Taryn Holowka

Taryn Holowka is the Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Advocacy at the U.S. Green Building Council. Taryn has been with USGBC since 2002 when the organization was in its infancy and green building was just beginning to take off. Since joining USGBC, Taryn has helped LEED grow into the world’s most widely used green building program in the world. USGBC, through its marketing and communications efforts, has helped more than 100,000 LEED projects and 220,000 LEED professionals further the green building movement globally and ensure a thriving sustainability workforce. Taryn leads high-impact initiatives and develops strategic plans that drive business growth and increase brand awareness. Through developing and implementing comprehensive marketing and communications strategies that effectively communicate USGBC and LEED’s value proposition, she leads the development and execution of communications, public relations and government affairs strategies that build strong relationships with key stakeholders, including media, industry associations, and government officials. She also oversees the development and execution of advocacy and policy efforts to support USGBC and GBCI's goals and interests. A skilled communicator and brand strategist with more than 20 years of experience in building global brands, Taryn is highly organized and independent, with proven ability to lead large scale projects. Taryn was previously awarded PR News’ PR Person of the Year and nominated for Marketing Executive of the Year. Her core areas of expertise include strategic communications planning, crisis communications, messaging development, media relations, product and brand management, project management, team leadership and business development. Taryn holds a Masters in Liberal Studies, Social & Public Policy, from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Political Science from the State University of New York College at Geneseo. She is a LEED AP and Green Classroom Professional. Prior to joining USGBC, Taryn worked at the National Environmental Policy Institute (NEPI) overseeing an EPA grant as part of the Clean Air Act. She also was with the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) handling member relations.