About Josh Thomas
With personal and professional passion, Josh leads Topics Education’s efforts in the fields of Environmental Sustainability and Health Education. He consults with clients to design measurable programs that engage audiences around sustainability issues, especially those having to do with the environment and healthy living. Josh is a graduate of Al Gore’s “Climate Project Training Program” and a leader in the region in moving forward discussion around environmental and sustainability issues.
Professional
He consults with both corporate and nonprofit clients to design programs and initiatives that achieve a measurable educational impact among stakeholders. Josh has designed education outreach campaigns and acted as an advisor to marketing and public affairs managers with some of America’s most recognized companies, including NBC Universal, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Lance Armstrong Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, National Audubon Society and Participant Productions on the An Inconvenient Truth classroom curriculum.
Community
In the community, Josh serves as Chair of the Sierra Club – Central Piedmont Group and is a Founding member of the Charlotte: Clean & Green Steering Committee. He sits on the North Carolina Children and Nature Coalition (NCCAN!) Executive Committee, POST’s Leaf and STEM Advisory Council, and the Board of Advisors for the Forum for Sustainable Business Development. In 2007, Josh completed Al Gore’s “The Climate Project Training Program” and recently completed work with the Carolina Thread Trail for his American Leadership Forum class project. Along with Topics Education, Josh is a member of the No Child Left Inside Coalition that promotes education for young people around the natural world.
Speaking
Josh has been featured in public speaking engagements around environmental issues, including a recent appearance on Charlotte’s NPR affiliate station, WFAE, where he spoke about Nature Deficit Disorder and the emotional and physical benefits of children and youth connecting with nature. In 2006, he acted as Facilitator for NBC Universal’s Visions for Tomorrow (VFT) program launch which was focused on the future of energy. He was interviewed about this initiative and the future of energy on satellite radio’s daily program The Lazy Environmentalist. In 2008, he was the keynote speaker at the Duke Endowment’s annual Spring Fling luncheon on sustainable farming and local food systems. He is also one of 1800 people in the United States trained and certified to give An Inconvenient Truth presentations, based on the Al Gore slideshow.
Writing
Josh is the author of the blog EnvironmentalDad.com. He is also a frequent contributor to Topics Education’s blog, TopicsThreeSticks.com.
Personal
Josh is married and has two sons and a daughter. When he’s not playing with (chasing down!) one of his small children, Josh is an avid hiker, gardener, cook, and oenophile who enjoys using local, organic ingredients to create interesting and beautiful meals and match them with wonderful wines and even more wonderful conversation with friends and family.