TDG for Apple
Leave the world better than we found it
RFP Response
RDDM: Environmental & Social Equity Consulting Services
Apple Retail Program-level & Project-level Sustainability Guideline Implementation & Enhancement Services
Submitted September Sept 7th 2023
Company Information and Structure
The Dragon Group is the only Sustainability and Project Management firm based in Atlanta. The Dragon Group is a team of highly specialized engineers, architects, scientists, and project managers that are passionate about fighting climate change. Our passion is to provide ESG / Sustainability Consulting and Project Management to decarbonize the built environment throughout the United States and Internationally.
We provide differentiated services by:
- Providing Sustainability/ESG strategies and innovations to establish and exceed green building goals to decarbonize the built environments.
- Partnering with building owners and tenants to implement innovative healthy building strategies during the design and construction process in order to achieve optimum building performance and visitor experience.
- Offering cost, schedule, and quality management to commercial, multi-family communities, and public institutions to ensure project completion and success.
- Advising real estate owners to ensure successful land and building development results while lowering project risk.
To date we have impacted over 150 million people annually through our work with airports, libraries, universities, office buildings, innovation centers and retail spaces.
Our team consists of two executives that manage a team of project managers, a project administrator and interns. We are headquartered in Atlanta with team members in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Ohio. Our operations are 80% virtual. We have in-person meetings for staff and team building activities and client site or project site meetings.
MWDBE Status
The Dragon Group is committed to providing top quality ESG/Sustainability and Project Management services while being a diverse and certified firm that employs a diverse group of knowledgeable professionals. TDG is the only women owned and minority owned firm of its kind in the Southeast.
We have the following certifications:
- GMSDC (Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council)
- NMSDC (National Minority Supplier Development Council)
- AABE (African American Business Enterprise) City of Atlanta
- WBE (Women Business Enterprise) City of Atlanta
- MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) Georgia Department of Transportation
Our top priority is to recruit, hire and retain qualified individuals that have strong Construction knowledge, proven Project Management skills and ESG/Sustainability expertise that can work well with Owners as well as designers and contractors. We are currently a very diverse and women centric team. 80% of our team identify as women. We benefit from a broad worldview at TDG, 4 countries represented on our team. We will be rolling out an initiative in 2024 to engage LGBTQIA+ and Indigenous students.
Intern Program
Part of TDG’s mission is to expose black and brown students to Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. We currently recruit at the Atlanta University Center (HBCUs included in the center are Morehouse, Spelman, Clark Atlanta and Morris Brown) and Georgia Institute of Technology. We have a year-round internship program and employ at least 2 interns throughout the year. We empower current interns to recruit other interns by leveraging technology. We use platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Slack. Once the intense interview process is complete, we decided as a team which students are hired. Below are just a sampling of activities and corresponding results from our program.
Intern Duties and Activities:
- Attend and take notes at staff meetings
- Perform research for client projects
- Review online media sources for Sustainability trends
- Create and post social media content for TDG
- Manage company electronic files
- Tour active construction sites
- Photograph projects for marketing purposes
- Research and document project data for certification credits
- Collect data for TDG Climate Report
- Subject Matter Presentation
- Resume Review
Results
- 50 interns mentored or employed by TDG
- 2 interns launched businesses
- Interns have secured full time opportunities at EY, Black Rock, P&G, Caterpillar, Georgia Power
- Increased confidence in presentations and meetings
- Increased knowledge of sustainability principles
Future Partnership
TDG is looking to grow its commitment to black and brown students and budding entrepreneurs. In order to expand our impact we are in discussions to partner with the Environmental Science department at Hampton University and Village Micro Fund.
ESG Statement
The Dragon Group, since its inception, has kept its eye on the future. Climate change is one of the most pressing problems globally. In developing our mission TDG made the strategic decision to fight climate change through the built environment. The built environment generates 40% of annual global CO2 emissions. TDG has heard the ESG call to action.
