Michael Orbank began his career as an environmental field technician, sampling soil and water to better understand the implications of petroleum contamination. But through conversations with subcontractors while on various job sites, Michael began to see an alternative pathway that could position him to make a bigger impact in the world of sustainability. So, he went back to school, earned a master’s in civil engineering and initially entered the field as a project manager at a construction firm.

That role didn’t fully satisfy his deep-seated interest in sustainability, so he began seeking out like-minded groups in the Boston area. He soon found himself in a session led by the Carbon Leadership Forum about embodied carbon in buildings. And it was that session that turned the kaleidoscope for Michael.

Fast forward to present day, and Michael is serving as a sustainability manager at STO Building Group and advocating for the contractor’s role in escalating reuse in the building industry. At this year’s Build Reuse conference, Michael shared how he’s leveraging this position to further circularity and why contractors are essential partners in achieving circular construction.