Name: John Arendt
Position at UWGB: Director of the Environmental Management and Business Institute (EMBI)
Summary of what you do: I lead the EMBI office in promoting sustainability on campus and in Northeastern WI by focusing my effort on the campus sustainability committee, growing the Certificate in Sustainability undergraduate program, seeking and supporting grants with faculty, and relationship building in the community through project and internship development.
How long have you been employed: 6 ½ years
Brief history of employment with UWGB: I was hired as the EMBI Associate Director in 2012, and promoted to Director in 2016.
Three words that describe you: Organized, driven, positive
Personal interests: Traveling, spending time with my family, many things beer (from home brewing and hops growing to consumption)
Random facts/interests: My wife and I were both first generation college students and met at UW-Green Bay.
Are you messy or organized? Organized but, not the best at dusting.
Best vacation you’ve been to? Belgium – 2017
Describe what you were like at age 10. Less organized, less driven, did not like beer.
Do you have a favorite newspaper, blog? I like Facebook’s “You’re probably from GREEN BAY if…” page. I’m a fan of local history.
Favorite travel spot? Too many to name, but Europe is way up there.
If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day? My great-great grandfather – I would like to see what it looked like to enter northeastern Wisconsin in 1852.
If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see? The city of Rome at its grandest.
If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Blackened Stuffed Pork Chop Marchand de Vin from K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen in New Orleans. Right up until the eventual heart attack.
If you were an animal what would you be? A cat…best life ever.
If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save? Tough call. Either my family photos or my son’s artwork. The rest is just stuff.
Least favorite Food? Green peas – one of the few things I would be happy watching go extinct.
Motto or personal mantra? Life is too short to drink bad beer.
Tell us a little bit about your family. Married with three great sons and three energetic granddaughters.
What career lesson you’ve learned thus far? The first job helps you to know what you don’t know. Do not get hung up if it doesn’t turn out to be your career.
What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most? Interacting with the students.
What book did you read last? Madame Fourcade’s Secret War by Lynne Olson
What books are at your bedside? Rubbish, The Archaeology of Garbage (yes, really).
What did you want to be when growing up? I wanted to be a scientist or a professor.
What do you always want to try and never did? Parachuting, though that idea has long since sailed.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Projects around the house. I like to be busy.
What do you like to do on your days off? Travel, home brewing, and occasionally fishing.
What is an ability you wish you had? Blowing bubbles – I’ve tried and just can’t do it.
What is the first concert you attended? Cheap Trick with John Waite of the Babys as the opening act.
What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery? A vacation home in Belgium or France.
What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years? My carbon footprint is way too big (that whole likes traveling thing).
What is your biggest pet peeve? Anything out of place.
What is your family like? Loving and all have a great sense of humor.
What is your favorite movie? The Fifth Element
What is your favorite sport? This is Green Bay WI – can it be anything other than football?
What one food do you wish had zero calories? Chocolate chip cookies.
What phobias do you have? Claustrophobia – I hate small spaces and you will generally find me close to an exit.
What places have you lived in? All local – Luxemburg, Denmark, Green Bay
What’s on your bucket list? Seeing more of this planet.
What’s your favorite thing to do in Green Bay? Walking the trails with my wife.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? UWGB
Where is your favorite place to eat? In Green Bay – Angelina’s ranks pretty high.
Where is your home town? Green Bay