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Past Projects

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Selected Past Projects:

 

Stormwater Education Consultant, Port of Skagit County.  Development/implementation of cutting-edge stormwater pollution prevention education/outreach project;  2007-present

Senior Consultant, One Cert, Inc.  Extensive consulting for organic certification agency vis a vis Japanese government policy;  2005-present

Japan Agent, Canadian Publishing Co.  Coordination of translation projects for innovative North American publisher vis a vis Japan.  2005-present

Research Fellow, Institute for Environmental Research and Education.  Collaborative development of innovative sustainable energy projects in western Washington.  Focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy, development of creative partnerships.  2004-2005 

Carnegie Council.  Collaborative research:  unique “bridge research/consulting” role in  groundbreaking, four-nation, $1.4 million study of environmental values, policy, and globalization in the U.S., Japan, China, and India.  Improved communication among Japanese, U.S., Chinese, and Indian researchers, and U.S. research administrators.  Performed fieldwork.  Co-wrote book chapter, edited and translated (Japanese-English) pioneering research reports.  1998-2004

Planet Bound, Inc.  Consulting and research for Japan-based, international environmental consulting firm.  Developed innovative strategy for Internet-based “eco-business.”  Formed international, interdisciplinary consulting teams.  Wrote news and business articles, translating leading-edge environmental concepts into understandable terms.  Accepted offer to join Board of Directors.  2000-2006

Visiting Faculty in Environmental Studies (Yellow Springs, OH). 
Introductory, intermediate, advanced Environmental Studies teaching at innovative institution of higher learning.  Courses were integrative, interdisciplinary, and student-centered, with service learning components.  Teaching focused on finding solutions to pressing, real-world problems.  2002-03

Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA International).  Extensive consulting for largest organic certification agency in North America, with focus on "bridging" for OCIA International and OCIA Japan.  2002

Kyoto Seika University.  Developed Washington-based environmental studies curriculum for forward-thinking Japanese university.  Created field courses, established network of U.S. and Japanese universities, enabled cost reductions.  2000-2002

Lake Biwa Museum of Shiga Prefecture, Japan.  Collaborative research within an innovative four-nation study of "Lakes:  Now and Then" in Japan, Malawi, the U.S., and France.  The study was a groundbreaking effort  to compare changing attitudes toward lake environments in vastly different settings.  2001-2002 

U.S.-China Environmental Fund.  Laid groundwork for Natural Areas program.  Developed leading-edge curricula and sustainability templates for National Environmental Protection Agency of China.  1996-98, 2000

Internship/Volunteer Services.  Located internships for Japanese students wanting to study and practice sustainable agriculture and environmental work in the U.S.  Assisted U.S. professional seeking volunteer opportunities in Japan, China, Thailand.  2000

Japan-U.S. Community Education and Exchange.  Performed comprehensive needs assessment for nonprofit organization that facilitates exchange between Japanese and U.S. nonprofits.  Report led to innovation:  increased networking, addition of key board members, move to the forefront of U.S.-Japan nonprofit collaboration.  1999

Wisconsin Environmental Business (name subject to confidentiality agreement).  Performed intensive market research for Wisconsin agricultural firm seeking to enter the sustainable agriculture market of Japan.  1998

New York Real Estate Firm (name subject to confidentiality agreement). Assisted New York real estate firm to resolve impasse with Japanese client, leading to multimillion dollar sale.  1998

Antioch College (Japan).  Developed “Japanese Political Change” and “Japanese Nonprofit Organizations” curricula.  Coordinated and served as Visiting Faculty in Japan program.  1998

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Washington, D.C.  Evaluated two inventive EDF projects:  the Great Printers Project, a multi-state, multi-stakeholder effort to prevent pollution and reduce waste in the printing industry, and the EDF Sustainability Kit, which helps citizen groups do effective work on sustainability issues. 1997

Lake Biwa Research Group, Shiga, Japan.  Collaborative research with Japanese researchers on interest group effectiveness and Japanese environmental policy process.  1992-1995

Earth Education -- Introduction to Japan.  Introduced well known, innovative environmental educator Steve Van Matre to Japan;  provided language interpretation and cultural bridging at series of successful workshops.  Helped catalyze creation of Earth Education organizational affiliates in Japan.  1989-90

National Wildlife Federation.  Helped formulate Japan strategy for U.S. environmental nonprofit.  1989-90

