Duke Adams, B.S. 

Contracts, Negotiations, & Environmental Policy 

The Master of Handshakes

Duke Adams is a born-bred Pennsylvania native who is living his best life when out on the water. A true vagabond at heart, he is always ready for a new adventure and revels in exploring both near and far-flung corners of the world. Believing that cross-cultural exchanges and partnerships are vital for the future of our planet, Duke is excited to be able to negotiate mutually beneficial contracts with our partners and to advise WorldKind on best practices in our sustainability practices and environmental policies.

Since earning a BS degree in biology from Lebanon Valley College, Duke has spent almost 20 years working on both sides of environmental regulations. On the industry side, he has helped companies improve practices and achieve compliance with established regulations. And as a policymaker and regulator with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), he has developed and enforced the regulations that protect our environment. Throughout his years with DEP, he has gained experience leading compliance negotiations and has helped many diverse stakeholders reach agreements on complex issues. He also has been involved with numerous grant projects, both reviewing applications on the front end and analyzing grant reports and compiling data to measure deliverables on the backend.

In 2017, Duke was involved in his first international exchange program when he participated in one of Rotary’s Group Vocational Study Exchanges and spent one month learning about Taiwan’s implementation of environmental practices. Duke credits this and other international experiences with broadening his perspective and allowing him to develop a global mindset that is rooted in acceptance and compassion.

In his free time, he serves as the President of his local Rotary Club where he is currently leading the “Hop on the Bus” project, a joint venture between Rotary District 7390 and YesLiberia related to education and international development. He is also the co-owner of, the appropriately named, Vagabond Bowties company, so you know he’s always traveling in style.

 

You can reach him at  duke@worldkindlearning.com.