Environmental Education Group

Supporting Our Community:

Holm Mentors Young Leaders in the Inland Empire

MBA’s Southern California Vice President, Thomas F. Holm, AICP, was chosen as the first ever Urban Land Institute’s Inland Empire Division “60 Minute Mentor.” Addressing a packed boardroom at the firm’s San Bernardino office, Tom discussed his career challenges and highlights and provided insight into the steps required to achieve success in the field of environmental planning. The meeting lasted significantly past the one hour mark as the assembled crowd asked numerous questions. A long-time ULI member, Tom earned a Master’s degree in Urban Planning (Environmental Policy and Management) from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine, where he majored in Political Science. He is a former Planning Commissioner and Transportation/Traffic Commissioner and serves as Legislative Liaison and Board member for the Orange County Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Redlands Climate Action Task Force Moves Forward

City of Redlands Climate Action Task Force member and MBA Senior Project Manager Frank Coyle, presented their completed Land Use and Community Design subcommittee draft recommendations to the Mayor and full Task Force on May 13th. Recommendations consisted of land use, community design, pedestrian oriented community, open space preservation, and financing implementation strategies. The Task Force forwarded the recommendations to the City Planning staff for review and comment.

San Bernardino County Waste Reduction Programs Considered at MPSA Presentation

MBA's Client Services Director, Anne Viricel, PhD, presented a paper at the Midwest Political Science Association's Annual International Conference in Chicago in early April. Entitled "Talking Trash with Your Colleagues: A Study to Examine the Effect of Advocacy Coalitions on AB 939-Mandated Waste Diversion," this multi-modal study examined the effect of the efforts of the San Bernardino County Solid Waste Advisory Task Force on the success of landfilled waste reduction while investigating the external factors that influence diversion rates to test the relevancy of generalized approaches to waste reduction programs.

For more information regarding MBA's Environmental Education Group, please contact Anne Viricel at 909.884.2255 or via e-mail at aviricel@brandman.com.