Our Team
Taylor Ralph, Founder + President
LEED AP BD+C, EcoDistricts AP
Taylor is the Founder & President of REAL. He is an experienced LEED AP BD+C focused on providing our clients with an integrated, holistic service that exceeds expectations. Working on many high-profile projects since 2006, he is a sought after expert on planning and developing communities in a sustainable, equitable & resilient manner.
Taylor is on the boards of Tampa Metropolitan YMCA, ULI Tampa Bay, USGBC Florida, and serves on the on the Advisory Board of the Gasparilla Music Foundation among other community involvement.
He has a Master of International Business from the University of Florida Warrington College of Business, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Florida.
Lis Galindo, Director, Sustainability Consulting
NCIDQ, LEED® AP ID+C, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador
Lis leads our sustainability consulting teams to ensure an integrated, holistic and streamlined approach to executing innovative, sustainable and healthy projects. She also leads our embodied carbon efforts, helping our clients evaluate the emissions impacts of material specifications and selection.
Her sound understanding of building materials, construction processes, human impacts, and sustainable interior design is critical to our holistic approach to sustainable design and construction. She has experience working on many large projects pursuing LEED New Construction and Commercial Interiors, Living Building Challenge, and WELL Building certifications.
Lis has a Bachelor of Science in Design & Environmental Analysis from Cornell University, and a Master of Professional Studies in Sustainable Interior Environments, Sustainable Design from the New York School of Interior Design.
Devesh Nirmul, Director, Energy + Innovation
LEED® AP O+M, CEM, CESP
Devesh leads REAL’s green finance, incentive and existing building efforts, helping our clients in utilizing innovative financing tools to help them integrate energy efficiency, resilience and health into their projects and buildings.
His prior experience includes serving as the Urban Sustainability Fellow with Pinellas County/University of FL-IFAS, launching Miami-Dade County’s Sustainability Offices, developing and managing a Building Energy Initiative in Chicago with the Environmental Defense Fund and participating in the University of Florida’s ‘Vision for a Sustainable Future,’ a foundational report developed in 2007 that has forged a path that has helped UF become a leader in third-party certified buildings on public higher education campuses in the U.S.
Devesh is accredited as a LEED AP with Operations and Maintenance Specialty, Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Sustainable Development Professional (CSDP) credentials. He also volunteers his time with the Urban Land Institute, including work on ULI Northwest’s Net Zero Energy Imperative.
Sarah Kearney, Project Executive
LEED® AP O+M, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador
Sarah is an accredited LEED® AP O+M and WELL AP. Prior to re-joining the REAL team (previously a REAL team member from 2015-2016), Sarah worked as the Wellness & Sustainability Manager for a private development company where she administered and achieved the first pre-certified WELL Community in the world for a 50+ acre urban infill ground-up, mixed-use development. Sarah also coordinated the LEED for Neighborhood Development certification for the district as well as managed LEED and WELL certification pursuits for New Construction for the development’s residential, hotel, district energy systems, and office buildings.
Earlier in her career, Sarah worked for the City of Tampa as the Recycling Specialist in the Solid Waste Department and the Sustainability Assistant in the Planning department where she coordinated the City of Tampa’s Florida Green Building Coalition’s Green Local Government recertification.
Sarah received her Bachelor of Arts in International Business from Eckerd College and her Master of Arts in Global Sustainability from the University of South Florida.
Steve Young, Cx Team Lead
LEED® AP
Steve is both a certified Commissioning Agent (CxA) and a certified Test and Balance Engineer (TBE) as well as a LEED AP.
With 40 plus years of experience throughout the United States, he is highly sought after for his knowledge and expertise in reviewing building systems for performance and maintenance concerns as well as designing and implementing commissioning plans for a diverse variety of industries including food services, educational and healthcare institutions, and retail establishments.
His responsibilities with REAL include direction and development of all commissioning services, design review, technical support, training, and supervision of field personnel.