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Residence: Kensington.

Age: 60.

Family: Husband, Art; daughter, Sarah.

Profession/business: Executive director of the Building Wellness Institute in Silver Spring, "the nation's first accredited training program for green, healthy cleaning to comply with the Green Seal GS-42 standard (an environmental standard for cleaning services). I'm an occupational and environmental health specialist and certified indoor environmentalist by profession with more than 25 years of experience. I helped establish the Building Wellness Institute to meet the growing demand for healthy, sustainable indoor environments.

"My company helps businesses, long-term care facilities, schools and universities protect the health and comfort of their building occupants through comprehensive training, consulting and assessment programs. Our training program provides building service contractors and in-house facility/environmental services staff the training they need to meet the requirements of the Green Seal GS-42 certification program and the Cleaning Industry Management Standard. Cleaning personnel and building service contractors that are GS-42 certified provide building owners and property managers the ability to differentiate their facilities with the Green Seal logo and help them gain points toward [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] certification. Our goal is to help all involved come out a winner — cleaning personnel, property managers, building occupants and the environment."

Hobbies: Gardening, photography.

Last book read: "Trail of Crumbs: Hunger, Love, and the Search for Home" by Kim Sunee.

Last movie seen: "Angels & Demons"

Next vacation spot: Isle of Palms, S.C.

Latest accomplishment: "Established the Building Wellness Institute and achieved accreditation as an instructor of GS-42 compliant training and for our Building Wellness Certification Training program. Delivered training to Howard County Public Schools, which, as of June 25, 2009, became the first K-12 school system in the state of Maryland to complete a green cleaning certification program [based on information from accreditation organization EcoMetrical Corp. of McLean, Va.]. We're especially proud to contribute to the greening of Maryland's schools."

How she keeps fresh ideas coming: "My profession and business — and the green movement in general — are all about innovation, keeping up with the latest trends, and improving upon the standards that are currently in place. Quite simply, I read everything I can get my hands on related to the industry and network with other leaders through conferences, seminars and other events. Learning, interacting with my peers, and welcoming other people's ideas drive my own creativity and the success of my business."

Quote: "I hope to change the overall view of cleaning and the people who provide this vital public health service. Too often, cleaning personnel are treated disrespectfully, and their jobs, for which they are often underpaid and overworked, are considered unimportant. If there's anything I hope to accomplish through our training program, it's to elevate the level of professionalism and respect of cleaning service personnel."