Invited Talks Recordings
If you missed some of our invited speakers at our public meetings held on zoom, please take a look at our collection below. Not all meetings were recorded so we hope you can enjoy this selection.
Note these videos and audios are served from our Google Drive and listed with the most recent first.
Click the title to access.
Talks |
Speaker Bios |
Decarbonizing Health CareDuration: 1:02:16 Walt Vernon discusses the challenges we face in decarbonizing hospitals and clinics, and how it can be done. While the IRA and record level State incomes bring much needed funds, we still have hospitals who are going out of business (most rural hospitals are on their knees financially for many reasons). Healthcare, a notoriously carbon heavy industry, needs much attention and then while IRA money is available to help these hospitals, they have to come up with 50% matching funds for any decarbonization project. |
Walt VernonWalt is the CEO of Mazzetti, an Employee-Owned Benefit Corporation whose mission is to Bend the Climate Curve. With offices across the US, India, and Africa, Mazzetti offers consulting, design, and construction services to health facilities. Walt also founded and runs the Sextant Foundation; a nonprofit organization providing renewable energy development services for low-resourced healthcare facilities. Walt has been the Principal Investigator for numerous healthcare decarbonization research projects and publications. In 2023, he published the California Energy Commission’s Hospital Decarbonization Design Guide. He helped write the ASHRAE-REHVA Design Guide for Net Zero Hospitals, and the ASHRAE Decarbonized Hospital Design Guide. |
GeoTGO: Equitable and inclusive tool for community-based geothermal developmentDuration: 1:22:26 For effective and equitable outcomes in achieving the national goal of net-zero carbon emissions, communities must be included and even lead the implementation of innovative green-energy technologies. Collaborations with communities should happen through informed decision-making, community-centered research, and engagement of stakeholders at the local, state, and regional levels. Community-led research and implementation are fundamental to achieving success. These collaborations include rule makers, environmental regulators, clean energy industries, and technology researchers and developers. Unfortunately, many green infrastructure initiatives still adhere to a top-down and expert-driven process of site selection and design without awareness and acknowledgment of public engagement needs. This can lead to costly delays, including lawsuits, and ultimately less than desired or lacking outcomes and missed opportunities. Geothermal, like many new technologies whose social and economic impacts are not fully understood, often cause disproportionately high adverse effects on disadvantaged communities. These effects can be related to human health, environmental, climate, and other cumulative impacts, as well as the accompanying economic challenges of these impacts. We are focusing our work on the needs of the New Mexico Native American Pueblos and Tribes (NMP&T). We are developing a novel web-based interactive software and user-friendly interface called GeoTGO (https://geotgo.com) to address these needs. It provides everything communities need to understand and develop their geothermal resources. We will bridge the gap between technology advancements and community needs by facilitating the interactions between the geothermal industry, regulators, stakeholders, and end-users. GeoTGO can merge data, software (including data analysis, text mining, artificial intelligence, and modeling tools), knowledge, expertise, and experience to provide fast processing and dissemination of the latest information about cutting-edge geothermal technologies to users and communities. |
Dr. Velimir (Monty) V. VesselinovDr. Velimir V. Vesselinov (webpage; LinkedIn), lead for the technology development at EnviTrace LLC. His technical experience and capabilities include a Ph.D. in engineering hydrology with a minor in applied mathematics. Over the years, he has been the Principal Investigator (PI) of 6 multi-year, multi-million, multi-institutional research and code-development projects. Some of these projects addressed research problems related to geothermal exploration. One of his codes (SmartTensors) has just received 2 R&D100 awards. He also holds a recently-released Machine Learning (ML) patent and is the lead author of a series of ML research papers. He authored more than 100 papers with an H-index of 28. He was the PI for a geothermal project that applied SIML techniques to data collected in a study area in southwestern New Mexico and found unique signatures. ML analyses identified an association between New Mexico’s geothermal data with different geothermal provinces and established associations that enabled artificial intelligence to discover unknown geothermal resources in New Mexico. |
The IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report – What’s Missing?Duration: 1:36:51 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Report, AR6, was released on March 20, 2023. What should be a roadmap and guidance document is a confusing synthesis of three working group reports that were issued between one and two years earlier. He will explore these reports and try to make a more up to date assessment of where we are and where we are going with climate change. |
