Air Quality Ombudsman Begins Post

New position set to improve customer service

March 9, 2009

The Maricopa County Air Quality Department announces the hiring of its Ombudsman, Dennis Dickerson.  The newly developed position will work with the department director’s office to provide assistance to both the regulated community and Maricopa County residents to ensure fair treatment and resolution of air quality regulation activity.

“Dennis comes to us with an accomplished environmental background,” explains Director Lawrence Odle.  “Most notably, Dennis comes to us from neighboring Pima County and has prior service as an Ombudsman in California with significant experience and knowledge in the public sector.”

Dickerson’s new role will work to ensure our air quality programs have the participation of all our stakeholders and will act as an unbiased source for those parties. With the authority of the Director’s Office, Dickerson will be able to tap department resources and pursue areas of concern to enhance partnership with stakeholders.

“This appointment and new program reflects the department’s commitment to further enhance partnership efforts with all parties towards cleaning the air in Maricopa County,” states Odle.

In reflecting upon the importance of this program, the department director also assigned current staff member, Kathleen Sommer to work with Dickerson.  Sommer brings to this program a significant amount of environmental knowledge and experience at both the state and county levels including rule writing and compliance.  She will utilize that knowledge in this new role to assist Dickerson with core processes in this program.

Dickerson begins his position with the Air Quality Department on Monday, March 9^th. 

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