green|spaces Welcomes New Executive Director

Rick Bowers, green|spaces Executive Director

green|spaces is thrilled to announce that Richard J. Bowers, Jr. “Rick” has been named as the new Executive Director.

A Chattanooga native, Bowers graduated from The Baylor School and Tulane University. After earning his J.D. from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Bowers settled in Detroit, gaining a vast environmental law background with specific focuses on brownfield redevelopment, site remediation, municipal water treatment, solar and wind permitting, and air quality standards and remediation. 

“Chattanooga was once known for its pollution and industrial footprint. Now, Chattanooga is recognized as one of the most transformed cities, known for outdoor activities, tourism, and natural beauty,” said Bowers. “I am excited to join green|spaces and continue to improve regional sustainability as our city continues to achieve national benchmarks.” 

Bowers previously served as the Director of the Office of Energy and Sustainability for the City of Detroit and focused on creating programs that ranged from large-scale planning to community initiatives. During Rick’s tenure, he created a Climate Action Plan, initiated the Green Task Force (the first sustainability initiative for the City of Detroit), a curbside recycling program, managed neighborhood urban garden creation with the Greening of Detroit, and created a winterization program to help insulate low-income properties.  

While in Detroit, Bowers initiated a fast-track zoning and permit approval for green building, organized reward initiatives for LEED certification of new construction buildings and homes, and benchmarked utility usage for City-owned buildings. His experience and passion for green construction fit naturally with green|spaces’ mission to advance the sustainability of living, working, and building. 

For the past 13 years, Bowers has practiced law focusing on government relations, real estate, estate, planning, and contracts.  green|spaces attracted Bowers back to Chattanooga because of its focus on environmental well-being, educational outreach, and comprehensive approach to sustainability. His commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with the core values of green|spaces, making him an opportune choice for the organization.

green|spaces board chair, Becky English said, “The green|spaces board is excited to welcome Rick to the team. We believe his legal background, environmental knowledge, and experience working with local government will help grow our organization in this new chapter.”