The Southeast Sustainability Directors Network collaborates to accelerate the adoption of econmically viable, socially equitable, and environmentally responsible best practices in American Southeastern communities. We do this by sharing information and problem solving together. SSDN is a project of the Chalice Oak Foundation.
   The Southeast Sustainability Directors Network:
   January Update
 
 

2015 Work Groups


Thanks to each of you who participated in the 2015 work group kick-off calls this month. Notes from January work group calls have been posted on USDN.org.
   
We gained direction as a network from these kick off calls, and decided to merge Equity, Residential Energy Efficiency, and Utilities into a more broad Energy Group that will explore subtopics together.

SSDN is finalizing an equity in energy efficiency grant proposal. If you are interested in joining that proposal, please let Susanna know. 
 
All future call notes will be posted to the website, so please check in frequently to see what’s up with your peers in other work groups. To be added or subtracted from any work group, please email Kim.
 


 Job Postings

 

Paula Thomas is retiring, and you can read about it here. We appreciate the chance to have gotten to know her, and for her contribution to our network. Best of luck, Paula!

The Raleigh, NC Sustainability Director position is posted here.

The Memphis and Shelby County Office of Sustainability have partnered with the Memphis Chamber Foundation and Greater Memphis Chamber to hire a coordinator for a two-year grant funded position to transition the Mid-South Regional Greenprint initiative. You can read more about this opportunity here. 
 

 

See What SSDN Members
Are Posting
 
 
Please continue to share with us what you're learning or needing to know on USDN.org. We look forward to sharing your posts  in the newsletter next month.

Can't log on to USDN?  Reply to this email or send Susanna a note and we'll fix that. Posters, be sure to tag the Southeast so we can all see.  A tutorial for the site is here.
 
 

 
 


Jane Gregory

Pollution Prevention Coordinator
Orange County
Florida
 

Jane first got involved with SSDN through the 2014 Mayor’s Challenge, and has volunteered to lead the 2015 Staff Buy-in Work Group. She sees SSDN as dealing with the high level as opposed to very technical issues, and likes the ease of information access.


Jane graduated from the University of Florida with an Animal Science degree and began her first job as a chemist for a hazardous waste facility. She moved on to Florida's Dept. of Env. Protection and for 10 years managed Superfund site cleanups, inspected hazardous waste facilities, and coordinated emergency responses. Eventually, she began working in the private sector authoring environmental compliance training content and managing an online training system used by military installations throughout the US, Asia, and Europe. 

 
In 2010, Orange County hired her as a contractor to develop and manage a Residential Energy Efficiency incentive program. When their pollution prevention position opened up 2 years ago, she stepped seamlessly back into the public sector full-time.  She also teaches hazardous waste education at the University of Florida TREEO Center.
 
Jane’s challenge is that the private sector sees government as an enforcer rather than a partner. She works to build relationships and educate businesses on how they can operate profitably while conserving resources, especially in light of population growth and tourism. Reducing impacts on strained water resources and environmentally sensitive lands is critical to maintaining Central FL quality of life.
 
Another challenge is waste.  Floridians typically generate double the national average of 4.5 lbs/day. Florida’s legislature mandated a 75% recycling goal, and Jane works to push the initiative through education, outreach, and partnerships. Regardless of the challenges, she says her job is rewarding.  She sees her role as supporting county staff to help keep Central FL a place where people continue to enjoy. 
 
Community Roles:
Chair, Metropolitan Environmental Training Alliance

Food Waste Subcommittee Chair, Good Food Central Florida

VP of Public Affairs, Green Destination Orlando




 

CONTACT US

Southeast Sustainability Directors Network
P.O. Box 27534
Knoxville, TN 37927

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