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CEC Greater Houston Environmental Summit 2019 Table Talk Hosts
July 31, 2019

CEC Greater Houston Environmental Summit 2019 Table Talk Hosts

Small group discussions with experts on a variety of topics related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). A cross between a breakout session and speed networking.

Speaker Bios:

Juan Elizondo, Director of Partnerships at Furr High School, with Johnny Gallegos, Jazmyn Aguirre, Morgan Osegueda and Margarita Rojas, FFA Officers at Furr High School, with Nalleli Hildalgo of the Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Service. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The Career and Technical Education Department of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources for the past few years at Furr High School, has gained recognition through various awards and honors. In 2015, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), awarded the program the Abraham Lincoln Honor Award for Diversity, Outreach and Inclusion. Last school year, Future Farmers of America students collectively planted over 100 fruit trees on campus. Education transcends beyond the four walls of traditional schooling. For instance, Herman Brown Park, a 900 acre neighborhood park across the street from Furr High School, serves as our outdoor classroom. Students engage in work based projects revolving around the study of wildlife, fish, conservation, and sustainable ecosystems. In 2016, Furr High School established and built their very own Community Garden and Fruit Orchard which they operate and sustain with the neighborhood at the park. Furthermore, Environmental Justice is a key theme of the school and the City of Houston serves as their classroom, were educators and students engage in work-based programming. 

Keith Koski – Manager, City of Houston Building Materials Reuse Warehouse, Department of Solid Waste Management. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Keith worked in design and construction for most of his adult life. He strives to minimize waste in his projects as much as possible. Since 2009, Mr. Koski had the privilege to manage the City of Houston Building Materials Reuse Warehouse, a component of the Solid Waste Management Department. The Reuse Warehouse accepts building materials from individuals and companies, diverts them from landfills, and gives them to non-profit organizations for free.

Alicia Mein-Johnson – Environmental Education Specialist, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition. SDG 4: Quality Education

Alicia is a champion of students, formerly as a public high school science teacher and coach and now as the new Environmental Education Specialist at the CEC. She also currently serves as the Vice President of the Texas Association for Environmental Education, is a Texas Master Naturalist and a Texas Certified Environmental Educator. Alicia looks forward to increasing environmental literacy within our Houston community.

Paige Powell – Director of Operations, Air Alliance Houston. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Paige serves as Director of Operations for Air Alliance Houston. She is a Certified Public Manager, Climate Reality Leader, and Master of Public Policy candidate at the Hobby School of Public Affairs. Her primary research interests include market-based mechanisms for rapid carbon draw-down; divestment from single-use plastics as a strategy for reducing toxic emissions in fence line communities; renewable energy; vehicle electrification; and resilient urban design for improved public health. Paige grew up in the Houston area suffering from asthma, and has intimate knowledge of the debilitating health problems exacerbated by air pollution that face Houston area children and families. She is a mother, educator, and lifelong public servant dedicated to advancing the cultural shift away from fossil fuels to ensure a sustainable future.

Jennifer Ronk – Sustainability & Advocacy Manager, Packaging & Specialty Plastics, The Dow Chemical Company. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Jennifer joined Dow’s Packaging & Specialty Plastics Division as the Sustainability and Advocacy Manager in 2018. In this role, she collaborates with the entire value chain to end marine debris and improve plastic circularity. Her work includes serving on committees for The Recycling Partnership, the EPA’s America Recycles Day, American Chemistry Council’s plastics recycling groups, the PLASTICS Industry Association Recycling Committee. She also supports our global efforts on marine debris, including collaborating with the Ocean Conservancy, the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, Circulate Capital and others.

Nancy Brown – Public Outreach Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. SDG 15: Life on Land

Nancy has worked for the National Wildlife Refuge System for almost twenty years. She currently oversees the Houston Community Partnerships and Engagements Program. She has a heart for helping communities thrive, which started when she volunteered for the Peace Corp. Get your guns up, because Nancy is a graduate of Texas Tech University.

Laurie Lomas-Gonzales – Wildlife Biologist, Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge. SDG 15: Life on Land

Laurie is from the Rio Grande Valley and attended college at Texas A&M University in Kingsville, where she double-majored in Animal Science and Biology. She moved to New Mexico State University, where she received her Master’s Degree in Wildlife Science. Laurie is currently a wildlife biologist at Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge in Liberty. In addition to her biologist duties, Laurie is passionate about engaging and immersing people in nature and believes the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge is a perfect place to do just that

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