Fighting climate change allows us to move the needle in a space that has a major contribution to global carbon emissions. At TDG we are focused on ESG strategy and impact. We are aligned with Apple’s vision to “Leave the world better than we found it”. TDG impacts in three ways- fighting climate change through the built environment, building better communities, and exposing black and brown students to sustainability and entrepreneurship. To date we have impacted over 150 million people annually through our work with airports, libraries, universities, office buildings, innovation centers and retail spaces.
The world is becoming more complex environmentally and socially. TDG like Apple, consistently checks in with itself as it innovates its products and services. We recently assessed our own impact on the planet by developing a climate change report (download pdf). We not only talk to the ESG talk but walk it too. TDG has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. Our ESG and Sustainability goals are listed in our climate report.
Innovation is at the core of everything Apple does and executes via a design centric approach. Our multidisciplinary team of architects, designers and engineers is not only capable of innovating alongside you but anticipating barriers to creation. Our combined team has 60 years of experience managing 6M sq ft of space. From all electric buildings to AI enabled utility monitoring systems we manage highly innovative projects. We also introduce and leverage AI tools such as Asana to streamline project management execution and automation that has resulted in an 20% increase in project efficiency.
Just as important as WHAT Apple and TDG are doing is WHO is doing the work. Apple and TDG are again aligned on forward thinking commitment and focus on DEI in our workforces and our Social Equity engagement. TDG’s workforce is 80% women and 100% black and brown.
Finally TDG for Apple is an amazing ESG story in itself. This opportunity is the very sweet spot of where TDG excels. This project which we view as a partnership is aligned with our strategic growth vision and presents an opportunity for TDG to scale. TDG’s goal to scale is to create greater economic opportunities for our team but more importantly to scale our impact globally. We are currently fighting climate with projects in 10 states and 3 countries and impacting over 50 interns. We want to expand our reach. This project allow us to engage our community on a deeper and wider level. The future is now with TDG.
Organizational Chart
Approach
Approach to Scope of Services:
The Dragon Group (TDG) is uniquely qualified to deliver Sustainability Consulting with a strong focus on Program Management for Apple Retail Real Estate, Design, Development & Merchandising (RDDM). TDG operates at the intersection of Project Management and Sustainability Consulting – we excel at this intersection. Our multi-disciplinary team includes sustainability experts, environmental scientists, designers, and project managers passionate about decarbonizing the built environment. For Apple’s RDDM Sustainability Program to be successful, your consultant should possess a unique mix of project management and sustainability consulting expertise as well as experience working with a diverse mix of architects, designers, contractors, and other specialty consultants. TDG lives and thrives in this space. Our proven approach for the Sustainability Consulting for Apple RDDM is detailed below-
Step #1 – Due Diligence – We will conduct discovery meetings with key Apple Stakeholders to fully understand the current Sustainability Program and how it is being deployed. This will provide a baseline or starting point of existing best practices and how sustainability implementation can be improved and streamlined.
Step #2 – Program Management Plan – TDG will develop a detailed Program Management Plan from the qualitative and quantitative data gathered in Step #1. The goal of the Program Management Plan is to set a clear framework on how TDG will manage Apple’s RDDM Sustainability Program.
Step #3 – Education / Execution – TDG will educate all project teams and key stakeholders on the Apple RDDM Sustainability Program. TDG will lead the Sustainability Program that is currently being administered, but we feel that continuous education and buy-in are key until full adoption is achieved. The Program Management Plan will be presented to all project teams and key stakeholders as a way of streamlining the sustainability process across project level and peer support engagements.
Step #4 – Sustainability Process Management – TDG will manage in parallel the sustainability process for both the project-level sustainability consulting and the peer-to-peer support & guidance projects. The goal of this step is to simplify the sustainability process, continue to educate project team members and key stakeholders and gain full adoption so that the sustainability process is fully integrated into all projects.
