International Trade Education Programs (ITEP) Celebrating Going Green on Earth Day

“ITEP is honoring Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz with 2010 Keeper of the Flame Award at 10th Annual Scholarship Awards and Fundraiser Dinner in San Pedro

Los Angeles, CA —"We are thrilled to be celebrating our environment this week by shining a spotlight on the International Trade Education Programs (ITEP) students’ Earth Day events," said CEO & Founder Carol Rowen, ITEP. “Our academies have been teaching students to recycle, reuse and go green in their projects.” said Rowen. “Our annual fundraiser and scholarship dinner falls on Earth Day with good reason.” The students from the ITEP Earth Alert Academy at San Pedro High School have been planning some major events to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day 2010. On Tuesday, 20 ITEP students will take a tour of SA Recycling, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Terminal Island. SA Recycling is a full-service ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycler and processor. Recognized as an industry leader in metal recycling, SA operates more than 40 recycling facilities throughout California, Arizona and Nevada. Main Earth Day event: On Wednesday, April 21, 2010, ITEP students will attend demonstrations and hear a host of speakers at San Pedro High School. The Los Angeles Port Mobile Transporter will be at the school from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the faculty parking lot. Students will hear the story of the Port of Los Angeles. The Transporter exhibit features displays focusing on the history, jobs, cargo, equipment, environmental programs and future of the nation’s number one container port. The Transporter is a 53-foot fully-contained, mobile exhibit featuring exciting, hands-on activities for ITEP students. The highlight of activities this week ends with the annual event, 10th Annual Scholarship Awards and Fundraiser Dinner, Thursday, April 22nd, San Pedro, CA. ITEP is honoring Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz with the 2010 Keeper of the Flame Award at the annual fundraising event. Knatz has been a major ITEP supporter of ITEP. Knatz, who is the first female executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, oversees the daily operations and management of the nation’s number one container port. Under her leadership, the Port has reduced air emissions and health risks while expanding capital development programs to accommodate the port’s future growth as a premiere Pacific Gateway and national economic engine. “The Port of Los Angeles has been a huge leader in keeping the torch lit at ITEP,” said ITEP Board Chairman Tom Good of Matson Navigation. “We would not be here today without the support from the ports and contributions from corporations and the international trade industry. They’re changing lives of high school students with career opportunities offering life changing work experiences.” Under Knatz’s leadership, the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan was created and implemented in November 2006. The Plan has paved the way for the Los Angeles Harbor Commission to approve two major container terminal expansion projects and a new deep-draft marine oil terminal. While her impressive tenure at the Port of Long Beach spanned two decades, Knatz began her maritime career as an environmental scientist at the Port of Los Angeles in 1977. Before returning to the Port of Los Angeles in 2006, Knatz previously served as managing director of the neighboring Port of Long Beach. As the number two executive at the Port of Long Beach, she oversaw a $2.3 billion capital improvement program and spearheaded a number of environmental initiatives, including development of the Green Port Policy. “ITEP has become successful thanks to the hard work and dedication of Geraldine Knatz and the Port of Los Angeles staff who have supported us for the last decade,” said ITEP CEO & Founder Carol Rowen. “The Port offers internships that better prepare the students for the marketplace.” For more information visit: www.itepinc.org. For images, media interviews contact: Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade at 818-340-5300, Publicity@MayoCommunications.com. For the full story on ITEP visit: www.itepinc.org.

Tags: