Leaders of the Organization & Their Bios:
EUGENE TSSUI
Tssui’s extraordinary accomplishments, here, as Eight-time World Champion boxer, one of many endeavors depicted in the film, Telos: The Fantastic World of Eugene Tssui, leaves one to wonder how its possible that one individual could have the motivation and tenacity to achieve so much in such a versatile range of endeavors. In the end, the movie suprises and endears us, with its unexpected message.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
Eugene holds an Interdisciplinary Doctorate (Architecture and Education) and Master’s degrees in Architecture and City and Regional Planning, from the University of California, Berkeley, 1989; Attended Columbia University Graduate School of Design, 1976, and the University of Oregon (Professional Bachelor of Architecture degree) 1981; completed a 6-year apprenticeship with Bruce Goff, architect, Tyler, Texas, 1976 to 1982, and, Dr. Frei Otto, architect, Stuttgart, Germany, 1984; in private practice, Emeryville, California, and Shenzhen, China, since 1990 and 1999, respectively.
Eugene holds an Interdisciplinary Doctorate (Architecture and Education) and Master’s degrees in Architecture and City and Regional Planning, from the University of California, Berkeley, 1989; Attended Columbia University Graduate School of Design, 1976, and the University of Oregon (Professional Bachelor of Architecture degree) 1981; completed a 6-year apprenticeship with Bruce Goff, architect, Tyler, Texas, 1976 to 1982, and, Dr. Frei Otto, architect, Stuttgart, Germany, 1984; in private practice, Emeryville, California, and Shenzhen, China, since 1990 and 1999, respectively.
CAREER SUMMARY:
His current design offices are located in Emeryville, California; Mount Shasta, California; and Shenzhen, China. He was a Visiting Scholar at South China University of Science and Technology, 2010 and 2011, a Visiting Foreign Professor of Architecture, 2012 and 2013, at Harbin University Institute of Technology, Shenzhen Graduate Campus; and is currently a Fellow and Author, at Beijing University, Shenzhen Graduate Campus, and was a 2012 and 2013 Research Scholar, at Harvard University, studying Mongolian culture and the writings and history of Genghis Khan; and has been a Senior Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, Department of Sustainability. He has engaged architectural projects in the USA, Europe, Africa and China.
What makes Tssui’s work so diverse and his approach, so unique, is his interdisciplinary way of thinking or, what he calls, “anticipatory” thinking, that is, he engages in a multitude of different interests and gains knowledge and experience about these topics, to very profound levels, and then uses this knowledge to cross-fertilize ideas to develop them in ways not normally anticipated. Part of this uniqueness is the extreme variety of his endeavors; the study of medicine to develop new ideas in architecture; engaging world-class athletics to develop unusual structural design; music composition as a basis for furniture design; educational programming to develop new city plans; and human physiology to develop clothing; these are few of the interconnected topic relationships used to originate new concepts. He seeks to anticipate the possibilities of the future through the interrelationships of the present. He has, for decades, engaged in the scientific study of nature and biological processes, as a basis for design and daily life. For instance, his observances in nature’s application of the strength-to-weight-ratio principal, in all living things, is applied daily, so that Tssui maintains his own body to be the lightest and strongest it can be—a universal fundamental for health.
His current design offices are located in Emeryville, California; Mount Shasta, California; and Shenzhen, China. He was a Visiting Scholar at South China University of Science and Technology, 2010 and 2011, a Visiting Foreign Professor of Architecture, 2012 and 2013, at Harbin University Institute of Technology, Shenzhen Graduate Campus; and is currently a Fellow and Author, at Beijing University, Shenzhen Graduate Campus, and was a 2012 and 2013 Research Scholar, at Harvard University, studying Mongolian culture and the writings and history of Genghis Khan; and has been a Senior Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, Department of Sustainability. He has engaged architectural projects in the USA, Europe, Africa and China.
What makes Tssui’s work so diverse and his approach, so unique, is his interdisciplinary way of thinking or, what he calls, “anticipatory” thinking, that is, he engages in a multitude of different interests and gains knowledge and experience about these topics, to very profound levels, and then uses this knowledge to cross-fertilize ideas to develop them in ways not normally anticipated. Part of this uniqueness is the extreme variety of his endeavors; the study of medicine to develop new ideas in architecture; engaging world-class athletics to develop unusual structural design; music composition as a basis for furniture design; educational programming to develop new city plans; and human physiology to develop clothing; these are few of the interconnected topic relationships used to originate new concepts. He seeks to anticipate the possibilities of the future through the interrelationships of the present. He has, for decades, engaged in the scientific study of nature and biological processes, as a basis for design and daily life. For instance, his observances in nature’s application of the strength-to-weight-ratio principal, in all living things, is applied daily, so that Tssui maintains his own body to be the lightest and strongest it can be—a universal fundamental for health.
