Chris Kolb

Chris Kolb, a graduate of the School of Natural Resources and the 2007 SNRE Spring Commencement speaker, is the new president of the Michigan Environmental Council (MEC), the organization's Board of Directors recently announced .

Kolb (B.S. '82) succeeds Lana Pollack (the 2008 SNRE Commencement speaker), who retired as MEC president after 12 years. The transition took effect Jan. 1.

As a former Michigan state representative, Kolb was one of the legislator's most consistent and vigorous defenders of clean water, clear air and public health. He served three terms (six years) representing Ann Arbor's 53^rd District. He was instrumental in important environmental legislation including open space ordinances, lead poisoning prevention for children, regulation of dangerous polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs), establishment of a fund to help clean up leaking underground storage tanks, and numerous land-use initiatives.

Kolb averaged a 96 percent score on his legislative votes on environmental issues during his time in the State House, according to Michigan League of Conservation Voters scorecards.

Kolb left the legislature in 2006 after term limits prevented him from running. Most recently, he served as executive director of Unity Michigan, coordinating a statewide campaign to create a more progressive Michigan by advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights along with social justice values and issues. Prior to that, he was vice president for public affairs with the Early Childhood Investment Corporation.

"We are thrilled to have Chris's passion and experience at the helm as our state and nation enter a critical era of decision making on climate change policy, Clean Energy economic development and implementation of Great Lakes protections," said Christopher Graham, president of the Michigan Environmental Council's Board of Directors. "Lana Pollack has built MEC into a formidable voice in Lansing during her tenure, and Chris Kolb is the right person to take that stature to the next level."

Kolb said he will seek to build on the tremendous progress made by Pollack during the past 12 years in raising MEC's profile at the state capitol.

"As a legislator, the Michigan Environmental Council was an invaluable ally in helping me further policies to make Michigan a cleaner, healthier, more economically vibrant place," Kolb said. "I have tremendous shoes to fill considering the great progress Lana and her team have made, but I am gratified, excited and humbled to be selected to head such a vibrant organization."

Under Pollack's leadership, MEC has grown from a staff of five to 12 full-time workers who focus on capitol politics and policy by coordinating powerful allies in the environmental movement, working with the governor's office and the state legislators, developing and advocating smart polices with the state's regulatory bureaucracy and holding polluters and politicians accountable for their actions.

Pollack said she has no immediate plans other than to take six months off to relax and consider her next challenge. "It is gratifying to know that the organization that has been my consuming passion for 12 years is being left in the capable hands of a veteran staff, a committed board, and now a proven environmental leader in Chris Kolb," Pollack said. "They truly have selected a leader who can hit the ground running."

Michigan Environmental Council is a nonprofit coalition formed in 1980 to be a voice at the State Capital for Michigan's environmental community. It currently represents 70 environmental, public health and faith-based groups statewide, offering research, communications and technical support on key state and federal issues.