Step #5 – Innovation Management – Continuous improvement and innovation will be a focus for Day 1 of this engagement. TDG will look for ways to continuously streamline the sustainability process. We will stay ahead and the fast-evolving sustainability industry to ensure Apple continues to innovate around ESG, sustainability, wellness, and equity.
Step #6 – Tracking and Improvement – TDG will track key sustainability metrics to be used in Apple’s annual reporting. We will also look for trends in program data that can be used to improve the sustainability process.
Performance History
Clients
Performance History – Projects
We have worked on several engagements that involved both program management and sustainability consulting. We have listed those engagements below and a brief description.
Project: Wells Fargo Retail LEED Program (Multi-Site)
Problem: Decarbonization goal of 35% portfolio
Scope of Work: Program Management + Sustainability Consulting for 50+ stores
Approach: Nationwide Project Management and Sustainability Consulting
Results: 35% of Wells Fargo Retail locations achieved certification and met energy reduction goals
Value Delivered: Sustainability Program Developed & Sustainability Goals Achieved
Project: Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL Airport) Sustainability Program
Problem: No Sustainability Program
Scope of Work: Program Management and Sustainability Planning for 4700 acre/100+ buildings
Approach: Developed and implemented a Sustainability Program and Implementation Plan
Result: 1st Airport to achieve LEED for Communities
Value Delivered: A path to be one of the greenest airports in the nation
Project: Enphase Energy Sustainability Consulting + Decarbonizing Planning (Multi-Site and International)
Problem: Required a sustainability plan and initial steps to determine baseline and track energy consumption.
Scope of Work: ESG Project Management & Decarbonizing Planning.
Approach: TDG deployed Program Management and Sustainability Consulting
Outcome: TDG assisted Enphase Energy in selecting utility tracking software.
Value Delivered: Automate the tracking of energy consumption to make quicker decisions on energy efficiency measures to decarbonize their building footprint.
References
1. Bruce Kimbrew – Wells Fargo, Vice President, [email protected]
2. Jerome Russell – HJ Russell and Company, President, [email protected]
3. Tom Nicolaysen – Enphase Energy, Director of Global Real Estate, [email protected]
Capabilities
Capability Statement (Download PDF)
Social Equity Activities
Prince Hall Masonic Temple, Birmingham, AL
- Historic preservation affiliated with prominent black history leaders
- Diverse design team professionals (i.e., black investors/owners, consultants, historic preservation specialists, accountants, marketing managers, architects, construction managers)
- Wellness amenities integrated into the project programming for building occupants
Russell Center for Innovation and entrepreneurship, Atlanta, GA
- Legacy projects that support the continuation of black history in the construction industry
- Minority-centric projects that boost the economy through its creation for local and international businesses
- Aggressive company and project-focused sustainability performance goals in place to move the needle in all four pillars of sustainability (social, economic, wellness, and environmental)
East Point Housing Authority, East Point, GA
- Improve the conditions of affordable housing and its administrative facilities in underserved communities
- Job creation
- Implementation of sustainable built environment features in densely populated areas
Central Library and Atlanta Fulton County Library Systems, Atlanta GA
- Historic Preservation
- Space making for underserved communities
- Wellness features for underserved communities
Exhibits
Exhibit 1 – Team and Rates
Exhibit 2 – Signed NDA
Exhibit 3 – Best Fit Narrative
Why is TDG the best fit for the role and how will you meet RFP expectations?
We are excited at the opportunity to serve your organization whose mission is to bring the best user experience to customers through innovative hardware, software and services. With your mission and focus comes growth and with growth comes expansion. Apple Retail needs a reliable, proven and innovative partner to lead and manage sustainability programming including implementation and enhancement and project level coordination and support of store projects worldwide.
Apple’s promise is to make the best products in the world and to leave the world better than (you) found it. To deliver on your promise you must have alignment in technology, talent, materials, supply chain and every other aspect of your business. The Dragon Group aligns with your mission and vision because we too are Building a Better Environment, Building Better Community. Our mission is to fight climate change through the built environment while exposing black and brown students to sustainability and entrepreneurship. The built environment generates 40% of annual global CO2 emissions. Black professionals make up only 4% of the US STEM workforce. This juxtaposition is our WHY.
