The Alameda County Green Business Program is a great example of how environmental coalitions can join forces with local businesses and organizations to promote their cause. This program is managed by a coalition of jurisdictions and utility companies, and is staffed through a partnership with the California Green Business Network. It helps businesses adhere to best practices for energy and water conservation, waste management, and more. Hundreds of businesses and public agencies in Alameda County have been certified as green businesses. Amory, an educator passionate about equity and environmental justice, earned a Master of Science degree in Environmental Studies from San Jose State University.
Jim Gordon, an inspector in the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, has 36 years of law enforcement experience and a Master's degree in Environmental and Occupational Health from California State University. He is actively involved in the development and implementation of environmental compliance and emergency response policies and procedures related to crimes such as illegal dumping. With the support of the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health, green business programs have been adopted throughout California. The StopWaste Schools program works with school promoters in Alameda County to create action plans for caring individuals and school communities, encouraging students to act as world citizens, citizen scientists, artists, and agents of systematic change. Angelina Vergara has been teaching environmental education for more than 25 years as a classroom teacher, environmental educator, school administrator, and currently as director of the StopWaste Schools program.
Karen Tandler has worked for 37 years as a prosecutor in the Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney's Office and is currently attached to the Environmental Crimes Division of the Code Enforcement Section. Alyce joined the Alameda District Attorney's Office in 1989 and prosecuted traditional crimes until 2002, when she was assigned to the office's Environmental and Consumer Protection Division. Monique Brackett is a Los Angeles County Public Works Management Analyst in the Environmental Programs Division of the Residential Waste Section of the Environmental Programs Division. Alyce is a key member of the Alameda County Illegal Dumping Task Force, where she led the development of camera-based law enforcement strategies to catch and prosecute illegal landfills. The Foundation for California is recognized as a highly effective public policy forum that brings together senior executives from major California corporations and labor leaders from across the state, as well as prominent advocates from environmental and consumer organizations to meet with legislators and regulatory officials in an environment of unantagonistic cooperation.
He has more than 30 years of experience in the Department of Transportation, spent much of his career in the Construction Division and, subsequently, held interim positions as chief environmental engineer of the Department and head of the Department's Maintenance Division. Environmental coalitions in Alameda County are working hard to build support for their cause among local businesses and organizations. Through initiatives such as the Alameda County Green Business Program, StopWaste Schools program, collaborations between government agencies, corporations, labor leaders, environmentalists, consumers, legislators, regulatory officials, educators, law enforcement personnel, public health experts, and more - these coalitions are making great strides towards creating a cleaner environment.