Steven Rudnick Ph.D.Steve’s qualifications and career positions held are many and varied, including:
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The Electric Hail MaryDuration: 1:13:27 “A Hail Mary pass is a very long forward pass in American football, typically made in desperation, with an exceptionally small chance of achieving a completion. Due to the difficulty of a completion with this pass, it makes reference to the “Hail Mary” prayer for strength and help.” – Wikipedia While the City of Santa Fe, together with local Home Builders and Architecture Associations, has led the development and implementation of “Green” residential building and water conservation codes, we now find ourselves caught in incrementalistic local politics – all too little too late – hence, the“…desperation, with an exceptionally small chance of achieving a completion.” We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take the next step and advance to true “sustainable” construction. Call it whatever you want: Net Zero, Zero Carbon, Zero Energy, it has little to do with the current Green Code, and everything to do with direct action. This long throw aims at reducing pollution, increasing efficiency, saving consumers money and protecting New Mexico’s climate by using already well-established Zero On-Site Carbon Emissions standards developed by DOE, EPA, and Green Enterprise Communities. This next step also ensures success for Santa Fe for projected ~3,000 new dwellings in the pipeline within Santa Fe City limits over the next 20 years. It also responds to The Sustainable Santa Fe 25-Year Plan. |
Bob Kreger, AIABob is a Santa Fe-based architect, laser-focused on energy and water conservation and efficiency strategies in residential construction, with a background in production housing as well as custom homes. His firm designed and built the first custom LEED Platinum home in the state of New Mexico in 2008. Bob is also a past Habitat for Humanity Hero, a climate activist, and has won various awards for green building during several Parade of Homes sponsored by the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association. Bob designs to the Passive Design and Construction Standard founded upon the benefits in “A Better Way to Zero”. |
2023 Legislative Climate ProgressDuration: 1:07:02 Our meeting this month featured a conversation with State Representative Andrea Romero about the New Mexico state legislature’s response to climate change and how that can be improved. |
Representative Andrea RomeroAndrea Romero is a daughter of Northern New Mexico. She was born and raised in Santa Fe, Española, Chimayo, La Mesilla and Nambe. Her father was the first in my family to graduate college – he became an engineer. Her parents taught me the value of hard work, education and giving back to the community. She has two brothers: one is a veteran who now works in the private sector and another is a New Mexico State Police Officer. After attending elementary, middle school, and high school in Santa Fe Public Schools, Andrea graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science. She has dedicated herself to the growth of Northern New Mexico’s economic and environmental vitality through her small business and volunteer service to various organizations throughout the region. Currently, Andrea has completed her law degree at the University of New Mexico School of Law and remains an avid entrepreneur, with one patent already on healthy probiotics eggs. |
Geothermal EnergyDuration: 1:07:06 Learn about the NM Geothermal Resource Development Act for 2023 and the great potential of this clean, zero emissions source of heat & electricity. It could be a world-class 24×7 clean power source for New Mexico, providing sustainable economic development and a just transition path for drillers from the oil industry. |
Tom Solomon
Tom Solomon, co-coordinator of 350.org New Mexico, is a retired electrical engineer. During his 34 year career at Intel he led the team which built Intel’s Rio Rancho, NM Fab 11X in 2001, the $2B microprocessor Fab which employed 4,000 people at its peak. He also led the efforts to build Intel’s 100kW solar array in 2011. After retirement, in 2013 Tom became a co-coordinator of 350NM, the NM chapter of 350.org, fighting global warming to ensure a safe climate for his 3 children. 350NM’s campaigns include UNM divestment, large public rallies to demand action on climate, public education forums on the need to rapidly convert from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and helping to pass the 2019 Energy Transition Act, legislation which expanded NM’s renewable electricity standard to 100% carbon free by 2045. |
NMED & the Climate Change BureauDuration: 1:37:25 Claudia Borchert of the Climate Change Bureau and Michelle Miano, Environmental Protection Division Director will discuss the workings of the Climate Change Bureau and shed light on such things as:
