Sonia Martinez, a Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality major, was recently awarded a scholarship to attend the U.S. Green Building Conference in DC in November 2015.

 

The U.S. Green Building Council describes that the event is focused “on the development of vibrant, sustainable communities through the lenses of resilience, social equity, health and economic opportunity.” The conference included education sessions and expo with over 550 companies featuring their sustainable products.

 

“I am extremely excited to be representing the Michael Leven School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality!” said Martinez, when asked about the conference. Learning about communities as sustainable systems is invaluable in determining the direction restaurants and hotels must take to be sustaining, integral parts of their communities. As a networking opportunity, the conference provides a valuable moment for making connections that could lead to future collaborations, employment or professional development. Greenbuild is an exciting introduction to the current state of the global movement toward innovative solutions for sustainability.

 

Martinez has a deeply rooted passion for gastronomy. “My culinary influences come from great exposure as a child on family avocado orchards, cattle ranches and cornfields. I expect my career path to take me through the path of restaurant and hotel consulting to eventually designing my boutique hotel and fine dining restaurant,” shared Martinez, who is driven by authentic and unique experiences. She is determined to learn from the best how to provide them successfully. Martinez shares that she has been most inspired by Chefs Grant Achatz, Rene Redzepi, and Enrique Olvera as they all have immense artistic abilities and social driving forces behind their creations.

 

Martinez is preparing a report to share with the Intro class regarding details of the conference.