Tracy LaCorte, an engineer who has worked for Bently Holdings since early 2008, doubles as an officer in the Coast Guard Reserve. When deployed, Tracy is typically away for only a couple of weeks a year — but during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon cleanup effort, the Coast Guard needed him for two months in the Gulf of Mexico. During that time, Tracy worked in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana as the Planning Department Documentation Unit Leader, drafting and editing Branch Action Plans, conveying work assignments and special instructions for over 2,200 personnel and 950 support assets.

For his work during the oil spill response Tracy was awarded the Coast Guard Achievement Medal.

As a Lieutenant Junior Grade, Tracy is also a Maritime Law Enforcement Officer and Team Leader for Sector San Francisco. Serving in this capacity he manages Captain of the Port security concerns for 1,500 miles of coastline. He is also responsible for the training development and mobilization readiness requirements for twelve Reserve members.

On a daily basis he works as an engineer at the Bently Reserve, a historic building famous for hosting the West Coast’s finest events. The building boasts highly advanced technologies and sustainable operations; it is one of the oldest LEED certified buildings in the nation.

Businesses everywhere can contribute to important causes of national interest, such as the Deepwater cleanup, by supporting employees like Tracy. These men and women have outstanding leadership abilities and advanced expertise, making them desirable on any team. Bently Holdings recognizes this, and invests in the dedication of employees in the Guard and Reserve by salary matching for a set number of weeks each year while they serve our country. Additionally, Bently Holdings maintains health care benefits for long-term absences — an especially important advantage to those with families.

Bently Holdings salutes Tracy, and all members of the Coast Guard, for their extraordinary contributions to our safety, environement, our nation, and our workforce.

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard conducts an awards program designed to recognize employers who support a strong National Guard and Reserve force. Employers qualify for recognition when they practice leadership and personnel policies that support employee participation in the Guard and Reserve.

One of the newest buildings in Marin, Belvedere Place has ample parking available in its garage, and is located only 20 minutes from San Francisco. The building also features views of Mount Tamalpais and the surrounding hills, with picnic tables and benches for tenant use in a park-like setting. It is located next to Strawberry Village – host to numerous dining options and amenities.

Bently Holdings is thrilled to welcome three businesses to their new home at Belvedere Place!

Devised with the modern-day fashionista in mind, featured designers will showcase an evocative array of exclusive haute couture designs. Including alluring undergarments by Dark Garden Unique Corsetry, feminine expressions of wearable-art by Gelareh Alam, elegant yet edgy gowns by Rebecca Bruce, British-inspired silhouettes by Sara Shepherd, and dramatic women’s and menswear by Sequoia & Gita., each piece shown will reestablish the true meaning of couture: custom, made by hand, one-of-a-kind designs.

To conclude the evening, Amber Marie Bently will show off her own sustainable style with unique runway feature of Amber Marie Bently Couture Jewelry.

As an avid environmentalist and eco-conscious trendsetter, Amber Marie and her husband Chris Bently have dedicated their philanthropic and professional work to organizations such as Global Green and PRBO, and have donated land to the Nature Conservancy. Most recently, Amber Marie’s efforts are focused on the Coral Reef Alliance, the only international organization working exclusively to save coral reefs.


“We’re proud of the Bently Reserve because it’s one of the city’s most architecturally stunning buildings and now one of its most sustainable,” says Bently Holdings CEO Christopher Bently. “It’s a beautiful building with some old bones, but a very modern heart.”

About LEED-CS


The LEED certification was specifically awarded for the environmental upgrades to the building’s “core and shell,” meaning that the certification applies to significant environmental upgrades done to the building’s structure, envelope, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems. This certification compliments LEED certification for interiors, which is pending for the conference center and main event halls. LEED-Core and Shell also helps future tenants “go green” by giving them a foundation of environmental upgrades to build upon; many such upgrades have already been completed on the interior of the building by Bently Holdings, as well as in the offices by building tenants. Learn more about LEED here.

A History of Leadership


Since purchasing the building in 2005, Bently Holdings owners Christopher and Amber Marie Bently have cultivated a green environment by requiring all new tenants to design their office space at a minimum of LEED Silver Certified. One of these tenants, the Energy Foundation, became the first commercial space in San Francisco — and one of only thirteen worldwide — to receive LEED-CI Platinum Certification from the US Green Building Council.


Bently Holdings has worked closely with the SmithGroup and BCCI Builders to update and remodel the building while preserving its unique Beaux-Arts style. New flooring was purchased from Forest Stewardship Council certified sources. Artificial lighting was re-designed to interact with natural sources, a daylight harvesting system was implemented, and a central automation and control network was installed to monitor occupancy and save energy in real time. Throughout the refit, demolished material was recycled in excess of 75 percent, and any new paints were low VOC (volatile organic compound).

Modern eco-friendly amenities abound, such as the thirty-three indoor bicycle parking spaces that make green commuting much more convenient for tenants. The building also boasts some of the most sophisticated office and conference technologies in the City. But does the investment outweigh the risk? According to Amber Marie Bently, the president of Bently Holdings, it does: “We feel owning a LEED-Certified building gives us a competitive advantage in the market even during such an economically difficult time.”

Preserving San Francisco History

One might think that refitting an eighty-five year old building to meet and exceed modern green standards would take away from its historic charm, but Bently Holdings has methodically preserved this building’s original magnificence. From the lavish mural in the lobby by celebrated artist Jules Guerin, to the prominent Beaux-Arts Ionic Colonnade, to the dazzling period chandeliers in the Banking Hall, the Bently Reserve is as much a part of San Francisco’s colorful past as its bright future.


About Bently Holdings:
 Founded in 2001 as a sustainable luxury real estate and property holdings company, Bently Holdings has become a benchmark for California’s green building initiatives.

Belvedere Place is over 100,000 square feet of the finest office space in all of Marin, featuring views of Mount Tamalpais and the surrounding hills. Awarded the Energy Star Building rating in 2007, this building is making the transition to 100% solar power.

Nearby hiking trails that span 11 acres offer a beautiful landscape, perfectly matching this building’s sustainable style. Belvedere Place offers the highest standards of LEED quality and technology.

This event is RSVP only – make sure to let us know you’ll be attending as soon as you can – spaces are filling up fast!

5:00-7:00 p.m.
May 14th
Belvedere Place, 2 Belvedere Pl. 3rd Fl
Mill Valley, CA 94941
ph. 415.288.0202 ext 304
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