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Michelle MianoNew Mexico Environment Department Michelle Miano is thrilled to join NMED as Environmental Protection Division Director. Originally from New Jersey, Michelle relocated to New Mexico fifteen years ago, after mistakenly applying to an editorial job in “New Mexico” instead of “New York.” Awed by the landscape and charmed by its people, Michelle has lived in New Mexico, ever since, including in Albuquerque, Arroyo Seco and Santa Fe. Michelle worked for several years in the New Mexico non-profit community before attending the University of New Mexico School of Law, where she received the Albert E. Utton Natural Resources Law Award and spent a semester in Washington, DC as a law clerk for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. Since earning her J.D., Michelle’s law practice primarily has focused on representation of Tribal Nations and Tribal interests, including in civil litigation, on land and resources issues and taxation matters. Michelle also spent time working for the New Mexico State Land Office dealing with oil and gas issues, state water issues, and state/tribal land exchanges. In her new role as Environmental Protection Division Director, Michelle is excited to join the efforts of Governor Lujan Grisham, Secretary Kenney and everyone at NMED to achieve NMED’s mission. Claudia BorchertNew Mexico Environment Department After joining New Mexico’s Environment Department in 2020 to work on climate change, Claudia Borchert became the Bureau Chief of the newly-formed Climate Change Bureau in November of 2022. The Climate Change Bureau, together with the leadership team of New Mexico’s interagency Climate Change Task Force, is developing a suite of climate action strategies for the state’s 5-year climate action plan aimed at achieving the statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction target of at least 45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050. The Bureau is also implementing climate actions specified in New Mexico’s Governor Lujan Grisham 2019-003 Executive Order on Addressing Climate Change and Energy Waste. For example, last May, Claudia and her team successfully gained the Environmental Improvement Board’s approval of cleaner tailpipe emission standards for passenger cars. |
Important Climate Legislation for 2023Duration: 1:24:18 Representative Matt McQueen, chair of Energy and Environment Committee, will discuss his perspective on priority bills in the 2023 Legislative Session that impact the climate. |
Representative Matt McQueenMatthew McQueen has served as State Representative for House District 50 since 2015. House District 50 was recently significantly redistricted to include more of the southern portion of Santa Fe County and the Placitas area of Sandoval County (cutting off portions of Torrance, Valencia, and Bernalillo Counties). In the Legislature, he has served on the House Judiciary Committee and has been Chair of the House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee. Matthew is a lawyer and also has degrees in natural resources policy and business. He lives with his wife and two children in the village of Galisteo. |
A People’s Assembly on Climate in NM?Duration: 1:48:31 Laura Berry, Director of People’s Voice on Climate, reviewed their experience organizing a People’s Assembly on Climate in Washington State in 2021. The talk covered how an Assembly might be something to consider for New Mexico. A People’s Assembly is a set of citizens chosen by lot to address important policy issues and make recommendations. |
Laura BerryLaura Berry is a climate justice advocate and independent researcher working at the intersections of democratic engagement and the Climate Emergency movement. She brings over a decade of experience in climate advocacy, organizing, and policy to the work of People’s Voice on Climate, and served as a Monitoring Team member and lead advisor to PVOC during the Washington State Climate Assembly before taking on the Director role. Laura holds a MS in Global Environment, Politics and Society from the University of Edinburgh and a B.A. in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic. |
Sierra Club 2023 Priority Bills (audio only)Duration: 58:58 This month we are pleased to welcome Luis Guerrero of the Rio Grand chapter of the Sierra Club who will review some of the Sierra Club’s legislative priorities for the 2023 session. |
Luis GuerreroLuis Guerrero is the Legislative and Political Organizer with the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, which represents members throughout New Mexico and West Texas. Luis lives in Las Cruces with his wife, dog and 2 cats. In previous roles he has worked for the Democratic Party of New Mexico and was an independent political consultant, working in several political campaigns across the State and progressive organizations. He joined the staff of the Sierra Club in 2021, where he works hard to advocate for the environment, wildlife and fights climate change. |
Abandoned & Orphaned WellsDuration: 50:16 Fresh off her well deserved recent electoral victory, Stephanie will share here thoughts and plans for dealing with orphaned and abandoned wells in New Mexico and progress made so far. |
Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia RichardStephanie Garcia Richard is the first woman, Latina, and educator to serve as Land Commissioner, responsible for managing 13 million acres across New Mexico to raise revenue on behalf of public schools, universities, and hospitals. In her first term, Stephanie has tripled renewable energy production and issued executive orders on freshwater and the Greater Chaco Region, saving millions of gallons of freshwater and protecting over 70,000 acres from development. She established programs to hold bad actors accountable and ensure remediation and removal of over 100 abandoned wells sites, saving New Mexicans millions in cleanup costs. |
