Vote for the 2024–2027 NAEP At-Large Board Members
Per Article V, Section 5 of the National Association of Environmental Professionals bylaws, NAEP's membership must affirm the slate of officers and directors. There are 10 nominees and 7 spots to fill.
The deadline to vote is April 12, 2024 at 5:00 PM PT.
Get to know the nominees:
Scroll through the list to learn more about each nominee, or find information about a specific nominee by selecting one of the names below:
Carrie Chasteen
Chronicle Heritage
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
I think it would be an enriching experience.
What is your role at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities? Describe your environmental experiences during your career prior to your current position.
Senior Architectural Historian
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held.
I have participated in the education committee previously.
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held.
I received a DEI Merit Award for the Altadena African American Historic Resource Survey from CA AEP, and participated in the NAEP conferences in Raleigh, NC and Baltimore, MD. I participated in the Section 106 workshop for the Advanced NEPA class.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
I served as Project Manager for the Altadena African American Historic Resource Survey and the Sun Valley Historic Resource Survey. I routinely document and evaluate properties with cultural associations.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation for improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
The website is cumbersome and difficult to find information - my recommendation would be a design overhaul.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in?
None currently.
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Charles Stanton
Dogwood Alliance
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
The opportunity to cultivate thought partners and collaborate with other leaders is important to me. Because of my extensive background in marketing, PR, and specifically in fundraising; I know I could bring value and expertise in those areas as part of the organization.
What is your role at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities? Describe your environmental experiences during your career prior to your current position.
My work in environmental protection dates back to 2016 when I assisted on a statewide anti-logging campaign in Indiana. The governor at the time, Mike Pence, had approved aggressive logging of 90% of the state's protected forests. I assisted in constructing and refining the campaign that drastically reduced those logging efforts. I also created the business model and subsequent business plan for the INSTREAM Wood Bank Network in the Pacific Northwest to utilize downed trees to restore fish habitat. That business model is now thriving in connection with Cascade Forest Conservancy who spearheaded the initial discussions and concepts. Since that time, I have been serving in various professional capacities with the Dogwood Alliance where I am now focused in public relations for a national tour on environmental justice and climate change. Separately, I am developing a new recurring column with a major national publication. The column will highlight environmental protection efforts, animal welfare advocacy, as well as other relevant and related topics.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held.
I am a new member and hope the unique aspects of my background and my fresh perspective will bring value to the organization, membership, and governing body.
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held.
Currently a member, I am very active in the industry in fundraising, marketing, campaign management, and public relations work.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
I obtained a certificate in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and have led numerous workshops and seminars for regional and national organizations. Most recently, I led EI symposium and workshops for the association of fundraising professionals, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Humane Society of the United States, and Maddie's fund, and for several organizations focused on the LGBTQ+ community. I also serve on a consulting and contract basis for organizations throughout the country seeking to strengthen their DEI efforts and systemically evolve their organization, teams, and communities reached.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
From a networking perspective, it could be very valuable to have a person focused on relationship building among membership. A matchmaker for similar projects and initiatives, someone recognizing emerging themes and suggesting small breakout groups through zoom or in person, thought partnership and brainstorming sessions offered on a recurring basis: Marketing brainstorms, fundraising brainstorms, advocacy brainstorms, etc. You are one of the foremost membership associations for the environment so it stands to reason that networking and partnership would be very valuable if approached in a very meaningful way. I would also love to help from a DEI/JEDI perspective if there is need in that area. Being from a multicultural, multi religious household and as a member of the LGBTQ community, my DEI/JEDI work is among my most fulfilling and meaningful. I would be glad to be of service. My work at Dogwood Alliance focuses on marketing, messaging, and PR related to environmental justice and climate change. Finding ways to create plain language around those topics is a particular skill of mine and I realize it can be challenging to translate industry speak. That translation work is essential for reaching broader audiences. I would be glad to be helpful there if that would be valuable.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in?
NAEP, member NLGJA, lifetime member Association of Fundraising Professionals, member Historic New England, member Stonewall Democratic Club, lifetime member.
