Artech Co-Founder Rice Williams serves as Expert Panelist for “Chattanooga Takes the LEED”, Thursday, April 9, 2009 at The Chattanoogan.

Presented by The City of Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce "Chattanooga Takes the LEED," is an event focused on sustainable design and economic development.

Organizers say, “Sustainable design is guiding regions across the country and growing their workforces. Now is the time to recognize how sustainable building methods promote environmental quality and economic vitality and put those methods to work for us!”

Rice will join Tennessee Commissioner for Economic and Community Development Matt Kisber and representatives from Alstom Power, Inc. (Stephane Cai, president), Chattanooga State (Jim Catanzaro, President), Green Spaces (Jeff Cannon, Director), Blaine Construction (Patrik Lazzari) and Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP (Stacy E. Wipfler, Attorney) to respond to audience questions.

Guest Speakers for the event include U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp, Paul von Paumgartten, Director of Energy and Environmental Affairs for Johnson Controls, Inc., and Greg Bell, Founder of Business for Good, LLC.

Rice Williams is a registered Architect and LEED Accredited Professional with experience in the "greening" of retail developments. Rice led a Developer's design team through two recent Developments of Regional Impact in the Florida, coordinating sustainable design effort approvals with the State Planning Council and local governments. Artech has most recently registered a multi-screen theater for LEED Certification. This project is currently under construction and will be the first of its kind in the United States.