Change at the top

Aaron HobbsAs the new president of RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment), Aaron Hobbs enters office at a time when the specialty chemical industry and the markets it serves are under significant economic and regulatory stress. These challenges are not lost on Hobbs, who has three very clearly defined goals as he enters office:

Respond to economic challenges – Hobbs says a troubling trend is fee increases from state and federal agencies as well as “an uptick in enforcement.” He says, “We are seeing governments stepping up enforcement and increasing fees and fines to overcome budget shortfalls.”

Keep “science” in discussions – Another regulatory challenge has been what Hobbs calls “the erosion of science.” “When it comes to making decisions about restricting the use of pesticides, science – more and more – is not being a part of those discussions. We need to take a look at new ways to communicate with policymakers so that science is the foundation for their decisions.”

Unification – Hobbs says the importance of working with allied associations – including PLANET – is as important as ever. “We need to stick together,” Hobbs says. “Decisions that are being made might only impact one market today…but it’s foolish if we don’t realize that those same decisions will one day impact (other markets).”
 

Prior RISE experience
Hobbs joined RISE in March 2009, serving as director of legislative affairs and grassroots outreach. In this role, he identified, tracked and took action on legislative activities that impacted the specialty pesticide industry and grew membership in the RISE grassroots network to help ensure that industry voices were heard in the political process.

Click here to see a video interview with Hobbs from the 2010 Lawn Care Summit.

The author is managing editor and Internet editor of PCT magazine. He can be reached at bharbison@gie.net.