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
Because of my employment and consulting schedule, my volunteer time is at a premium. I am specifically interested in dedicating time as a volunteer to support our industry. Rather than take on another paid consulting opportunity, I would rather offer my skills and support as a meaningful volunteer seeking to strengthen efforts in our industry. It would truly be an honor to be of service in a meaningful and formal way related to marketing, PR, fundraising, and DEI/JEDI work. If I can be of service, I'd be delighted.
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 Dennis Peters, REM
Haley & Aldrich
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
I am an existing At-Large Director, serving in that role since 2021 and currently serving as the NAEP Vice-President. I would like to continue serving as a Director until my term on the Executive Committee is completed.
What is your role at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities? Describe your environmental experiences during your career prior to your current position?
I currently serve as a Principal Consultant responsible for project development and delivery for a diverse range of environmental projects in Hawaii and the Pacific region. My primary responsibilities include business development, client service management, contractual compliance, project management and senior technical review.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held:
I served as a Director of the Hawaii Chapter from 2003 - 2023. From 2009 - 2010 I served as the Hawaii Chapter President, and upon completion of my term I served as the NAEP Chapter Rep from 2011 - 2015, and from 2017 - 2020. I served as the NAEP Annual Conference Co-chair for the 2015 conference hosted by the Hawaii Chapter and led the local planning committee throughout conference planning and execution. In service to the local Chapter I have been an active participant in planning technical fora, social networking events, student outreach programs, and annual meetings.
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held:
As Chapter Rep I have been a regular participant in NAEP board meetings since the 2008 chapter retreat/strategy planning meeting. I have focused most of my attention at the NAEP board level on chapter relations, expanding chapter benefits and trying to enhance the beneficial chapter/national relationship. For my participation in the redevelopment of the chapter affiliation agreement in 2009-2010 I received a President's Award for service to NAEP, and I was honored to receive a similar recognition for serving as Conference Co-chair in 2015. Besides participation in board meetings, I have appreciated the opportunity to participate in NAEP/chapter strategic planning retreats (2008, 2012, 2018, 2020), and support various other program planning and events hosted at the National level.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
In various roles with my employers over the past 20 years I have supported company DEI training and deployment initiatives, primarily at the local office level. As a staffing manager I am currently responsible for supporting and promoting company DEI initiatives. I look forward to supporting NAEP DEI initiatives to help promote a more diverse and capable environmental professional workforce and for the growth and improvement in NAEP programming and service to members.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
My priorities for NAEP are to: (1) expand our visibility and value to environmental practitioners across the U.S.; (2) continue to grow national/chapter relationships and mutual benefits, including encouraging the addition of new state/regional chapters; (3) increase the diversity of NAEP to include more practitioners outside of the NEPA practice, while continuing to build on the strong NEPA programming that NAEP is known for; (4) increase the involvement/membership of government/agency professionals in NAEP chapters and events; and (5) maintain fiscal discipline while investing in programs that adds value and grows overall membership.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in? Please make sure to list: association name, years active, and your current position within the association.
My other professional association involvement includes: Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), Honolulu Post Member (2008 – present), Pacific Industry Forum Planning Committee (2017 - present); Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), Pacific Basin Chapter Director (2018 - Present) and President (2021 – 2023).
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
I desire to maintain continuity and strength of NAEP Board operations, advocate for organizational diversity and inclusion. I want us to continue to seek our most optimal national/chapter balance of operations and relationships. I will advocate for diversity of membership, including more public sector/agency members and participants, and support membership growth of young professionals. I want us to promote and support our extensive expertise and existing national relationships (e.g., with OEQC) to continue elevating NAEP's visibility and value as the go-to education and networking source for ethical environmental professionals of all stripes.
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 Joshua Hirten
CDM Smith
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
Have been a member of FAEP since 2010 and have attended luncheon meetings since I started in my environmental career. Have enjoyed the role(s) as President and Conference Chair and ability to engage our Members and increase the visibility of FAEP. In my current role with CFAEP/FAEP I want to increase or membership as well as improve the visibility of NAEP. Since my role with CDM Smith is regional, I have the opportunity to engage current and future members across a large area. Want to work with the Brownfields and Remediation Group and develop some additional plans for outreach, webinars, training to help connect our members and increase our membership.
