Sam Spofforth, coordinator of the Clean Fuels Ohio Coalition. Photo by Rick Bennett, www.nearbennet.com
Fellow coordinators recently recognized Clean Fuels Ohio coordinator Sam Spofforth for being a thorough, thoughtful, and compassionate mentor with a proactive approach to helping fellow coalitions meet their financial goals.
Sam Spofforth, coordinator of the Clean Fuels Ohio Coalition, was honored with the Benjamin Watson Inspirational Award on September 3 in Lemont, Ill., where representatives from Clean Cities coalitions across the country gathered for the annual Clean Cities Coordinator Training Workshop.
The award is presented annually to the Clean Cities coordinator who provides inspiration and motivation to other coordinators and who strives to create a fun, engaging, and unified team spirit within the program. Spofforth was presented with the award by fellow coordinator Wendy Lucht (Ocean State Clean Cities), on behalf of the Clean Cities Coordinator Council. Spofforth was chosen as this year’s award recipient for his mentorship in helping fellow coalitions establish effective dues systems and his leadership in organizing the Energy Independence Summit.
“Sam is a wonderful mentor—thorough, thoughtful, proactive, helpful, and compassionate,” said Kimberly Cline of Western Washington Clean Cities. “His guidance has helped make a seemingly daunting task more manageable and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from him.”
Former Triangle Clean Cities coordinator Lacey Jane Wolfe added that Spofforth has provided unparalleled financial leadership through the Clean Cities mentoring program, where his dues guidance has become the go-to resource for coalitions who want to become self-sustaining. “Sam is helping the entire Clean Cities program by helping us all to reach our financial goals,” said Wolfe.
Spofforth has served as Executive Director of Clean Fuels Ohio since the organization’s founding in 2002. Under Spofforth’s leadership, Clean Fuels Ohio has become one of the leading Clean Cities coalitions, making a major impact on advanced transportation deployment in Ohio. Spofforth was one of the original inductees to the Clean Cities Hall of Fame in 2011.
Nominations for the Benjamin Watson Inspirational Award come directly from coordinators, in a process overseen by the Clean Cities Coordinator Council. Coordinators then vote to select the winner.
The award is named after Benjamin Watson, a founding member of Clean Cities and long-time coordinator of Kansas City Regional Clean Cities. Watson’s engaging personality and spirit left an indelible stamp on the Clean Cities program and established the true character of the organization.
- Steve Lommele, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team
- technicalresponse@icfi.com
- 800-254-6735