Journey to Discovering a Passion

InterviewwithDaveDiDonato(RecyclingSpecialistIIattheCityofChulaVista:
EnvironmentalServices)
By:ReanneLacosta|May20,2016

AlthoughIwasexcitedtobeginmyinternship,theexcitementwasbeingoverpoweredby
nervousness.TheweekleadingupIwouldhearmyfriendswouldtalkaboutallthedifferent
thingstheywouldbedoing,likeexhibitingartandcreatingdocumentaries,butwhentheyasked
mewhatIwouldbedoingatmyinternship,Icouldntfindananswer.Becauseofthat,Iwalked
intomyinternshipbeingopenmindedandreadytoachieveanythingthatwasthrownatme.
Iwalkedintotheofficeandshookhandswithmymentor,ManuelMedrano,introducing
myselfoncemorejustbeforeheintroducedmetothestaffIwouldbegettingtoknowforthe
nextmonth.AmongthatstaffwasDaveDiDonato,whoManuelsaidwewouldbeworkingwith
aswell.IgottoknowDaveforthenextcoupleofdays,andbeforeIknewithebecamemynew
mentor.Hetookmeoutondifferentroutesandmeetings,andheevengavemealessonon
everythingyoucouldknowaboutthedepartment.
WhenIwasthinkingofquestionstoaskDave,Ithoughtbacktoallourdifferentcarrides
toallthedifferentcompanieswevisited.Tofilltheradiolesssilence,mymentorwouldtellme
differentstoriestheyrangedfromwhathadhappenedthelasttimehehadvisitedsaid
companiestofillmein,tostoriesabouthissonRyan.Healsobegantotellmeabouthisjourney
tofindhispassionforsavingtheenvironment,andIcouldntwaittohearthefullstory.
Ourinterviewhadbeenpostponed,soinsteadofconductingitonThursday,likewehad
planned,weenteredthequietofficeonFriday.ThiswasthesameofficetherestoftheHigh
TechinternsandIenteredonourveryfirstdayallofusgatheredaroundthetablequietly
talkingabouthownervouswewerebeforewehadtosignacoupleofpapers.Thatsamesilence
wastherethatFridaymorning,beforelunch.Itwasfinallytimetoconductthisinterview,and
therewasnoturningback.

Interview Transcription
Interviewer:ReanneLacosta(Q)
Interviewee:DaveDiDonato(A)

A:ItisFriday,May19?20th.
Q:Its9:22.ThisisReanneLacosta
A:MynameisDave,andImbeinginterviewedbyReanne.
Q:Sojustacoupleofeasyquestions,whatareyourfavoritepastimes?
A:Iliketheoutdoors.Igrewup,Ididalotofhiking,alotoffishing.Igrewuphavingan
appreciationfortheoutdoors,sothatkindofiswheremypassionlies.

Q:Andthen,whatsyourfavoritebecauseyousaidyouwenthikingwhatsyourfavorite
trail?
A:Well,backinthedaySoIgrewupinWashington,sotherewasIlikedgoingup
McClellanButte
.TherewasalotoflocalplacesoutEastinthecascades.Iwentonamultiple
daybackpackingtripasaJuniorinhighschool,whereitrainedthewholetimeuntilthelastday,
andthelastdaywewereleavingitwasthreefeetofsnowanditwassunnyoutside,andwe
couldfinallyseewewereinthevalleywecouldseeallthepeaksaroundus.Butaroundhere,
Ilikegoingupto,wellitsaverypopularplace,butIlike...Ivegoneuptoseethesunriseand
thesunsetat/
khols
/mountainor
/cowels/mountain,howeveryouwanttosayit.Thereslots.I
dontreallyhaveafavoritespotgoinguptopotatochiprock,butyeahIliketoseenewsites.I
wanttogotonewplaces.

Q:Whatsyourfavoritemovie?
A:So,Ilikemovies,butitseemslikeIneverwatchthemanymoreInevergotothem
anymore.IlikedtheoneIcouldseeagainandagainisIforgetthenameitswithHarrison
Ford.Hegetsaccusedofkillinghiswife,butthenheitsbasedonitsanoldmovietoo.
ButIdoliketheseriestheyjustcameoutwiththelastonethewomanwiththebowand
arrow?
Q:HungerGames?

