Our Mission
Urban Verde’s mission is to promote Environmental Justice by restoring contaminated properties to beneficial public use such as affordable housing, educational learning centers, healthcare facilities, and job-creating entities.
Urban Verde works with city administrators, community leaders, and state and local government officials to identify projects, implement the remediation/cleanup plan, and develop the property for public use.
Projects are funded by corporate gifts, private donations, government grants and fundraising events.
Board of Directors
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Laura Brinkerhoff
LSRP, CPG - FOUNDER
Laura Brinkerhoff is a Certified Professional Geologist with an extensive background in the environmental field. She has negotiated cleanup plans with local, state, and federal oversight agencies when traditional methods are not considered "cost effective” and maintains strong relationships with regulatory officials who approve various financing alternatives and funding programs.
For the past 25 years, Ms. Brinkerhoff has worked with communities in need by designing and implementing complex Brownfield remedial solutions. She is a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) and Licensed Professional Geologist/Hydrogeologist in NY, PA, and DE. She supports Environmental Justice in every community in which she serves.
Robert P. Sobol
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Robert Sobol has helped solve redevelopment challenges by offering creative, cost-effective solutions to remediate contaminated properties. His experience encompasses more than 30 years in commercial real estate development, environmental consulting, green energy projects, and sustainability planning. Mr. Sobol supports equitable redevelopment and socially conscious environmental objectives; he is committed to help Urban Verde succeed in its mission to revitalize contaminated properties to their highest and best use.
Mr. Sobol’s work includes identifying and securing grant funding from state and federal sources to test and remediate contaminated sites known as "Brownfields." He is focused on job creation, affordable housing development, and preserving open space in underserved communities and is committed to Environmental Justice as an avenue to create healthier, more vibrant communities.
Rich DePetro
DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR
Rich DePetro has been involved in the development of real estate in urban renewal areas, the opportunity to serve on the Board of Urban Verde is a continuum of Mr. DePetro’s passion for renewing urban communities. Since restoring his first brownstone in Jersey City in 1982, Mr. DePetro has dedicated his career to creating innovative uses for abandoned properties throughout New Jersey’s urban areas.
While working on an affordable housing redevelopment project that involved restoring six “shell” row homes in one of Newark, New Jersey’s historic districts, Mr. DePetro earned the nickname “orphan developer” for adding new life to these properties; a title bestowed by the City Director of Development who described the properties as “orphan properties.”
Mr. DePetro is dedicated to enjoying and creating natural habitats, and volunteers his time serving on several community boards and consulting with historic preservation groups.
Lou A. Schiedt, PE, PP
ENGINEERING ADVISOR
Lou Scheidt brings his vast knowledge of engineering and real estate development to Urban Verde as a Professional Engineer and Professional Planner. Mr. Scheidt is a New Jersey resident with a Master’s Degree in Management Science/Economics from Stevens Institute of Technology, and a BSCE from Valparaiso University. He was the founder and CEO of Innovative Engineering. Inc., a multidisciplined engineering firm that combined civil, electrical, mechanical, structural, and geotechnical engineering.
Mr. Scheidt is the recipient of the New Jersey Bell Good Citizenship Award. He has also served on Boards of several charitable, communal, and international organizations, including Grace and Peace Church, Safe Harbor, International Christian Wealth Builders Foundation, Community Compass, Grace Initiatives, and Urban Verde. He has acted as Secretary for Homes for All and founding president of both Monmouth Ocean Food Bank and Toms River Kiwanis. Mr. Scheidt is past president of the Sterling Wood Civic Association and Monmouth Professional Engineers. Mr. Scheidt’s passion for creating a cleaner environmental is evident in his volunteer work on the Wall Twp. Planning Board Environmental Committee.
Advisory Board
Marjorie Perry
COMMUNITY ADVISOR
As president of MZM Construction Co, Inc., Marjorie Perry is an innovator and role model for women in non-traditional fields. Her Newark, NJ based firm, founded in 1992, has been cited for consistently completing construction projects within budget and on time. Ms. Perry is recognized as a successful entrepreneur for her company’s General Contracting work for client that include the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Delta Airlines, Port Authority of NY/NJ, and Verizon, Continental Airlines, Marriott. She proudly participated in the construction for the new Meadowlands Stadium (now called MetLife Stadium) for the Giants and Jets football teams.
Ms. Perry has a B.A. degree from Kean University and has also completed the Leadership for the 21st Century training at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, and has an MBA from New Jersey Institute of Technology. Named one of the top 50 women in business in 2007 in the State of New Jersey and top 25 Entrepreneurs in New Jersey in 2008, she received an A901 license from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and was appointed to New Jersey Economic Development Board by former NJ Governor Chris Christie.
Adam Lowy
FUNDING ADVISOR
Adam Lowy is passionate about the environment and helping to restore blighted properties to benefit the communities in which they are located. Mr. Lowy assists Urban Verde as an advisor in fund raising given his years of experience as founder of Move for Hunger, a Neptune, New Jersey based non-profit that assists food-insecure populations, especially those living in “food deserts” where access to grocery stores and fresh, nutritious food is limited.
Mr. Lowy brings to Urban Verde a wealth of knowledge in locating funding sources for non-profit ventures. He will be advising Urban Verde in the grant application process, fund raising activities, marketing and event coordination for stakeholder outreach and volunteer participation. A native of Monmouth County, NJ Mr. Lowy is a graduate of the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.