Lone Star Chapter Executive Committee Candidates

Name: Derek Eckert

Profile: As a lifelong environmentalist I have always felt the need to nurture and restore the earth to its natural habitat. My love of the land and passion for its rehabilitation and beautification were the driving forces that led me to major in Ecology in college. Rather than pursue a graduate degree in biology I chose to work straight out of college and found myself in the finance business. After more than 20 years of working at large firms I realized a long-time dream and managed to merge my expertise in personal finance with my passion for the planet: I founded an investment management firm which specializes in environmental investing. I believe this is one of the most impactful ways to steer corporations into sustainable practices, which ultimately, will reward shareholders as well.

I am proud to be a member of Sierra Club and evangelize its mission on any platform available. As a member of the Executive Committee I would aim to increase membership by focusing on children and teens. Opening their eyes to wonders of nature and connecting to the physical world are, unfortunately, somewhat novel in this digital age. Offering such experiences at a young age can forge lifelong passions. Thankfully our younger generations realize the urgency of all environmental matters and I believe they are our best hope to resolve them. As a financial planner I also would work to increase the participation of members contributions via lifetime gifting such as charitable gift annuities. I also have chaired several charitable events and would be ambitious in fundraising goals. I thank you for your consideration and promise to bring great energy and excitement to everything that is Sierra Club.

Name: Flavia De La Fuente

Profile: The Sierra Club's motto of explore, enjoy, and protect the planet reflects my own values. My husband and I are teaching our children to explore and enjoy the outdoors. Equally important, we also took our children into the voting booth this fall, to protect the planet.

My priorities on Lone Star Chapter ExCom would likely be:

1) Political work. As a member of the Austin Political Committee this year, I led a fundraising effort that raised $3000 and paid for a staff-member’s time to coordinate Get Out the Vote efforts for endorsed candidates, resulting in hundreds of doors knocked, hundreds of calls made, hundreds of environmental voters activated, and two state house seats flipping. By way of these efforts, elected officials understand that the environment/climate change/wild spaces are issues that are important to the grassroots. For 2020, I want to build a war chest and flood the state with volunteers knocking on doors for the sake of the planet.

2) Sharing across groups within the state. Different groups have different strengths and we need a stronger organizational function that enables people to share and learn from each other. This can take the form of case studies and toolboxes.

My professional background: I worked as an organizer for the Sierra Club on the Beyond Coal campaign from 2010 to 2013. Today, I'm a professional investor with a state agency. MBA, UT at Austin, BA from UCLA, political science. 

Name: John Hertz

Profile: I am an architect, academic, author and investigator dedicated to issues of sustainability. I have written extensively in English, Spanish and Portuguese on the theme of sustainable architecture and urbanism, and most recently my book “Arquitectura Tropical” was published by the Universidad Ricardo Palma in Lima. As an architect I have won multiple awards for sustainable projects in the US and Latin America, starting in the 1970s with groundbreaking passive solar work. My academic experience stretches over decades in universities in Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Puerto Rico and the US, including as Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico, which has an operational budget of over $2.5 million and over 30 staff. I was heavily involved in fundraising, establishing a non-profit arm for the School which included community service and outreach. As an investigator I have generated over $1 million in grants from entities including the National Endowment for the Arts, Department of Energy and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, among others.
My areas of expertise and interest include: green architecture and urban development, alternative energy and energy conservation, sustainability (in its three aspects of environmental justice, social equality and environmental responsibility), and water conservation.

I have been a Sierra Club member for decades, was the Green Building Chair of the Alamo Sierra Club and a contributor to the Alamo Sierran. I have served on other organizations including the San Antonio Historic Design and Review Commission and as President of King’s Court Housing Foundation, a CHODO and 501-C3 organization.

All these skills and experiences would be directly benefit the Ex Com if selected to serve, and I would be honored by the opportunity.

Name: Martha Elena Pena

Profile: For me, the most important part of serving on the Lone Star Executive Committee this past year, has been bringing the perspective and voice of those who live in our beautiful, South Texas borderland communities to the table. It was also a privilege to serve as the Council of Club Leaders delegate. I have learned so much from my fellow ExCom members and know that together we can continue to do good work. Even though we all come from different parts of Texas, there are common threads that bind us all together. Unity in fighting pipelines, LNG facilities and the border wall is so important in our current climate. It brings me even more hope knowing that we are standing together to make a difference. I still want to be a kayaktivist when I grow up. Should you entrust me with your vote, I promise to continue bringing the love I have for South Texas to the Lone Star Executive Committee.

Name: Sean Winn

Profile: With the EPA actively seeking to undermine environmental protections, suburban sprawl, and water pollution, threats to our environment are significant. I would like to help the Sierra Club be as forceful as possible in protecting Texas’ environment. Although my direct environmental experience is limited to going solar and working with conservation projects on the family farm, I still have much to bring to the table in the way of operational and financial experience. These complimentary skills, along with bridge-building between stakeholders, were gained most notably as the COO of a small private equity fund. Amongst my goals would be to maximize the positive impact of the organization through prioritization of projects. Despite a career based in urban cities, I’m still happiest under a canopy of trees with the sound of birds nearby. I grew up in a rural farming community in Texas, spending my time running through woods and playing at the edge of creeks as a child. I consider myself lucky to have had access to so much natural space, and wish that everyone could experience nature in the same way.

