HOST
Lon Gonzales – Host of Morning Edition
Mr. Gonzales has been the News Director of KEDT Public Broadcasting for the last three years. He has over 30 years if radio experience with commercial and public broadcasting channels in various Texas markets.
PANELISTS
Dr. Larry McKinney – Harte Research Institute – Chair for Gulf Strategies
Education – Ph.D. in Biology, Texas A&M University, 1976, Smithsonian Summer Fellow, 1976, B.S. in Zoology, Texas A&M University, 1971
Dr. McKinney effectively interacts with the many stakeholder interests in the Gulf of Mexico. Through his education and experience, he has the unique perspective to balance a healthy Gulf and a healthy economy. Through hands-on research and committed leadership, he has developed a reputation for taking on difficult and controversial environmental issues like endangered species conservation, water resource development, and habitat loss throughout the state of Texas.
Presently, half the wetlands in the Gulf of Mexico have been converted into houses, retail centers or cut up into canals and what’s left may be sinking beneath our feet as we pump water and oil. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most productive bodies of water on the face of the planet. Utilizing the “HRI Model,” Dr. McKinney and his team bring together the diverse sciences that not only help to better understand the Gulf but also translate that science into effective policies and actions. Dr. McKinney led the Morris Deal Commission a national effort to reform management of recreational fisheries, leading to the publication of A Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries. The recommendations in that document provided the policy guidance for the Modern Fish Act, signed into law by President Trump, December 31, 2018. Dr. McKinney is also a member of the National Academy’s of Science Gulf Research Program’s Committee on Long Term Environmental Trends in the Gulf of Mexico, a two-year effort initiated in August of 2020, to assess effects of restoration efforts in the Gulf following Deepwater Horizon and evaluate the possible influence of natural and anthropogenic, like climate change and coastal development on those efforts.
Peter Zanoni – City of Corpus Christi – City Manager
Education: Master of Public Administration from Florida State University
Bachelor of Arts from Jacksonville University
Peter Zanoni assumed the role of City Manager of Corpus Christi in May 2019 following a national search for a new city manager. Hailing from a nationally recognized city management team, Zanoni served the City of San Antonio for more than two decades and was the Deputy City Manager, a second-in-command position, and Assistant City Manager for nine years. During this time, Zanoni and his team succeeded in dramatically improving San Antonio’s financial position, developing and implementing a city-wide street repair and maintenance system, improving public safety, and helping build a state-of-the-art emergency preparedness facility. He also worked on revitalizing San Antonio’s downtown and improving its parks and neighborhoods, public library system, Development Services Department, animal control, homeless operations, drainage system, sanitary sewer system and diversifying the city’s water supply. He led teams to execute, on-time and within budget, the City’s $850 million 2017-2022 Bond Program for infrastructure improvements, a $129 million annual street maintenance and sidewalks program—the largest ever, the implementation of an unprecedented $26 million affordable housing investment for residents, and the City’s first modern comprehensive land use and neighborhood planning process. Zanoni, along with his wife of 21 years, LaJuana Hill Zanoni, and their three sons, Tanner (19), Anello (15), and Nicoli (11), have enjoyed the Coastal Bend region for over a decade from their family property in the farmlands of St Paul near Sinton.
Kevin M. Norton, PE, City of Corpus Christi, Director of the Water Utilities
Education: Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Colorado
Kevin Norton joined the City of Corpus Christi in September 2018 as the Director of Water Utilities after retiring from the military. He served almost 25 years in the US Navy onboard two ships as a Surface Warfare Officer and for 17 years as a Civil Engineer Corps Officer.
As Director of Water Utilities, he is focused on operations, environmental compliance, and infrastructure improvements related to water treatment, water quality, wastewater treatment, stormwater, and the water distribution and wastewater collection systems. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, and grew up at Army bases in California, Arizona, Colorado, and South Korea. He is a registered Professional Engineer (Civil) in the State of California.
Esteban (Steve) Ramos, City of Corpus Christi, Water Resources Manager
Education: Bachelor of Science in Bio-Environmental Science, Texas A&M University
As Water Resource Manager, Esteban Ramos is responsible for development and implementation of water conservation actives and outreach projects to address water issues including projected water demands, water supply availability, water use assessments, watershed management plans and drought contingency plan. In addition to representing the City of Corpus Christi at local regional and state levels associated with water resource planning and conservation.
Prior to joining the City, he worked in the Water Rights Permitting & Availability Section as a project manager and from 2011 to 2016 as the South Texas and Concho Watermaster for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Jason Cocklin, PE, BCEE, Project Manager, Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University
Jason Cocklin heads the Freese and Nichols Owner’s Representative Team for the City of Corpus Christi for the Seawater Desalination Project. He is a Board-Certified Environmental Engineer and Project Manager in FNI’s Water/Wastewater Treatment Group, specializing in treatment design, construction phase services and facility planning. Jason’s experience with water treatment facilities includes process design, capacity analysis, hydraulic modeling, disinfection, disinfection byproducts removal and on-site construction oversight. He has been involved in seawater and brackish groundwater desalination initiatives across South Texas including design, regulatory, operations, funding, and management efforts.