A:Yeah!Thankyou!HungerGames!Ireadthebookswithin,likeaweekandIenjoyedthe
moviestoo.AlthoughIhaventseenthelastone.

Q:Andwhatsyourfavoritebook?
A:Myfavoritebook.WellabookthatIreallylikeisEdwardAbbey,
TheMonkeyWrenchGang.
Itsafunbook,aboutenvironmentalists,whodoabunchofbadstufftopeople:developers,
clearingareas.Andthentheygetcaughtandoneoftheguysisseenjumpingoffaclifftohis
death,butthenitcomesouttonoitwasnthimwhojumpedoffthecliff,andsotheygetback
togetherandthentheygohmm.Butitsagoodbook,youshouldreadit.
Q:YeahIllhavetolookthatoneup.
A:
TheMonkeyWrenchGang

Q:Itseemslikealotofthethingsyouretalkingabouthavetodowiththeenvironment,sois
thispositionorsomethinglikethissomethingyouvealwayswantedtodo?
A:Wellitsitsalongpath.SoIwentafterhighschool,Ididntwanttogotocollege,soI
wenttoatradeschoolinPhoenix,learnedtobeamechanic,wentback,gotajobasamechanic
aftertwoyearsinthatIsaidIdontwanttodothisfortherestofmylife.Iwanttogobackto
school.So,thengettingmyreferforschool,IjoinedtheNavy,gotsomemoneyforschool.I
endedupspendingtenyearsintheNavy.AfterwhichIfinishedmydegree,andhadajobatthe
ChulaVistaNatureCenter.IwasworkingoutwiththeplantsmydegreeSooriginallymy
degreeIwaslikeHey!Illbeadentist.AndItoosomechemistryclassesItookintroto
Chemistry,itwaseasy,Ilikedit.MaybeIllgetadegreeinChemistry.ThenItookthefirst
semesterofGeneralChemistry,IsaidWellmaybeIlltakeBiology.So,Ifinishedwitha
degreeinBiology,focusedmainlyinplants.ImreallyintothenativeplantsofSouthern
California.WorkedthereandthenendedupwhentheeconomywentdownhillIwasableto
staywiththeCityinmycurrentposition,whichstillishasthatinmymindImsaving
resourcessothatsAndIvecometofindoutthatoriginallyOhifIwanttodosomethingfor
theenvironment,Ivegottogetabiologydegree,andthatsnotnecessarilytrue.Youcangeta
businessdegree,andstartabusiness,andthatbusinesscouldbesomethingseparate,butalso

supportandwithinthatbusinessyouhavethisstewardshipfortheenvironmentandourresources
too.Soyeah,itsbeenalong,windyjourney.WouldIdothingsdifferently?YeahIprobably
would,althoughIveenjoyed.

Q:AndcouldyoutalkalittleaboutwhatyourjobhereattheCityentails?
A:ImaRecyclingSpecialistwiththeEnvironmentalServicessection.Andwhatthatsection
doesisthatwemanagealltherecyclingprogramsfortheCity,andproperwasteproper
disposal,becausethestatehasbannedalotofthingsfromthelandfill:electronics,batteries,
medication,andallthat.Sowerunallthoseprograms.Wedontactuallypickupthetrash,thats
contractedouttoRepublicServices.So,withinthatandnowwehavethestatewantsto
increasetheamountoforganicsthatweregettingoutofthelandfill.Partofitisbecauseofthe
greenhousegasabigpartofitbecauseofgreenhousegas,butitalsoisagain:wereburyingour
resources.So,withmyexperienceattheNatureCenterkindofwentintotheorganicsareaand
itsincreasedsincethenso,ImmanagingourtheCityscompliancewithAB1826,andalso
dealingwith,orbeginningtodealwiththefoodwasteissuesandthewaysthatwecanreducethe
foodwasteandreducethefoodwastegoingintothelandfill.

