Life’s mission: To live a meaningful, purpose filled life

Work: Natural resources manager for the city of Naples

Proudest Achievements: My proudest personal achievement is my family; my wife and I have been married for 35 years and have four beautiful children, ages 33, 30, 25 and 20. Each is healthy, well-adjusted and successful and contributing to the world in their unique way. Professionally, I got the city pointed in the right direction to restore Naples Bay.

Expectations for the Future: With the continual decline of our environment through the deterioration of our air, water and soil, as well as the fact that generally speaking, money will always be more important than protecting the environment, my expectations for the future are not positive. In my opinion, there are several significant factors that are negatively influencing the environmental problems that we face: the negative impact that big money is having on American politics as a result of Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Also, not enough individuals are waking up locally or globally to take actions that produce an environmentally sound and safe planet, and more people are living to work instead of working to live.

Favorite APP: WeatherBug

Favorite websites: WeatherBug.com for local and national weather. Facebook.com for staying in touch with a few of my high school friends.

Local causes supported: I support the Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Club, and Rookery Bay’s Team Ocean by getting them involved with city projects such as creating rain gardens and oyster reefs, as well as planting the shoreline of local ponds.

Favorite thing about Natural Awakenings: The ads. When I read them, I realize that there are individuals in the area that think like I do.

Most frequented healthy food restaurant: My wife and I share meal preparation at home. We rarely eat in restaurants. Recently, we began observing our own Meatless Mondays.

How do you invest in your community? I speak publicly to encourage individuals to create rain gardens in yards, parks or schools or on commercial properties. These informally landscaped depressions capture storm water runoff, the number one water pollutant, from rooftops, driveways and sidewalks, allowing time for the water to soak into the ground.

Favorite quote: “Temporary economic gains should be considered in relation to long-term environmental needs.”—Dali Lama

What are you doing to be the change you want to see in the world? Raising awareness of the need to protect and restore our natural environment, which is essential to the future prosperity of Southwest Florida.