Sustainability and the Environment
- Master of Ceremonies for the 10th Anniversary of the Agua Fria National Monument, managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management – BLM.
- When the Colorado Plateau and North Rim area of the Grand Canyon was targeted for applications for reopening two mothballed uranium mines, public protest erupted from the global environmental community, local activists and area Native American tribes. GRA was retained to work with area regulators, conduct training and coaching, and to help design and facilitate a public hearing/meeting to a safe and responsive conclusion.
- Researched, wrote and produced an agency Sunset Report to the Arizona Legislature to justify the continued mandate and operation of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Effort resulted in the successful extension of the agency charter.
- Proposed, helped plan, and managed media for the Great Salt River Cleanup, the largest volunteer environmental event ever conducted in the state of Arizona. Heavy precipitation in December 1992 and January 1993 resulted in flooding and the catastrophic failure of the Tri-City landfill located along the normally dry Salt River bed through the Phoenix metropolitan area.
- More than 75,000 cubic yards of solid waste were deposited along 94,000 acres of river bottom. The landfill, loaed on sovereign Indian Reservation land, fell under limited regulatory authority and traditional cleanup solutions were unattainable. The proposed government, business and volunteer cleanup event was endorsed by the Arizona Governor’s office and resulted in a one day cleanup on May 22, 1993.
- Twenty-one thousand two hundred forty-seven volunteers removed 26,326 bags of trash from 39 miles of river bottom and shoreline. Media interest necessitated daily radio, television or newspaper interviews from mid-January through May 22, 1993 and included network media coverage the day of the cleanup.
- The event made enough money to seed a statewide “Adopt-a-Shore” program for Arizona.
- One local television reporter stated “…this single problem and solution resulted in more positive coverage of an environmental issue and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, than all coverage of the agency combined since its inception in 1987.”
- The event led to a National Association of Professional Environmental Communicators (NAPEC) 1994 award of excellence.
- Managed a public information and media campaign to deal with the phase-out and diminishing availability of Freon for auto air-conditioning systems, and the dangers of black market products taking their place. Coordinated the local auto repair industry and EPA involvement, produced public information packets and media kits and hosted a news conference with demonstrations by auto repair technicians. Event attracted extensive news media coverage.
- Managed public information and community relations for a low income and minority neighborhood believed affected by smoke and residue from a fire which destroyed a semiconductor manufacturing business in Phoenix. Proposed and helped develop an innovative minority community-operated storefront office in the affected neighborhood for health screening and dissemination of information.
- Served as official spokesperson for the State of Arizona and USEPA in responses to charges of environmental racism for a variety of issues. Invited as a featured speaker at an Arizona State University symposium on environmental racism and helped develop state policy on environmental racism.
- Hosted and managed highly contentious public meetings in low income and minority communities throughout the Southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico and dealt with organized public protest.
- Co-produced a comprehensive communication manual and guide for Motorola workforce redeployment and reductions used by the company during an extensive downsizing effort involving manufacturing and design facilities throughout the United States and Asia.
- Developed and successfully managed and multi-agency communication strategy, media and community relations effort for for Lake Havasu City, Arizona fecal coliform lake contamination and beach closure issue. Translated technical and policy problems into understandable fact sheets and newsletters, planned, facilitated and hosted public meetings and weekly media updates and briefings, served as news-media spokesperson representing the positions of the Arizona Departments of Environmental Quality and Health Services, USEPA, the Arizona Governor’s office, and City of Lake Havasu.
- Worked with the Arizona Association of Realtors (AAR) and the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) on environmental issues affecting agents. Served on AAR “Task Force of the Year” producing educational materials and drafting environmental disclosure policy for Realtors. Served on committee drafting continuing environmental education curriculum for state mandated real estate courses.
- Taught environmental education classes for continuing credit. Featured speaker at state conventions. Worked with AAR and ADRE drafting legislative agendas.
- Managed marketing and advertising for the Arizona Game & Fish Department’s “Watchable Wildlife” tax checkoff fundraising campaign, persuading state income tax filers to indicate a donation on their state tax form. Managed budget, produced radio, television, print and outdoor creative, and negotiated paid and unpaid media schedules. Successfully increased campaign income despite decreased advertising budget.
- Consultant to the North American Bear Society, a wildlife conservation group. Developed and managed pro bono marketing and advertising plan for the newly formed organization. Spearheaded a promotional and fundraising “Bear Fair” attended by more than 35,000 people.
- Former City of Scottsdale Environmental Quality Advisory Board member.
- Past Vice President, Executive Board member and Communications Chair of Arizona Clean & Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.
- OSHA 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Certificate.
- Special Assistant to the Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). Managed communication with the public, news media, the regulated businesses, and all levels of government. Communicated official policy and served as the agency spokesperson for thousands of print, radio and television interviews on waste, water, air quality, and emergency response issues.
- Edited newsletter and fact sheet to be distributed to local community surrounding the Union Pacific Railroad Bandini cleanup site in southern California.
- Conducted reconnaissance and research on EPA policies and protocol related to Environmental Justice and permanent residential relocations managed under Superfund.
- Managed community relations for Cyprus/Miami Copper Co. Pinal Creek State Superfund remedial investigation and design with oversight by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). Co-wrote and produced newsletter, hosted informational open house events, worked with a responsible party contractor in production of informational materials, displays and video. Acted as news-media spokesperson answering health and environmental questions. Established relationships with local environmental activists.
- Represented Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) on a committee charged with devising state implementation of lead-based paint policy drafted by Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Helped plan the facilitation of a meeting to deal with Mexico mobile emissions modeling for the Western Governors’ Association.
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