Sandy Kurtz has long been active in environmental education areas dealing with environmental issues at local, state, and Federal levels.  She was one of the founders of the Tennessee Environmental Education Association in 1974, and went on to establish the first educational programs at the Chattanooga Nature Center and at the TVA Energy Center Museum.  She has trained countless volunteers and teachers, written environmental education curriculum for schools, and planned and facilitated numerous environmental conferences and meetings.  As an environmental education consultant she established the Chattanooga Sustainable Lifestyle Campaign endorsed by the President’s Council for Sustainable Development.  During the Campaign, 45 EcoTeams were created empowering citizens to establish habits for more sustainable living in their homes and neighborhoods.  She has worked at the grassroots level as Tennessee field representative for National Environmental Trust and Clear the Air to support Federal legislation for clean air issues and slowing of global warming.  Presently she is a co-director of the Urban Century Institute promoting sustainable solutions and is working as Project Coordinator for the Tennessee Forests Council, a group promoting sustainable management for the forests of Tennessee.  She is co-chair of the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Alliance, an award winning citizen’s advocacy group.  She sits on the board of Tennessee Environmental Council, is a member of TVA Green Power Steering Committee, and a leader of the Coalition for Responsible Progress.  In 2002, she received Tennessee Environmental Education Association’s Distinguished Service Award for service to environmental education and was also named the Enviro-Hero award from Chattanooga’s Environmental City Task Force.  In 2006, she received a “Citizen Involvement” award from Chattanooga’s local Tree Commission.  Ms. Kurtz holds an undergraduate degree from Berea College in Kentucky, and a Masters Degree from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in Education Administration and Supervision.