President's Message - Spring 2024

Happy Spring!

AEP is over 2400 members strong and our mission continues!

Both the AEP Board and Committee Members are hard at work supporting new initiatives, continuing to meet with stakeholders across the state, and advancing the work of our organization for all of us. As your president, I hope that you enjoy and appreciate the benefits & services that AEP provides and the efforts of the Board to keep the organization improving.

Read more below as we take a tour of what we've been up to and look at what's coming up for AEP members.

DEI Initiative
Many of us have been diligently working on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative. Our DEI Committee and our consultant, Castillo Consulting Partners, held many collaboration meetings to finalize our Strategic Plan https://www.califaep.org/docs/AEP_DEI_Strategic_Plan_2024.pdf. We also implemented our first quarter goal of hiring our new DEI & Communications Facilitator, Chief Esparza. With Chief’s help, we’re hard at work to improve integration of inclusivity into all our programming, marketing, and materials.

Legislative Committee
Various members of the AEP Legislative Committee and our lobbyist Matt Klopfenstein attended the Day at the Capitol in early March. We met with 30 Legislators and/or staff and held our traditional CEQA Hot Topics course. Our most recent legislative update can be found on our website: https://www.califaep.org/aep_legislative_update_march_2024.php.

CEQA Workshops
Our CEQA Advanced Workshops were held in-person early February and late April followed by a virtual CEQA Advanced Workshop in May. Both the in-person and the virtual CEQA Advanced Workshops were well attended and offered updated info to our members regarding current legal trends and hot topics affecting the application of the Law & Guidelines. Thank you to Ascent Environmental’s Gary Jacobs and Chris Mundhenk and their Committee of CEQA experts for spending endless hours writing the curriculum for AEP members each year. If you missed the workshops, the virtual session recording is still available for purchase online at https://www.califaep.org/webinars.php.

2024 Annual Conference
It was great to see so many of you at the 2024 Conference, which was held in person at the JW Marriott Anaheim on March 24-26. Over 500 environmental professionals attended this year, which was also AEP’s 50th Anniversary celebration!

Save the Date: AEP 2025 Conference
Save the Date for the AEP 2025 conference at the Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach, Oxnard, April 6-9, 2025. The 2025 Call for Presentations and Sponsorship opportunities are available online and in this version of the EM. Conference registration will be opening in June. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.califaep.org/2025_aep_conference.php.

Chapter Events
Lastly, you do not want to miss all the amazing programs that your local AEP chapters are having each month. Chapter Events Calendar.

Registration Open! for Upcoming AEP Institute
This year’s AEP Institute webinar will be held on Friday, June 7 from 8:30 am-4:00 pm. The topic is Climate Resiliency Planning. Online Registration is now open and a full Agenda is available at https://www.califaep.org/2024_aep_institute.php.

We strive to keep our members updated with the most current information in the environmental profession as well offer numerous trainings to make your careers more fulfilling and rewarding. All AEP programs are also AICP & MCLE certified.

If you would like to get more involved with AEP (state or local), please contact Lynne Bynder, AEP Executive Director at lbynder@califaep.org.

We appreciate your continued support and thank you for your membership.

Sincerely,

Mindy Fogg
AEP President

Updated May 22, 2024 by Reid Walley