At Challenge Design, we love the thrill of creating a coin that tells a story, especially for organizations as impactful as the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC). When we were tasked with designing a coin to honor the work of Christina Herata and the FPISC, we wanted every detail to reflect the values of transparency, accountability, and efficiency. This council plays a vital role in streamlining major infrastructure projects, which touch every corner of American life, and we knew the design needed to do justice to that significance.
The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC) is a key federal entity established to streamline and improve the permitting process for major infrastructure projects across the United States. Created under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015, FPISC aims to coordinate efforts among federal agencies to expedite the review and approval of permits for projects such as highways, bridges, pipelines, and renewable energy facilities. By reducing regulatory burdens and enhancing interagency collaboration, FPISC seeks to accelerate the delivery of infrastructure projects while maintaining robust environmental and public interest protections.
FPISC's mission
As FPISC focuses on streamlining the permitting process for major infrastructure projects, its mission goes beyond simply expediting approvals. By fostering collaboration and transparency, FPISC plays a pivotal role in ensuring that permitting processes align with the needs of project developers, stakeholders, and the public. Central to FPISC's mission is its role in facilitating communication and cooperation among federal agencies involved in permitting. The council oversees the implementation of the Permitting Dashboard, an online tool that provides transparency and accountability by tracking the progress of permit applications through various stages of review. Through this dashboard, project developers, stakeholders, and the public can monitor the status of permits, identify potential bottlenecks, and engage in the permitting process more effectively. FPISC's efforts are integral to supporting economic growth, enhancing infrastructure resilience, and ensuring that federal permitting processes are efficient, predictable, and responsive to the needs of project proponents and communities alike.
Christine Harada
While FPISC drives innovation in permitting efficiency, leaders like Christine Harada exemplify the broader potential for integrating sustainability and innovation into government and business operations. Her contributions showcase how visionary leadership can advance environmental stewardship alongside economic and technological growth. Christine Harada is a prominent figure known for her contributions to sustainability and technology innovation within both the public and private sectors. With a background in environmental engineering and management consulting, Harada has held key leadership roles that highlight her commitment to advancing sustainable practices and efficiency in business operations. Notably, she served as the Chief Sustainability Officer of the United States during the Obama administration, where she spearheaded initiatives to reduce federal government greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean energy adoption.
Beyond her government service, Harada has continued to champion environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility. She has held executive positions in Fortune 500 companies and has been actively involved in promoting sustainable business practices and technology-driven solutions to address climate change challenges. Harada's expertise extends to advising startups and nonprofits on sustainability strategies, emphasizing the integration of environmental considerations into organizational decision-making processes. Her advocacy for innovation and sustainability has earned her recognition as a leader who bridges the gap between environmental responsibility and business success.
FPISC Christine Herada Challenge Coin
Christine Harada’s impactful work demonstrates the value of aligning sustainability with strategic decision-making—principles that resonate strongly with FPISC’s mission to promote resilient and forward-thinking infrastructure development. Together, these efforts highlight the importance of leadership and collaboration in addressing today’s pressing challenges. Designing a coin for her and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC) was an exciting journey for us at Challenge Design! This isn’t just any coin; it’s a tribute to the backbone of efficient government permitting. With a sleek silver circular base, this coin carries all the elements that symbolize excellence, dedication, and leadership—just like the FPISC itself. Christina’s work in federal permitting impacts everything from national infrastructure to environmental sustainability, so we wanted to design something that could honor such a powerful role.
The front of the coin features a striking white eagle set against a light blue background. This eagle stands as a symbol of strength, vigilance, and the high standards of the FPISC. Encircling it, a light blue inner border reads “Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council” across the top and “United States of America” across the bottom, grounding the design in its national significance. A sleek black outer border proudly declares “For Excellence” above, and “Directorate Christina Herata” below—marking her commitment to upholding efficiency and progress in permitting processes.
On the reverse, we wanted to create a visual nod to the dynamism of the FPISC. A multi-shaded blue sprocket represents the moving parts and technical finesse required to navigate federal permitting. Marked with “FPISC Established 2015” in the center, it’s a reminder of the council’s relatively recent but impactful journey. Surrounding the sprocket, the words “Permitting” and “Council” bookend a black border, while a broader blue border with the words “Transparency,” “Accountability,” and “Efficiency” highlights FPISC’s guiding principles.
Every detail in this coin was designed and crafted to be celebration of Christina Herata’s leadership and the Council’s mission to bring transparency, accountability, and efficiency to federal permitting. We’re thrilled to be part of honoring such an essential force in modern governance, and we hope this coin stands as a small, enduring tribute to their big accomplishments!
We’re immensely proud of how this coin captures the mission and spirit of FPISC and Christina Herata’s leadership. Through its bold elements and thoughtful symbolism, this coin stands as a reminder of the council’s role in propelling our nation’s infrastructure forward with purpose and precision. We hope it serves as an enduring symbol of FPISC’s ongoing commitment to excellence in federal permitting. It’s been an honor to be part of this story, and we’re excited to see how FPISC continues to pave the way for impactful projects across the country!
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