Green Success Stories sat down with Wendi Wilkes, Executive Vice President of Current Strategies. Wendi describes the deep impression left on her by a severe drought in Texas when she was working on a ranch, and how it helped her recognize the deep, personal and economic impact caused by scarcity of water. She came to understand the confluence of water security, food systems, economies, and public health, and has since devoted her efforts to water and infrastructure policy at the local, state, and federal levels. Wendi hopes people recognize that “climate solutions don’t live in silos, but rather that public health, equity, and economic opportunity are deeply connected —and progress happens fastest when we treat them that way.”

Tell us a bit about your sustainability journey.

My sustainability journey started long before I worked in policy or government. As a teenager, I worked on a ranch in Texas during one of the most severe droughts in the state’s recent history. I watched stock tanks dry up, farmland turn to dust, and families make difficult decisions about their livelihoods as water became increasingly scarce. The impacts were not abstract. They were immediate, personal, and deeply economic.

That experience shaped how I understand climate change and sustainability. It is not just about environmental protection in theory. It is about water security, food systems, rural economies, and public health. Years later, that early exposure led me into water and infrastructure policy, where I have worked at the federal, state, and local levels to help communities prepare for and respond to climate driven stress on essential systems.

Today, my work focuses on translating policy and investment into real world outcomes. This includes modernizing water infrastructure, protecting public health, and building resilience so communities are better equipped for the climate realities we are already facing.

Tell us a bit about the product or solution you offer.

I help to lead federal relations and strategy work focused on water infrastructure, public health, and climate resilience. The “solution” I help deliver is practical: translating complex federal policy, funding programs, and regulations into actionable strategies that communities, utilities, and mission-driven companies can implement.

This includes protecting and expanding federal investment in water infrastructure, helping organizations navigate new regulatory requirements, and building coalitions that align public health, environmental justice, and economic growth. The goal is always the same: move from policy intent to on-the-ground impact.

Share a green success story with us – how have you helped customers or other businesses in the fight against climate change?

One example is my work to secure federal funding for a secondary source of drinking water for the Washington, DC metropolitan region. The region relies heavily on a single source, the Potomac River, which leaves millions of residents vulnerable to drought, contamination, or other disruptions that are becoming more likely as climate risks intensify.

By working with local governments, water utilities, federal agencies, and regional partners, I helped build support in Congress for funding a feasibility study to evaluate backup water supply options. That effort resulted in federal investment to begin planning for a more resilient regional water system. The work helps ensure long term water security for the nation’s capital and surrounding communities while strengthening preparedness for climate driven shocks such as droughts, extreme weather, or emergencies.

What would you like readers to take away from this article?

Climate solutions don’t live in silos. Infrastructure, public health, equity, and economic opportunity are deeply connected—and progress happens fastest when we treat them that way. Durable climate impact requires strong policy, sustained investment, and collaboration across sectors. When we align those pieces, we can deliver solutions that protect people today and build resilience for the future.

How should readers get in touch with you and/or your organization?

Readers can connect with me on LinkedIn at LinkedIn.com/wendiwilkes, or learn more about my work through my organization’s website (current-dc.com). I’m always open to conversations about water, infrastructure, climate resilience, and scaling practical solutions.

Kudos

Many thanks to Wendi Wilkes and to Current Strategies. Green Success Stories is happy to support and highlight your efforts! We invite you the reader to do the same.

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