SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 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 \u201cgreen\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe congratulate Jerome on taking this next step in his distinguished career,\u201d said Phil Angelides, chairman of the Apollo Alliance. \u201cJerome\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
Ringo began his career working in Louisiana\u2019s 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\u2019s pollution on local communities \u2013 primarily poor, minority communities \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cJerome is among the most respected voices in the movements for environmental and social justice,\u201d said Cathy Calfo, executive director of the Apollo Alliance. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n