SAN FRANCISCO – The Apollo Alliance announced today that its president, Jerome Ringo, has accepted the position of senior executive for global strategies with Green Port, a private company that focuses on establishing sustainable “green” ports around the world. Ringo served as president of the Apollo Alliance since 2005 and will continue his association with the organization as a member of its board of directors.
“We congratulate Jerome on taking this next step in his distinguished career,” said Phil Angelides, chairman of the Apollo Alliance. “Jerome’s charismatic leadership helped Apollo reach new heights in our efforts to create good, clean energy jobs across the country. We are fortunate that he will continue to lend his voice and direction to Apollo as a member of our board.”
A dedicated champion of environmental justice and vocal clean energy advocate, Ringo came to Apollo after becoming the first African-American to head a major environmental organization as chairman of the board of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Ringo was the United States’ only black delegate at the 1998 Global Warming Treaty Negotiations in Kyoto, Japan, and represented NWF at the United Nations conference on sustainable development in 1999.
Ringo began his career working in Louisiana’s petrochemical industry, where for more than a decade he was an active union member and worked with fellow members to secure a safe work environment and quality jobs. As he began to observe the negative impacts of the industry’s pollution on local communities – primarily poor, minority communities – Ringo began organizing community and environmental justice groups. His experience organizing environmental and labor communities and his drive to further diversify the environmental movement helped solidify his lifelong dedication to environmental and social justice.
“Jerome is among the most respected voices in the movements for environmental and social justice,” said Cathy Calfo, executive director of the Apollo Alliance. “I value his friendship, his commitment to clean energy and good jobs, and his extraordinary drive. We look forward to his continued leadership on the Apollo board.”
To learn more about the Apollo Alliance, visit www.apolloalliance.org.
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The Apollo Alliance is a coalition of unlikely and diverse interests – including labor, business, environmental, and community leaders – advancing a bold vision for the next American economy centered on clean energy and good jobs.