Tom Cotter 
Fresno, CA, UNITED STATES
Tom Cotter is a social entrepreneur, consultant, manager, educator and ordained clergy.
Biography
Tom Cotter holds a deep desire to re-think, to re-design and build a positive future. His experience as clergy, consultant, social entrepreneur, manager, professor and father have provided a unique perspective on the challenges we face and the changes required to overcome them. He sees the end of the era of cheap fossil fuels and key materials, coupled with rising population and anxieties around water resources, food production and harmful wastes, as clearly demonstrating the need to rethink our model of production and consumption, not merely attempting to patch it up. He shares an optimism that this rethinking will bring a better quality of life and increased opportunities as it can potentially restore natural and social capital.
Tom frequently speaks with the media or various business and community groups about solar power, green jobs, creation care, circular economy, electric cars, postmodern culture and social media for good.
Tom has launched or is involved with a number of projects, events, non-profits and entrepreneurial ventures related to renewable energy, environmental stewardship and education.
Industry Expertise (10)
Renewables and Environmental
Energy
Corporate Leadership
Professional Training and Coaching
Construction - Residential
Non-Profit/Charitable
Education/Learning
Religious Institutions
Cleantech
Social Media
Areas of Expertise (3)
Solar
Creation Care
Sustainability
Accomplishments (2)
Eagle Scout, BSA (personal)
1988-06-03
Tom Cotter was awarded the title of Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program. Cotter is on the National List of Eagle Scouts, which includes notable Eagle Scouts from around the United States.
Climate Leader, Climate Reality Project (professional)
2012-08-23
Personally trained by Nobel Laureate and former Vice President Al Gore to deliver a multimedia slide show featured in the Academy Award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. The slide show is continually updated with the latest scientific data and research to convey the scope and urgency of the climate challenge.
Education (5)
Ozark Christian College: BA, Ancient Literature 1996
Ozark Christian College: BA, Education 1996
University of California, Riverside : Certificate Program, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 2006
Solar Living Institute: Certificate, Photovoltaics 2007
MIT: OpenCourseWare , Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences 2007
Affiliations (9)
- Solar Living Institute
- International Green Industry Hall of Fame
- Restore Hetch Hetchy
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
- Climate Ride
- National Solar Tour
- Kiva
- Climate Reality Project
- Green Central Valley
Links (3)
Testimonials (1)
John Richau, Owner | Certified Energy Consulting
Tom is one of the most sincere and intelligent people I know. His passion for renewable energy and the environment runs deep and is rooted in common sense stewardship and concern for future generations.
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Host/MC
- Corporate Training
Social