www.negociosnow.com
February 2018 5
Age: 34
Title: Director of Sustainability
Name of Organization:
Northwestern University
Bio: Kathia Benitez has pla-
yed a key role in making Nor-
thwestern University more sus-
tainable and energy-efficient. As
the Director of Sustainability, she
developed and implemented the
university's first five-year Strate-
gic Sustainability Plan. She also
leads sustainNU, a program that
engages students, faculty, and
staff in reducing — and eventua-
lly eliminating — Northwestern's
contribution to climate change.
Benitez also sits on the board
of Mujeres de HACE (Hispanic
Alliance for Career Enhance-
ment), supporting the program's
professional development, fun-
draising and mentoring efforts.
Before working for Nor-
thwestern, Benitez served as a
senior manager supporting the
U.S. Department of Energy's
Better Buildings Initiative in
the Washington, D.C. area, and
worked as a program manager
for NewYork-Presbyterian Hos-
pital, where she managed a $60
million annual utility budget.
Under her leadership, the hos-
pital won several ENERGY STAR
Awards from the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency.
Benitez holds numerous
certifications and credentials,
including as a Certified Energy
Manager, a Certified Energy Pro-
curement Professional, a Cer-
tified Demand Side Manager,
and a Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED)
Green Associate. She holds a
master's degree in behavioral
health from Nyack College in
New York and is working toward
a Master of Science in Energy
Management from New York
Institute of Technology. Benitez
recently completed an Executi-
ve Education for Sustainability
Leadership program through
Harvard University's T.H. Chan
School of Public Health.
"T
here is a greater sense of
fulfillment and purpose when
what you do is in alignment with
your passion. My success and level
of satisfaction is exemplified when I
flow out of my innate abilities, and
my compass is aligned with the needs
of the community I am serving"
Kathia Benitez
Kathia Benitez
Creating
a more
sustainable
future