What is your role at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities? Describe your environmental experiences during your career prior to your current position?
1. Environmental Discipline Lead for CDM Smith in the Southeast (covering 13 States) -work with our environmental staff across the region and provides the ability to become familiar with the local/regional environmental challenges and issues. 2. Corporate Training - worked for three years in a global Training role developing and providing Project Management and software Training. 3. Program Manager -Responsible for business and project management of the environmental services department which included the management of up to seven employees. Annual revenue has averaged $2M over seven years. Ensure that health and safety metrics for the company as well as client-specific metrics are being satisfied. Responsible for Program Management of 32 petroleum impacted sites. Work included health and safety management, regulatory compliance, client interaction, scope development, oversight of field assessment and remedial activities, report preparation and invoicing. Additionally, perform portfolio management tasks such as life cycle project forecasting, risk analysis, and business plans.Provided lead environmental assessment and remediation of a 12,000-gallon diesel fuel pipeline spill. Managed all field personnel on site and various subcontractors involved in emergency response activities. Approximately 15,000 tons of petroleum impacted soil removed. Responded to queries by public agencies and local residences. Technical Work - have been involved with a wide variety of work over my career - wetland delineations, endangered species surveys, Phase I/II ESAs, UST removals, construction oversight, emergency response, soil and groundwater assessment, and remedial O&M.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held.
Current FAEP Conference Chair (2024), Florida AEP Board Member (2018- current), Central Florida AEP President (2020-2023), Central Florida AEP Vice- President (2018-2019).
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held:
Currently working with NAEP to host the NEPA Basic Training as part of the 2024 FAEP Annual Conference.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
At NV5 was part of the LGBT Employee Resource Group as an ally and help engage with the local office on various local/state/national NV5 efforts.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
My initial focus would be to assist in evaluating how we can better leverage Working Group Listservs to engage current and potential members. Based on my past and current work experiences and interest, willing to support and grow the members within Brownfields and Remediation, Environmental Justice, and Geospatial.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in? Please make sure to list: association name, years active, and your current position within the association.
ASCE- Central Florida - Member, METRA - Vice President, Board Member (2012-2015, 2024-current)
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
Working with CFAEP and FAEP has been a great experience and enjoy the work and and effort that goes into bringing the diverse aspects of the environmental community. Given the work within Florida and current role within CDM Smith, feel I can be an asset to the NAEP Board.
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 Kathleen Riek
Stantec
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
Thank you for considering my self-nomination form. I am interested in joining the NAEP Board as an at-large member because I appreciate the mission and vision of NAEP, and wish to participate in advancing our environmental professional community. I recognize the importance of NAEP’s efforts in promoting useful and timely information on environmental practices and would like to contribute.
What is your role at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities? Describe your environmental experiences during your career prior to your current position?
As part of my company’s technical excellence leadership team, I am Stantec’s Technical Discipline Leader for our assessment and permitting practice in the United States. My responsibilities for this role include developing technical standards and guidance, training staff on best practices, and providing expert advice for environmental planning issues. I also fulfill additional roles including: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) contract program manager for a federal client, NEPA project manager, and branch office manager.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held:
I have been a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Professionals for many years and enjoy their webinars. In past years, I attended their annual conferences.
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held:
I have been participating in the NEPA Practice Working Group, Biological Resources Working Group, and Environmental Justice Working Group throughout the past year and appreciate hearing the perspectives shared in these forums. I will be attending and look forward to this year’s annual conference in Minneapolis.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
In my role as branch office manager, I have been able to champion Stantec’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) throughout my office and project teams. I consider DEI crucial to the future success of our environmental planning industry as we invite the full spectrum of talent into our project work.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
NAEP’s offering of webinars at no cost to members is a huge benefit that I recommend be advertised as an attractive feature when recruiting new members. Also, to improve NAEP’s benefits for members, consider offering webinar content at different levels to account for the differing needs of professional development for entry-level and middle/senior-level environmental professionals.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in? Please make sure to list: association name, years active, and your current position within the association.
