Monday, August 14th, 2023
Contacts:
Emilio Garza, Sierra Club Washington State, 360.217.9848, emilio.garza@sierraclub.org
August 8, 2023 (Seattle, WA) — The Washington State Chapter of the Sierra Club has hired Sept Gernez, previous Interim Chapter Director and longtime Program Manager, to be the next permanent, full-time Chapter Director. After a thorough and inclusive hiring process over the last several months, Sept accepted the role and assumed responsibilities as of July 10th.
Since the Chapter’s previous Director, Jesse Piedfort, transitioned to a new Sierra Club role in November of last year, Sept has taken on the responsibilities of Director on an interim basis. Throughout this transitionary period, Sept has played a pivotal role to ensure that our mission to protect the environment and enjoy the outdoors didn’t falter - playing a pivotal role in significant accomplishments in the State Legislature this year.
“In order to safeguard our communities from environmental destruction and climate impacts, we must shift the power dynamics away from those who benefit most from pollution and empower those who are most impacted by climate change and environmental degradation” said new Chapter Director Sept Gernez.
Chapter Co-Chairs Mike O’Brien and Michelle Nitardy said, in a joint statement, that “[Sept’s] dedication to the Chapter and an equitable, sustainable future for the State of Washington, its natural environment, and its residents is evident in their near decade long tenure with Sierra Club.”
Sept has been a key staff member for Sierra Club Washington State since 2016 - serving as the lead staff organizer for two successful campaigns to stop major new fossil fuel facilities: a proposed oil export terminal in Vancouver and a proposed methanol refinery in Kalama.
Sierra Club’s mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.
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