Rose Seeger
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Rose Seeger, LEED AP, ARCSA AP, GRP
Owner, Green City Resources
Rose Seeger
Rose Seeger is a LEED AP, ARCSA AP, and GRP accredited professional who owns Green City Resources in Cincinnati. Her company specializes in the design, installation and maintenance of stormwater management systems; bioretention, green roofing, rainwater harvesting and native and sustainable landscaping. Rose also has expertise in healing gardens and horticulture therapy gardens. Rose believes that urban revitalization depends on the use of green infrastructure to alleviate the challenges associated with extreme weather events in urban areas like heatwaves and flooding.
GRHC connected with Rose to ask a few questions as she is a Green Roof Professional (GRP) and a valued member of the organization!
Why did you decide to become a GRP?
When I started Green City in 2008 the green roof movement was just taking off in the Cincinnati area, I sought out several courses in Indianapolis, Chicago and a few in Cincinnati to try to get as much technical education as I could find. The GRP accreditation was the final step to say I was ready for this industry and to show my clients they would be working with an accredited professional.
How has it enhanced your career?
We work with architects, construction firms, hospitals, schools and business owners, so having this education, the GRP designation and experience in design, installation and maintenance combined, set their minds at ease that they have someone who can deliver and resolve issues.
What is your favorite part of your job?
In the beginning I would have said it was making the world a greener place, but over the years our roofs have evolved from being a green space to becoming wildlife habitats, healing gardens, places for therapy and urban agriculture. Seeing how people react to a roof garden, how it makes them feel, the connecting of people and nature is my favorite part. We work with several hospitals and schools, putting a vegetable garden on top of an inner-city school and watching it transforming students, parents and the school itself. I get emails from people whose parent or spouse has been in the hospital and how the garden has helped them feel better and brought them comfort…yeah, that’s my favorite part.
Additional details about the GRP process or how it contributes to your work
Going through the whole process; the courses, the conference and the testing is definitely something I would recommend to anyone who wants to be in this industry. Knowing each process even though you may only be installing the plant material, understanding the membrane and how all the layers work together is a valuable selling tool. When an architect asks me “what membrane do you recommend?” and I can objectively talk to him about his options without being a salesman, it sets them at ease.
What advice would you provide to someone interested in pursuing a similar career path to yourself
I would advise anyone who is serious about being in this industry to pursue the GRP, take the courses and go to the conferences; it will set you apart from your competitors. It will give you the groundwork and more confidence to start your experience path.
What trends about green infrastructure/sustainability make you excited for the future?
Green roofs are no longer considered a trend; people are embracing them on an executive level. The Healthcare industry understands how roof gardens and therapy gardens are excellent for employee and patient health. Schools understand gardens are part of a child’s development and putting them on the roof is inspiring to students.
Corporations understand building a wildlife habitat to offset its concrete footprint is giving back to their community. Seeing these revelations in commercial areas are what makes me excited for what may come in the next ten years and what we can do next.
What do you see the role of green infrastructure in resilience and the COVID-19 recovery?
Since several of our clients are hospitals and schools we have been locked out of going into their facilities. I have confidence that when we do get back on the roof it will still be intact and beautiful; we have good bones in place for these projects with good maintenance plans. I know people are still going out onto the therapy areas and people are still looking over the roof garden while having their babies. Outdoor spaces are the best for social distancing and with so many people having to be hospitalized they can use more hort therapy.
To learn more about Rose and Green City Resources visit their website at greencityresources.com
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Green Roof Professionals are industry recognized as having the most extensive knowledge of green roofs due to the rigorous training and exam process. The GRP training series and exam is available online through the Living Architecture Academy. Learn more about Green Roofs for Healthy Cities or how to become a Green Roof Professional.
