Pinellas County hires new climate change resiliency officer

Henry "Hank" Hodde, 36, previously worked at an Alabama nonprofit

CLEARWATER — Pinellas County has hired its first ever sustainability and resiliency coordinator.

County administrator Barry Burton announced at Tuesday's [May 7th] County Commission meeting that Henry "Hank" Hodde, 36, would begin the job in July.

"Pinellas is steadfast in its resolve to become a resilient and sustainable community,” Burton said in a news release touting Hodde's hire. “Hank will serve as a central coordinating point among all of the current programs that seek to address and respond to our region’s challenges."

Hodde's work will involve lots of communication with local governments. He'll monitor municipalities' environmental policies and coordinate climate change planning, among other things.