Growing up in Puerto Rico, Zaida Basora was surrounded by Spanish colonial architecture and a culture that celebrated design for people and nature. She came to Dallas in the mid 1980’s to study and practice architecture. In the mid 1990’s she accepted a position with the City of Dallas in the Public Works department. Nationwide, concerns were being raised about clean waterways and lowering energy consumption, but in Dallas, conversations about conservation were difficult to have. However, by the early 2000’s there was interest in energy efficiency and cost savings. For Zaida, attending the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) National Conference in Austin in 2002 was a milestone experience. She was at the strategic center of city concerns for resource efficiencies, state budget mandates and the rise of the USGBC. She was adept at leading task forces and building consensus between the community, the building industry, the city staff and the city council. Working with her supervisors in the Assistant City Manager’s office, in 2003 she implemented the Dallas Green Building program for city facilities which was the first in the nation. Also in 2003, she was elected to the USGBC National Board of Directors, and played a key role in the formation of the USGBC North Texas Chapter. She continued to push for change, and in 2008, the Dallas Green Building code was adopted.