click here for more testimonials

• about
• | services
• | space
  • application process
• | counseling
• | courses
  • instructors
• | workshop
• | clients
  • testimonials
• | directions
• | contact
• | home

NY Designs' Instructors

	Jamy Bacchus, PE, LEED AP. Jamy received his BS from Columbia University in Mechanical Engineering in 1994. Jamy has lived and worked in the US and UK as a consultant in mechanical engineering, energy efficiency and sustainability for commercial buildings for over ten years serving as project manager and lead mechanical engineer. He has worked at Flack + Kurtz, Battle McCarthy and at Ove Arup & Partners. He is currently working on his own as a freelance consultant focusing on energy modeling and sustainability for the built environment. Some of his projects include the Conservatory at Celebration Place in Orlando, 166 Perry Street Condominiums, the Freedom Tower, the NY Sports and Convention Center aka Jets Stadium and Orco Tower in Warsaw, Poland. Jamy is an active member of the USGBC NY chapter and ASHRAE. He is a member of the Programming & Education Committee for the NY chapter and the correspondence committees for LEED NC v2.2 and LEED ND. Jamy lectures at NY DESIGNS/CUNY and Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation on sustainability and HVAC design. Aside from work Jamy is an avid hiker and mountaineer with recent summits including Mt. Hood in Oregon and Denali in Alaska.
	Ilise Benun is an internationally recognized expert on self-promotion for freelancers and creative professionals and the author of "Self Promotion Online" and "Designing Websites:// for Every Audience." Through her Marketing Mentor program, she works closely with the self employed to teach them the "marketing mindset," which includes how to get out of your own way, how to make connections with prospects, how to fit self-promotion into your day-to-day life and how to avoid Feast or Famine. Based in Hoboken NJ, Benun is also a national speaker and has been featured in national magazines such as Inc. Magazine, HOW Magazine, Self, Essence, and Working Woman. Sign up for her Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor here: http://www.marketing-mentortips.com
	David Bergman runs a multidisciplinary design studio whose design approach emphasizes the transparent inclusion of sustainable/eco design principles to architecture, interiors and product design projects. David’s designs have been acclaimed by The New York Times, Metropolis, ID, Wallpaper*, Architectural Record and many other publications. Bergman teaches Sustainable Design courses at Parsons School of Design. He is currently working on “o2|e2: Ecodesign for Economic Growth,” an exhibit and conference to promote the ecodesign sector in New York City. David Bergman received a Master in Architecture from Princeton University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Economics from Yale University. He is a New York State Registered Architect and a LEED Accredited Professional.
	Susan Harkavy is a public relations consultant specializing in contemporary design, home furnishings and lifestyle, with 21 years experience in the industry. The former press officer of the American Craft Museum (now the Museum of Arts and Design), she went on to manage inhouse publicity for Dakota Jackson prior to founding her firm in 1994. Her clients include designers of furniture, carpets, textiles, lighting, tableware, home accessories, gifts and decorative arts. She publishes the lighthearted "Guerrilla Dispatches " newsletter, lectures frequently on publicity how-to’s, and offers one-on-one workshops on self promotion. www.susanharkavy.com
	Leyden Lewis manages and operates all aspects of design and administrative duties of his own namesake interior design firm, Leyden Ynobe Lewis, LLC. Prior to that Leyden was the design director for the interior design and architecture firm of Regenbogen Kim Lewis which he was partner from 1997 to 2000. Leyden has previously taught Design and Presentation in the departments of both the Architecture Interior Design and Lighting Design Department and Product Design Departments at Parsons the New School for Design. Leyden is a Kips Bay Decorators Show house alumni with "the Salon" created in 1999. His work has been published in many of the industry trade magazines such as Interior Design House and Garden and Metropolitan, as well as the Home Section of the New York Times.
	Michael Nellini, a Model Maker and Industrial Designer with over 25 years experience, is Director of the Prototype Lab at NY Designs and Model Making Instructor. Until recently Nellini was Operations Manager at Utley's Inc., a full service model shop. Clients have included Walt Disney Imagineering, BMW of North America, Emilio Ambasz Associates and Montalbano Product Development. A graduate of Parsons School of Design's Environmental Design Department, he focused on Product Design, and earned a B. F. A. Before attending Parsons, Nellini studied at Los Angeles Trade Tech College where he earned an A. S. Degree in Motorcycle Repair. Writing "Prototype Technology" a manual of resources, techniques, materials, tools and equipment used in prototyping. A recipient of a National Science Foundation Grant to study Collaborative Design Processes and Rapid Prototyping: 2005. Member: Association of Professional Model Makers.
