Bios
Max Nofziger
Michael "Max" Nofziger is a writer, musician, and public policymaker who lives in South Austin, Texas. Max moved to Austin in 1974, and began selling flowers on the street corner, back in the days when hippies roamed the Earth. He had graduated from a small Methodist college in Michigan with a degree in Political Science, and after a few years in Austin, got involved in local politics. He ran four grassroots campaigns for Mayor and City Council (losing all four, 1979-1985) before finally getting elected to Place One on the city council in 1987. Max emerged as a leader on energy/renewable energy, environmental, and economic development issues. He also lead the effort to declare Austin "The Live Music Capital of the World."
Max was re-elected to the council in 1990 and 1993 (in 1993 he received more votes than any white male in the history of Austin). He was a leader in preserving habitat for endangered species, preserving water quality, and helped to develop the first wind power project in the state of Texas.
Max retired from city council in 1996 after three terms. He ran for Mayor in 1997, finishing third, and again in 2003, coming in second.
Max has retired from electoral politics, but is still involved in energy and transportation issues. Additionally, Max helped to create a Sunday music JAM, which has been building community and making music every week for almost five years. Most recently, Max created a singing trio called "The Harmony Brothers," which is currently gigging around Austin.
Jennifer Jarl McCombs
Jennifer was born and raised in Austin, Texas where she was an accomplished athlete, who went on to play Division I fast pitch softball for Texas State University. After college graduation, Jennifer pursued a career in commercial interior design and graphic design. She is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) whose goal is to see the day where economic viability and environmental sustainability are synonymous.
Chris Searles
Son of a Baptist minister and elementary school principal, native Austinite Chris Searles spent his early years as a musician -- performing with such luminaries as Shawn Colvin, The Flatlanders, Alejandro Escovedo, and Twang Twang Shock-a-boom. In 2005, Chris changed gears and founded GoodCommonSense, an online sustainable living store. He also began creating and producing festivals and educational events, such as "The Sustainable Shopper's Ball!" and "The University of Texas Sustainable Business Summit." Most recently Chris has been presenting "The Journey of Environmental Stewardship" around Central Texas, blogging extensively about Austin's electricity issues, leading meetings on the subject at City Hall, managing a large social network focused on Austin quitting coal, maintaining a newsfeed, and serving on the boards of Treefolks and The Interfaith Environmental Network.See Chris's Austin eco-blogs.
Chris in the press.