Since 2018, I have been an active member of the American Planning Association (APA) and the Pennsylvania APA Chapter. I received the APA’s American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification in 2019 and since then have maintained my certification by completing the annual education program of the latest best practices in planning. For many years, I have been a member of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) and routinely participate in SAME events held in Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
I am personally committed to mentoring those in our next generation of environmental professionals and can see a role on the NAEP Board as an effective way to accomplish that goal. Additionally, over the past several years, we have seen a lot of changes in environmental legislation, regulations, and Executive Orders. And more changes are anticipated in this new year. NAEP has a unique opportunity to continue sharing unbiased information that can inform and positively affect how our community of environmental professionals conduct work on many types of projects – I’d like to be a part of this.
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 Kris Thoemke
Barge Design Solutions, Inc.
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
It is time for me to give back to NAEP. This organization has done much to help me in my career and I am now at a point in my life where I can take the time to help the organization prosper and advance.
What is your role at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities? Describe your environmental experiences during your career prior to your current position?
My current positions are the Senior NEPA Specialist for Barge Design Solutions and part-time faculty member for American Public University. My career has varied. After completing my doctorate, I became the first manager of the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Naples, FL. After 11 years in that position, I switched gears and became a freelance outdoor communicator. During my time in this profession, I wrote and had published over 500 articles and photographs and two books, hosted the Exploring Florida television series on PBS and was a talk radio show host. My emphasis was on translating scientific information into terms that the public could understand. Eventually, I returned to the environmental field as a wetland ecologist working on the Everglades Restoration project for an NGO. Next up was a three-year stint as a full-time college professor teaching master's level classes in environmental policy and management. When the university dropped the program, I moved into the consulting field where I specialized in environmental permitting, seagrass monitoring and restoration in the coastal zones of Florida and Louisiana. Over time this work led me into the NEPA field and that is where I am today. Several years into full-time consulting, I began a part-time position teaching environmental policy and management and NEPA classes for American Public University System.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held:
2019-2022 Board of Trustees of the Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals 2017 Richard Kramer, CEP Memorial Award for Environmental Excellence awarded by the Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals 2014 Recipient of the Jade of Chiefs Award, the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s top conservation award 2005 Sustainable Florida Educator Award presented by the Council for Sustainable Florida 1994 Conservation Communicator of the Year award from the Florida Wildlife Federation
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held:
Due to the requirements of my past positions and teaching part-time, my involvement with NAEP has been limited to participating in the NEPA Practice Working Group. My current position now allows me the time and support needed to serve as an NAEP Board member.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
I have not been in a position in any of my past jobs or current positions to participate in any DEI initiatives. I currently work as a 100% remote contract employee as a consultant and have participated in several training session on DEI with my current employers. Any future involvement would be in the form of additional training.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
For NAEP to be a benefit to its members, the organization must provide services that help its members advance in their careers. NAEP does an excellent job of providing informative conferences and has a solid list of committees and working groups. That said, the Board could ask the committee and working group members to reflect on their committee's and working group's charges to determine if they are still relevant or if some updates are needed. Having been in many organizations during my professional career, the reality is that 90% of the work done in an organization that relies on volunteers, is done by 10% (or less) of the membership. Efforts to change that metric are not likely to succeed, so we should focus our efforts on working smarter with those willing to do the work. One area where NAEP should focus its attention is how Artificial Intelligence (AI) will change our profession. The Board should discuss (if they have not already) how to address this topic; assign it to an existing committee, form a new committee, or have the Board address the topic. We should seek out members with knowledge of AI to help us find the direction we need to address AI in the environmental field. It is important for NAEP to become engaged and aware of how AI will impact us and get this information to the members.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in? Please make sure to list: association name, years active, and your current position within the association.
I have been a member of ABCEP since 2005, but currently do not hold a position with the Academy. For 35 years, I have been a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. I have served as a Board member multiple times and served on numerous committees in the past but have no position with the organization at this time.
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
If elected, my intention is to devote my time and knowledge to help NAEP grow and remain relevant for its members.
