Story

  • 1st LEED Speculative Commercial Project

    Before founding GAIA, Ryan held the position of Development Project Manager and Sustainability Coordinator at Yorkshire Development, where he played a pivotal role in pioneering sustainable building practices.

    Under his leadership, the Tricom Building in Pasadena became the world's first LEED-certified speculative commercial building (and the 30th LEED-certified building in California).

  • Today,

    GAIA has provided services on over 700 buildings across the U.S.

    Guided by collaborative partnerships, we drive the transformation of the built environment into resilient landscape, fostering enduring value and sustainable stewardship.

  • Who We are

    Who We Are

    • Accredited professionals in LEED, BREEAM, WELL, Fitwel, and Living Future
    • Owner’s Reps for solar and sustainability
    • Members of USGBC chapters, ASHRAE, LABC
    • Educators at conferences and universities
    • Urban farmers and permaculturists
    • Policy change-makers
    • Artists, activists, and outdoor enthusiasts

  • Social & Environmental Impact

    As a mission-driven company, we are actively involved in community programs that demonstrate responsible land stewardship, empower human equity, foster food security, and advance health and wellbeing.

    Each year, we volunteer with and donate money to nonprofit organizations and sponsor fundraisers.

Team

  • Ryan McEvoy

    Principal and Founder
    Linkedin

  • Chris McKinley

    Principal
    Linkedin

  • Grant Waldron

    Director, Sustainability Strategy
    Linkedin

  • Francie von Tempsky

    Director, Finance, Operations, HR
    Linkedin

  • Jennifer Lo

    Director, Marketing
    Linkedin

  • Laia Gimeno

    Lead Building Performance Analyst
    Linkedin

  • Robert Fernandez

    Project Manager
    Linkedin

  • Alex Stellato

    Sr. LEED & Sustainability Project Manager
    Linkedin

  • Justin Mitchell

    Sr. Commissioning Provider
    Linkedin

  • Alejandro Manilla

    Commissioning Provider
    Linkedin

  • Elena Sviatoslavksy

    Associate Project Manager
    Linkedin

  • Taylor Goto

    Associate Project Manager
    Linkedin

  • Marina Filatova

    Strategic Operations and Efficiency Manager
    Linkedin

  • Pablo Millberg

    Permaculture Manager
    Linkedin

Working @ GAIA

GAIA is part of Living Future’s JUST program, a transparency platform for organizations to disclose their operations, including how they treat their employees and where they make financial and community investments.  

Employee benefits include:

✓ Quarterly and annual profit-sharing bonuses  

✓ 401K with employer contributions  

✓ Medical, dental, and vision insurance  

✓ Project completion bonuses 

✓ Paid Time Off: vacation, holidays, volunteering, sick 

✓ 9/80 work schedule and flexible work environment   

✓ Educational, wellness, and research reimbursement package

✓ Solar program for employees’ homes

✓ Attend in-person industry events

Firm Bio

Since 2005, GAIA has been at the forefront of sustainability initiatives in the real estate industry. Founding Principal Ryan McEvoy made history with the world's first LEED speculative building for commercial and industrial use in Pasadena, California.

Our team is dedicated to helping developers and architects create high-performance buildings and gain a competitive advantage in their market. With our vast project experience in REITS, industrial portfolios, lifestyle hospitality, multifamily, retail, and higher education, GAIA is leading decarbonization efforts across the built environment—from development through operations —to create more resilient properties with greater long-term value.

GAIA has become a trusted name in the industry. Our reputation for hands-on project management and track record of certifying over 500 buildings earned us recognition as a LEED Proven Provider by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), solidifying our position as a sought-after partner in sustainability consulting.