Water Governance in New MexicoDuration: 1:14:40 Andrea Romero is our State Representative for House District 46. She will share her ideas on the needs and prospects for climate protection legislation in the next 2023 legislative session with a focus on ways to improve New Mexico’s water governance. |
Representative Andrea RomeroAndrea Romero is a daughter of Northern New Mexico. She was born and raised in Santa Fe, Española, Chimayo, La Mesilla and Nambe. Her father was the first in my family to graduate college – he became an engineer. Her parents taught me the value of hard work, education and giving back to the community. She has two brothers: one is a veteran who now works in the private sector and another is a New Mexico State Police Officer. After attending elementary, middle school, and high school in Santa Fe Public Schools, Andrea graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science. She has dedicated herself to the growth of Northern New Mexico’s economic and environmental vitality through her small business and volunteer service to various organizations throughout the region. Currently, Andrea is completing her law degree at the University of New Mexico School of Law and remains an avid entrepreneur, with one patent already on healthy probiotics eggs. |
Thermal Energy StorageDuration: 1:17:57 Athena Christodoulou, President of CSolPower LLC will speak to us on the state of the art and practice in New Mexico of concentrated solar power plant intentioned thermal energy storage and how it can help with the climate crisis. |
Athena ChristodoulouAthena Christodoulou is a technology entrepreneur and leader. She has been launching new companies in various industries since 2007. As such, she has designed and built out a cafe, spec home, clean tech consultation, and online app, Udorami. While completing her 2nd masters at UNM she led a team of engineers and MBA student to win the UNM 2012 Technology Business Plan Competition and was the initial Project Manager for the UNM/ASU Solar Decathlon team. She has been active in the clean energy world as president of the NM Solar Energy Association and new technology business consultant. She brings integrity, fresh innovation, outstanding analysis ability, and strategy to her team. Whatever group she leads thrives, be it non-profit or for profit. She says “Together, we will make it happen.” She adheres to the triple bottom line business model: People, Planet, Profit. |
NM Healthy Soil Working GroupDuration: 1:24:37 Restoring soil health holds the promise of reversing climate change by drawing down carbon from the atmosphere, and rebalancing the water cycle in New Mexico’s arid environment. It’s a simple and effective solution to a multitude of fundamental problems caused by exploitative and extractive industrial systems –and yet it is not often discussed or understood within the climate movement. This talk will provide an overview of the principles of soil health, what the climate benefits are and how you can get involved in advancing this important climate solution! |
Isabelle JennichesIsabelle Jenniches is co-founder of the NM Healthy Soil Working Group, a grassroots advocacy group that formed in 2018 to pass the NM Healthy Soil Act. A skilled community organizer with experience in policy and farmer-to-farmer education, Isabelle is dedicated to realizing soil health as a climate solution. |
My COP26 Experience & Significant TakeAwayDuration: 1:34:11 Mark joined us to review
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Mark HaydonMr. Hayden was appointed Director of the New Mexico State Purchasing Division in January 2019. Mark is an attorney with 33 years’ experience in both government and private practice. He was previously the Legal Services Bureau Chief at New Mexico State Purchasing; former Associate General Counsel at the New Mexico Human Services Department; and worked 20 years as Counsel for a fortune 500 insurance following several years in private litigation firms in Chicago. Mark Graduated from University of Wisconsin Madison Law School after receiving his Political Science Degree from Northern Illinois University. Mark also studied engineering at General Motors Institute while working at the Electro-Motive Division of GM to manufacture locomotives. Mark currently is a member of the NM Council for Purchasing from Persons with Disabilities, the Coalition for Sustainable Communities, and the Citizens Advisory for the oversight of legacy hazardous waste clean-up at Los Alamos. He attended the World Climate Change Conference last fall in Glasgow. An avid sailor on the Great Lakes for 25 years, Mark found water rather scarce in the high desert; so now he hikes, bikes, skis, rafts, and travels extensively throughout the West. He explored all corners of New Mexico, all state parks from Arizona to Canada, and completed his first Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim hike in the in the Spring of 2018. Mark participates in his neighborhood book club and is an active member of several local nature groups. |
