Weston Crawford
Sustainability, Decarbonization, & Energy Management Professional
Dynamic professional with a solid background crafting and implementing comprehensive sustainability and energy efficiency strategies. Recognized for excelling in guiding organizations through the development of complex decarbonization programs, from concept to full-scale execution. Known for original thought leadership and proficiency in operational strategy, and instrumental in aligning projects with international corporate goals for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Possesses a unique combination of cross-functional leadership skills and effective stakeholder engagement, adept at spearheading initiatives that foster sustainable innovation and driving significant business transformation.
A collaborative, highly inspirational professional who has:
-
Developed and executed a corporate real estate sustainability roadmap, facilitating a significant corporate divestiture and seamlessly facilitating its adoption by the acquiring entity.
-
Orchestrated the outsourcing of the utility payments business process across a 530-property portfolio, leveraging aggregation to realize efficiencies and achieve substantial cost reductions.
-
Spearheaded the procurement of renewable energy credits, adeptly maintaining expenses despite a 500% market price surge.
-
Implemented a transformative waste diversion plan that significantly elevated recycling rate penetration from 7% to 50% across a retail real estate footprint, showcasing impactful environmental stewardship.
-
Overhauled vendor management processes, successfully streamlining security review timelines by 30% during a critical acquisition integration period without compromising standards.
Currently located in Seattle, WA. Open to on-site, remote, and hybrid.
Experience
June 2021 – December 2023
Senior Program Lead - Sustainability
Led the establishment of a comprehensive Corporate Real Estate (CRE) sustainability program, overseeing all phases from inception to execution across a 4 million square foot portfolio. Developed and implemented strategic roadmaps for decarbonization to drive sustainability objectives forward. Managed significant budgets and external consultancy teams to ensure effective implementation of energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives. Guided comprehensive data analysis and reporting efforts for global corporate sustainability reporting, ensuring accuracy and transparency in environmental performance metrics. Procured renewable energy credits and aligned initiatives with corporate sustainability mandates. Collaborated cross-functionally to integrate sustainability principles into business operations, driving measurable results in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.
December 2019 – August 2022
Sr. Program Manager
Transformed vendor management processes, leading a team of 12 in the efficient execution of security reviews and integration of financial risk assessments. Championed innovative strategies for workload management, team organization, and policy development. Successfully navigated team through high-pressure acquisition integration, significantly reducing project timelines while maintaining quality. Established robust financial risk frameworks, enhancing vendor stability and compliance, and expertly liaised with key stakeholders to instill a culture of fiscal responsibility and operational excellence.
November 2017 – December 2019
Product Manager – Third-Party Risk Management System
Instrumental in developing and enhancing the Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) system of record, focusing on evolving features and functionality to adapt to emerging challenges, including the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Developed and oversaw the roadmap for thematic system releases, ensuring that new functionalities met evolving business needs. Demonstrated exceptional foresight by creating dormant watchlist monitoring functionality, which was later pivotal for managing supply chain disruptions during the pandemic. Worked closely with external consultants to achieve these goals and effectively communicated system functionalities to auditors, regulators, and compliance personnel, highlighting the system's robust capabilities in managing vendor risks.
Multiple Seattle
Based Consulting Firms
August 2008 – October 2017
Consultant – Finance | Project Manager
Led numerous high-impact projects for high-profile clients, demonstrating a versatile finance and project management skill set. Key responsibilities included developing financial models, executive dashboards, managing project timelines, and providing strategic insights to improve organizational efficiency and profitability.
Representative Clients: Microsoft, Amazon, Trilogy International Partners, Sound Transit
Results
Spearheaded the procurement
of renewable energy certificates to offset Scope 2 GHG emissions, adeptly maintaining expenses despite a 500% YoY market price surge.
Developed and executed a corporate real estate sustainability roadmap, facilitating a significant corporate divestiture and seamless facilitation of its adoption by the acquiring entity.
Wrote the winning RFP response which enabled a private entity to take possession of an aircraft hangar at Ontario Intl Airport and develop it into a private aircraft fixed-base operation terminal (FBO) for executive use.
Expertise
-
Business Intelligence
-
Capital Markets
-
Change Management
-
Corporate Real Estate
-
Cross-functional Teams
-
Energy Management
-
Financial Reporting & Analysis
-
Forecasting
-
Internal Controls
-
Leadership
-
Multisite Operations
• Net Zero
• Program Development
• Project Management
• Relationship Management
• Risk Management
• Strategic Roadmaps
• Supplier Relations
• Supply Chain
• Sustainability
• Team Building
• Team Leadership
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Finance
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Landscape Architecture
Certifications:
• PMP
• CEM (EMIT)
• Business Intelligence
Meet Weston
Q & A
If you're working on a team with people whose work styles are markedly different…
I endeavor to treat all team members fairly and without favor or bias. I've learned enough to know that there's always a better way, and even the best at what they do are occasionally humbled. If I am the oddball in a group, I wait, listen, and learn from others. If there's an opportunity to put forth a better way to go about something, I will present it without ego and live with the group's decision. If I'm not the oddball, I will give the oddball room to challenge the group's norms and let the group collectively decide how they want to move forward.
When establishing a vision for/with your team how do you go about it?
When I'm establishing a vision for a team, I start with the endgame in mind. As succinctly as possible, I describe where we're headed. I may develop possible ways of getting there, but I keep those to myself. Instead, I involve them in brainstorming ways we might get there and try to gently steer them away from paths that I think may be inefficient or unfruitful and towards paths that have the best chance of success. But I'm also open to being challenged and persuaded if someone is willing to show conviction to get to the finish line.
How do go about solving a business problem when you don't know where to begin?
I find these challenges to be some of the most rewarding to take on. To be honest, I start by researching what others have done in a similar situation--why reinvent the wheel if you don't have to? If I don't find anything relevant, I break the problem down into its component requirements and likely start with the end goal in mind. From there, I work backward at a high level about ways to get there. I iterate, build small workable models and test them to see if they're viable. Once I'm convinced I have a working prototype, I scale it (but not fully) to make sure it's going to work at a larger scale; if it doesn’t, I make adjustments until it does. Finally, I scale the model fully across the balance of the body of work.
Interests & Hobbies
Boating
Skiing
