Katy, TX News - Katy’s Jamie Wolman Receives Keep America Beautiful

Katy, TX News (February 11, 2014) – Jamie Wolman, executive director of Keep Katy Beautiful (KKB), was presented Keep America Beautiful’s Sue Smith Leadership Award at KAB’s National Awards ceremony, which recently took place during its National Conference in Charlotte, N.C.

The Sue Smith Leadership Award is KAB’s highest professional honor and is given annually to KAB affiliate leaders who have built and sustained an affiliate program with outstanding success. Those honored have established model programs and fostered long-term partnerships between the public and private sector. The award is named after KAB’s long-time affiliate trainer Sue Smith, who retired in 2013 after a 25-year career with KAB.

“Simply put, Jamie is an exemplary affiliate coordinator, providing leadership, innovation and inspiration to members of the Katy community, Keep Texas Beautiful staff and coordinators, as well as the Keep America Beautiful affiliate network,” said Keep America Beautiful President & CEO Jennifer Jehn at the awards ceremony.

For many people in Katy, Jamie Wolman is the face of Keep Katy Beautiful. Wolman spent her early career as a teacher, and later counselor at the Junior High and High School levels. She was honored when Katy named a new elementary school for her and her husband in 2012.

After finishing her teaching career, Wolman joined the Parks and Recreation Department as the Community Specialist. She became involved in Keep Katy Beautiful more than 20 years ago and has been leading the local affiliate since 2000.

Because of her experience as an educator, generations of Katy ISD students are passionate environmental stewards. Students participate in a multitude of events, planting wildflower seeds and native grasses, implementing recycling programs, and studying water quality and conservation issues.

Innovative programming developed during Wolman’s tenure includes Summer Scientist, which utilizes Keep America Beautiful’s Waste in Place program as the foundation for a week-long environmental summer day camp. “Project Paint a Can” engages local businesses in a spirited competition to paint 40-gallon drums with the words and theme of KKB; the barrels are then placed throughout the community as a reminder for residents to properly dispose of litter and waste. An Earth Day environmental poster was colored by children and mailed to the U.S. Military Unit in Afghanistan.

Under Wolman’s leadership, KKB exemplifies the KAB model, managing sustainable partnerships with numerous civic groups, government entities, and businesses. Keep Katy Beautiful has received four Governor’s Community Achievement Award, one of the most prestigious environmental awards in the state. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in the areas of youth education, public awareness, solid waste management, litter prevention and cleanup, litter law and illegal dumping enforcement, community leadership and coordination, beautification and community improvement.

At the statewide level, Wolman serves as the affiliate representative on the Keep Texas Beautiful Board of Directors for a two-year term and is currently the President of the Board.