DANIEL SCHOENFELD
EDUCATIONAL & CAREER SUMMARY:
Dan graduated with honors from U.C. Berkeley in 1976 with a BA degree in Political Science and attended Southwestern Law University in 1977. Post graduation, Dan spent 2 years working on several consulting projects in the energy field prior to becoming a real estate developer in the Bay Area. Between 1980-1991, he developed over 100 units of affordable housing in Oakland alone, and was the largest independent modular housing developer from 1986-89. Put up 42 units in one year of affordable, energy efficient single family homes. Dan was chosen by the city of Oakland to interview with Time Magazine regarding the pros and cons working with voucher tenants in affordable rental housing. In 1992, he became the largest developer in Middletown, CA, after successfully built out 26 units in the area within one year.
From 1992-2002, Dan entered the private lending business. He worked with private investors and investment firms to offer loans to other developers and single family homeowners. From 2002 to 2005, Dan built out and sold the Grand View Estates, one of the worlds first all solar, affordable housing subdivisions. Units sold ranged between prices of $200,000 to $350,000 and 1450 sq.ft to 2600 sq.ft.
From 2008-2011, Dan departed from developing single family homes and ventured further into commercial type of development. He built the Mill Creek Eco Resort in Shingle Town, CA, a 15 acres 39 space ecologically oriented resort that focused on the promotion of green practices while camping.
2011 to Current: Dan has been spending his time working building higher end estates such as developing a single family home on a flat 2 acre island off of the Mendocino Coast. This property is possibly the only home in the West Coast that is served by a driving bridge entrance and the estimate value up will be ranged between $4M-$5M upon completion.
With over 30 years of experience in the real estate developing business, Dan seeks to leverage his expertise and join up with Eugene and the Project Telos team to create the most eco-friendly buildings and green educational centers that will shape our future and challenge the conventional ways of the architecture industry while saving the planet at its most critical time in history.
Dan graduated with honors from U.C. Berkeley in 1976 with a BA degree in Political Science and attended Southwestern Law University in 1977. Post graduation, Dan spent 2 years working on several consulting projects in the energy field prior to becoming a real estate developer in the Bay Area. Between 1980-1991, he developed over 100 units of affordable housing in Oakland alone, and was the largest independent modular housing developer from 1986-89. Put up 42 units in one year of affordable, energy efficient single family homes. Dan was chosen by the city of Oakland to interview with Time Magazine regarding the pros and cons working with voucher tenants in affordable rental housing. In 1992, he became the largest developer in Middletown, CA, after successfully built out 26 units in the area within one year.
From 1992-2002, Dan entered the private lending business. He worked with private investors and investment firms to offer loans to other developers and single family homeowners. From 2002 to 2005, Dan built out and sold the Grand View Estates, one of the worlds first all solar, affordable housing subdivisions. Units sold ranged between prices of $200,000 to $350,000 and 1450 sq.ft to 2600 sq.ft.
From 2008-2011, Dan departed from developing single family homes and ventured further into commercial type of development. He built the Mill Creek Eco Resort in Shingle Town, CA, a 15 acres 39 space ecologically oriented resort that focused on the promotion of green practices while camping.
2011 to Current: Dan has been spending his time working building higher end estates such as developing a single family home on a flat 2 acre island off of the Mendocino Coast. This property is possibly the only home in the West Coast that is served by a driving bridge entrance and the estimate value up will be ranged between $4M-$5M upon completion.
With over 30 years of experience in the real estate developing business, Dan seeks to leverage his expertise and join up with Eugene and the Project Telos team to create the most eco-friendly buildings and green educational centers that will shape our future and challenge the conventional ways of the architecture industry while saving the planet at its most critical time in history.
JOHNNY NGUYEN
EDUCATIONAL & CAREER SUMMARY:
Johnny holds a B.A. degree in Political Economy (Concentration in Finance & Global Market Analysis) from the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated in 2011 and has since been working in corporate finance for tech companies of various sizes (EMC, CafePress, and Zynga) throughout the Bay Area. Upon meeting Dan and Eugene, Johnny has decided to embark on a new journey to create an impactful organization that seeks to advocate and change the world to be a better and greener place for all human being. A path that helps him to identify his purpose in life.
Johnny specializes in financial analysis, deals structuring, data organization, and project management. He is eager to utilize his skills and dedication to assist the organization to reach its core goals.
Johnny holds a B.A. degree in Political Economy (Concentration in Finance & Global Market Analysis) from the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated in 2011 and has since been working in corporate finance for tech companies of various sizes (EMC, CafePress, and Zynga) throughout the Bay Area. Upon meeting Dan and Eugene, Johnny has decided to embark on a new journey to create an impactful organization that seeks to advocate and change the world to be a better and greener place for all human being. A path that helps him to identify his purpose in life.
Johnny specializes in financial analysis, deals structuring, data organization, and project management. He is eager to utilize his skills and dedication to assist the organization to reach its core goals.
