About

Building Intelligence Group LLC is an independent consultancy, whose primary purpose is to help building owners and managers, system integrators and suppliers, maneuver their operations through the vast changes prompted by enterprise building management. Our main focus is on the areas of facility and IT integration, convergence and intelligent buildings. 

Paul Ehrlich, PE - President and Founder
Established Building Intelligence Group in 2004 with the purpose of providing services to help the industry transition to Intelligent Buildings.  Ehrlich has been involved in the industry for over 20 years.  At BuilConn 2004, Ehrlich was honored with a Buildy Vision Award for his perseverance in promoting whole building integration and interoperability through advocacy, promotion, educational and training endeavors.  He is presently the co-chair of the oBIX committee and frequent presenter and author in the industry. 

Throughout his career, Ehrlich has been actively involved with various industry groups involved in the creation of new automation standards and technologies. Previous roles include chairing the ASHRAE Guideline 13 committee  on how to specify DDC controls and acting as the inaugural chair for the oBIX committee to establish XML standards for building controls.

Prior to establishing the Building Intelligence Group Ehrlich had worked for industry leading suppliers including Trane where he served as Controls Business Development Leader, guiding the direction and development of building control products. In this role, Ehrlich focused on determining global customer needs as it related to potential technologies that will be used for Trane’s current and future generations of building control products. Prior to working for Trane, Ehrlich worked for Johnson Controls providing solutions to building owners.

Chuck Ehrlich - Chief Technology Officer
Chuck Ehrlich has an extensive background in technology and business that includes over 25 years as a consultant to information technology, financial services, and telecommunications companies and five years of teaching e-business and marketing in the graduate school of business at the University of San Francisco. He received his BS in Computer Engineering and MS in Computing and Information Sciences from Case Western Reserve University and his MBA from the University of San Francisco.

Ira Goldschmidt, PE - Facilities Planning and Design
Goldschmidt has over 25 years experience in the Building HVAC, Controls and Energy Management industry and developed some of the first commercial DDC building automation systems.  He is well known throughout the industry for his expertise in building automation to solve complex control and energy management; integration with fire, security, and lighting systems; and integration with building IT/Enterprise systems.  As a co-author of the ASHRAE Guideline on “Specifying Direct Digital Controls” and the BACnet® standard for DDC communications, he  has provided numerous talks, seminars and training courses for the industry.

Goldschmidt is a highly respected consulting engineer with  LEED® 2.0 Accredited Professional certification and is an ENERGY STAR® Partner.  He is a respected author and expert in the industry in the area of Intelligent Building control system design and commissioning. 

Riva Kupritz - Market Research and Strategic Market Planning
Kupritz has over 20 years of experience in market research and strategic planning. She brings to our organization a unique ability to assess and analyze potential opportunities and then develop actionable strategies using the findings.  Areas of expertise include focus group moderating, online, phone and print surveys and market segment analysis.

Kupritz has provided valuable research and strategy services to industries including building automation, utilities, architectural, engineering and design, and commercial real estate. Her services have been instrumental in helping organizations within these industries to define market opportunities, introduce new products and services and expand market share of existing offerings. 

Jeff Seewald, PE - Intelligent Buildings Systems Engineer
Jeffrey Seewald is a licensed professional engineer who brings nearly 20 years of experience in commercial buildings systems applications engineering and systems optimization to Building Intelligence Group.

He is experienced with integrated controls, HVAC systems and equipment, building systems applications engineering, and IT networks.  Jeff’s work at Building Intelligence Group spans a spectrum: from technical analysis and engineering design for building owners, to industry and market research, to education and advocacy for intelligent buildings.    Jeff’s overall goal is to provide clients with research, analysis and solutions to help them achieve greater levels of functionality, efficiency, and intelligence in buildings.