Personal Glimpses

Please send us news of your promotions, job changes, and other news you would like to share.

2007 Awards Recipients

VALORI RANSON - ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Nominees for Environmental Professional of the Year should have made significant contributions to the environmental profession in 2006 through their completed or ongoing activities including professional work, community service, and other acts of volunteerism that benefited the Houston Gulf Coast area in 2006.  Nominees from industry, service companies, the legal profession, and academia are considered.

" I would like to nominate Valori Ranson as TAEP’s Environmental Professional of the Year.

Valori is a graduate of West Virginia University Institute of Technology, where she still serves as an appointed member of the Chemical Engineering Advisory Board.  She is also involved in alumni activities and is currently organizing a Gulf Coast alumni chapter of WVU Tech.

Valori got involved in the environmental field many years ago while working at a carbon black plant in Toledo, Ohio, and has been employed by a number of industrial and consulting organizations.  She now calls herself a “professional volunteer” but has worked as an Independent Consultant for my company, McLean Environmental Services, since 2000.  In my experience working with Valori, I have found her to be very professional, intelligent, self-motivated and thorough.  With a quick wit and charming personality, Valori works extremely well with others.

Valori has served on the TAEP Board of Directors for 12 years and has held various positions including Chair of the Environmental Challenges and Innovations Conference: Gulf Coast 2007, Treasurer, Communications Director, Chair of Nominations and Elections Committees, and Chair of several Special Projects.

In addition to an outstanding job organizing the Environmental Challenges and Innovations Conference, some of Valori’s other accomplishments include updating and enhancing TAEP’s web presence, updating and improving the organization’s communications capabilities, and recruiting numerous new members.  Valori has even been known to twist a few arms to get people to serve along side her on the Board.  Valori was also very instrumental in putting TAEP back on firm financial ground in the late 90’s during a time of industry contraction and organizational challenges.  It is safe to say that Valori has done more for TAEP than anyone within the organization and it is no exaggeration to say that TAEP would not be what it is today without her hard work and dedication.

For all these reasons and more, I believe Valori Ranson is very deserving of TAEP’s Environmental Professional of the Year award for her years of service to the TAEP and the environmental industry."

Submitted by Kim McLean, President, McLean Environmental Services

NICOLE CASS - YOUNG ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Nominees for Young Environmental Professional of the Year should be under 35 years of age and committed to a career in the environmental profession. These young environmental professionals should also have made significant contributions to the profession in 2006 through their completed or ongoing activities including professional work, community service, and other acts of volunteerism that benefited the Houston Gulf Coast area in 2006. Nominees from industry, service companies, the legal profession, and academia are considered.

"Nicole Cass has been instrumental in the organization of the Young Environmental Professionals group over the past two years while also competently taking care of her responsibilities on the TAEP Board of Directors and serving on the conference committee.  She has also done an outstanding job in coordinating deserving candidates for our scholarship program.  She is involved in these volunteer activities in spite of a tremendous work load at the Port of Houston Authority.  Nicole was described in her nomination as “a fearless and incredible asset to TAEP.”

Nicole is a terrific resource for environmental information for the Environmental staff at the Port of Houston Authority.  She is project manager for all water quality issues (including storm water, waste water, public drinking water, and ballast water), which is a daunting task in itself.  In addition to normal work responsibilities, Nicole stepped up to successfully manage the Port's EMS when the previous P.M. left the Port. She also volunteers for Port sponsored activities such as Trash Bash and Junior Achievement.  She is a member of the Environmental Institute of Houston Advisory Board.  Outside of the Port, Nicole is completing her dissertation in Marine policy on ballast water technology at the University of Delaware."

Submitted by Roxana Herrera, Port of Houston Authority, and Lee Garrett, Terracon

REBECCA RENTZ - REGULATOR OF THE YEAR

Nominees for Regulator of the Year must be employed at a regulatory or government agency and should have made significant contributions to the environmental profession.

"I’m nominating TCEQ's first Region 12 Air Quality Director, Rebecca Rentz, for her valuable and steadfast contributions in improving Air Quality issues through industry and government relations for the HGB area in only 12 months.  She has worked tirelessly to bring the proper stakeholders to the table to address a vast number of Air Quality issues.  Her strength in finding opportunities from among the more difficult situations, learning about those issues and developing a path forward for progress as a doable "win" for all parties has made a significant difference in our community and airshed.  She is always willing to listen and resolve concerns with her well-rounded perspective due to her background as an environmental attorney and former policy director for environmental health issues for Harris County Judge Eckels.

Rebecca's current role with TCEQ was created due to the overwhelming need for the TCEQ to directly address Air Quality issues with those sources and resolve them successfully.  She is viewed as an advocate for cleaning our air by all groups: industry, government and environment.  Her role is viewed by those in the HGB area as a direct liaison for Air Quality with TCEQ regulators in the Austin office.  She takes time to do field investigations, site visits, community outreach, and industry stakeholder meetings.  All of these efforts are resulting in more groups working together and actually "doing" actions rather than "talking" about actions needed.  This momentum for Air Quality in our area is critical for us to one day meet and demonstrate attainment.  This nomination focuses on Air Quality; however, Rebecca's background and expertise is not solely Air Quality.  She has professional experience dealing with all environmental media and her approach is always the same - successful!"

Submitted by Dana Blume, Port of Houston Authority

Congratulations!

Brenda Donaloio, TAEP member and former Board member, was married to George Lee on September 30, 2006, in Mt. Upton, New York.  We wish them all the best in their journey together!

In Memory

Charles Richard "Chuck" Glore, age 65, passed away in Houston on June 7, 2006.  He is survived by his father, Charles F. Glore, age 93; sister, Sarah Baytes, age 63; both of Newnan, Georgia.  Chuck is also survived by his wife and partner of 25 years, Mary Glore, age 65, two daughters, Londa DaSilva-Crowsey and Kimberly Diaz; and five grandchildren, all of whom live in Houston.  Chuck was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 11, 1940.  He served in the U.S. Navy, had a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology from Florida State University and a Masters Degree in Hydrology from the University of Indiana.  He was a devoted husband, father, and friend who loved to sail, cook a great meal, and spend time with family and friends.  His gentle and loving spirit will be missed more than words can say. (Published in the Houston Chronicle on 7/9/2006)

Note - Chuck was an active member of TAEP for many years prior to his retirement.