facilities, Planning & Construction Division, University of Florida, Gainesville
As assistant vice president for business affairs, Carol is responsible for the Division of Facilities, Planning & Construction, which includes management of the University of Florida’s Statewide Capital Construction Program, Campus Master Plan, Facility Information Services, LEED program and Minor Construction Program for the Academic Health Center, campus auxiliaries and property management of St. Augustine’s state-owned historic properties.
Carol has spent more than 30 years of her career in academic institutions, both private and public. At the University of Chicago, she worked in the Development Office and the Medical Center. At the University of Florida, Carol’s career began at Shands Hospital as a planner and an administrator for operations. As an assistant vice president for health affairs, her major focus was facilities management.
Carol received a B.S. in Management from Nova University and an M.H.A. from the University of Minnesota.
