My goal as a Climate Ambassador is to educate and prepare members of community groups for their individual and group climate restoration action and commitment, including an awareness of the need for climate justice.

I am an educator, a coach, a municipal administrator, and a long-time advocate for forests, green spaces, riverine environments, and water bodies, including Gig Harbor Bay, Puget Sound, and the Salish Sea. I contribute to The Grandparent’s Fund and encourage others to do so for the future of my two young grandsons, Ben and Eddie, and my children.

I’ve lived for seven decades in Gig Harbor, in Washington State, with my wife Marilyn for nearly five decades, growing up working for a family boat building company, now nonprofit 501(c)(3) Gig Harbor Boatshop.

I served as a high school teacher, coach, and middle and intermediate school administrator (17 years) and as a city administrator and manager (28 years), with side stints in public works, planning, and permitting as a lead administrator. I also served as a member of the Washington State Public Works Board, an executive director of a flood control district, a member of the SeaTac International Airport Advisory Roundtable (StART), on a post to the Washington State Interagency Committee for the Puget Sound Partnership, and as a temporary COO of Snohomish Health District.

For two years as an elected city council member, almost 15 years as City Administrator in Gig Harbor, six years as City Manager for the City of Normandy Park, and similar employment—30 years in span—I received compensation from six cities, two counties, the State of Washington, and Eddon Boat Company. (My father was Ed, his partner Don.) Payroll taxes in 54 years of vocation.

“Preservation of our environment is not a liberal or conservative challenge; it’s common sense.”
-President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), State of the Union address, 1984

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Or what he really said, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.”
-Mahatma Gandhi

Who will I impact as a Climate Ambassador?

• Rotary Clubs in Gig Harbor and Puget Sound – Districts 5020, 5030, 5040
• Club members, friends, and family
• Environment Committee members (Rotary District 5020 Environment Committee and Rotary Club of Gig Harbor Environment Committee)
• ICMA Members (International City County Management Association)
• ESRAG members (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group)
• RF LEAD members (Rotary Fellowship of Leadership Education and Development)