Chief Sustainability Officer Semifinalists Announced

The City of Austin has announced six candidates for the newly-created position of Chief Sustainability Officer. This person will develop, coordinate and administer various environmental programs, both within the City of Austin as an organization, and with the people who live here.

The candidates were chosen from a pool of 185 applicants after the process started in February and will be interviewed in the coming week by management and staff from the city.

Lucia Athens is Senior Sustainable Futures Strategist with CollinsWoerman architecture, a planning and interior design firm in Seattle. She has former Austin ties as well, having received her master's degree from UT and assisting in developing the City of Austin's Green Builder Program.

Brandi Clark is the founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of Austin EcoNetwork, and the founder of Citizen Gardener. She grew up in Austin and received a B.A. in Sociology with Political Science from Yale University, and is a graduate of Leadership Austin.

Natalie Marquis is the General Manager of Habitat Suites Hotel and Executive Director for the Texas Solar Energy Society here in Austin. Habitat Suites Hotel conducts its business while adhering to green practices, such as using solar power and natural, nontoxic fertilizers, pesticides, and cleaners.

Dennis Murphey is the Chief Environmental Officer of the City of Kansas City, Mo. He heads the office of Environmental Quality for the city and reports directly to the city manager there. Murphey has 30 years of environmental management experience.

Beth Pratt is the Director of Environmental Affairs for Xanterra Parks & Resorts at Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. She has worked in various environmental roles for almost twenty years.

Matt Watson left Austin in 2009 to become an Energy Policy Specialist with the Environmental Defense Fund in Washington, D.C. He was an aide to former Mayor Will Wynn, with responsibilities that included environmental and sustainability initatives.




Two or three of these candidates will advance to the next step in the hiring process - meeting with the public. Two question and answer sessions are scheduled for Thursday, June 3rd from 2:30-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. at the Town Lake Center. Free parking will be available in TLC garage as well as across the street in the Palmer Events Center garage.

The hiring decision will ultimately be made by City Manager Marc Ott.