SEMCO

08/20/2024

20 years ago on August 19th, I received a call from the Office of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger informing me that I had been appointed as his Chief Deputy Director of the Cal/EPA Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). At the time I was serving as Environmental/Safety Manager for TAMCO Steel in Rancho Cucamonga, the only steel mill in California.

I had previously served Governors Pete Wilson and Gray Davis as their appointee to the Colorado River Board of California. It was an interesting and life-changing transition from the "regulated" to the "regulator".

One of my many highlights included DTSC being awarded the California Council for Excellence (CCE) Baldrige-like award, known as the California Awards for Performance Excellence (CAPE), for its outstanding performance and commitment to excellence during my second stint as Acting Director from 2010-2011. Another included being a party in the settlement of the lawsuit between Fort Mojave and DTSC over the Topock Compressor Station in Needles, CA during my first stint as Acting Director. A high point during my term as DTSC Acting Director was working with (now) Vice President and Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris, who was serving as my attorney in her role as California Attorney General in various lawsuits.

It was a blast being part of the Administration that created California's Climate Change (AB32) and Safer Consumer Products (Green Chemistry) policies. Whatta journey!!

04/12/2024

Presenting to Green Energy Solutions partners about resources for green energy investment for residential, business, faith communities and non-profits this evening!

04/11/2024

Honored to speak at the Cobb County Sustainability Forum & Expo on Thursday, April 11th at 7:00pm at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta, GA

03/17/2024

Last week, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta (AoA) conducted an engaging Sustainability Workshop for its Care for Creation Teams at the Chancery in Smyrna, GA. This event is part of its ongoing dedication to addressing societal issues and promoting environmental stewardship. The workshop convened enthusiastic individuals, faith leaders, and environmental specialists to delve into the intersection of faith and sustainability in our everyday lives.

The workshop was orchestrated as part of the Laudato Si’ Initiative, spearheaded by the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The AoA represents over 1.3 million registered Catholics, 102 parishes, and 18 Catholic schools across northern Georgia. Motivated by Pope Francis's encyclical "Laudato Si’," the initiative seeks to tackle environmental and societal challenges through actions rooted in faith. The AoA is fervently pursuing a more sustainable future with initiatives ranging from environmental justice and equity to energy and water conservation, as well as zero waste.

The Sustainability Workshop bolstered our conviction that taking prompt and significant action for our shared home is not solely an environmental concern; it is an ethical obligation. As Catholics, we respond to both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. We persist in adopting sustainable methods, championing environmental justice, and acting as custodians of God’s creation. We are earnestly seeking collaborative ventures with organizations that share our vision.

12/18/2023

Tune unto the Faith & Sustainability Podcast. Members of different faith traditions, share their insights, experiences, and best practices on topics such as climate change, environmental justice, green building, water management, and more. Listening in will assist you in discussing care for creation with your members. We have experts that can be cited, and we also provide scriptures to reinforce being stewards for God's creation.

We hope you will join us in this journey of faith and sustainability, and we look forward to hearing your feedback and suggestions. Please feel free to share this invitation with your congregation and networks.

The podcast is a project of the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Laudato Si Initiative, which aims to inspire and equip Catholics and people of goodwill to care for our common home.

Meet me at the intersection of Faith & Sustainability at: https://archatl.com/laudato-si/faith-and-sustainability-podcast/ or Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast platforms!

11/30/2023

https://iac.gatech.edu/news/item/671285/georgia-tech-help-develop-state-first-climate-action-plan

The emissions tracker created by a Georgia Tech-led team will play an important role in the work, researchers say.

11/30/2023

Get the latest news about the Roman catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta Sustainability! Subscribe at: https://mailchi.mp/archatl/new-newsletter-available-faith-and-sustainability-winter-679837?e=6e7f3623bf

11/27/2023

This week's episode of the Faith & Sustainability Podcast features the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta Director of the Black Catholic Affairs Ashley Morris. The podcast will be released on Wednesday, November 29th. The discussion during this episode centers around how the Catholic Church embraces Environmental Justice and Equity.

The Archdiocese of Atlanta hopes that the podcast will inspire and educate Catholics and people of goodwill to take action for the common good of all creation. The podcast can be accessed at: https://archatl.com/laudato-si/faith-and-sustainability-podcast/ and other podcast platforms.

11/21/2023

Join Cobb County District 2 Commissioner Jerica M Richardson and me on The Faith & Sustainability Podcast as we discuss Faith, Sustainability and Governance.

11/14/2023

I am truly humbled to speak about Faith & Sustainability at the IGNITE Freshmen Ministry at the Catholic Center University of Georgia on Wednesday, November 15th.

It is great to speak to the future faith-based leaders in Sustainability!

The Catholic Center at the University of Georgia is a Eucharistic Community that seeks to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the tradition of our Roman Catholic faith and the spirit of St. Francis. All are always welcome at the Catholic Center.