Meet the President
Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP
Mr. Greene has served in the engineering, environmental consulting, construction and remediation arenas for more than 40 years, including president of GLE since 1989. He has managed numerous consulting and contracting projects for public and private sector clients throughout the United States with construction/environmental remediation costs exceeding $100 million.
In 1987, the governor appointed Mr. Greene to the Florida Asbestos Committee, which was responsible for developing state asbestos regulations. He has also served as an expert witness for litigation for environmental and construction related issues.
Mr. Greene founded GLE as a consulting firm focused on environmental services combined with traditional architectural and engineering. Mr. Greene recognized a need for owners to work with a single consultant rather than contract with multiple firms. He believed that a company which provided an in-house team of architects, engineers and environmental professionals could deliver a more comprehensive project on time and within budget, resulting in client savings. Currently GLE offers: Environmental Services, Engineering, Building Assessment, Industrial Hygiene, Catastrophe & Insurance, and Construction Management.
What was your first paid job?
I started a lawn care business when I was 11 and continued it until college. I also worked bagging groceries at Publix from age 15 until I graduated from UF.
What do you read for business and for pleasure?
I read numerous industry newsletters and publications as well as the Wall Street Journal everyday. I am a voracious reader of fiction, probably 2-3 books per month. I also listen to recorded books and generally am listening to a recorded book and reading another at the same time.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
To start my own firm.
Where do you get new ideas?
I am always listening to our clients and competitors. If I listen long enough and often enough, I can identify a problem to be solved or an issue to be resolved. Once I have identified a need in the marketplace, I am very good at finding a way that GLE can help provide the solution.
Where do you see GLE in 5-10 years?
GLE will be a major regional architecture, engineering and environmental consulting company with offices in the southern US and a staff of over 500 employees. We will be the largest company in the US specializing in building sciences.
How do you stay competitive in today’s economy?
In today’s economy it is critical to be flexible. What was the right market and service line yesterday may not be right today. Strong sales and marketing are more important now than ever. Providing good consulting services is not enough anymore. It is important that we show our clients that we add value to their operations and are not just an expense on their income statements.
