"Collaborator" - "Planetshifer.com's Interview with Interior Designer and Green Activist Lorraine Francis, AIA - Design Principal: CADIZ Collaboration, Orange County, CA. By William George Paul, willipaul.studio

"Our goal is to act from an informed perspective, crafting a balance of environmental concerns with great design and cost effective means. We understand that the collaborative process of working together with consultants, vendors, suppliers and our clients' local communities to achieve great outcomes is at the heart of what we do." – LF

In an effort to make progressive movement in greening the hospitality industry, Ms. Francis launched HOTELS+GREEN 44. The platform is bringing together a community of thought leaders around sustainability in the Hospitality Sector.

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Interview with Lorraine by Willi -

Can we live with Nature again? Have we cut her up and commoditized her to death?
Plenty of nature opportunities in the world- but it does take a mental shift to seek them out and get away from technology to be more open to them. As an architect, I am more solution oriented. There is some incredible research going on in the world with innovation ideas for the planet. The planet is self-healing and will be fine.

What are the dominate principles and ethics in play in corporate America? How can we transition away from these narratives and where would you take us?
Complacency - I believe most organizations fear failure and that paralyses growth and innovation. Transitioning away from this small thinking is seeking out the good and writing stories like you do at planetshifter.com.

Are men and women equal yet? And how are we different?
Men and women are not equal and that is not a bad thing. One is not inferior that the other. It's more about what we choose to do with our unique gender qualities in this world and how we flourish. Are women the salvation of the world? I believe women are the nurturers of the home and this planet.
Women drive 70-80% of all consumer purchases through their influence or power to purchase. As the emerging markets continue to grow and middle class continues to rise globally - women will be a dynamic force.

What do you want for your children?
I believe most Mom's want to leave the planet better for their children than they received it. I want my son to be happy, connected and impactful.

What is sustainable design? Regenerative design?
Regenerative design is the future - having a project that not only restores but improves the environment. I haven't had the opportunity to work on a project with this process oriented theory yet - but I feel there is a spark and more innovative developers are starting to think at this level. We have an upcoming opportunity with a client to educate them in this arena. We just need to make sense of the funding and the aspiration.

How do you like to collaborate?
Collaboration is key and it is very important to have all the project stakeholders / team members together at the beginning. This makes a project successful.

Who are your inspirations?
I have been working on some collaborative projects with Terrapin Bright Green and Bill Browning is an incredible thinker and strategist. We have been focusing on Biophilia and he has some engaging research in this foci.

How do your values fuel or conflict your corporate priorities?
Huh? Not sure what you are asking?? Conflict is inevitable with people and projects. A key to resolving them is to hit them straight on and not let things build up. I am a solution-oriented person and I like to be open minded and consider all perspectives to get to a final decision.

Small changes do matter.


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Bios -

Lorraine Francis, AIA
Design Principal: CADIZ Collaboration
Orange County, CA

Lorraine Francis has worked in the Hospitality Industry for over 25 years, leading and setting design direction for a multitude of hotel projects. At her previous firm Gensler, she was the Regional Director of Hospitality Interiors for 5 years and an integral member of Gensler's regional and firm-wide Hospitality practice area. She is an award-winning author and widely respected within the Hospitality community. Lorraine brings to her work a large breadth of interior and architectural project expertise working with major and boutique hotel brands like Marriott (Luxury Collection, Westin & Sheraton), Belamar Hotel, Tova Hotel and Xanterra resorts.

Currently, she is working on projects with Cambria Hotels, Sheraton Sonoma & Zhao Residence. Creativity, problem-solving, interaction, continuous learning, and innovation are the driving forces of Lorraine's work. She aims to create solutions that inspire and bring purpose to each space.

Ms. Francis recently completed a research passion project: "Biophilic Design - The ROI for the Guest Experience" in collaboration with Terrapin Bright Green & Interface. Other research includes: effects of Airbnb in Hospitality, Textile Performance and Design Science and currently focusing on Modular Building in Hospitality. In addition, she is a pioneer of the Hospitality industry's sustainability movement. She launched Hotels+Green, a platform where she led monthly seminars regarding sustainability best practices. Cadiz Collaboration provides architectural, interior design and green consulting services. We work together with our clients to conceive, plan and execute distinguished hotel, to produce enduring designs that exceed our clients' expectations. Designing successful hotels, spas and restaurants is our mission. Our projects create beauty, functionality and are profitable to our clients.

Lorrain Francis is an active national board member of the Sustainable Committee for NEWH. She often speaks at industry events including Green Lodging, BDNY, HD Expo, Bitac & NEWH Green Voices.

William George Paul
CEO / Exec Producer
Planetshifter.com
WilliPaul.Studio
willipaul1@gmail.com

Willi worked for several City Planning Departments including the City of Minneapolis, the City of St. Paul and the City of St. Louis Park, MN. As a Graduate Student as the Urban and Regional Studies Institute at University of MN - Mankato, he helped invent what we now know as online community with his Electronic Charrette process. He volunteered on multiple community design charrettes with Minnesota Design Team. He holds a M.A. from the Urban and Regional Studies Institute and several multiple planning projects as an employee and PhD student at Virginia Tech.

Currently, Willi draws deeply on the emerging values in the permaculture and transition towne movements. He is creating sound myths based now after an eight-year exploration of myth, alchemy, compost soil and sound archetypes for Planetshifter.com and his experimental sound project, the chaos era. Please discover him at Regenerative Mythology, a new Community of Practice, on LinkedIn. His first album and eBook are available at iTunes.

Willi is a former Project Manager with FacilitiesConsultant.com, a Bay Area office design and relocation firm. willipaul.studio, his new regenerative media solutions consultancy, is in 6th gear. Contact him there?