Candidate: Craig Nazor

Profile: Craig Nazor, DMA, is an Austin musician (pianist/composer/teacher) by trade, and is a lifetime environmentalist and is currently the vice-chair of the Lone Star Sierra Club Conservation Committee, and member of the Austin Group Conservation Committee. Craig grew up in Ashtabula, Ohio, along the shores of Lake Erie, where he witnessed the creation of an EPA superfund site that is still considered one of the ten most toxic beaches in the USA. After graduating from college and spending eight years in NYC as a touring performer, Craig moved to Louisiana to obtain a Masters degree, where he became President of the Natchitoches Audubon Society and spearheaded a campaign to oppose the Red River Waterway project, which was eventually successful. Since moving to Austin in 1987 to obtain a doctorate from UT, Craig has been involved with environmental campaigns by Clean Water Action, the SOS Alliance, the Save Barton Creek Association, and the Sierra Club, Austin Regional Group.  Sierra Club campaigns Craig has been involved in include: passing Austin's Single-use Bag Ordinance, protecting the Jollyville Plateau salamander, ending Austin’s and Travis County’s contract with USDA Wildlife Services for predator control (particularly targeting coyotes), protecting Texas turtles, supporting parkland acquisition, and protecting water quality. He has received a Keep Austin Beautiful award for creek cleanup efforts, and has been recognized for assisting riparian restoration projects by the Austin Watershed Protection Department. Craig believes that living in a clean environment and stable climate, and having access to clean water and healthy food is a human right that needs to be defended from those who would sacrifice these rights for money or power. 

Alamo Group Executive Committee Candidates

Candidate: Darby Riley

Profile: I would be honored to serve with the local leadership of the Sierra Club, which is doing great work at this critical time for our city. Vista Ridge is an abomination which we should continue to oppose. CPS Energy is a national leader in renewables, which we should continue to encourage. I have been an active environmentalist in San Antonio for many years and have worked with the Sierra Club and others on water, sprawl, energy, and climate change issues. Presently my wife, Chris (mayor of Leon Valley), and I are making dialogue presentations to civic, educational, and church groups on climate change.

Candidate: Enrique Valdivia

Profile: I strongly support Sierra Club's mission of protecting our environment and have dedicated much of my adult life to the cause. I practice environmental law with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Inc. in San Antonio. As a lawyer I have represented low income communities in their fights against landfills, coal fired power plants and refineries. Currently I am serving my third term as District 7 director on the Edwards Aquifer Authority where I have championed impervious cover limits, rules to restrict use of coal tar sealants, and plugging of abandoned wells. I also currently serve on several nonprofit boards including the Edwards Aquifer Conservancy, SEED Coalition, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services and AGUA. I was a founding board member of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance. I recently wrote an article for Rivard Report advocating good stewardship of the Edwards Aquifer as San Antonio's legacy for the next 300 years. See tinyurl.com\enriquevaldivia

Candidate: Renee Watson

Profile: I have been working for more than 40 years on environmental and conservation issues in the underserved communities of San Antonio, San Diego, Houston and New York. At 14 years of age, I learned the basics of organizing for change because I wanted a pothole fixed on my street. That process lead me to my professional career in public service. As part of Residents Organized for Better and Beautiful Environmental Development, we took on San Antonito City Hall to reorganize the way code compliance services were delivered, enhance SAWS water quality and state regulatory agencies where fuel tanks are operating in our neighborhoods. I would be honored to serve, if selected, on the Alamo Sierra Club Executive Committee.

Candidate: Phil LeMessurier

Profile: The sense of entitlement displayed by San Antonio’s city fathers in the early 1970s to circumvent existing law in pursuit of the North Expressway prompted me to join the Sierra Club in opposition to that project’s planned route. Following a year directing the Club’s local publicity and serving on its executive committee, I was named chairman and remained in that position for two years before resigning to pursue personal business interests. My environmental interests encompass a broad range of issues, but most generally focus on legislative or business interests promoting projects or views that prioritize economic or political gain over environmental cost. This is often done under the rationale of job creation when, in fact, the environmentally desirable alternative may actually create or preserve more current and future jobs. I would welcome the opportunity to rejoin the Club’s efforts in support of its environmental priorities. Due to my recent retirement, I have ample time to devote to this endeavor.

Candidate: Jeffrey Fissel

Profile: I am a recently retired cancer researcher. I worked at the former CTRC cancer center administering clinical studies involving new and existing cancer therapies. I am passionate about the environment, endangered species, climate change and solutions we can find in this challenging environment. I am very familiar with evaluating large research studies and how to validate good from bad research. I recently became a lifetime Sierra Club member as well as participating in many other environmental groups including EDF, The Nature Conservancy, The National Wildlife Federation and many others. I have decided that I will dedicate much of my future energy to environmental issues in some capacity. Thanks for your consideration.