Jess Harris, LEED AP BD+C is the Green Building Program Manager at the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI), where he leads the development, promotion, and administration of the city’s green building incentive programs. Jess spearheaded the creation of Priority Green, one of the region’s first expedited permitting incentives. He oversees Seattle’s Living Building PilotProgram, inspired by the internationally recognized Living Building Challenge, which pushes the boundaries of performance in sustainable design. Since 2019, Jess has served on the Built GreenExecutive Committee, and in 2022, he was honored with the Master Builders Association’s BuiltGreen Pioneer Award for his transformative impact on the green building industry. He recently became a committee member with the Carbon Leadership Forum Seattle Hub. With over 30years of experience in land use planning and sustainable development, Jess is widely regarded as SDCI’s subject matter expert in green building. Prior to his current role, he served as a Senior Land Use Planner, contributing to a wide range of public and private development projects across Seattle.