Japan Environmental Exchange, Kyoto, Japan.  Developed popular, original environmental field program for Japanese and non-Japanese adults;  performed language/cultural interpretation and “cultural bridging”.  Participants carried out field research on Japanese environmental controversies.  1988-1989

Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade Institute.  Research on waste reduction, recycling, and treatment, solid waste policy, dioxin and heavy metals emissions, groundwater protection.  Data helped catalyze passage of innovative Wisconsin solid waste law.  1986-1988

Freudenmont Meadows Organic Farm.  Broad spectrum of work for organic vegetable farm in New York State:  e.g., marketing, planning, soil building, fertilization, cultivation, pest control.  1985

 



Selected (Pro Bono) Service Projects


Sustainable Communities:  Assisted local business network to develop Sustainability Scenarios for Whatcom County, Washington, providing critique and consulting re:  conceptualization and implementation plans.  2004

Hydrogen Economy:  Provided critiques re:  the "hydrogen transition" to Amory Lovins, one of U.S.'s foremost energy sustainability experts.   2003

International Marine Biodiversity Preservation:  Helped international nonprofit organization concerned with marine environments develop culturally-sensitive approach to advocacy in Japan.  2000

Environmental Psychology Workshops:  Presented workshops on “Environment and Psychology:  Fear, Empowerment, Vision” to counselors in Wisconsin.  Was asked to publish workshop content in national publication, and give additional workshops.  1997

Atwood Clean Air Committee, Madison, WI:  Helped local citizen organization develop strategy re:  how to influence policymakers and business, and reduce harmful air emissions.  1996-97

Japanese Violinist Jin Matsuno:  Provided Japanese-English language and cultural interpretation for Japanese violinist during concert and friendship tour in Estonia. 1994

Environmental Lectures in Japanese:  Gave dozens of Japanese talks on important environmental issues and cultural perspectives, in university, business, civic group settings.  1991-1995

Otokoyama Thomas A. Edison Society:  Provided Japanese-English language and cultural interpretation to Japan’s Otokoyama Thomas A. Edison Society, the Edison Birthplace Association (Ohio), and other nonprofits engaged in intercultural exchange.  1989-1994

 


Educational Background of Dr. Steven M. Hoffman 
(President, Hoffman and Associates)  

Ph.D., Land Resources/Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1996.  Specialization:  Environmental Issues and Politics of Japan;  Comparative Environmental Studies.

M.S., Land Resources/Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1988.  Specialization:  Improving Wisconsin’s Solid Waste Policy and Practice.

B.A., Political Science, Haverford College, 1981.





Selected Publications of Dr. Steven M. Hoffman 
(President, Hoffman and Associates)  

The Influence of Interest Groups Upon Environmental Policy Process in Japan, University of Wisconsin Press (forthcoming).

In Forging Environmentalism:  Justice, Livelihood, and Contested EnvironmentsJoanne Bauer, ed., Japan Case Study Chapter, Contributing Researcher and Editor;  M.E. Sharpe Publishing, 2006.

Ecology in Osaka:  The Inspiration of a Japanese Ecobusinessman, with Mao Sato, (forthcoming).

“Dr. Hoffman’s Planet Weekly,” weekly environmental column for Planet Bound, Inc.  Articles included:   "Comparison of Sustainable Agriculture in Japan and the U.S.”;  “Environmental Business Successes in the U.S. and Europe”;  and “Pesticide Residues in Food:  A Japan-U.S. Comparison”;  Planet Bound, 2000.

“Comparing Japanese and U.S. Environmental Policy Process,” article in Shiga Prefectural Research Report on the Lake Biwa Soap Movement, Shiga Prefecture, 1994.

“Environmental Researcher’s Corner,” monthly environmental column for Japan Environmental Exchange.  Titles included:  “Public Service and Voluntarism – Comparing Japan and the U.S.”;  “Citizen Participation in Environmental Controversies–A Japan-U.S. Comparison”;  and “What Is An ‘Environmental Solution?’”;  Japan Environmental Exchange, Kyoto.  1991-1993 

“The Case Against Municipal Waste Incineration,” report prepared for the Wisconsin Environmental Decade Institute -- utilized statewide.  1987




"We should all be concerned about the future because
we will have to spend the rest of our lives there."


--Charles Kettering