PEP TALK - Quarterly Community Newsletter | December 2025 | | |
Dear Community Member,
As we close out an eventful year for Partners for Environmental Progress, we want to extend our gratitude to the many community leaders, partners, and organizations who help strengthen environmental stewardship and responsible growth across Coastal Alabama. Your collaboration and support continue to make PEP’s mission possible.
December has been marked by meaningful momentum, including a successful Annual Mayor’s Luncheon where we welcomed Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis and gathered with partners from across the region. We’re pleased to share event highlights and photos in this issue, along with important updates from member organizations and ongoing regional initiatives.
Thank you for your commitment to a stronger, cleaner, and more sustainable Gulf Coast. We look forward to continuing this work together in the year ahead.
Warm wishes for a safe and joyful holiday season.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Denson, Executive Director
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A NEW ERA BEGINS: RECAP OF PEP’S ANNUAL MAYOR’S LUNCHEON
Thank you to the many community leaders, elected officials, and partners who joined us for the 2025 PEP Annual Mayor’s Luncheon as we officially welcomed Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis. Your presence helped create an engaging and forward-looking event focused on collaboration and the future of our region.
We extend our sincere appreciation to our sponsors, whose support makes this gathering possible each year. Their commitment to strengthening our community and advancing environmental progress is invaluable.
The luncheon was a wonderful opportunity to connect, share ideas, and hear Mayor Cheriogotis’s vision for the path ahead. We’ve included a selection of event photos below and encourage you to look back on the conversations and connections that made the day memorable.
Thank you again for your continued support of PEP and our shared mission.
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PRESENTING THE 2025 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARDS
For the past 25 years, the Board of Directors for Partners for Environmental Progress has presented Environmental Stewardship Awards to member companies whose work has significantly contributed to the Gulf Coast's triple bottom line - the environment, the economy and the community. The awards celebrate the innovative approaches our members take to solve environmental problems and enhance the sustainability and resiliency of our coastlines. We'll be spotlighting each award-winning project in the coming months!
PEP 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award recipients:
This year’s recipients exhibited an exemplary commitment to the protection and betterment of Coastal Alabama and represented a diversity of initiatives. These award-winning projects combined resulted in a decrease of 618,263 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions last year. According to EPA calculations, this is equivalent to taking 144,213 cars off the road each year, which is 37% of passenger vehicles registered in Mobile County!
Special thank you to our 2025 Video Award Sponsor, Driven Engineering!
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2025 COMMUNITY PARTNER AWARD RECIPIENT: ROBERTA SWANN
PEP’s 2025 Community Partner Award goes to Roberta Swann. Roberta has served as the Director of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program since 2009, where she has spearheaded a visionary, community-based approach to watershed management and environmental restoration. Her efforts have engaged over 300 stakeholders and resulted in comprehensive plans for every watershed in coastal Alabama. Additionally, Roberta has been the inspiration behind transformational projects in Three Mile Creek, Fowl River and the D'Olive Watershed. Roberta Swann exemplifies the qualities of a visionary leader - strategic, collaborative, and deeply committed to environmental sustainability. Her work has not only transformed Alabama's coastal landscape but also inspired a culture of stewardship that will benefit generations to come.
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PEP PRESENTS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP TO TWO RECIPIENTS IN HONOR OF 25TH CELEBRATION
PEP is proud to present TWO scholarships this year! The PEP Science and Technology Scholarship fund was established for employees of PEP member companies and their dependents. The fund allows PEP to invest in and support educational opportunities in the engineering and environmental sciences to expose students to critical issues involving the Gulf Coast.
Congratulations to Kali Johnston, Environmental Sciences & Sustainability major at the University of South Alabama, and Ethan Engert, Natural Resource Conservation major at Pensacola State College.
Applications for next year will open this month!
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PEP LEGACY CIRCLE - INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
PEP is proud to announce the launch of our Legacy Circle, a special group of members and partners who are helping ensure PEP’s mission continues to grow and thrive for years to come.
The Legacy Circle recognizes those whose ongoing support and commitment make a lasting impact — strengthening our programs, expanding opportunities, and investing in the future of our business community.
We are deeply grateful to our inaugural Legacy Circle members for their leadership and dedication to PEP’s continued success: Alabama Port Authority, Alabama Power, ArcelorMittal Calvert, BASF, Cowles, Murphy, Glover & Assocites, Driven Engineering, Evonik, Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, Hargrove Engineers & Constructors, High-Purity Silicon America Corporation, HPM, Mobile Chamber, Novelis, OEC, Olds Filtration, Performance Contractors, PPM Consultants, SJ&L Civil Contractors, Southern Earth Sciences, Spire, Third Coast Safety, Thompson Engineering, Turner Supply, and Volkert.
Thank you for believing in the power of connection, collaboration, and community. We look forward to recognizing these members and their support throughout all of 2025 and 2026!
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THANK YOU FOR A SUCCESSFUL 25TH INDUSTRIAL REVERSE TRADE SHOW!
Thank you again to our exhibitors, attendees, and sponsors for a successful 25th year of the Industrial Reverse Trade Show! Connections were made and a great time was had by all. Here's to the next 25 years!
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WELCOME TO THE NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS OF 2025
We were proud to add to our board of directors in 2025, welcoming new faces who have a passion to keep the PEP mission moving forward! Please join us in welcoming:
Jacob Huffstutler, Spire
Kelly Miears, Evonik
Danette Richards, Mobile Chamber
Colin Rutledge, Dunn Building Company
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PEP MEMBERS IN ACTION!
Check out the latest updates and success stories from PEP Members by clicking the links below—we’re proud to showcase the incredible work happening in our area!
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JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST EVENT OF 2026 - A PEP MEMBERSHIP BREAKFAST
Join us for PEP’s first event of 2026—our January Membership Breakfast! We are pleased to welcome Bud McCrory, Water and Sewer Director at MAWSS, as our featured speaker on January 15th at the Mobile Marriott.
Bud will provide an important update on Big Creek Lake along with other key developments impacting our community’s water and sewer systems. A special thank you to HPM for sponsoring this month’s breakfast.
If you are interested in attending, please reach out to Jennifer Denson at jennifer@pepmobile.org.
| | WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS! | | |
WELCOME TO THE NEWEST PEP MEMBERS!
Our membership continues to grow! This quarter, we were proud to welcome several new organizations, including BuildCor Services, LEMOINE, Michelli Weighing & Measurement, Ron Bush, Inc., The Conner Group, Carroll Daniel Engineering, Performance Personnel Services, Alabama Productivity Center, and Patrick Allen Companies.
Thank you all for your support of the PEP mission!
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