APEX GREEN ROOFS: ABOUT US

Dustin Brackney

Dustin is a landscape architect graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2000.  Shortly after graduating he worked at Atelier Dreiseitl in Germany where he first learned to use unique landscape design techniques to manage stormwater. Green roofs were part of this solution. He brought his passion back to Boston where he began designing and building residential landscapes.  In 2002 he partnered with long-time friend & colleague, Charles Sinkler, to begin designing and building green roofs as the market expanded. With Apex Green Roofs he has built vegetated roofs of all varieties and sizes spread throughout New England and the Mid Atlantic regions.  He frequently participates in discussions and lectures about the emerging technology and is one of the few experts in the field.  

Charles Sinkler

Charlie has over 15 years experience in Landscape design and construction. His father was an early environmental business innovator in the U.S. & U.K., developing a wastewater treatment system that destroys high-strength organic wastes & sludges with a biological process. With a focus on environmental stewardship, Charlie formed a landscape design/build company in 2002. Charlie & Dustin grew the business together to construct environmentally sensitive/artistic landscapes. Together they formed Apex Green Roofs to passionately enter the emerging vegetated roof industry. Combining landscape and architecture to better our environments is the shared goal for Apex Green Roofs. 

Emily Grogan

Office Manager & Renaissance Woman

Emily Grogan has been with Apex Green Roofs since August of 2008.  Her strong interest in sustainability and plant sciences led her to an interest in green roofs.

Her previous employment as a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist in bands had her juggling musical notes and instruments,  and now she juggles office duties as the office manager.  She’s also available for giving an AIA  approved presentation on green roofs and their benefits.

Geoff Arthur

Green Roof Estimator/Designer

Geoff Arthur is our estimator and CAD guru. He has completed a Bachelors degree in Architecture and Design from The University of Massachusetts in Amherst and is currently pursuing a Masters of Architecture degree at Boston Architectural College. He has previously held jobs in construction, demolition, set design, printing, machining, fabrication, welding and candle-making. He is interested in adaptive reuse, brownfield recovery and material reclamation and has a soft spot for domestic cheeses.

Jane Oliver

Landscape Specialist

Jane Oliver graduated from Vassar College with a degree in Classics. After two decades working as a paralegal, X-C ski coach, bicycle mechanic, pastry chef, and most importantly as the mother of two boys, Jane's passion for plants and gardening inspired her to begin studying horticulture. She became an intern at Tower Hill Botanic Gardens for two years, and then worked for several landscape design/build/maintenance companies.  In the summer of 2007, Jane began working with Apex Green Roofs planting and maintaining our vegetated roof installations.  Jane loves being on green roofs, and feels that they are like little worlds of their own--green oases in a sea of concrete and glass.

Colleen Butler

Botanist

Colleen Butler began working at Apex Green Roofs in April 2010 as part of the maintenance division. Colleen graduated from Boston University in 2004 and is now completing her PhD in Biology at Tufts University. She has been researching the ecology and physiology of green roof plant communities since 2006. She has presented her work at Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, American Society of Plant Biologists, and the Ecological Society of America. She currently serves on the Research Committee for Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. She is also active in the Ecological Society of America where she is organizing a special session on green roof research for the 2010 ESA meeting. In her free time, Colleen likes rock climbing and sewing.

Julia Palatine

Green Roof Maintenance

Before her interest in horticulture, Julia Palatine started out as a student at Massachusetts College of Art. Not quite sure where to go with her career as an artist, she spent a summer on Nantucket working for a landscape design/build firm. After deciding this was the right field, she felt that landscape design would be a great compromise between the two interests. Julia transferred to the University of New Hampshire and graduated with a degree in horticulture in 2009. She has learned the field through working in many areas of the industry, including landscape design firms and greenhouse settings. Julia is currently responsible for the care and maintenance of existing green roofs as well as assisting with the construction of new projects. She takes pride in being a part of an environmentally responsible company and is excited about her involvement in the growing industry of vegetated roofs. 

Web & Graphic Design/Marketing

Kristina Johnson Parish has a background in music, art, and web design. She spent many years traveling around playing guitar and singing in several bands while also designing websites and advertising for a UK search engine. She has attended Webster University and is currently studying Design at Massachusetts College of Art & Design. A hardcore green-thumb, urban gardener, DIY enthusiast, and multi-media designer Kristina was naturally drawn to green roofs. Since joining Apex in the summer of 2009 she has redesigned the Apex website, created marketing and booth materials for tradeshows, and has become the resident "tech" person for all things internet-related helping to create systems that keep Apex on top of our game.