Martineau exits as TDEC commissioner; joins real estate development firm

Press release from the governor’s office

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner Bob Martineau will return to work in the private sector in May.

Under Commissioner Martineau’s leadership, for the first time in more than two decades, the entire state of Tennessee is in compliance with federal air quality standards for particle pollution and ozone. Additionally, 41,000 acres have been added to our state lands, including three new state parks, and $170 million has been invested to modernizing our state park facilities. TDEC has facilitated the cleanup of more than 100 contaminated properties, resulting in renewed productive use and approximately 18,000 jobs at those locations. TDEC now has the lowest backlog of clean-ups of old contaminated underground storage tank sites in the Southeast.

“Because Bob and his team have focused on protecting and preserving our environment, Tennesseans will have a better quality of life.” Haslam said. “We are very fortunate to have had him lead TDEC for the last seven years and I wish him well on his venture.”

During this administration, Martineau focused on increasing the use of technology for online reservations in parks, digitization of records to facilitate public access, and more online ways to file permits applications and pay fees.

“I want to thank Governor Haslam for this opportunity to serve. It has truly been the highest honor of my professional life.” Martineau said. “I have been blessed to work with a team of wonderful, highly capable professionals across the department who are passionate about making Tennessee a better place to live work and raise a family.”

Martineau recently served as president of the Environmental Council of the States. He will serve the state until the last week of April. His successor will be announced next week.

UPDATE/Note: Martineau’s new job will be with the Knoxville-based real estate development firm LHP Capital, which is opening a Nashville office, reports the Nashville Post.  LHP — which went by Lawler Wood Housing until 2015 — has designated him  president of LHP Management, were he will oversee LHP’s multifamily rental properties and their staffs. The firm specializes in the acquisition and renovation of government-subsidized properties, according to a release that also noted that the company runs 56 properties in nine states and plans to close nine deals this year.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

ABOUT THIS BLOG

Posts and Opinions about Tennessee politics, government, and legislative news.