Dear PEP Members:

I hope you have made it safely through the incredible winter storm last week! What a magical - and cold - time we all had! We are excited to be back in the office and kicking off another great year of advancing the PEP mission.

Thank you for making 2024 another successful year for PEP. As we move into 2025, we are excited to celebrate a major milestone—PEP’s 25th Anniversary! Established in 2000 by a group of visionary local business leaders, PEP was founded with a clear purpose: to support business growth while safeguarding our environment and enhancing the quality of life on the Gulf Coast.

Now, a quarter-century later, that mission is more important than ever. This anniversary not only honors our past accomplishments but also signals the beginning of an exciting new chapter. In 2025, we’ll be celebrating YOU—our members, partners, and the innovators who continue to drive progress. As part of our celebration, we want to share your great news and updates. We've launched a Member News Submission Form to make it easier for you to submit your news for inclusion in our newsletter, social media, website, and more. Help us promote you by sending in your updates!

As we celebrate our history, we also invite you to be a part of what’s to come. The application for the PEP Science and Technology Scholarship is now open and we've included the registration form and information for our 3rd Annual Sporting Clay Tournament. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate volunteers—if you’re ready to take a more active role in PEP, explore our committees and mark your calendar for our upcoming events.

Here’s to a year filled with reflection, growth, and continued progress!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Denson, Executive Director

2024 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT - FMC

Partners for Environmental Progress awarded a 2024 Environmental Stewardship Award to FMC, a leading agricultural sciences company. Utilizing on-site environmental health & safety resources and 3rd party legal experts, the project team at their Mobile, Alabama facility completed a successful EPA application to allow onsite treatment to divert 2/3 of the waste from this process to their on-site wastewater treatment plant. Thanks to these efforts, 12.3 million pounds of waste and 307 trailer loads of waste per year are now diverted from incineration, leading to a cost savings of $4.5 million annually, projected to rise to $10 million by 2030.

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF PROGRESS!

This year marks a major milestone for PEP as we celebrate 25 years of advancing environmental stewardship and collaboration. We're excited to unveil our anniversary logo that you will see throughout the year. This is a great time to reflect on the progress we've made together and to plan for an even brighter, more sustainable future. Stay tuned for upcoming events and initiatives as we celebrate 25 years with you!

REMINDER - TIME TO RENEW YOUR PEP MEMBERSHIP!



The deadline for renewing your annual membership dues is approaching on February 24, 2025. Ensure you stay in good standing and continue to enjoy all the benefits of membership. You are a vital part of our mission!

If you have not received your 2025 Dues invoice, contact Lindsey Tew at lindsey@pepmobile.org.

We appreciate your continued support and look forward to another great year together!

PEP SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN!

The application is open NOW for the PEP Science & Technology Scholarship! Each year, PEP awards one $2,500 individual scholarship for employees of PEP member companies and their dependents. Students who meet the scholarship criteria are invite to apply. The application will be open from now until Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Learn more about the criteria on the PEP Science & Technology website and follow the link below to apply online!

JOIN US FOR THE PEP SPORTING CLAY TOURNAMENT IN MARCH!

Come enjoy a morning of food, shooting, and prizes with your colleagues and customers, all while supporting PEP’s mission and core beliefs! The 3rd Annual Sporting Clay Shoot will take place on Friday, March 14 at Taylor Creek Sporting Clays.

Register TODAY for your clay shoot team - teams are limited so hurry and hold your spot! Access the form below and return it to Lindsey at lindsey@pepmobile.org.

*If you or any others in your company are interested in volunteering for this or any of PEP’s events, please let us know. We have several opportunities for volunteers to come out and help PEP’s cause while also networking and having fun!*

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON WITH MAYOR SANDY STIMPSON

We had an incredible turnout for our final PEP event of 2024! More than 300 members and guests were in attendance for the Annual Membership Luncheon, featuring Mayor Sandy Stimpson on December 16, 2024 at The Battle House Hotel.

Mayor Stimpson gave our members updates on the state of the city, including his plans for his final year as Mayor or Mobile. His administration is prioritizing the completion of key civic projects to ensure a strong foundation for the next administration.

ROCK & ROLL OFFS NAMED SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR FINALIST

Congratulations to PEP member, Rock & Roll Offs! They were among 11 finalists for the Mobile Chamber's Small Business of the Year Award. All companies were recognized at the Small Business of the Year Luncheon on January 14, 2025. Recognition in this awards program is a testament to their outstanding service, community involvement and dedication to delivering exceptional waste management and sanitation solutions across the Gulf Coast.

Learn more about Rock & Roll Offs and the services they provide on their website.

GMC ACQUIRES FAIRHOPE'S SCE

Architecture and engineering firm Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) has acquired South Coast Engineers (SCE) in Fairhope. SCE was formally established in 2007 and is nationally known for its expertise in coastal engineering, resilience and nature-based solutions. The firms have worked on several notable projects over their decades-long relationship, most recently including Dauphin Island’s East End Beach and Dune Restoration. Composed of Dr. Scott Douglass, Dr. Bret Webb and Thomas “Beau” Buhring, SCE boasts 75 combined years of experience. Douglass and Webb are two of only 73 board-certified coastal engineers practicing in the U.S. Douglass and Buhring will join GMC’s Daphne office, and Webb will join GMC’s Mobile office.

SHARE YOUR NEWS WITH PEP!

We want to celebrate the great work our members are doing! If your organization has recent achievements, upcoming events, or environmental initiatives you'd like to share, send your news to us. PEP is here to help promote your efforts and keep our network informed. Submit your updates today and let’s keep driving progress together!

GROUND BROKEN ON MOBILE’S GREENWAY TRAIL, JAPANESE GARDEN

Ground was broken on a $1.7-million investment that will add a 3/4-mi. segment to the Three Mile Creek Greenway Trail and rebuild the Mobile Japanese Garden (MJG) parking lot this week. Both projects will make needed accessibility improvements to the parking facilities and trailhead at the MJG. This latest segment of the trail will build out its most westward point. It is being funded through a grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation, while the improvements to the parking facilities at the MJG are being funded through the city's Capital Improvement Program. Construction is scheduled to be completed in summer 2025.

THREE REASONS YOU NEED AN EAGLE REEF

The Eagle Reef Project was launched in 2023 and these artificial reefs are working! You can see in the images above how marine life is thriving at two different locations. Why should YOU be part of this initiative?

We have three reasons why:

1. Support Marine Conservation: Installing and Eagle Reef helps restore marine ecosystems. Your investment directly contributes to the health of our coastal waters.
2. Improve Water Quality: The reefs naturally filter and improve water quality within just the first six to twelve months of installation.
3. Enhance Local Ecosystems: Eagle Reefs create thriving marine habitats that support biodiversity, helping. to restore and protect local ecosystems.

If you've been interested in installing an Eagle Reef at your pier or wharf, the time is NOW. Fill out our interest form to have our coordinator contact you!

PLAN YOUR ATTENDANCE AT PEP EVENTS

Mark your calendar now to join us for the Sporting Clay Shoot, Membership Breakfasts, and more! Be on the lookout for details and more events as we add them to the PEP Events Page.

2025 Sporting Clay Shoot

March 14

March Membership Breakfast

March 20

May Membership Breakfast

May 1

25th Annual PEP Golf Tournament

May 9

July Membership Breakfast

July 17