Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle with Joe Connell

<p><strong>Joe Connell</strong> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">has</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">been Executive Director of the Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) since 2017. Being in the building trades since I was 15 years old, and in reuse nonprofits for the last 20 years I am a builder at heart. Whether it's renovating our 1887 home on an offshore island in Maine, or restructuring and building a nonprofit for success, I delight in looking for ways to improve systems and structures. Building a successful nonprofit, is not much different than building a solid house; square, level, plumb, is the trick; and keep the junk out. The difference with nonprofits is that the people are the foundation; and that’s the fun part.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since 2000, I have been a leader in the reuse industry, first in the Northwest where I helped launch several local reuse groups in Portland, Oregon; and served on the City of Portland’s Deconstruction Advisory Group to pass the nation’s first deconstruction ordinance. Then nationally with Habitat for Humanity through my work on the National ReStore Committee. I am now continuing that work nationally with the BMRA.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While with Habitat we built the Portland Habitat ReStores into one of the nation’s top 5 ReStores in revenue and net profit. Since joining the BMRA I have been revising and refocusing the organization to align the BMRA with other industries in the sustainable materials management industry and continue to heighten the awareness of reuse and deconstruction. I am also strongly focused on the incredible potential for workforce development and social ventures within the reuse economy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other than building and rebuilding I love to cook, garden, and walk the rocky island beaches of my home in Maine.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My favorite quote is from another Maine transplant;  "I wake up every morning determined both to c