The Kansas House Energy and Utilities Committee Guest List for January 12, 2012 shows that the last person scheduled to speak, number 13, was Zack Pistora, Kansas Sierra Club. Then a brand-new Kansas State University graduate, Zack started his 12-year-run as the only full-time environmental lobbyist in Kansas. And now, the Kansas Chapter has selected Zack as chapter director, the first employee in its 50-year history.
This milestone was made possible by volunteer leaders whose efforts enabled the chapter to set aside money for staff which will supplement special temporary funding from the national Sierra Club.
Special thanks must go to Alan Bauman, former chapter executive committee member, who spearheaded the drive to hire a director. Alan organized and chaired a hiring committee in its first critical months.
Zack has a long history of involvement in environmental issues and activities of concern to Sierra Club, from labor on his father's pig farm as a high school student to activism with K-State Students for Environmental Action and internships with the Kansas Land Trust and a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
More recently, Zack has chaired the board of directors for the Climate + Energy Project and the Kansas Rural Center and served briefly as interim director for the KRC in addition to lobbying for the Kansas Chapter and Sierra Club Beyond Coal Project.
Known throughout the state for his knowledge of environmental issues and down-home demeanor, Zack has an immense network of friends and allies who can help us going forward as we implement our strategic plans for growth and outreach.