ABOUT US
Who We Are
Founded in 2007, Greening Urban LLC is a Washington, D.C.-based Local Small Certified Business Enterprise. We are a full-service civil engineering firm with built projects in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and beyond. Our service areas include government, commercial, mixed-use, multi-family, and affordable housing. Greening Urban is committed to excellence with a focus on integrating sustainability into every project.
Our team has a wide depth and breadth of experience in all aspects of civil engineering and green technology, along with extensive experience in environmental site planning.
Our Mission
At Greening Urban, we are dedicated to transforming visionary sustainable designs into practical, real-world projects that can be built and maintained over time, while minimizing resource use, avoiding negative impacts, and enhancing environmental quality. Our work primarily focuses on stormwater management and green infrastructure, but we also collaborate with project partners to leverage additional “triple bottom line” benefits.
Our mission is to overcome the barriers to sustainable development by demonstrating the value of green practices and breaking down the silos between disciplines. We believe that partnerships and collaboration across disciplines and sectors are key to achieving cost savings while maximizing green benefits on projects of all scales.
WHAT SETS US APART?
We are driven by the understanding that the design and construction industries have a crucial role in addressing global warming and its effects. While progress has been made, the challenge remains to scale up sustainability efforts from individual sites to neighborhoods, cities, and regions. Our mission is to lead this effort by integrating nature into urban and suburban landscapes, ensuring that sustainability is not just a concept, but a reality that shapes the future of our built environment.
What sets Greening Urban apart from the competition?
- Our people
- Knowledge of government agencies and the permitting process
- Focus on integrating sustainability
- Client relationship management
- Strategic mix of technology and business
We pride ourselves on being nimble and focusing on responding to our customer’s needs. We strongly believe that integrated design along with non-siloed design teams save clients’ money.
Our Team
J. “CHRIS” EARLEY, LEED AP BD+C PRINCIPAL
Chris Earley combines years of engineering design experience with a deep commitment to sustainable development through project management, community outreach and a focus on innovative sustainable infrastructure.
Prior to founding Greening Urban LLC, Chris spearheaded the sustainable urban development initiative at Timmons Group, a 350 multi-disciplinary civil engineering firm, bringing engineering into urban revitalization, as well as bringing environmentally sensitive site design into downtown Richmond, Virginia and beyond. Prior to Timmons Group, Chris managed a variety of civil engineering projects on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, maximizing the use of low-impact development techniques wherever possible.
Chris presents frequently on green civil engineering and site design to architects, engineers and developers, as well as serving as an advocate for environmentally sensitive engineering and related subjects. He consults on a multitude of innovative green infrastructure and low-impact development stormwater management projects. As a LEED Accredited Professional, he has also consulted on Sustainable Sites criteria for many green building and development projects.
As Principal of Greening Urban, LLC for over 10 years, Chris is extremely familiar with the permit processing, codes, guidelines and expectations of many State, Local and Government entities throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
Chris Earley's Experience
Years of Experience: 28
Education:
- 2001 / Architectural and Civil Engineering, J. Sergeant Reynolds College
- 1997 / Bachelor of Arts: Cum Laude
Virginia Commonwealth University
Professional Affiliations:
- Urban Ecosystem Restorations – Board of Directors
- City of Richmond Green Building Advisory Commission – Current Chair
- James River Green Building Council – Member & Former Board Member
- Virginia Downtown Development Association – Current Board Member
- District of Columbia Stormwater Taskforce – Member
Accreditations: LEED AP 2004
Gary Woolsey, Project Engineer
Gary joined Greening Urban in 2013 and has grown through experience in sustainable development and design, with expertise in Stormwater Management Design, emphasizing a focus on environmentally-minded engineering practices.
In his most recent role as a Project Engineer at Greening Urban, Gary has successfully managed remote projects while overseeing civil CAD design and stormwater management. Before this, he gained valuable experience as a Civil CAD Technician and Designer at Mickle Wagner Coleman, Inc., where he contributed to numerous civil engineering projects.
Throughout his career, Gary has demonstrated a strong commitment to quality, efficiency, and professionalism. He is known for his attention to detail and problem-solving abilities. Gary’s educational background includes a Drafting & Design, CP from the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, and a Certificate of Accreditation for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008. Over the course of his career, Gary has honed his skills in various software programs, including AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk Infraworks, and Bentley Microstation.
Based in Oklahoma, he has contributed to a range of projects across the US, including D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Arkansas.
Gary Woolsey's Experience
Years of Experience: 36
Education:
- 1985 / Engineering, Drafting & Design, University of Arkansas, Fort Smith
Certifications:
- AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk Infraworks 2012 Applied Technology Group
Software Experience:
- AutoCAD 2022 (all previous versions to AutoCAD Release 10)
- AutoCAD Civil 3D 2022
- AutoDesk Infraworks 2016
- AutoCAD Land Desktop 2009
- AutoCAD Architectural Desktop
- Softdesk 8 Civil Design
- Microsoft Word & Excel
- Bentley Microstation V8
- Paint Shop Pro 7
Stephen Lisse, Professional Engineer
Having joined the team in December of 2025, Stephen brings 50+ years of progressive leadership and technical expertise as a registered Professional Engineer spanning engineering, construction, utilities, energy, transportation, marine, environmental, and federal infrastructure programs. He has extensive experience in program and project management; cost, schedule, risk, and claims management; change-order negotiation; contract administration; parametric estimating; QA/QC; and expert testimony on multi-billion-dollar public and private-sector projects worldwide.
Stephen brings a proven executive and advisory background, including board service, adjunct faculty appointments, and senior roles in EPC firms, government agencies, and consulting practices. His domain knowledge is in power plants, water and wastewater systems, transit, ports, facilities engineering, and defense infrastructure, with a strong record in business development, proposal capture, export controls compliance, and mentoring multidisciplinary teams. At Greening Urban, Stephen primarily focuses on site construction document design and review.
Stephen Lisse's Experience
Years of Experience: 50+
Education:
- 1974 / Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University
- 1981 / Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University
- 2026 Expected / PhD Candidate ISE, Virginia Tech
Certifications:
- Licensed Professional Engineer
District of Columbia, 9258
State of Maryland, 17066
Commonwealth of Virginia, 19819 - US Navy Subspecialty Code: Facilities Engineer (1981)
- Designated US Navy Surface Warfare Officer (1975)
- Qualified Fleet Officer of the Deck (1975)
Professional Affiliations:
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Life Member
- American Society of Naval Engineers, Emeritus Member
- American Association of Cost Engineers, Member
- Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers, Member
Awards & Honors:
- PSME Honorary Member (1987)
- ASME Centennial Medallion (1987)
- 8 US Navy Letters of Commendation
- 3 US Navy Letters of Appreciation
- Purdue Fellow (1980)
- BSME Highest Distinction (1974)
Nicole Kusiolek, Operations Manager
Aldric Martinez-Olson, Marketing & Business Development Specialist
Sofía Salvador-Turner, Marketing & Business Development Associate
Alex Green, Marketing & Business Development Associate
Ready to explore new possibilities?
Contact us to schedule an initial consultation. We’ll work with you one-on-one to determine a road map to success.
We look forward to working with you soon.