2014 40 Under 40: Mark Knipfer, PE, LEED AP, 36

Mark Knipfer, PE, LEED AP, 36
Vice President, Integrated Environmental Solutions Ltd., Atlanta
Oklahoma State University, BS Chemical Engineering

Originally majoring in art history during college, Mark Knipfer found his way to the engineering field with a particular interest in chemistry, mechanics, and energy and environmental efficiencies. During the early stages of Knipfer’s career, he worked as a technician focusing on ventilation effectiveness studies and modeling in conjunction with the California Department of Health Services. Obtaining his LEED accreditation in 2004, having made his way into sustainable design, and having now facilitated numerous LEED certifications for multiple building types all across the globe, Knipfer is a key player for sustainability consulting. In his work as technical program manager for the not-for-profit Greenguard Environmental Institute, Knipfer acted as the technical interface for clients and consumers in the areas of material properties, manufacturing processes, and product emissions. After leaving Greenguard, Knipfer joined BVM Engineering in 2006 where he quickly moved up from senior project manager to vice president and in the process became a contracted LEED reviewer for the Green Building Certification Institute. With Knipfer’s experience and passion for sustainability, he became vice president of Integrated Environmental Solutions’ South Atlantic division. Knipfer and his colleagues currently collaborate in a software development team to make sustainable design more accessible and the tools more intuitive. Parallel to his continued work in consulting, Knipfer serves on the U.S. Green Building Council’s Indoor Environmental Quality Technical Advisory Group (EQ TAG) and voluntarily reviewed past and current LEED forms and participated in exam-writing sessions for the latest LEED version. His speaking engagements and published articles go hand-in-hand with his volunteer work in his local community, which include building a community garden and participating in Introduce a Girl to Engineering. Knipfer and his family spend a majority of their time outdoors on bikes or in tents and participating in neighborhood fundraising events. When he gets some time to himself, Knipfer likes to settle down to read a Kurt Vonnegut book or listen to some classic blues. 

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