An Accidental Environmentalist: The Story Behind EFI’s Mission
At EFI, our work in environmental protection, water conservation, and infrastructure resilience has always been guided by a practical mindset: solve real problems with durable, common-sense solutions. That mindset is rooted in the life and career of our founder, Dennis Shanklin, whose story is now told in his new book, An Accidental Environmentalist.
The title says it all. Dennis never set out to be an “environmentalist” in the conventional sense. Instead, his journey began in construction, engineering, and problem-solving, working directly with owners, operators, and agencies that needed solutions that simply worked. Over time, that hands-on experience revealed a clear truth: protecting the environment and building critical infrastructure are not competing goals. When done right, they are the same goal.
From Jobsite Lessons to Environmental Impact
An Accidental Environmentalist traces Dennis’s path from early career lessons to the founding and growth of EFI. The book highlights the pivotal moments that shaped his thinking—projects where small design changes led to major water savings, or where durable lining systems extended asset life while reducing environmental risk.
Rather than focusing on ideology, the book emphasizes outcomes:
Conserving water through smarter infrastructure design
Protecting natural resources while supporting operational needs
Reducing long-term costs through preventative, high-performance solutions
These are the same principles that guide EFI’s work today across water resources, fisheries, industrial applications, and environmental protection projects nationwide.
The Philosophy That Built EFI
At its core, An Accidental Environmentalist is about bridging worlds. Dennis shares how EFI was built at the intersection of engineering, construction, and environmental stewardship—where solutions are judged not by how they sound, but by how they perform over decades.
This philosophy continues to define EFI:
Practical environmentalism rooted in real-world constraints
Long-term thinking that prioritizes lifecycle performance
Partnership with clients to solve complex challenges together
The book offers insight not only into Dennis’s personal journey, but also into the values that have shaped EFI’s culture and approach since day one.
Why This Story Matters Now
As industries and agencies face growing pressure to conserve resources and modernize infrastructure, An Accidental Environmentalist serves as a timely reminder: meaningful environmental progress often comes from unexpected places—job sites, design meetings, and tough problem-solving sessions.
Dennis Shanklin’s story is proof that you don’t have to start as an environmentalist to make a lasting environmental impact. You just have to care about doing the work the right way.
An Accidental Environmentalist is now available, and we’re proud to share the story behind the principles that continue to guide EFI forward.