Highlights and Shortfalls of the 2022 Legislative SessionDuration: 1:15:22 Gary will first give us a brief background on the Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico, reviewing the mission and ongoing work of the Coalition and legislative advocacy. The Coalition is an NGO consisting of the elected leaders and sustainability staffs of the Cities of Santa Fe, Las Cruces, and Albuquerque and Santa Fe and Los Alamos Counties. In the main part of his talk Gary will review the 2022 New Mexico Legislative Session with a focus on the environmental outcomes both highlights and missed opportunities. |
Gary PaytonGary Payton has twice now participated in our 350 Santa Fe Legislative Action Team and also volunteers as the Research and Technical Advisor for the Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico. In the latter role, he has orchestrated the legislative advocacy of the Coalition during regular sessions of the New Mexico Legislature in 2000, 2021, and 2022. He describes himself as a person with three careers: a Colonel in the US Air Force specializing for 24 years on the Soviet military; a Presbyterian mission worker for 17 years with 25 trips to Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus; and, currently a climate activist emphasizing renewable energy, fossil fuel divestment, and implementation of the Paris Agreement at the state, county, and city level. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Johns Hopkins University, and Georgetown University. |
The Role of the U.S. Military in The Climate CrisisDuration: 01:18:08 The Climate Crisis and Militarism Project (CCMP) of Veterans for Peace strives to inform the public about the U.S. military’s contribution to the climate crisis. By highlighting the emissions of the single largest institutional source of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet, CCMP is building support to cut the Pentagon’s budget and redirect resources to address the most certain and immediate threat to our security––climate change. This slideshow presentation focuses on four areas: |
James (Jim) JankoMember of the Climate Crisis & Militarism Project of Veterans for Peace James Janko was a medic in the Viet Nam War in 1970. He studied ecology at UC Berkeley and received a B.S. in Conservation of Natural Resources in 1979. Janko is the author of two award-winning novels, The Clubhouse Thief and Buffalo Boy and Geronimo. A new novel, Dusk, is forthcoming from the University of Wisconsin Press in the fall of 2022. Janko’s short fiction has appeared in The Massachusetts Review, The Sun, The Iowa Review, and many others. “At Veterans for Peace, we aim to be part of a movement to transform the organizing principle of our society from dominance to sustainability, equity, community, and regeneration. This will require the collaboration of many groups: frontline communities, racial and climate justice advocates, youth, labor, and environmentalists. It is past time for climate and other progressive groups to challenge the Pentagon’s operations, military expenditures, wars, and ongoing preparations for war. Let us work together for peace, climate justice, and a sustainable future.” |
Taking on climate change: reducing methane emissions in New MexicoDuration: 53:32 Tannis Fox will discuss the two rulemakings that have taken place this year in New Mexico to reduce emissions of methane – a potent greenhouse – gas from oil and gas operations. |
Tannis FoxTannis joined Western Environmental Law Center in 2020 and is a senior attorney. She focuses on moving New Mexico away from its over reliance on oil and gas, and toward clean energy sources. Previously, Tannis was engaged in environmental protection work for the state of New Mexico for almost 20 years, with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office and as Deputy General Counsel for the New Mexico Environmental Department, with a focus on water quality protection. She was the 2016 recipient of the Karl Souder Water Protection Award from the New Mexico Environmental Law Center for her work on copper mines. Prior to joining WELC, Tannis served as U.S. Senator Tom Udall’s speechwriter for four years during the Trump administration. Tannis graduated from Williams College with a major in economics, graduated magna cum laude from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, and clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Tannis works from WELC’s Santa Fe office. |
The Climate Crisis and Its SolutionsDuration: 1:46:30 In this presentation, we will take a look at the state of the climate and its impacts, discuss the progress being made in such things as renewables and offer ways that individuals can be involved in helping to ease the crisis. |
D. Reed EckhardtD. Reed Eckhardt is an award-winning newspaper editor, columnist and editorial writer. He left the field of journalism in 2016 after 45 years in the business. He moved to Abiquiu, NM, in late 2019 to handle family matters, and he and his wife, Elisabet de Vallee, have settled in Santa Fe. He is a leader with Climate Reality, the climate crisis group begun by Al Gore, and one of his roles is to do presentations on the state of the climate. In early 2020, he became affiliated with us at 350 Santa Fe, for which he writes our Weekly News Digest of climate news He also is heading 350 Santa Fe’s Social Media Team. He is a 1973 graduate of the University of Michigan, and he holds an MBA from Tulane University (1993). |
