2026 WSSHE Spring Symposium Speakers
April 15-17, 2026 | Campbell’s Resort at Lake Chelan | Chelan, WA
Keynote Speakers
Geoff is the WSSHE Historian and sole proprietor of Octet Works, a health care sustainability consultancy firm. He has dedicated 40 years of his career to developing high performance health care facilities in the Puget Sound region, where he served as Health System Energy and Sustainability Manager and Regional Facilities Director for Providence. For many years, he led the WSSHE Educational Planning Committee with great success. Geoff has been a professional engineer licensed in Washington, a CHFM and CEM. He holds a Master of Science degree. Geoff has provided progressive and visionary leadership to WSSHE for 32-years.
Phil retired in 2015 after 33-years as Manager of Facilities at two Providence campuses, overseeing daily operations, regulatory compliance, energy management, sustainability and numerous infrastructure projects. He is honored to be a WSSHE Emeritus and ASHE Fellow, CHFM, CHC and CEM with a BA in Organizational Management. He received a major personal recognition award from ASHE, the Bronze Eagle Award. Phil remains active in this distinguished organization and is WSSHE’s longest serving member at 44-years.
In 2025, the WSSHE Board established a committee of six long-serving members to assemble in digital form the historical facts, photos and descriptions of various activities to include Conferences, Officers, Awards and other key issues of each year of WSSHE history. The work took over 200-hours and will be available on the website as an easily accessible source by year. This presentation will share the committee's work and tell the stories describing where we came from, our progress and today’s WSSHE World.
General Session Speakers
The course will provide evidence in the form of photography, multiple studies, lighting, color theory and natural materials, that Biophilic Design provides benefits for physical recovery, mental health, healthcare companies and healthcare staff.
- Upon completing the course, identification of the varying benefits of nature and the benefits for physical recovery, mental health, healthcare companies, and healthcare staff, when nature, color and lighting are incorporated into their designs in the Healthcare Industry.
- To understand how to improve the standard of care by implementing simple design changes for healthcare facilities.
- To acquire basic knowledge of Biophilic Design styles.
For 21 years Mike worked with two national Energy Service Companies in Washington and other states, providing energy solutions and energy analysis to private building owners and public agencies. Mike also worked for a regionally based energy consulting and contracting firm.
Mike is a Washington State Licensed Engineer, Lead Accredited Professional, and a Certified Energy Manager. With his robust background in energy engineering, he brings his professional expertise and love for people to Custom Energy.
In this session, Michael James will break down how Clean Buildings Performance Standards (CBPS) can be leveraged—not just complied with—to extend equipment life, reduce operating expenses, and create a clear, achievable roadmap for building improvements. Attendees will learn how Operations & Maintenance (O&M) plans and Energy Management Plans (EMP) can become powerful allies, transforming regulatory requirements into tools for long-term capital planning, proactive maintenance, and measurable energy savings. Rather than viewing the Clean Buildings Act as a burden, this session reframes it as an opportunity to gain control, clarity, and confidence in your building’s future.
This presentation will provide an overview of current healthcare regulatory requirements, energy reduction goals, and substantial savings opportunities achievable through advanced HVAC control upgrades. Our discussion will cover specific strategies including chilled water system optimization, demand-controlled ventilation, and airside optimization for non-critical areas. We will share successful case studies and lessons learned along the way to make these strategies real. Attendees will gain insights into actionable strategies for enhancing energy efficiency, reducing operational costs, and supporting sustainability goals within healthcare facilities.
- The infection control chain and how it applies to the built environment
- Common facility-related vulnerabilities that contribute to pathogen transmission
- Practical, real-world strategies to reduce risk through engineering controls, cleaning protocols, and environmental monitoring
- Collaboration between facilities, infection prevention, and clinical teams
- Case examples demonstrating measurable risk reduction
Dale has served in leadership roles including Fire Chief, City Emergency Manager, and Fire Marshal, bringing practical, real-world experience to code application and enforcement. He is a former member of the NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code Technical Committee, contributing to the development of code provisions that address real-world challenges in healthcare environments.
Since 2013, Dale has conducted hundreds of CMS/Medicare life safety surveys for ambulatory surgery centers as a Life Safety Code Surveyor with Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and Quad A. His hands-on experience provides unique insight into survey readiness, compliance strategy, and practical implementation of NFPA and CMS requirements.
Prior to joining TEC, Mr. Li served as a Project Executive at Columbia Fire LLC, where he improved project efficiency by streamlining processes, managing budgets, and implementing best practices. His leadership resulted in on-time and on-budget project deliveries, improved collaboration, and cost savings.
Mr. Li has extensive experience in fire sprinkler system design, 3D modeling, BIM coordination, and process improvement. He is proficient in tools such as AutoSprink and AutoDesk software and skilled in construction project management, operations oversight, and leadership training.