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 Makary Hutson
HDR
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
I have been involved as a NAEP member, affiliate chapter member, and participated in NAEP opportunities, events, and annual conferences for close to 15 years now. NAEP has been a part of my professional development throughout my career. I am now at a point in my life and career where I know I would be a valuable asset to NAEP as an at-large director on the Board. I am ready to dedicate and commit my time, energy, and experience the NAEP Board as an at-large director, if elected.
What is your role at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities? Describe your environmental experiences during your career prior to your current position?
I am a senior environmental scientist at HDR in Boise, Idaho. I currently manage resource staff and processes to ensure environmental compliance and approvals for transmission and power generation projects. Many of my power related projects have a federal nexus with NEPA, NHPA, ESA, and CWA considerations but I also manage state, County, and local environmental processes for other actions. I am also the deputy PM on the USFWS bitterroot ecosystem grizzly bear restoration EIS.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held:
I was the president of the NWAEP for several years (2011-14, maybe?). During my time on the board for the Northwest chapter and my time as president, I completely updated the website, membership, and communications system. I believe we increased our membership by 5x during that time, following the momentum of a NAEP Conference in Portland. I continued to support and participate in NWAEP until I moved to Colorado in 2018, and more recently have been a member of the Idaho chapter.
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held:
As the president of the NWAEP chapter I attended and participated on a few NAEP-led Chapter meetings. I routinely participate on NAEP working groups, webinars, and other events, and keep up to date on NAEP opportunities. I was also a session chair and active participant planning the NAEP Conference in Tacoma, WA.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
I believe this refers to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. If elected to the NAEP Board, I would be committed to outreach for DEI and would be excited to help develop new pathways for outreach and inclusion. For example, I could imagine adding a DEI message to the body of the email for the NAEP National Desk, or some more personal webinars that combine training with personal stories with a target DEI audience and purpose.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
I believe NAEP is providing members with a solid foundation of benefits including the website, webinars, working groups, National Desk, chapter support, and the annual conferences. I would work with NAEP Board and leadership to support any existing, previously identified focus areas for growth. I would be happy to help with member outreach and brainstorming to find new priorities for NAEP, or to continue to enhance and expand on current initiatives and plans.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in? Please make sure to list: association name, years active, and your current position within the association.
Between 2018 and 2022, I earned my MS in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Johns Hopkins University while working full time. Following that, I began consulting work with HDR and moved from Colorado to Idaho (while my wife finished grad school and we had our first child). I have been active in associations and volunteer opportunities my entire life, but I have not been as active over the last few years due to lack of time while I established my professional network in new places. The background above is only to demonstrate that I am now in a place that I am ready to be fully engaged with NAEP and volunteer my time to the NAEP Board as an at-large director, if elected.
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
I am an active environmental professional with a network of projects and contacts in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, California, Montana and Idaho. I am outgoing and driven to increase my support of NAEP. I am ready to hit the ground running and I am confident I would be a valuable, dynamic, engaged, and energetic addition to the NAEP Board.
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 Michelle Rau, PMP
Jacobs Engineering
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?:
It has been my pleasure to serve as an at-large director for a number of years. During this time I am currently actively serving in the capacity, and would like to finish out my term as secretary. I am a strong proponent of the NAEP mission and believe strongly in its ideals as a forum for industry networking and a growth platform for the environmental planning practice. As I mentioned earlier, I believe NAEP is a vital component of the environmental planning industry and I would be privileged to further my support and commitment to both the NAEP and the industry I have dedicated my career to. Furthermore, CH2M is an industry leader in environmental planning services; I believe there would be a synergy in building the relationship between these organization.
What is your role at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities? Describe your environmental experiences during your career prior to your current position?:
I currently serve as the senior NEPA principal for Jacobs Solutions. This position requires that I remain abreast of the latest industry standards in NEPA and environmental permitting, I consider my involvement in NAEP a vital component for maintaining this knowledge base. I am also a senior program manager within Jacobs, and have managed numerous large scale and controversial Environmental Impacts Statements (EIS) for various government agencies, which included Endangered Species Act Biological Assessments and National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 consultations (many requiring Programmatic Agreements). I have also served as the environmental permitting lead for large scale (>$1B) infrastructure projects.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held:
I attend local meetings of the Tampa Bay chapter of the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals.
