Prior to joining CALSTART, Valerie managed the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s Air Permitting team, ensuring high quality streamlined permits and managing the development of programs and tools for the broader department. She also worked as a consultant at Environmental Resources Management where she focused on environmental compliance in the PA-WV-OH tri-state area. As the Director of the San Joaquin Valley Regional Office, Valerie Thorsen focuses on spurring transportation acceleration decarbonization initiatives that will improve air quality, especially for negatively impacted communities. She manages large scale zero-emission projects implementing facility-wide vehicle, equipment, and infrastructure technologies.