	Jacquelyn Ottman is president of J. Ottman Consulting, Inc., pioneers and leaders in green marketing and eco-innovation. Jacquelyn is the driving spirit behind the Design: Green educational initiative in eco-design, and the author of Green Marketing: Opportunity for Innovation, which was named one of the top business books of the year. A former co-chair of the New York City chapter of o2, the global network of green designers, she also chaired a jury for the American Marketing Association which for seven years, bestowed special Edison Awards for Environmental Achievement in New Products. Jaquie graduated from Smith College and attended the New York University Graduate School of Business.
	Carol J Overby, MBA (University of Chicago), is Professor of Accounting and Business in the department of Design & Management at Parsons The New School for Design. As financial consultant to creative industries-fashion, graphics, product design, architecture, photography, publishing, and music-she provides accounting, financial, and organizational management. Past and present clients include Edward Larrabee Barnes/John MY Lee Architects, Designspace (graphic design), Atlas Industries (furniture design and fabrication), The Paris Review, Ebet Roberts Photography, Odegard Inc. (carpets), and Celluloid Records.
	Hugo Pedernera has been active in all facets of photovoltaic projects for over 14 years. He received an Electro Mechanical Technician Degree from the National University of Cordoba, Argentina, and is completing a BS in Electrical Engineering from Farmingdale State University. Hugo has worked for major solar companies, Solar Energy Systems, Odyne and altPower, designing and installing commercial and residential projects. His expertise is in project analysis, strategy, planning and logistics.
	Anthony O. Pereira president and CEO of altPOWER, holds a BA in Economics from Fordham University. After 5 years in the New York architecture industry working with "Green" architectural firms specializing in solar electric system design including Kiss + Cathcart Architects, he began pursuing projects in solar electricity as an independent consultant. Over the years he has worked on renewable energy projects throughout the New York Metropolitan area with some of the world's leading architectural, engineering and construction management firms. Since 1998, Anthony has run successful renewable energy development and construction management businesses, his latest venture being altPOWER, Inc. In August 2000, Anthony was elected to serve as a Volunteer Executive for the International Executive Service Corp. for a USAID sponsored mission to aid in grid interactive solar electric system project development throughout India, for Polyene Film Industries, Ltd. of Chennai (Madras), India. Since the Spring of 2002, Anthony has been the president of the Board of Directors for the New York Solar Energy Industry Association (NYSEIA) and he has served as a Secretary of the American and Portuguese Engineering and Architecture Society (A.P.E.A.S.) of Newark, NJ. Anthony is also part of the Advisory Board to Green Ground Zero, a group dedicated to promoting sustainable design and construction at the World Trade Center Site and member of the Board of the New York Renewable Energy Coalition since 2003.
	Susan K. Schear, President of ArtIsIn, offers comprehensive business development and management services to visual and performing artists, arts organizations and arts related businesses. Ms. Schear facilitates arts entrepreneurship by providing business guidance, strategic business planning and marketing to her clients. Ms. Schear is an established speaker on many subjects related to artists, arts organizations and entrepreneurs, including marketing, selling, and networking. She regularly teaches classes on these subjects at New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Marketing and Management Institute, Arts and Business Council of New York, and at various industry specialty groups, galleries, associations and schools. She is also on the faculty of the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.). www.artisin.com
	Shruti Narayan, is an engineer working for the Mechanical Group in ARUP's San Francisco Office. Shruti graduated from Arizona State University and specializes in Simulating Energy performance, Climatic responsive architecture and sustainability in building with a developing knowledge in the field of HVAC system. Shruti has been actively involved in research and teaching in the above fields. She has also performed building simulations using eQuest, CFD and other simulation software while being actively involved in LEED certification process for buildings.