The EarthCraft and Southface team recently welcomed Anna Trakhman, our new Associate for Residential Sustainability Services. We sat down with Anna to learn more about who she is and her role working with EarthCraft.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, Anna. Where were you before Southface?

Before I started at Southface I was a student at the University of Georgia in Athens. There I studied Environmental Economics and Management. I’m originally from Marietta, GA.

What interests you the most about working in the environmental industry?

I am interested in the opportunities for growth in this rapidly-evolving industry and anticipate that there are many exciting things to come as both individuals and corporations get more on board with measures to integrate energy efficiency and renewables into their day-to-day and business models. There’s a lot of potential for innovation and impact and I want to be a part of that.

What drew you to Southface?

I have been familiar with Southface throughout my undergraduate and was drawn to their overarching values which drive everything the organization does. I also wanted to experience working for an organization with like-minded and highly driven individuals who care about addressing environmental impact using policy, advocacy, and technical approaches.

What is your role at Southface?

My role is in the Residential Sustainability Services team. I’ll be supporting members in the team with their green building certification projects. I’ll primarily work with EarthCraft to begin. My role includes technical assistance and visual verification throughout stages of construction projects.

In our line of work, it can sometimes be challenging to describe what we do because of the technical nature of the work. How would you describe your role to a young child?

I want to make sure that when homes are being built they are designed in a way that will make them healthy, comfortable, and so that they save as much energy as possible. They the people who live in them can be happy knowing they won’t pay a lot for their energy bills and that they are living in a place where they will create a lesser environmental impact.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not working?

I enjoy outdoor activities, namely hiking and backpacking, cycling, running and rock climbing. I also love to read a wide variety of fiction and listen to podcasts. I like to cook with and for my friends, usually to make them try out vegan concoctions. One day I hope to visit every continent.

Do you have a personal mantra or motto that you try to live by?

Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.