Jim Seif

Jim Seif is Principal for Energy Consulting Services at Ridge Global, the international security, risk management and business consulting firm founded by Tom Ridge, the first Secretary of Homeland Security and 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania. Mr. Seif started his career in the US Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh, PA in 1971, where he prosecuted some of the earliest environmental cases of the modern era. From there, he moved to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Philadelphia as Chief of the Legal Branch, and then in 1975 rejoined the US Justice Department in the Criminal Division in Washington, DC. In 1977, Seif joined the Dick Thornburgh gubernatorial campaign and, following the election, served as Administrative Assistant to the Governor in Harrisburg for six years. In 1985, he was appointed as Regional Administrator of the EPA's six-state office in Philadelphia, serving four years in that post. His next position was with the Philadelphia office of Dechert, one of the nation's largest law firms, where his practice concentrated on environmental issues and the representation of environmental and energy companies. In 1995 Governor Tom Ridge appointed Seif as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). In 2000, Seif received a Lifetime Award for Public Service from the National Academy of Public Administration for his 30-year career in state and federal government. Following his work as DEP Secretary, Seif became Vice President for Corporate Relations at PPL, Inc, a Fortune 500 energy and utility company in Allentown, PA, a position he held for six years. Seif currently serves as Director of BioChem Technologies, Inc. of King of Prussia, PA, and he is on the Advisory Committee of the Dick Thornburgh Legacy Project at the University of Pittsburgh. He has a political science degree from Yale University and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court and in Pennsylvania.