Every year, the EMA hosts our annual Environmental Achievement Awards ceremony.
This event gives us the opportunity to acknowledge, recognize, and award those in the environmental industry for their outstanding efforts in the forward progression for environmental sustainability and change in three ways: student scholarships, individual/company achievement awards, and as introduced in 2018 an individual legend award
The Environmental Achievement Award is awarded to those who have gone above and beyond in their work within the environmental industry. Past honorees include Pashon Murray (Detroit Dirt), Dr. Deborah Mielewski (Ford Motor Company), BASF, Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conversancy, and former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer.
Amongst this year’s honorees is Kimberly Hill Knott of Future Insight Consulting, LLC. After spending over a decade working under the leadership of Congressman John Conyers as a Legislative Assistant, Kimberly Hill Knott furthered her interest in the political arena by joining the staff of Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice as Policy Director. Kimberly played a pivotal role in positioning Detroit as a sustainable world leader. Her leadership was instrumental in spearheading the Detroit Climate Action Collaborative, a significant initiative that led to the development of the city of Detroit’s first Climate Action Plan. Her efforts were recognized when she was selected for the prestigious White House Champions of Change Award, further underscoring her commitment to addressing Detroit’s climate change and sustainability issues.
As an accomplished speaker, Kimberly has been an advocate for environmental issues. She has lectured on the Clean Air Act and its impact on low-income and minority communities and how urban centers can prepare for climate change. Some of Kimberly’s most notable speaking engagements include The World Bank, Oxford University Alumni Association, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference, Center for American Progress, and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), among many others.
She is the President & CEO of Future Insight Consulting LLC, specializing in advocacy and stakeholder engagement around climate change and other causes of social impact. She currently serves on the Alliance for the Great Lakes Board of Directors and was appointed to serve on the City of Detroit Board of Zoning Appeals. Amongst her accomplishments, Kimberly received a full scholarship and completed Harvard University’s Women and Power: Leadership in a New World. She was Chair of the City of Detroit Green Task Force Climate Action Committee, served on the External Advisory Board of the University of Michigan Frederick A. & Barbara M. Erb Institute, and founded the Christian Political Leadership Institute, which equips Christians to serve in public office.
Amongst this year’s honorees is Matt Utley of GLX Filtration. In the filtration, fluid handling, and environmental industry, Matt Utley is a well-established leader. His innovations and solutions are being utilized on a global scale with many Fortune 500 firms. From creating a textile that neutralizes harmful chemicals in medical laboratories, to a separation unit that saves industrial manufacturers millions in wastewater, he is driven to continuously innovate and provide solutions for his partners. Matt studied Interdisciplinary Technology and Engineering at Eastern Michigan University and post graduate business administration at Lawrence Technological University.
GLX Filtration is revolutionizing PFAS Removal with Turn-Key Solution, a groundbreaking turn-key solution for effectively removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water sources to meet stringent regulatory levels. This innovative approach not only addresses PFAS contamination but also incorporates a sustainable method for handling spent filter media and permanently destroying the PFAS “forever chemicals.”
The GLX Solution provides both the removal of PFAS as well as regeneration and destruction to eliminate all disposal concerns. The solution starts with Dexsorb® filter media, a patented filtration media that is certified to NSF/ANSI 61. It proves resistance to fouling, excellent flow, and kinetic properties. The Dexsorb® filter media is designed for regeneration and reuse, significantly reducing waste and environmental impact. This turn-key solution not only provides superior PFAS removal, but also optimizes operational costs, making it an economically viable choice for industries and municipalities with minimal waste and complete PFAS destruction.
Our Legend of the Environmental Industry award aims to recognize individuals for their longstanding positive impact and achievements within the environmental industry. Their demonstrations of forward progression in the push towards environmental change for their accomplished excellence during their tenure are evaluated in five core areas: leadership, innovation, commitment, collaboration, and education.
This year we honored Bill Doetsch of PROS Services. At the age of 16, Bill Doetsch began working in the family business of Industrial Services on a part-time basis after school cleaning the trucks out and organizing the shop areas. Upon nearing the completion of his bachelor’s degree in 1989, he took a job within the company as a full-time helper on an Industrial Services cleaning crew. During this time, he realized he would much rather be the operator than the helper. In 1991, he was promoted to Supervisor, and by 1996, he was promoted again to the Business Manager.
In March 2002, Bill and Brad Grava formed Addison Enterprises, LLC (Addison), a holding company for the purpose of environmental-related transactions. Later that year in July, Addison acquired the stock of PROS Services, Inc. which included six employees and fourteen trucks/trailers. By the late 2000’s PROS entered into the spill response market and began to win awards for the Best and Brightest company to work for, fastest growing environmental companies, and environmental contractor of the year award. In the early 2010’s the company added manhole cleaning and Hydro excavation. During the pandemic, PROS added the service of COVID Sanitizing. During the time that Bill and Brad have owned PROS, the company has grown to a fleet of over 110 trucks/trailers and 75 employees within the PROS family.
In March, members of the EMA volunteer their time to partake in judging the environmental science category of the Science & Engineering Fair of Metro-Detroit. Based on our own judging measures that are similar to the official SEFMD criteria, we evaluate students based on their scientific thought, thoroughness, skill, clarity, and most importantly, creative ability. A student’s ideas and creative outlook on their science fair project speaks on how the future generations view our world and environmental issues from a different perspective.
The EMA would like to thank the Doestch family for their commitment to our environmental science fair scholarship program in honor of the late James Doestch, a true legend in the environmental industry. We are proud to honor three well-deserving students with our 2023 James Doestch Memorial Science Fair Scholarships!
FIRST PLACE
[ Junior | Troy High School ]
Revision in Airfoil Design to Increase Fuel Efficiency in Commercial Aircraft
SECOND PLACE (TIE)
[ Junior || Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School ]
Short Term Effect of Microplastics on Soil Lime Buffer Capacity
SECOND PLACE (TIE)
[ Sophomore || Ann Arbor Huron High School ]
IoT-based AI Aeration for Optimal MFC Energy Generation & Wastewater Treatment
THANK YOU to all of this year’s event sponsors!!
Your support is what helps enable us to make this event as truly special as it is, supporting & celebrating those doing great things in the environmental sphere.
