October 2026 MoDNR/DEQ TMOM

Josh Vander Veen, an environmental program manager with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Environmental Quality, is the department’s Team Member of the Month for October 2026. He was selected for his service to the department and for his efforts to improve the Air Pollution Control Program’s Emissions Inventory Questionnaire process.

As part of the yearly Emissions Inventory Questionnaire process, a paper questionnaire was printed and assembled in a multi-step process before mailing to over 2000 facilities for a response. The process of generating the packets required over 80 labor hours and thousands of dollars in printing and postage costs. After receiving requests from his team for help streamlining the process, Vander Veen spent the time to streamline and document the new process.

Vander Veen’s new process is completely digital and reduced the labor involved to just three hours to generate the materials, which are then sent to the facility via email. Since the process does not involve paper documents, the program saves printing costs and reduces waste. For the first time, facilities with an email address receive their questionnaire packets electronically, complete with personalized greetings that included first and last names.

“Josh’s efforts to improve this internal process demonstrate the highest standards of innovation,” said an anonymous coworker, who nominated Vander Veen for the award but asked to remain nameless. “His vision and hard work save a significant amount of money and time, and improved customer service to the public while increasing the efficiency of the program.”

Josh Vander Veen joined the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in January 2008 and resides in Columbia.