Dr. Elisabeth Montgomery
EDUCATIONAL & CAREER SUMMARY:
Superintendent for Internation of Nanshan Education Bureau
For over 35 years, Dr. Elisabeth Montgomery has made a career of dreaming up large-scale community projects and then bringing them to life in ways that genuinely transform people’s lives.
In Chicago in the late 1970s and through the next decade, Beth served as Youth And Community Economic Development Director for Jane Addams Hull House, the landmark 100 year-old settlement house in the city’s dwindling North Side neighborhood. With grants from the renowned John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, including its first for Social Entrepreneurship, she created non-profit companies to buy up local businesses that were about to close, or leave town. Keeping them open and local ultimately meant thousands of jobs for residents and a new lease on life for the neighborhood itself. Many of those businesses still operate today. She went on to run San Francisco’s prominent Hospitality House, again as Enterprise Director, promoting city-wide adult and youth employment programs.
In between these projects, Beth has made documentary films in Bogota and Chicago, conducted oral history projects in the hills of West Virginia and worked in broadcast media.
At the end of the century, Beth and family came to China, where she developed a 16-week course at Shenzhen Managers Training College that prepared high-powered Chinese business people, politicians, TV broadcasters and school principals, among others, who were heading overseas. For four years, they passed through her class, absorbing Western language and culture.
Superintendent for Internation of Nanshan Education Bureau
- Ph. D., Human and Organizational Systems, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Master of Arts, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Master of Arts, Interdisciplinary degree in the Departments of Human Services Counseling and Business Administration, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Bachelor of Arts, in American Studies, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
For over 35 years, Dr. Elisabeth Montgomery has made a career of dreaming up large-scale community projects and then bringing them to life in ways that genuinely transform people’s lives.
In Chicago in the late 1970s and through the next decade, Beth served as Youth And Community Economic Development Director for Jane Addams Hull House, the landmark 100 year-old settlement house in the city’s dwindling North Side neighborhood. With grants from the renowned John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, including its first for Social Entrepreneurship, she created non-profit companies to buy up local businesses that were about to close, or leave town. Keeping them open and local ultimately meant thousands of jobs for residents and a new lease on life for the neighborhood itself. Many of those businesses still operate today. She went on to run San Francisco’s prominent Hospitality House, again as Enterprise Director, promoting city-wide adult and youth employment programs.
In between these projects, Beth has made documentary films in Bogota and Chicago, conducted oral history projects in the hills of West Virginia and worked in broadcast media.
At the end of the century, Beth and family came to China, where she developed a 16-week course at Shenzhen Managers Training College that prepared high-powered Chinese business people, politicians, TV broadcasters and school principals, among others, who were heading overseas. For four years, they passed through her class, absorbing Western language and culture.
BROOKE HE
EDUCATIONAL & CAREER SUMMARY:
Brooke has a broad interest from small scale furniture design to urban design; and is always a firm believer of design sustainability and environmental ethics. After finishing her Bachelor of architecture in South China Univ. of Technology( 华南理工), she went to Columbia university and got her Master in Urban Design. Brooke has a variety of multicultural working experiences from urban planning, landscape design, architecture to real estate development, she has worked for several avant-guarde design firms in New York, Beijing and Shenzhen and also deepened her understanding of built environment by working for a public traded real estate development firm in Manhattan.
Outside work, Brooke is an avid art and music lover, used to be in an underground band playing keytar for 2 years; now is learning jazz piano. Brooke was also a curator for friends' art shows, designer for music festival posters, multimedia artist, occasional poet and songwriter, etc... Brooke is deeply inspired by nature, vernacular urban spaces and nostalgic imagery. She likes to observe the world by hiking, camping and traveling. She also likes experiencing future world through sci-fi movies and novels.
Greatly inspired by Telos' bold approach to a greener world and it's design innovation, Brooke decided to join the team as a project manager and passionately building a better tomorrow with everyone sharing the same belief.
Brooke has a broad interest from small scale furniture design to urban design; and is always a firm believer of design sustainability and environmental ethics. After finishing her Bachelor of architecture in South China Univ. of Technology( 华南理工), she went to Columbia university and got her Master in Urban Design. Brooke has a variety of multicultural working experiences from urban planning, landscape design, architecture to real estate development, she has worked for several avant-guarde design firms in New York, Beijing and Shenzhen and also deepened her understanding of built environment by working for a public traded real estate development firm in Manhattan.
Outside work, Brooke is an avid art and music lover, used to be in an underground band playing keytar for 2 years; now is learning jazz piano. Brooke was also a curator for friends' art shows, designer for music festival posters, multimedia artist, occasional poet and songwriter, etc... Brooke is deeply inspired by nature, vernacular urban spaces and nostalgic imagery. She likes to observe the world by hiking, camping and traveling. She also likes experiencing future world through sci-fi movies and novels.
Greatly inspired by Telos' bold approach to a greener world and it's design innovation, Brooke decided to join the team as a project manager and passionately building a better tomorrow with everyone sharing the same belief.