Celebrate St. James Gala Honoree

INNOVATIVE VISIONARY AWARD

Frank Dalene was the President and CEO of Telemark, Inc, (Retired), a construction services business he co-founded in St. James with his father Hugo in 1978, a business that later moved to the Hamptons in 1985. He is the Founder and President of Carbon Factor, Inc and the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, Hamptons Green Alliance Corp. Frank was born in Norway and emigrated with his family when he was eight months old. He was raised in a Norwegian community in St. James, a community that honored the great Scandinavian heritage of love of the outdoors, stewardship for the environment and excellence in craftsmanship, all values that were integral in shaping Frank’s identity and guiding his successful career.

Over the past four decades, Telemark, named after the county in Norway, where he was born has become known for their superior quality craftsmanship and for being a national leader in the very latest in energy efficiencies—including the completion of the world’s first Certified Carbon Neutral Building in the Construction Stage and the largest USGBC (United States Green Building Council Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes in the country. On an even larger scale, Frank is innovating the way companies can assess their carbon footprint. Through his ICEMAN (International Carbon Equivalent Mechanism Attributed to Neutrality) methodology, companies can get an accurate snapshot of their product’s carbon emissions on a standardized scale. The ICEMAN methodology has received five Service Marks from the US Patent and Trademark Office, who determined it to be indisputable. ICEMAN is featured in his Best-Selling Book, published by ForbesBooks titled, “Decarbonize the World, Solving the Climate Crisis While Increasing Profits in Your Business”, a market-based solution to reduce the carbon footprint of manufactured products.

In July 2012, Frank’s peer reviewed paper was published in the American Institute of Physics, Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy titled, “Technology and Information Management for Low-Carbon Building” He is currently writing a series of articles published in Dan’s Papers titled, “Climate Change Conversations” and articles about current events on Climate Change through the lens of common sense, practical solutions.

Frank was nominated by his alma mater and inducted into the New York State Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, Alumni Hall of Distinction, one of 23 alums selected from over 100 Colleges and Universities in the State of New York. From his alma mater he received the 2018 Alumni of the Year, “Socially Relevant Award for Innovative Leadership to Engage and Influence Social and Global Issues.”

Frank, as past Chair of the Town of East Hampton, Energy Sustainability Committee led the Town Board, to unanimously adopt the Comprehensive Energy Vision. The following year he led the Town Board to unanimously adopt a community wide goal to be 100% Renewable in Electricity by 2023 and 100% Equivalent Renewable in Transportation and Heating Fuels by 2030 which triggered the building of the first utility grade offshore wind farm in the country, known as “South Fork Wind”, which is now fully operational. He has served on numerous Advisory Committees and Board of Directors for national, regional and local government organization and non-government organizations. An in-demand speaker, Frank has presented keynotes across the world on sustainable construction, carbon neutrality, and ICEMAN. To date, Frank has been quoted, and his work appeared in myriad publications including The New York Times, New York Post, Architectural Digest, and The Wall Street Journal among many others.

Frank has been married 50 years to his childhood sweetheart, Gwen, who has worked with him for 46 years as Telemark’s CFO. They have two children and a granddaughter. He is a certified scuba diver, private pilot and received his pro-racing license in the Trans Am Series, America’s Road Racing Series, driving car #82 in the TA2 Class. Currently he is racing in the Spec Corvette Series, in the 2023 season finishing third in points in the Northeast Region. He enjoys nature-macro photography, collecting American Muscle Cars, boating and fishing in the Long Island waters.

Celebrate St. James is proud to recognize Frank with its Innovative Visionary Award, an honor bestowed upon him with deepest gratitude for his friendship and support of our organization and to the rich cultural history of St. James.

AWARDS:

2024 Celebrate St. James, Past-Present-Future, Proudly Presents, Frank Dalene, Innovative Visionary Award, “In Recognition of Your Outstanding Dedication & Commitment to Our Community & The Cultural Arts October 16, 2024.”

2024 New York State Senator, Mario R. Mattera, Certificate of Recognition, presented to Frank Dalene, Celebrate St. James 2024 Honoree & Recipient of the Innovative Visionary Award, “In recognition of your contribution to the St. James Community and your commitment to the Cultural Arts.” October 16, 2024

2024 Suffolk County Executive, Edward P. Romaine, presents this Certificate of Appreciation to Frank Dalene, Innovative Visionary Award, “We proudly recognize the honoree, whose unwavering dedication to the St. James community has enriched our cultural landscape in profound ways. Through their tireless efforts, they not only foster a deep appreciation for the arts but have also inspired countless individuals to explore their own creative potential. Their commitment, both personally and professionally, is evident in the initiatives they champion and the vibrant cultural programs they support. By bridging connections among artists, educators, and community members, they have cultivated an environment where the arts flourish, making St. James a beacon of creativity and cultural vitality. We celebrate their remarkable contributions and lasting impact they have made on the community.” Presented: October 16, 2024

Certificate of Merit, Vincent Puleo, “I, Vincent Puleo, Suffolk County Clerk, in recognition of distinguished achievement, hereby award this Certificate of Merit to Frank Dalene, Innovative Visionary Award, Celebrate St. James 2024 Annual Gala.” Dated this 16th Day of October 2024

Imagination Advances Knowledge.

There are no walls in my mind. Don’t put me in a box.

There are no fences in my thoughts. Don’t inhibit me to roam.

There are no boundaries to my imagination. Don’t end my dream.

There are no restrictions to my reasoning. Don’t force me to conform.

Allow my imagination to be endless, to reason unfettered thought.

Allow me to wander outside the box, to roam freely.

No walls, no fences, no boundaries, no restrictions.

Infinite imagination and unrestricted reasoning,

An open mind, unimpeded thought,

Will accomplish the unthinkable.