Al Yougel, Executive Director of Keep Peachtree City Beautiful, is a strong believer of The Golden Rule: Treat people the way you want to be treated. Get along with other people by treating them like a customer. Make them feel important and appreciated. Listen to what they have to say and don’t let emotions get in the way.
The X Factor: “Pursue your passion.” – Stephen E. O’Day
Steve O’Day, the partner in charge of the Environmental Law and the Sustainability Practices at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, tells us to pursue our passion. That way, you enjoywhat you do and the results would showcase the best of your abilities.
Steve O’Day, Partner in Environmental Law at Smith, Gambrell & Russell Interviewed by Joyce Bone
Steve O’Day is the partner in charge of the Environmental Law Section and the Sustainability Practice Group at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.
In his practice, he handles a variety of environmental and sustainability issues, including permitting and compliance, toxic tort claims, water law, mold litigation, and landfill issues, renewable energy, biofuels, greenhouse gas regulations, conservation land use, sustainable construction, and carbon audits and offsets. Steve studied Civil Engineering at the Georgia Tech, earned his Bachelor’s degree in political science from Furman University and graduated from Harvard Law School.
He’s currently on the Board of Trustees for the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, is a member of Leadership Atlanta and teaches environmental law as a part-time instructor at Georgia Tech. Steve has actively supported environmental initiatives long before it became mainstream. He was awarded the River Guardian Award by the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper for his commitment to protect the river which supplies water to Metropolitan Atlanta, and received the James S. Dockery, Jr., Southern Environmental Leadership Award from the Southern Environmental Law Center.
Just this year Steve was honored again by the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper when his firm was named the River Guardian for work on behalf of the River by Steve and his group of attorneys at the firm. He also was awarded the Ogden Doremus award for Excellence in Environmental Law by Greenlaw. He is a frequent speaker on sustainability, environmental liability and compliance, and risk management.
Joyce Bone talks with Steve about how a company can run a sustainable, eco-friendly business; if government is living up to their role; what area of environmental business is actually seeing an uptick in employment (hint: renewable energy) and how Georgia can capitalize on that; what can be done about the water shortages and must more! Listen in for the insightful, seasoned advice of Steve O’Day.
