Welcome Chris, tell us a little about yourself.

I moved back to Houston recently after spending 4 fun and exciting years in the Hill Country. Though Austin’s got us beat in terms of breakfast tacos and live music, I must say that Houston is much more robust and cultured. I was born and raised here, so these opinions might be a bit biased. My first job out of college was with the Student Conservation Association, coordinating infrastructure projects around Houston and leading a trail crew that consisted of 12 high school students. It was especially rewarding to plan and put on environmental education programs for the students once a week. My goal for the new year is to find a way to combine my technical background in finance and my passion for conservation because that’s where I think I can have the biggest impact. I’m excited to see what 2018 has in store for all of us!

Describe the first time you felt a strong affinity for nature?

When it comes to experiences in nature and outdoor recreation, I would say that I was somewhat of a late bloomer. My first time going hiking was during the summer after my sophomore year of college. I was in Irvine, CA, for an internship with the Dept. of the Treasury, and my roommate invited me to go hiking with him at a state park. With a beautiful view of Laguna Beach and weather that just couldn’t be beat, this first hiking experience had me hooked. I wanted to take my newfound love for the outdoors (and parks) back with me to Texas, so that following semester, I began volunteering at McKinney Falls State Park (just 20 minutes from the UT campus). From there, my passion for public lands and nature has developed into a desire to work full-time in the field of conservation.

Describe a time  you participated at a Sierra Club event?  What did you do and what motivated you to participate?

I attended the Flood Water Forum in late November. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the different methodologies being considered for flood prevention and storm surge protection. The merits of green and grey infrastructure were debated, and experts were there to state their case and answer any questions from the audience. I was motivated to attend the forum after Harvey laid bare the need for smarter infrastructure projects and more regulations on commercial/residential development.
What kind of activity or activities would you like to see the Houston Sierra Club to do more of and why?
I would love to see the Houston Sierra Club engage Houston’s youth with community service projects or partner with universities in the area to increase the diversity of the group. I’m sure there are some natural science majors in Greater Houston that would love to contribute to the efforts of the Houston Sierra Club. Cultivating that next generation of land stewards is critical to a long-term approach to conservation.

What environmental message do you have for young people?

I would encourage all members (young and old) to get involved and stay engaged in the community. There is still a lot of work to be done here in Houston, from equitable recovery from Harvey to voicing our concerns about the new lighting being put up and the proposed Ike Dike. Also, don’t be discouraged or think that nothing will ever change. 2018 could very well be our year to turn the tide when it comes to Texas politics.