Team Cotocon
Jimmy Carchietta LEED AP, Assoc. AIA Founder & CEO
Jimmy Carchietta’s strong passion for green and energy-efficient buildings is rooted in his love and devotion for his family and his 25 years plus of experience in large-scale contracting. As an infant, Carchietta’s eldest son survived a rare cancer that was attributed to environmental contamination on Long Island. This crisis radicalized Carchietta’s consciousness and put him on the path to creating the Cotocon Group. He saw his sense of responsibility for the environment extending to the world all our children will inherit. He clearly saw what he, with his practical, real-world building experience, could accomplish in greening the built environment.
Carchietta began his direct work with green building technology in 1995 when, as owner, he built one of the first solid waste management facilities on Long Island. This DEC-approved concrete recycling facility processed nearly 2,000 tons of waste a day. Carchietta’s concrete recycling facility led to other large-scale environmental projects such as the construction of a wastewater treatment facility for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and an iron removal facility for the Long Island Water Authority.
Carchietta is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the USGBC - Long Island Chapter and NYCs Urban Green Council, the NYC chapter of the USGBC. He is a member of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA).
Jimmy Carchietta is also active in philanthropic efforts for charities including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, A Mother’s Kiss (Children’s Cancer Charity), Schneider’s Children’s Hospital, the Michael Anthony Foundation, and the Starlight Foundation. He is proud to have personally provided rescue and recovery services at the Ground Zero disaster site in 2001.
Thomas J. Carchietta Assoc. AIA – Co-Founder & CFO
Thomas Carchietta is the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of the Cotocon Group (TCG) and a USGBC member. He has more than 25 years of experience with the construction industry, and a reputation for design, development, and implementation of innovative turnkey approaches to projects.
In conjunction with Orange County, NY and the City of Newburgh, Carchietta helped pioneer the revitalization of historic downtown Newburgh, NY in 1996. This included the restoration and renovation of the New York State Naval Armory, originally constructed in 1879. This project was featured in the New York Times and Gemma Development Corporation and was the recipient of an award from the New York State Preservation Society for the integrity and historical importance of the project.
Carchietta has also been credited for designing one of the first fiber optic rings in Orange County, NY in coordination with the development of an office complex for the first Telco Hotel switch facility in Newburgh, NY. As a result of Carchietta’s aggressive and disciplined methodology, clients can be assured that their green building projects are implemented and completed on time, and most importantly, within budget.
Abraham (Abe) Zelkin – Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Abraham (Abe) Zelkin brings his extensive experience building successful businesses to the Cotocon Group as Chief Operating Officer (COO). A builder and mentor of peak performance teams, Abe is an inspirational leader who has an exceptional track record in driving organizational improvement and business strategy.
Abe uses his expert knowledge to create a winning formula for implementing sustainability; and while doing so achieves organizational innovation and competitive advantage through an environmental lens.
As an accomplished and innovative entrepreneurial executive, Abe served as COO of a software development company where he led his company to record sales and profit growth. He was the lead in corporate and business development deals to raise capital and maintains those C-level corporate and investment bank contacts.
Abe founded and lead a software development company for 17 successful years as founding CEO where he developed strategic relationships with large Telecoms and major multinational corporations. After building the company to $50 M in global revenue, he successfully sold the company to a Fortune 1000 corporation.
H. Bradford Gustavson AIA NCARB LEED AP – Senior VP of Green Architecture
Brad Gustavson graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Fine Arts. He also has a Master of Business Administration from Fordham University, is a LEED Accredited Professional, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the USGBC. In the profession for over thirty years, Gustavson has obtained extensive experience in commercial and institutional renovations. Whenever possible his team introduces sustainable design concepts, energy efficiency, and environmentally sensitive solutions into all of their projects.
Gustavson oversees the architectural aspects of all Cotocon projects and is responsible for a team of green and sustainable design experts, including: architects, interior designers, and LEED APs (Accredited Professionals).
Robert Iulo LEED AP, AICP – Senior VP of Consulting Services
Robert Iulo has over 30 years of experience in both the private and public sectors as a construction professional, the last 17 years of that with the NYC’s Department of Buildings. Iulo earned his B.S. in Business at Pace University and his Master’s in Urban Planning at the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at New York University. In addition to being a LEED AP, he’s an active member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and is on the board of Landmark West, an upper Manhattan historic preservation organization.
Iulo received the NYC Dept. of Buildings World Trade Center Inspection Effort Award in 2001 and the Alliance for Downtown New York Exceptional Service Award in 2004.
Karla Fisk LEED AP, BD & C – Senior VP of Marketing and Media
A member of the USGBC, NYC’s Urban Green Council, and the Long Island USGBC, Karla Fisk is passionately committed to The Cotocon Group’s vision in creating a sustainable, healthy and energy-efficient built environment. Fisk has acted as a Senior LEED Project Manager on numerous projects in New York City, the NYC metro area, and on Long Island.
Originally trained as an oboist, orchestral performing led to classical music administration, management and promotion and then to founding a tour company that specialized in Central European music tours, TravelMusica. But Fisk grew up with houses being renovated around her so it was a natural move to renovating and selling property in New York. She acted as GC, managing a team of sub-contractors and bringing them in on budget. It was there she learned in detail how the guts of a building work, and the importance of energy efficiency and the use of sustainable materials in construction and renovation.
Born in Kansas, when Fisk heard about the town of Greensburg, Kansas going LEED Platinum, she was inspired to take her real estate experience into working directly to green the biggest energy users around: large commercial buildings.
John Acerra – VP of Sustainable Products
John Acerra has been a respected leader in the architectural woodworking industry for over 30 years. Acerra has led a team of skilled craftsmen to produce all types of custom millwork to corporate, commercial, and residential clients across the United States. His knowledgeable experience with sustainable products and the relationships that he has acquired give the Cotocon Group a strong base in sustainable products.
Corbett O’Connor – Director of Sustainable Products
Corbett O’Connor has worked in the remodeling industry for over 30 years, and is a USGBC member. O’Connor has worked in the private and public sectors as a construction manager, becoming knowledgeable in all aspects of the construction industry, and now focuses on the design and manufacturing of sustainable interior products, including all custom cabinetry. He is currently on his way to becoming a LEED AP, and the Director of Sustainable Products with the Cotocon Group.
O’Connor has a strong emphasis on environmentally friendly products and most recently awarded the “Green Recognition Award” from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). He has also won the esteemed 2009 NARI Contractor of the Year Award.
Teri Cavanaugh – LEED AP – Project Manager
Having grown up in Oregon, Teri Cavanaugh was encouraged to be a good steward of the environment from a very young age. On an extended trip out to Oregon a few years back, Cavanaugh became exposed to green building, and found it incredibly exciting to learn about the principles and methods of sustainable development. She is a LEED AP with the US Green Building Council, a member of NYC’s Urban Green Council, and a member of the American Solar Energy Society.
Cavanaugh is also a real estate broker in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and encourages the builders and home owners she works with to build and renovate with green building principles. As a Project Manager with The Cotocon Group, Cavanaugh gets to be involved in hands-on LEED certification of buildings as well as helping commercial buildings to become much more energy efficient.