Q:Whydidyouwanttoworkhere?
A:Specificallyhere?Well,soIsatwhentherewasthepotentialofmegettingthisbecominga
RecyclingSpecialist,IwasreallyhesitanttoleavethepositionIwasin,becauseIreallyenjoyed
it,Ienjoyedworkingoutthere,butIknewtherewasadifferencecomingup.Andthen,Imet
withLynnandsheexplainedtomewhattheydohereandwhathergoalswere,andIfeltI
wantedtoIknewthatIhadtochangeinordertocontinuemycareer,ormoveupthecorporate
laddersotospeak,butIwantedahigherpositionandfeltthataftertalkingwithher,therewas
theopportunitytheopportunitywasverygoodifIwastotakethisposition.So,Idecidedthats
mydirectionIwouldgo.

Q:Outofalleverythingyoudo,whatsyourfavoritepartaboutworkinghere?

A:Theresacoupleofthings.Imean,Ithinkwereallythestaffiskindaunique,andactually
throughoutmyCitycareer,IvehadverygoodIveworkedwithverygoodstaffgotalong
well,andIthinkthatandagain,wegetalongwell,wehaveourdifferences,werekindalike
family.AndIalsolikethefactthatImnotinmycubicleallthetimeImstillout,goingout,
lookingatdifferentthings,talkingtopeople,talkingtobusinesses,andImnotjustsitting,and
soitsYouknowwhenyougivepresentationstoschoolkids,youcanseethatHey!Youre
makingalittlebitofadifference.

Q:Howdoyouinputwhatyoudo,orwhatyoulearnhereintoyourdailylife?
A:Asfarasmypersonallife?Orasfarasmyworklife?
Q:Whateveryouwanttotellme.
A:SoitsIvetriedthatsadeepquestion.Imalwaystryingtoimprovemyexperience,and
improvethethingsthatIdorightnowIhavetoimprovemymemory.So,whether
showingbecauseIhaveasixteenyearold,sothathasreallyshownmethatIneedto,Iwant
himtogrowupandberespectful,andpoliteandhaveahighdegreeofintegrity,anditreally
makesyoulookathowyouare,thethingsthatyoudo,andareyoushowing,amIshowinghim
that.Andso,withintheworkplace,justinteractionswithwhetheritsimmediatestafforother
citystaff,justseeinghow,okayhowcanIdothisbetter?HowcanIhavemoreknowledge,
increasemyknowledgeaboutthis?HowcanI,..notonlydoIwantthisformyson,butIwantto
showotherpeoplethathey,thecityhasaprofessional,aprofessionalstaff.So,Ihavetolivethat
andensurethatImtryingtodothatonacontinuousbasis,becauseyourenotalwaysgoingto
dothat.Theresthingsthatslikeohwow,yeahokay.Nobodysperfectright?Butthats
somethingthatyoustrivefor.

Q:Kindofgoingoffofthat,whatsthemostimportantthingyouwanttheChulaVista
communitytoknowaboutwhatyoudo?
A:ToknowaboutwhatIdo,or
Q:Oraboutthedepartment?

A:OrwhatIwantthemtounderstand?Ithinkthebigthingis,Iwantthemtounderstandjust
howimportantitisthatwearesavingtheresources,howimportantitistorecyclethatbottle,
howimportantitisseparatethatfoodwaste,andifyoudontwanttocompostitinyour
backyard,wellthenputitintoacontainerwhereitwillbetakenandcomposted.Withthat,andI
feelthatitisimportantnotonlyisitalaw,butitsimportantformanyreasonsandsoIfully
believewhatImdoing,butIunderstandthatnoteverybodywillhavethesamevaluesasme,
andsoiftheydecidenot,Imnotgonnadothat,thenIcantmakethemdothat.Theyrefine,I
dontagreewithwhattheydoandIwillacceptthat.Andhopefullytheywill,iftheydontdo
everythingtheylldosomethings:theyllstarttorecycle,ortheyllmakeanefforttorecyclean
additionalyouknowpaper.SoOfficeDepothasthisprogramthattalksaboutsustainability,its
theirsustainabilityprograms.Andsotheirproducts,theyhaveshadesofgreenandso,the
productsthatare100%recycledcontentpaperwillbedarkgreen,30%recycledcontentpaper
wouldbelightgreenandthentheresyouknowtheFSC,the
ForestStewardshipCouncil
,
approvedsustainablyharvested,wouldbeanevenlightershadeaofgreen.Sothatsyoumay
notbeabletodothatdarkgreenineverycircumstance,butwhereyoucandothat,theylldothe
darkgreen,wheretheycandootherthings,theylltryanddoalightershadeofgreen.

