David W. Randle
Dave holds a B.A. from California Lutheran University, an M-Div. from the Iliff School of Theology, and a doctorate in Spiritual Disciplines, Wellness and Environmental Concerns from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO.
He currently serves as President and CEO of the WHALE Center, a member of the UNEP Major Stakeholders Group, UNWTO Affiliate, host of the Blue Community Sustainable Tourism Observatory, and organization with Special Consultative status at the United Nations.
Dave is a PM4SD Certified Practitioner, and Managing Director of the Blue Community Consortium. He served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and currently is on the board of directors for the Florida Society of Ethical Ecotourism.
As the first ordained environmental minister in the nation, Dave has successfully coordinated a national campaign to preserve water, wildlife, and wilderness areas on behalf of the Pitkin County Commissioners, served as political and environmental advisor to John Denver, and initial program development coordinator for John Denver's Windstar Foundation.
Dave was selected as one of the five lead off witnesses for hearings by the U. S. Presidential Commission for a Peace Academy & Conflict Resolution, and was one of six leaders for the 150 person Global Environment Team at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Following the Earth Summit, Dave worked with several local and national organizations to provide follow-up leadership training for peace, justice, and sustainability issues for intergenerational teams from local churches, youth from the International Four Worlds Earth Ambassador Program, the Salt Lake County Peer Leadership Development team, and a special leadership training in environmental concerns with youth involved in local gangs. In 2007 Dave directed the pilot UN International Days programs for World Water Day, Earth Day, International Biodiversity Day, World Environment & World Ocean Day.
Dave has been working to address environmental issues within the frame work of the United Religions Initiative where in collaboration with UNEP he developed the Earth and Faith Leadership Development Program that was piloted in the Olympic Village in Salt Lake City, and which received an Olympic Award and an award at the United Nations. During the Salt Lake Olympics Dave also directed the Olympic program on Ethics, Values, and the Environment, as well as the Olympic Peace Pole project. Dave also co-facilitates with Dr. Noel Brown the implementation of the the Call to Global Healing an international initiative which was created through collaboration with the United Religions Initiative and UNEP.
Dave is currently Managing Director for the Waves of Change International Ocean Institute Campaign and was selected as one of four Civil Society delegates for North America to the UNEP International meeting in Monaco The Waves of Change work focuses on the protection of coastal habitat and marine environments through the Blue Community program.
In 2013 Dave produced a six part Blue Community video series in collaboration with the Walt Disney Company Animal Science & Environment team to show Walt Disney Company Sustainability practices. In 2015, Dave co-chaired a consultation on sustainable tourism at Windsor Castle that included both U.N. representatives and global leaders from around the world and participated in the U.N. High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development as a guest of the UNWTO. The work at the U.N. led to Dave receiving a grant to lead a team for four USF faculty to share best practices in sustainable tourism and marine science with counterparts in Cuba and to build capacity for the Blue Community Consortium.
In 2017 Dave served on the Steering Committee for the Untied Nations Year of Sustainable Tourism for Devleopment and directed the Choices for Our Sustainable Futures Conference that was part of that years events.
In addition to environmental work, Dave has served as program development coordinator, administrator and faculty for both the Colorado Mountain College Wellness Program and the Aspen Academy of Martial & Healing Arts, as Wellness Director and Administrative Staff for Deaconess Health Systems in St. Louis, MO, and developed an environmental leadership course for the Claremont Graduate School of Theology.
Dave has a variety of consulting experiences including the program development, marketing, and leadership for the Breakthrough Cruise on the Mississippi Queen River boat, the Breakthrough to Excellence program at Walt Disney World, providing of a feasibility study for HOK architectural firm and the Medical University of South Carolina $20 million Wellness/Student Center, the Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort Wellness Program, and the SLC VAMC Leadership Development & Breakthrough Commitment System.
Dave also has a number of sustainability certifictes and awards which has enabled him to teach a variety of sutstainability subjects.