100% Renewables by 2040Duration: 1:35:30 Based on Stanford Prof Jacobson’s Solutions Project, this plan fills in his vision with details on how to build 100% clean renewable energy for ALL purposes in the US before 2040… how many wind and solar farms, and gigafactories, for every year from now until we reach 100%, with costs and jobs impacts. It is meant to inform the current debate on the American Jobs Plan/Climate Bill. |
Tom Solomon
Tom Solomon, co-coordinator of 350.org New Mexico, is a retired electrical engineer. During his 34 year career at Intel he led the team which built Intel’s Rio Rancho, NM Fab 11X in 2001, the $2B microprocessor Fab which employed 4,000 people at its peak. He also led the efforts to build Intel’s 100kW solar array in 2011. After retirement, in 2013 Tom became a co-coordinator of 350NM, the NM chapter of 350.org, fighting global warming to ensure a safe climate for his 3 children. 350NM’s campaigns include UNM divestment, large public rallies to demand action on climate, public education forums on the need to rapidly convert from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and helping to pass the 2019 Energy Transition Act, legislation which expanded NM’s renewable electricity standard to 100% carbon free by 2045. |
A Glimpse of the FutureDuration: hh:mm:ss 350 Santa Fe Core Team member Dr. Jim Eagle, nuclear engineer and tree-hugger, will present a couple of books about our future that he has found important in different ways. Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air tells you (in detail) the cost and efficiency of your favorite renewable/ sustainable energy source. The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis inspires by looking the climate challenges directly in the eye, and crafting a global “skillful” response. |
Dr. Jim EagleDr. James (Jim) Eagle is a Professor Emeritus of Operations Research at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA. His primary areas of research have been the military applications of operations research, especially in search and detection theory, applied probability, and military modeling. Dr. Eagle served as an officer in the U.S. Navy submarine force, retiring from the U.S. Naval Reserve as a captain in 1994. Under a Navy scholarship, he received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in Engineering-Economic Systems. At the Naval Postgraduate School, he has served as chairman of the Undersea Warfare Academic Group, chairman of the Systems Engineering Analysis Curriculum, chairman of the Department of Operations Research, and associate dean of faculty. His main hobbies are amateur astronomy and t’ai chi. He is currently active with the Santa Fe Star Gazers (a local group of amateur astronomers) and teaches t’ai chi at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe. He is a founding member of 350santafe.org. |
2021 Community Solar Bill PlansDuration: 1:38:26 A major policy goal of the Coalition is to develop a meaningful community solar program in NM. Beth is working in collaboration with a number of other diverse groups seeking to ensure an inclusive stakeholder process in developing community solar parameters through the working group established in Senate Memorial 63 from the 2020 session. This effort will ideally result in a winning community solar bill for the next legislative session. Beth Beloff will share her presentation explaining community solar and the initial thoughts of the coalition of members. |
Beth BeloffBeth Beloff has a long history of community service and social entrepreneurship, having founded and lead a number of nonprofit organizations. Her professional work over the last 30 years has been to integrate sustainability into decision-making for all types of organizations: governmental entities, businesses, and nonprofits. Prior to being in the sustainability field, she taught and practiced architecture and urban planning, and was a strategic management consultant. Following a recommendation of the Santa Fe Sustainability Commission, she was asked by Mayor Webber to establish and become Executive Director of the Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico in 2018. The Coalition’s membership is made up of elected leaders from local governments in NM – cities and counties, and eventually tribal entities. Beth has a BA from University of California, Berkeley, a Master of Architecture degree from UCLA, and an MBA from the University of Houston. |
The AgriGate of Santa Fe County: Supporting Resilient Local SystemDuration: 58:43 Santa Fe County actively works to promote the local food system through the Agriculture and Ranching Implementation Plan, which gave rise the the AgriGate of Santa Fe County. This platform connects food producers with food buyers and resources to facilitate sales to individual and institutional buyers. Since the advent of COVID, Santa Fe County has also been using this platform and the network of passionate partners in the Santa Fe Food Policy Council to feed people during this crisis while paving the way for increasing purchasing from our local farms and thus increasing resiliency into the future. |
Lucy Gent FomaLucy Gent (pronounced like “gentleman”) Foma |