UPDATE

Karen Jones has a unique talent
in addition to her job description
as a DEQ Environmental Scientist
III in the Office of Environmental Services.
Karen loves making jewelry. A hobby that
began about 10 years ago has now brought
her recognition.
Karen recently entered the East Baton
Rouge Parish Recycling and the Art
Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s Recycled
Jewelry Contest. Karen created a pair of
unique recycled earrings that were
selected to travel with the winners of the Karen Jones
contest. The earrings were recently on display
at Earth Day and the Bluebonnet Library through April.
“I have always primarily made earrings, since I can use light as a component
when making them more so than when I make other types of jewelry.
I have always been fascinated by the role of light in adornment and ornamentation,
and I am sure that my short hair contributes to my love of earrings,”
said Karen.
Most of her creations are from what she calls her favorite, ‘found objects.’
She has collected lots over the years and they contain several unusual components.
Many are materials that we use in our everyday lives, ranging from
shampoo bottles, fruit and vegetable containers and to various metal fragments,
can be recycled into jewelry. Karen said, “My inspirations come from
various sources, I am most intrigued by color, line, and texture. tThey are
fundamental in making recycled materials suitable for jewelry use.”
Karen sells her jewelry locally at shows, shops and to individuals. Her
pieces are currently for sale at Nature’s Treasures and the Arts Council. They
were previously sold in a Main Street Market shop and downtown Baton
Rouge newsstand.
Karen joined DEQ in the summer of 2001. She has worked in the
Compliance Assistance Requirements Library (CARL) since July 2003. She
previously worked with DEQ’s Public Participation Group. Before joining
DEQ she worked as a research associate for LSU for 17 years in a number of
departments and disciplines. Karen received both her Master’s degree in
Botany and a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from Louisiana State
University.
Bijan Sharafkhani is
known by many DEQ employees
as a connoisseur of
food and for his knack to locate a
buffet anywhere in the state. But one
attribute that may surprise some is
that Bijan is the current chairman of
the Louisiana Professional Engineers
and Land Surveying Board. Bijan
received this designation after being
appointed by former Governor Mike
Foster.
Bijan is currently serving his fifth Bijan Sharafkhani
year of a six-year term. The board is
comprised of 11 members representing various sectors who regulate
individuals or corporations in the engineering and land surveying professions
in Louisiana. At the national level, Bijan is chairing the
Examination Administration Task force for the National Council of
Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.
As the Group Four Engineering Manager in the Technology Division
under the Office of Environmental Assessment, Bijan finds his work
rewarding. “I work with a group of dedicated and enthusiastic people
who really enjoy what they do,” said Bijan. This group provides technical
support to the Permits and Remediation Divisions.
He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s in Civil Engineering from
the University of New Orleans and has been with DEQ for more
than 14 years. In his spare time he enjoys ballroom dancing and
working out.
“I
have a passion for my work. I live and breathe this stuff”
John James Clark, Environmental Scientist III, does live
and breathe the environment. John has been an employee of DEQ
in various aspects of water for seven years. He presently works in the nonpoint
source pollution section, but much of his time away from work is
spent helping communities and others make sound environmental choices.
For example, John advises the mayor
of his town, Grosse Tete and the Iberville
Parish President, J. Milton Ourso, council
members in Livingston Parish, and anyone
else who will listen regarding water
quality issues.
John was exposed to Louisiana’s outdoors
as a child, went to college to learn
the science and signed on at DEQ “to
help.” It is John’s intent to “inspire people
to do the right thing” by presenting them
with the best options and using best management
practices to solve problems.
Just some of the projects that John
spends time on include: use of natural
John James Clark
wastewater treatment, using plants to filter the water, awareness of native
plants and their importance in the local environment, helping people protect
their environment and retain their sense of place, demonstrating natural
river behavior to school kids and adults, and teaching people in his
community about stream bank maintenance so they can improve water
quality and the aesthetics of Bayou Grosse Tete.
John is an avid photographer of wildlife, native wildflowers and natural
settings but mostly he enjoys talking to people and giving them environmental
information.
“When I talk to people, I know my audience,” John said. “I tell them
how protecting their environment benefits them personally. For example,
Bayou Grosse Tete is so much a part of the community and who they are,
that it is part of their sense of place.” Taking proper care of it means they
are taking care of themselves, which just makes good sense.
John stresses that you have to take the first step to make a difference.
“Making a difference helps to restore pride in who you are as a person and
where you come from. This creates more productive and enthusiastic people,
which guarantees greater public participation within a community.
Then, suddenly the ball begins to roll in a favorable direction. There is a
lot of little things people can do that can make a big difference. It’s a never
ending, but very fulfilling job,” John said.
Encore! Encore! That’s music to the ears of
Marilyn Connelly, DEQ Environmental
Project Specialist 1. Marilyn is part
of the team that managed the $20 million a year
Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund. This
fund pays for cleanup of approximately 500 sites
around the state where UST leaks have contaminated
soil and groundwater. She has worked for
DEQ for more than a year. Marilyn has a flair for
the dramatic. She is pursuing her dream to act
and has appeared with the Baker and the Baton
Rouge Little Theatres.
In Baker, Marilyn appeared as Peggy in Belle Marilyn Memory Connelly
a story of six sisters. This appearance helped her
get “back into theatre.”
At Christmas, she and Donald Trahan, DEQ Legal, appeared in Greetings at the
Baton Rouge Little Theatre. This play, which mixed crabby humor with holiday
sentiment, also starred Marilyn’s son Christopher.
Recently, Marilyn hit the stage again as Lady Grace Manley-Prowe in the musical
murder mystery, Something’s Afoot. She joined a talented group to entertain
the community.
Support and interest of her DEQ coworkers, made it easier for Marilyn to
achieve her best. “I used to sing them my songs in the lunch room,” she said. “I
want to thank my coworkers.”
Marilyn has three sons in their 20s, Christopher, Patrick and Sean.
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