We’re the best firm for this opportunity for several reasons:
- Intersectionality – We sit at the intersection of Project Management and Sustainability. We are constantly optimizing our sustainability approaches to moving the sustainability needle to meet net zero and net positive performance metrics and we are the only black female-owned firm to do so in the Southeast.
- Execution – We are known in the industry and among our clients for our superior ability to execute consistently and lead projects to support our client’s implementation efforts.
- Collaboration – Our multidisciplinary team collaborates internally and externally daily. Collaboration creates innovation and excellence.
- Innovation – Innovation is a part of our culture and we push the envelope of creativity with our clients.
- Community – We are committed to our community but making healthy and functional spaces and exposing minority young professionals to the project management and sustainability industry through hands-on experiences.
Exhibit 4 – Work Flow Path
What is the potential path for work optimization, fee reduction and program enhancement to achieve Apple’s goals?
The key to a successful sustainability program for the RDDM is to have a streamlined, concise, and consistent service delivery across all projects. TDG’s combination of strong leadership, project management, and sustainability consulting expertise will be critical to workflow optimization, potential fee reduction across your project lifecycle, and continuous improvement to enhance the sustainability program so Apple’s environmental goals are achieved and exceeded.
Workflow Optimization:
The items below will be implemented to yield workflow optimization of the sustainability program for the Vintage E Renovation Program.
- Integrated Sustainability Planning: TDG will collaborate closely with architects, designers, construction teams, and key stakeholders from the project’s inception to integrate sustainability seamlessly into the renovation plans. Early design integration is critical with regular checkpoints will create a seamless, efficient, and integrated workflow.
- Efficient Project Management: TDG will Implement project management practices that prioritize sustainability milestones, ensuring that sustainable decisions are made promptly. At TDG, teamwork is at the core of our culture, and it will be no different on this project.
- Continuous Communication: TDG will maintain clear, open, and consistent communication between stakeholders and project members to ensure that sustainability objectives are implemented by all parties at the highest level. Key decisions from Apple stakeholders will be critical in moving the process along and creating a streamlined workflow.
- Implementation of AI Tools: TDG team members are innovators. We will use AI project management tools (ASANA, Follow.cc.ai, etc.) to ensure that teamwork is efficient and daily action items are managed effectively while follow-up is done automatically.
Fee Reduction:
Realizing fee reduction during the project lifecycle will focus on a consistent sustainability delivery process. The items below will be implemented to yield to the most fee reduction possible.
- Value Engineering: TDG will consistently collaborate with the project team members and key stakeholders to identify cost-effective sustainable solutions that align with Apple’s values and contribute to long-term savings.
- Cost-Benefit Analysis: TDG will conduct cost-benefit analyses to evaluate the financial implications of different sustainability options, ensuring that the chosen strategies will provide a favorable return on investment.
- Efficient Resource Allocation: TDG will optimize resource allocation by aligning tasks and timelines with sustainability goals, minimizing potential delays and budget overruns.
Program Enhancements:
Continuous improvement will also be a key focus of the TDG team. ESG and sustainability is a fast-evolving industry. TDG prides itself on staying at the leading edge of sustainability. TDG will research and present new sustainability ideas that could potentially enhance Apple’s sustainability program.
- Educational Signage: Propose informative signage and displays within the store that educate customers about the sustainability features and sustainability choices made during the renovation. Explain how these choices tie back to Apple’s ESG and Sustainability Goals.
- Continuous Improvement Culture: TDG will lead a program culture of continuous improvement where project team members and stakeholders are encouraged to identify, present, and implement small-scale optimizations in their daily tasks.
- Sustainability Education: Enhance customer awareness by integrating sustainability-focused displays, demos, and workshops within the store, showcasing Apple’s commitment to environmental responsibility, social equity, and advocacy.