Northwest Indiana Partners for Clean Air presented awards to air quality leaders at its annual awards luncheon held at the Clipper Room Banquet Facility at the Hammond Marina. Pictured are (l-r) Michele Murday Pariso, IDEM Compliance Assistance and Voluntary Programs Manager; Brian Rockensuess, IDEM Commissioner; Jerry Jackson, La Porte; Peter Voss, Jr., Cleveland-Cliffs; Blake Marshall, G.E. Marshall; Randy Reeder, City of Portage; Christine Foreman, Cleveland-Cliffs; and Scott Nelson, Partners for Clean Air Steering Committee Member and Telamon Energy Director of Business Development. (Photo provided)
Northwest Indiana Partners for Clean Air recently presented their annual awards honoring voluntary efforts to improve air quality in the Region. “On behalf of Partners for Clean Air, we congratulate all of the recipients on your awards and scholarships,” said Cathy Csatari, director of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Northwest Regional Office. “By their voluntary actions, each recipient has encouraged others to support clean air. We look forward to seeing our bright scholarship winners continue their success in future endeavors.” Construction contractor G.E. Marshall received the Business Award for replacing four diesel excavators and one port drayage truck with new equipment that will reduce their annual emissions. Voss Equipment received the Industrial Award for upgrading the Trackmobile railcar mover at Cleveland-Cliffs’ Indiana Harbor steel plant in East Chicago. The City of Portage received the Municipal Award for transitioning its refuse and recycling fleet to compressed natural gas. Jerry Jackson of La Porte received the Mark Siminski Bicycle Award for his work on the La Porte County Family YMCA’s Tour de La Porte, a walking, running, and cycling fundraising event. Jackson has also served on the planning committee to expand the Chessie Trail through the city and county, eventually connecting into a trail system from Illinois to Michigan. In addition, two students each received a $2,500 scholarship in the competitive essay contest judged by Partners for Clean Air Scholarship Committee members. Since 2020, Partners for Clean Air has awarded over $25,000 to 10 local students to help support their post-secondary educational efforts. Here is a link for more about the awards.
