Tom Deck, Senior Project Manager and Business Lead of EnSafe’s Jacksonville, Florida, office, was voted as Vice Chair of the City of Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board in February of this year.

This volunteer board develops regulations necessary for administration and enforcement of the city's environmental laws. It conducts investigations of complaints, takes testimony in matters under its jurisdiction and provides a hearing platform for environmental matters within the city. In addition, the board may conduct studies, surveys, or efficiency tests, make periodic reports and recommendations for improvement of environmental quality in the city.

We “sat down” with Tom recently to learn more:

EnSafe:   We hear a part-time job in college started you on your track to become an Environmental Professional?

Tom:        As a chemistry major, I thought a part-time job at an analytic laboratory would be an ideal way to make a little extra money and gain some experience before I started a career as an analytic chemist.  Little did I know that I would be doing field sampling, getting paid to be outside, canoeing the lakes in Tallahassee.  I was hooked. That job really did shift my career trajectory and cement my appreciation of our natural surroundings.  The rest, as they say, is history.