A pioneer of Oregon’s green building movement, Stephen founded Green Hammer in 2002 and has grown the company into a full-service design-build firm known for its commitment to excellence in environmental design and performance. He is a dedicated educator, business leader, and father who has committed much of his life to proving that healthy, carbon-free buildings are the best choice — for a healthy planet, healthy people and a healthy bottom line.

Stephen has fostered a company culture at Green Hammer that is rooted in teamwork and is driven by a client-centered unified design build process. In 2017, he led Green Hammer through a rigorous third-party process to become a certified B Corp. The certification process involved a comprehensive review of the company’s practices, including worker salaries and benefits, civic engagement, energy and water usage, purchasing policies, and more. Receiving high marks in most categories, Green Hammer has been recognized as a B-Corp Best of the World Honoree.

Led by Stephen, Green Hammer ranked #16 on the 2019 Portland Business Journal's list of Fastest Growing Private Companies, was one of 12 recipients of the 2019 Small Business Innovation Awards, and was recognized as a 2020 Real Leaders Impact Award winner — alongside Patagonia, Seventh Generation, Tesla, Fully and other leading global impact companies. 

Within its industry, Green Hammer is known for pushing the envelope and achieving numerous firsts. The firm completed the first certified commercial Living Building in Oregon – the tasting room at Cowhorn Vineyard and Garden — and Portland’s first Zero Energy neighborhood for seniors at Rose Villa. Green Hammer is currently one of fewer than 20 firms nationwide meeting the American Institute of Architects’ 2030 Commitment — a voluntary initiative to transition the building industry to a carbon-free environment by 2030.

Stephen is a Certified Passive House Consultant who regularly speaks at conferences and events, where he draws upon his experience and expertise in business leadership, design-build, and building science to inspire local and national audiences. He has touched the lives of hundreds of building and design professionals through his role as instructor of Earth Advantage Institute’s Sustainable Homes Professional course. The comprehensive, experience-driven education program includes six weekend-long modules that dive deep into science and barriers to high-performance building design.

Stephen has served on numerous boards throughout his career. He is currently the Vice Chair of the environmental education nonprofit Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center.