The following people were recognized with the inaugural ECOS Founders Awards at the 10th Anniversary Meeting of the Environmental Council of the States in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Kathy Prosser
Kathy Prosser served as Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management from 1989-1996. Kathy was one of the main drivers for the formation of the Environmental Council of States in the early 1990s. Her tireless efforts to stress the advantages and benefits of such an organization with her peers across the country led to the establishment of ECOS in the mid-1990s. Kathy also worked with the other state environmental associations for air, water and land to help integrate a new environmental directors’ organization into the federal and state landscape.Kathy served as ECOS’ first President from 1993-1994, and then as Past President in ’94-95. She remained active in ECOS until her departure from Indiana in 1996. She was recognized as one of the public officials of the year by the Council of State Governments in 1996.
Mary Gade
Mary Gade of Illinois served as the Illinois EPA Director for eight years, from 1991-1999. Mary was one of the founders of the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) and served as the initial Secretary-Treasurer, and then Vice President, and President of this organization. As the third President of ECOS, Mary was the first President to preside over ECOS once it had a staff. Much time was devoted to securing resources for the organization and helping create ECOS’ first office.In addition, she served as Chair of the Ozone Transport Assessment Group (OTAG), a 37-member organization of states charged with studying the phenomena of ozone transport and recommending solutions to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Mary continued her service to ECOS as an alumni through an appointment to the ERIS Board.
Harold Reheis
Harold Reheis was the ECOS member from Georgia from 1991 until his retirement in mid-2003. In addition to several terms on the Executive Committee, Harold served as the Air Committee chair, and later the Water Committee chair in the 1990s and as the ECOS Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-President and President during 1994-1995, 1995-1996, and 1996-1997 respectively. In 1995, he hosted ECOS’ second Annual Meeting in Savannah, Georgia. As Secretary-Treasurer, he and his staff led the effort to incorporate ECOS. While President, Harold led the effort to create the Environmental Research Institute of the States (ERIS), and worked to preside over ECOS’ first Spring Meeting in 1997. Harold also served on the ERIS Board.
Bob Shinn
Bob was the ECOS member from New Jersey from 1994 through 2001. Bob served as the ECOS Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-President, and was President during ’97-’98. He served as the ERIS President during ’98-’99.Bob served during a very active growth period for both ECOS and ERIS. During this time, he brought the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) on board. Bob led ECOS through tough discussions about which direction it would take during a time in which the committees, workgroups and forums were sorting their authorities out. He also was an early advocate for climate change issues, and chaired ECOS’ workgroup on that issue. Bob has remained active with ECOS as an alumnus
