Vanessa Keitges
President / CEO
Vanessa Keitges is President and CEO of Columbia Green Technologies, a global leader in the green roof market industry. Her focus is to provide green roofs and green amenity spaces a nature-based solution to assist with the impact of the ever-changing climate while promoting sustainability and wellness, thus supporting building owners and cities with building resilient communities for the future. Her focus is to ensure positive returns on building owners long-term ESG investments with their portfolio. Her and her team are committed to creating a positive environmental and social impact by building vibrant, resilient cities and replacing aging infrastructure with green infrastructure.
In addition to her work with Columbia Green Technologies she has served in numerous executive positions in business development, marketing, and sales, where she has managed rapid growth; both domestically and internationally. Vanessa purchased Columbia Green, along with local investors, in 2009 2010 and the company is currently experiencing significant YOY growth under her leadership with over 2,500+ green roof installs and offices Coast to Coast.
In the fall of 2013-2017 Vanessa was appointed to President Obama’s Export Council with the top 27 Fortune CEO’s to represent the interest of “emerging” businesses in the green infrastructure & green building sector. She reported to the President every 6 months on the growing industry and how to support USA companies to meet the growing demand of the green building market around the World. Vanessa was a top “40 under 40″ executives in Oregon, one of Oregon’s fastest growing private companies by Portland Business Journal & nominated by Forbes as one of the top 5 women in technology to watch and invest in. Vanessa graduated from Oregon State University earning a B.A. in Philosophy.