Email me at kol@accessorydwellingstrategies.com
Professional ADU Experience
I also edit and manage another website about ADUs that deals with ADU policy issues and features an array of ADU projects: accessorydwellings.org. Through my company Accessory Dwelling Strategies LLC, I teach ADU classes for realtors through Earth Advantage, instruct Earth Advantage's ADU Specialist Designation certifcation for realtors, teach an ADU class for homeowners in Portland, as well as an online ADU class for people everywhere, run Portland's city-wide ADU tour, and do ADU related teaching, speaking and consulting for a variety of audiences.
EDUCATION
Harvard Graduate School of Design
Master in Design Studies - Design and the Environment
Watershed planning, urban and regional planning, transportation planning, GIS.
Graduated - June, 2004
Oberlin College
B.A in Environmental Studies, Religion
University of Wisconsin’s College Year in Nepal Program (1999-2000)
Graduated- May, 2001
Jingshan Xuexiao (Jingshan High School)
Mandarin language study exchange program. Beijing, China.
spring 1995
WORK EXPERIENCE
Accessory Dwelling Strategies
Owner
January, 2015 to present
Caravan- The Tiny House Hotel
Owner
Summer, 2013 to present
U.S. Forest Service
Public Affairs Specialist for the Pacific Northwest Regional Office
Web communications, public affairs, new media.
Fall, 2011 to Fall, 2015
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2004-2010)
-Pacific Northwest Regional Office
Web collaborations and communications coordinator in EPA's Oregon Operations Office
summer, 2010
-Public Affairs Specialist
Web lead for the Office of Air and Radiation. Web 2.0 and social media trainer. Communications lead for Climate Protection Partnership Division (ie. Energy Star) and Stratospheric Protection Division (ie. ozone protection).
winter, 2009 to summer, 2010
-Detail as New Media Analyst to White House New Media team
summer, 2009
-Program Analyst
Web Infrastructure and Web Content Coordinator in the Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. Policy and Communications team member. Managed contracts and NGO grants.
fall, 2006 to winter, 2009
-EPA Research Fellow
Smart Growth team coordinator in the Office of Water. Researched and developed policy about national land use planning and water quality. Coordinated interagency smart growth and stormwater management with federal partners and NGOs. Washington, D.C.
fall, 2004- fall, 2006
Harvard Planning and Allston Initiative
GIS Technician
Performed land use and spatial, demographic analysis using Harvard University database information. Cambridge, MA.
summer, 2004
Army Corps of Engineers
Community Planner
Consulted on the integration of community and environmental planning tactics for engineered water resource management projects. Concord, MA.
spring, 2004
Charles River Conservancy
Project Intern
Authored a transportation master plan for an alternative intersection design along Charles River’s multi-use pathway. Cambridge, MA.
autumn, 2003
Northwest Regional Outdoor Science School
Field Instructor, Program Coordinator
Created an instructional curriculum, taught and facilitated educational programs in coastal ecology and marine biology. Portland, OR.
spring, 2002, 2003
Riccharina Foundacion Ecologica
Water Quality Surveyor
Remote user survey of rural water source quality. GPS. Cuenca, Ecuador.
autumn, 2002
World Wildlife Fund
Volunteer Researcher
Researched deforestation rates prior to the Kanchenjnga Conservation Area’s parkland designation. Kanchenjnga, Nepal.
spring, 2000
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
Web 2.0 technology, green design, Adobe Dreamweaver, Illustrator, ArcGIS, Wilderness First Responder certification, wilderness leadership, home repair, environmental education, limited Spanish, Chinese, Nepali.
The design/build steps involved in the construction of an 'Accessory Dwelling Unit' in Portland, Oregon. Check out the online class
