Deb Markowitz
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Deb Markowitz Visiting Professor of Environmental Policy and Leadership [email protected] 802-279-0364 Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources 802-477-3233 EDUCATION Harvard University, Kennedy School, Senior Executives in State and Local Government 2015 Georgetown University Law Center, Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude 1987 University of Vermont, B.A., Philosophy and Political Science, with Honors 1982 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Secretary, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources 2011- present Three-term appointment by Governor Peter Shumlin to serve in his Cabinet as head of the agency that protects and enhances Vermont’s natural resources; safeguards Vermonter’s health and the environment by reducing pollution of our air, water and land; promotes outdoor recreation; and stewards Vermont’s forests and state parks. Has general authority over and supervises the operations of all departments of the agency, including managing a $104 million budget, personnel, public communication and legislative and stakeholder relations. Selected Accomplishments • Advanced fair and consistent environmental standards grounded in science, developed with transparency and bipartisan stakeholder involvement. • Managed organizational change and implemented the LEAN program to engage staff to meet evolving public expectations more efficiently and creatively. • Led agency response and recovery after major environmental disasters and public health emergencies - -Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, and widespread PFOA contamination of drinking water in 2016. • Testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. “Cooperative Federalism: State Perspectives on EPA and the Role of States as Co-Regulators.” April 21, 2016. • Represented Governor Shumlin on the White House Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. • Represents Vermont on the board of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a market-based program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. • Chairs the Governor’s Climate Cabinet, leading Vermont’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and preparing Vermont for climate impacts. • Represented Vermont at sub-national meetings at the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris and at the 2016 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP22) in Morocco. • Developed and implemented statewide strategic land conservation initiatives and significant new policies in response to growing threats to the health of Vermont’s forests. • Advanced significant new legislation to clean up Lake Champlain and to protect the water quality of Vermont’s lakes and ponds. • Expanded protections for threatened and endangered wildlife and plant species in Vermont. 1 | P a g e Vermont Secretary of State 1999 - 2010 Elected by Vermont voters six times to serve as Vermont’s Secretary of State. Twice nominated as a candidate of both the Democratic and Republican parties. Prominent national leader in elections, civics education, business services, government transparency and government innovation. Responsible for overseeing Vermont’s elections; ethics laws; corporate registration; professional licensing; public records and state archives and assisting municipalities in governance issues. Selected Accomplishments • Testified before the U.S. Senate Armed Forces Committee - The status of military voting programs and the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) – September 28, 2006; the U.S. Senate Rules and Administration – Ballot Integrity Act of 2007– July 25, 2007; the U.S. House Committee on the Administration of Elections Subcommittee – Early Absentee Voting – October 16, 2007; and, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging – Impact of Aging Population on Election Administration – January 31, 2008. • Addressed the United Nations and European Union conference on International E-Participation and Local Democracy, Budapest, Hungary, July 2006. • Led a delegation of Secretary of States on an official visit to the Republic of China (Taiwan), to share information about the administration of free and fair elections. • Appointed to the Executive Committee and to the Standards Board of the United States Elections Assistance Commission. • Enhanced Vermont’s election laws and administration through a series of legislative initiatives, investments in new technology and focus on voter outreach and education. • Widely respected as one of the most knowledgeable resources in Vermont on legal and ethical issues for municipal officials. Wrote and published books and articles, and a monthly newsletter on municipal law and practice. Director, Vermont League of Cities and Towns Law Center 1990 - 1997 Established a law center through the state’s municipal association to provide legal services to Vermont’s municipal officials. Led with an entrepreneurial approach and succeeded in making the program financially self-sustaining. Lectured locally and nationally on municipal law issues; published academic articles and handbooks on topics of municipal law, land use law, personnel law and government ethics. Associate Attorney, Langrock, Sperry, Parker & Wool 1988 – 1990 General practice of law. Represented corporate and individual clients with focus on appellate litigation, land use and permitting, business and corporate planning, estate planning and family law. Admitted to practice in the State of Vermont and the Federal District Court. Vermont Supreme Court, Law Clerk 1987 – 1988 Served as a Judicial Law Clerk for Associate Justice Louis Peck of the Vermont Supreme Court. Assisted in all aspects of his duties, including managing oral arguments and researching and drafting judicial opinions. 2 | P a g e RELATED EXPERIENCE Founder and Secretary, Vermont Parks Forever, the Foundation for Vermont State Parks, 2012 - present Established a 501(c) (3) charitable nonprofit organization to provide support for innovative projects and investments in Vermont State Parks. Recruited board of directors, developed a budget, raised funds, hired staff and oversaw program initiatives. Founder and Director, Women’s Leadership Initiative, 2002 – 2010 Established the Women’s Leadership Initiative to identify and cultivate women who have not previously been active in politics to become elected leaders and activists through targeted leadership events. Raised the necessary funds to run the program and engaged contractors to do research and plan event logistics. Development Consultant, 1998 - 1999 Raised millions of dollars in federal and private grants to support the Vermont Law School Environmental Law Program, to establish the Vermont Law School Indian Law Project and to support the Vermont-Karelia project. Adjunct Professor Vermont Law School, 1992 - 1993 Woodbury College, 1990–1991 Taught courses on legal ethics. Developed curriculum, prepared lectures, reviewed student work, prepared and graded exams. SELECTED FELLOWSHIPS, BOARDS and COMMISSIONS UVM, Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources, Board of Advisors, 2013-present Georgetown University Climate Center, Board of Advisors, 2011 - present Antioch’s Center for Climate Preparedness and Resilience, Board of Advisors, 2014-present Cahn Fellowship in Public Leadership, 2015 Aspen Institute, Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership, 2007-2009 United States Elections Assistance Commission, Executive Committee, 2006-2008 Delegate, Congressional Conference on Civic Education, 2006 United States Elections Assistance Commission, Standards Board, 2008-09 Vermont Women’s Business Center, 2003-10 Vermont Commission on Judicial Operation, 2006-07 Vermont Commission on the Rule of Law, 2002-2006 Vermont Board of Bar Examiners,1989-1994 SELECTED PRESENTATIONS United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP 22 Marrakech, Morocco, November 14-18. US Climate Action at all Levels; Transportation Strategies for Reaching a Low Carbon Environment; Different Routes, Same Destination – Subnational Approach to Climate Action; US States at the Forefront. 3 | P a g e National Conference of Extension Professionals, Burlington, Vermont – “Building Community Resilience by Investing in Nature.” June 29, 2016. Climate Prediction Applications Science Workshop, Co-sponsored by NOAA, DOI Northeast Climate Center and USDA Northeast Regional Climate Hub, Burlington, Vermont, Preparing for the Storm: Reflections on Flooding, Community Resilience and the Important Role of Climate Science, March 23, 2016. Climate Action Summit 2016, Catalyzing a Sustainable Future, Co-hosted by the United Nations, the World Bank and the Rockefeller Foundation, Washington, DC, May 4 -6, 2016. Brokering Partnerships and Unlocking Funding to Secure Clean Energy for All. Delivering the Energy Transition Eastern Regional Climate Preparedness Conference, Baltimore, Maryland, Strategies for Financing Resilience, April 5, 2016 MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Emissions Trading in North America and Beyond: Taking Stock and Looking Forward, April 4 2016. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP 21 Le Bourget, Paris December 7-10, 2015. State Leadership on Climate Change; US States at the Forefront of Climate Collaboration and Progress; Subnational Cooperation on Clean, Resilient Transportation Through Zero Emission Vehicles; Innovative State Actions to Achieve Significant GHG Reductions, US Center National Adaptation Forum, St Louis, Missouri, May 12 - 13,