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Profile of a REP leader: Rob Sisson

Rob Sisson joined Republicans for Environmental Protection in the summer of 1999. Before he found his way to us, he had thought of forming his own green GOP group, which he would have called “The Bull Mooses,” in honor of Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party. Luckily, Rob decided to put his energies into REP instead, and he has been an active participant ever since. Rob has attended many Michigan REP events, plus our 2004 annual conference in Philadelphia. (The photo below was taken at that meeting.)

During his very first year as a REP member, Rob joined Dave Herrington—then our Indiana coordinator, now our Illinois Chapter President—at an Earth Day celebration at Notre Dame University. National President Martha Marks drove over from Illinois, and the three had a great time and became friends while promoting REP to N.D. students and faculty.

Not long after that, as part of the organizational process for our new Michigan Chapter, Martha met with Rob and Sue McGillicuddy, who subsequently became the chapter president. Rob served several years as a member of the Executive Committee until he took over from Sue as president a year ago. The two of them continue to collaborate to promote the chapter.

Under Rob’s leadership, the Michigan REP Chapter has become increasingly active and is experiencing a significant growth rate.

We asked Rob for his thoughts about Republicans for Environmental Protection. He replied:

“My personal environmentalism stems from a boyhood spent out-of-doors, my belief in stewardship of God’s creation, and my desire for my sons to grow up in a healthy environment. REP neatly ties it all together from a conservative political standpoint. Our organization provides a unified voice for the majority of Republicans who love our natural world and who believe that ‘Conservation is Conservative.’”

Energetic, active and well known in southwestern Michigan, Rob takes part in many professional and civic organizations. He’s Senior Vice President of the First National Bank of Three Rivers, President of the St. Joseph County Economic Development Commission, Vice Mayor and Trustee At Large of the City of Sturgis, and was named Michigan’s Small Business Advocate of the Year. He has also published a book, Financing the Small Business.

Rob and his wife, Theresa, are the parents of twin boys.