Speakers - Bios - Harry Ott

Harry has over 35 years of experience in the environmental, health and safety field. He initially spent several years in research and operation of water and wastewater treatment facilities for the Los Angeles County Sanitation District and the city of Ft. Worth, Texas. During the next sixteen years he supervised and managed operation of utilities for Schlitz Brewing Company in Longview, Texas and served as an Environmental Affairs Manager for the Adolph Coors Brewing Company in Golden, Colorado.

In 1990 he began an 18 year career with The Coca-Cola Company. Serving in various corporate roles with The Coca-Cola Company during those 18 years he worked on international projects and initiatives in more than 130 countries. In those roles he had responsibility for EH&S policy development and directing a group of professionals who were charged with implementation of sustainable water resources management, EH&S management programs, and environmental training systems worldwide for the company. For several years he also served as a key member of Coca-Cola's Corporate Quality Department management team.

Harry also maintained a proactive role in the environmental community at large serving on several governmental and industrial environmental task forces. Recently, he served as chairman for the Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI) organization in developing two key projects, 'Environment: Value to Business' and 'Creative Water Strategies: A Water Sustainability Tool'. He also served several years as a member of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce as part of the Environmental Policy Committee and Water Resources subcommittee. He also served on the Environmental Science Technology advisory committee for Texas State Technical College. He holds a Grade A level certification in the state of Texas for operation of wastewater treatment facilities and has held certifications in the past for operation of water/wastewater treatment facilities in California, Colorado, and Texas. At the request of the Administrator of the EPA he served on a National Water Infrastructure panel in Washington D.C. In 2002 he received an appointment to the Strategic Advisory Board of the Bureau of Environmental, Health, and Safety Auditor Certifications (BEAC) a registered non-profit organization based in North America.

Harry's educational background includes a Bachelor of Technical Science in Environmental Engineering from Texas State Technical College. He also completed several policy development and environmental law courses toward a masters degree at the University of Denver.