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held:
I have been an active NAEP member since 2013 and have attended the annual conference every year, except 2015I currently serve on the Executive Committee as the NAEP Secretary, I lead the Webinars portion of the Education Committee, I am an active member of the NEPA Practice I am a frequent trainer during the Advanced NEPA Workshops, I have provided a presentations at numerous NAEP Conferences, I help support the EJ Working Group
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
I help support the NAEP Environmental Justice Working Group and have helped to stand up a similar group for Jacobs.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
While NAEP may not be the largest industry association, it serves a vital role as the interface between government environmental policy makers and environmental planning practitioners. If this connection was lost, it would be a serious blow to the environmental planning Industry. As a member of the board I would work to ensure this position continues to be fostered.NAEP has done an excellent job in providing tools which propel industry understanding; for example, the annual NEPA report, webinars and NEPA Workshops. NAEP must continue this focus, while also assessing the usefulness of its investments. As a board member, I would work to ensure effort is given to the tools that are providing the most good for the practitioners and decision makers. To maintain its relevancy, NAEP must continue to grow and welcome more industry leaders, organizations and commercial entities. The more diversified the organization the healthier it will be. NAEP must maintain its current base of core leaders and companies, but it must also look for growth both on the government side and the commercial side.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in? Please make sure to list: association name, years active, and your current position within the association.
Society of American Military Engineers (previously served as the Pikes Peak Post secretary/treasurer)Project Management Institute- active member
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
I am a strong proponent of the NAEP mission and believe strongly in its ideals as a forum for industry networking and a growth platform for the environmental planning practice. As I mentioned earlier, I believe NAEP is a vital component of the environmental planning industry and I would be privileged to further my support and commitment to both the NAEP and the industry I have dedicated my career to.
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 Michael Mayer
HDR, Inc.
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
I am currently an At-Large Director and serving my first year of a two-year term as President of the Association. I would like to continue my involvement on the Board to continue to grow our membership and expand the opportunities and experiences we are providing our members.
What is your role at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities? Describe your environmental experiences during your career prior to your current position?
I am currently an HDR Principal Environmental Project Manager and the Biological and Ecological Sciences Practice Lead.My environmental career started yearly in my life being raised in a family that established Stone Environmental School in New England and working as a forest firefighter on my Uncle's Wyoming crew for a summer. I received degrees in wildlife and fisheries biology/conservation and environmental law. I worked for the Bonneville Power Administration in its environmental analysis group, the National Park Service's Environmental Quality Division (where I served on the DOI Adaptive Mgt Initiative), and the Ottawa National Forest, before moving to consulting. The focus of my career has been on NEPA, ESA, MBTA, and other environmental laws for projects related to power generation and transmission, water resources, and natural resource management.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held:
Minnesota Association of Environmental Professionals
MNAEP: Co-founder
MNAEP: President (6 yrs)
MNAEP: Chapter Representative (6 yrs)
MNAEP: Vice President (2 yrs; serving another 2-year term)
MNAEP: NAEP Annual Conference Technical Chair
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held:
- Current President (2023-2025)
- Past Vice President (2021-2023)
- Chapter Representative BOD (2017-2021)
- Biological Resources Working Group Lead (2021-present)
- Education Committee member- Advanced NEPA trainer
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
As part of my job, I examine project impacts on environmental justice communities. I fully believe in making NAEP and its benefits available to any environmental professional who's interested and would seek to implement programs to achieve that goal. I also would support educational opportunities to explain the benefits of the environmental profession to those who may not be aware of it or have access to professionals in it.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
My priorities would be to continue to grow our membership and provide opportunities that maximize membership returns. I would continue to seek to expand the roles of our practice groups to better cater to member areas of interest and expertise. I would also continue to encourage agency and tribal involvement in the organization to bring a myriad of interests and perspectives to the organization.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in? Please make sure to list: association name, years active, and your current position within the association.