Q:Outofalltheprojectsyouveworkedon,whatstheoneyouremostproudof?
A:Improudofdoingsoitsseparatefromorganicswellthebackyardcomposting
program,Iwasgonnasayvirtualwarehouse,butthebackyardcompostingprogram,Ithink,
becauseIworkedwiththatwhenIwasattheNatureCenter,andthenwhenIcamehere,we
changeditalittlebittheattendancewentupfortheworkshops,andournewformatforthe
MasterCompostertrainingcourseshavereallydoneverywell.Thisisourninthclass,Ithink,
andtheyhaveallbeenprettyfull,andwevehadgoodgroups.Andthinkthatthat,youknow
whetheritsjustsomebodydoingitintheirbackyard,orwhethertheyaregoingtogotoa
school,oriftheyreaparentandtheyregonnagosomeplaceelseintheircommunity,theyhave
theabilitytochangesomebody,youknow,changeotherpeople,orhaveaneffectonnot
necessarilychangepeople'slives,buthaveaneffectonotherpeopleslives.Thefirstclassthat
wehad,thewomanthatIwenttotoday,shesaparentatCamarena,shesdonethisawesome

schoolgarden.IliketothinkIvedonea
little
partofthatImeanshewasalreadythere,butI
haveassistedthroughouttheprocessforher,soyeahthatsprobablytheprogramthatIammost
proudof.

Q:AndsinceIknowyouguysgotosomanyplaces,whatstheweirdestexperienceyouvehad?
A:Idontknow,Ihavetothinkaboutthatone.TherehavebeensomeIllhavetothinkabout
that.Illgetbacktoyouonthat.
Q:Wellotherthanthat,isthereanythingelseyouwantmetoknow?
A:Findoutwhatyouliketodoanddothat.BecauseworkwillbeandImsureyouveheard
thisbefore,workwillbealoteasierifyouhaveapassionforwhatyouredoing.So,theres
alwaystimeswhenyourelike*sigh*,andtheresalwaysareasthatyoudontlike,butifyou
believeinwhatyouredoing,thenitsAndthat,ifyouwanttosavetheenvironment,then
theresmanydifferentthingsbesidesbecomingabiologistthatyoucando.Theresmany
differentways,andthatswhatweneedweneedpeopleinbusinesstounderstandsustainability,
weneedpeoplewhoaredeveloperstounderstandsustainabilityandwhyweneedtoprotect
certainthingsandyouknow,whenyoubecomeanarchitectoranengineer,andthenyoucan
haveabigpartofhowthingsareprotected,becausetheresourcesandIknowgrowingup,I
livedonadeadendstreet,wehadwoods,andwewerealwaysplayinginthewoods,getting
snakesandbugsandbuildingtreefortsandstuff,andnoteveryoneisabletodothatnow,
becausetherearesuchlimitedspaceslikethat.Youcantgoouttobuildafortlikethat,you
cantgooutandcollectanimalsunlessyoureabiologistsohowcanyoudothat,youneed
toteachtheappreciationofthat.

Q:Andmyfinalquestionitsalittleweird,butdoyouknowwhythedoorhandleiswarm
whenyouwalkin?
A:Yes,Ido.
Q:Ivebeenwonderingsincethefirstday.

AWell,becauseyounoticethatthatoneisopenright?So,comeherebeforeeightoclock,and
you'llnoticeitwontbe.Itwontbeopenanditwontbewarm.Itsjustthemechanismthat
keepsthatunlocked,thatforsomereasonheatsthatdoorhandle.
Q:Haveyouheardanyweirdtheoriesastowhypeoplethinkitswarm?Ghosts?
A:No.Itsverynoticeable,anditsjustbecauseduringthehoursofeighttofive,itsopenand
thatmechanism,forwhateveritisitsprobablyanelectricalcurrentthatsholdingsomething
open,soasitssittingthereithasatendencytoheatup,butifyoucomehereontheweekends,
orbeforeeightoclock,itsnotwarm.However,ifthereeverwasanyconspiracytheory,itwas
veryshortlived.
Q:Cool!Thankyou!