MNAEP- 2017-present Currently Vice President
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 Nicholas Morgan
The Conservation Fund
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
I was introduced to the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) through the Pennsylvania Chapter in the early part of my career. I then moved to South Carolina and discovered there was no similar organization providing environmental professionals with places to network and learn. I collaborated with some friends and the NAEP to establish the South Carolina Chapter in 2019. Through this process, I learned what is required to establish state chapters. I would like to use this knowledge to help NAEP continue to build a national presence through the growth of state chapters. Professionally, I have national responsibilities, so assisting with the national association could be a more natural fit for me.
What is your role at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities? Describe your environmental experiences during your career prior to your current position?
I am currently the director of Mitigation Solutions for The Conservation Fund (TCF). We are a national non-profit organization that protects America's most critical lands and waters to provide greater access to nature, strengthen local economies, and enhance climate resiliency. My program is responsible for managing compensatory mitigation projects that have unavoidable impacts to natural, historic, cultural, and viewsheds from permitted developments. Prior to working for TCF, I worked for two different consulting firms where I started as a field biologist developing study plans, conducting research, and writing reports. These were developed as part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensing process for hydroelectric projects or other permitting projects (mostly energy and water related). As my career evolved, I began working on design-build mitigation projects for fish passage, natural resource restoration, and compensatory mitigation. My final position in the consulting world was as a project manager and developer of water resource projects such as dams, reservoirs, water intake structures, and water treatment facilities. I made my way back to my conservation passion when I reached out to my partners at TCF to support a compensatory mitigation project for one of my clients. My current position involves leading and growing their work to support the transition to a clean energy economy through a proactive conservation strategy.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held:
I am the founding and current president of the South Carolina Chapter. The South Carolina Chapter was established in 2019 and we grew throughout the pandemic and now have over 130 members and are still growing. We have a expanding annual budget and are hosting the NAEP annual conference in Charleston, SC in 2025. I am very proud of the work that our SC Chapter board has been able to accomplish in 4 years.
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held:
As SC Chapter president, I have participated in several NAEP board meetings and the most recent in-person Chapters Retreat. I am also an active participant in the Biological Resources Working Group. I organized a panel discussion at the national conference in 2023 on the case law and policy updates on regulations such as the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, among others. I am currently planning a repeat panel in 2024 because of the demonstrated interest we had in Phoenix.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
The South Carolina Chapter has a Student Outreach Committee that is focused on encouraging students to participate in our workshops and begin engaging in the environmental profession. I have personally reached out to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the areas of our events to connect with professors and find ways to sponsor student participation. We have had participation from three different HBCUs in two separate events. We are planning similar opportunities for 2024. In addition, I am a current board member of the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI). REWI received a grant to provide opportunities for hands-on internships for minority students interested in engaging in the renewable energy industry. As part of their internships, I participated in career development interviews to help them learn about different opportunities in the renewable energy industry.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
I would be focused on developing new state chapters. There are chapters that are still struggling to grow to critical mass and many future chapters that are completely unrepresented. NAEP will grow if our available and potential chapters grow. In addition, NAEP currently has substantial credibility and subject matter expertise with NEPA. I would like to see this organization have the same credibility in environmental regulations that are discussed in the Biological Resources Working Group. My goal would be to have the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service speak at the NAEP annual conference on a regular basis and seek our comments on new policy changes similar to the way the Council on Environmental Quality does for NEPA. I think this will broaden NAEP's regulatory expertise and provide quality content and professional networking.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in? Please make sure to list: association name, years active, and your current position within the association.
I am a board member of the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute and have been on the board since 2021. I was a board member of the American Water Works Association, South Carolina Chapter from 2019-2021. Since 2023, I established TCF as a Contributing Member to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and actively participate in their Energy and Wildlife Policy Committee.
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
If elected, I may be the only board member that works for a conservation non-profit organization. This will bring some industry diversity to the NAEP board of directors. I think the NAEP board needs to include a cross-section of the environmental profession and the non-profit community could be encouraged to participate in our programs if we engage them in our content. I have built a lot of relationships with partnering non-profits through my work at TCF and will encourage their participation in our association.
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