NAEP President's Letter

From Michael Mayer, NAEP President

Posted Monday, August 5, 2024

Welcome to the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) website. We are excited to celebrate our 50th Anniversary as an organization! If you are new to NAEP, I hope you recognize the benefits our organization provides to the environmental professional and consider joining us. For those that are members of NAEP, we thank you for your commitment to your profession and NAEP. Since NAEP is a member-volunteer-run organization, it takes a village to bring the programs, events, and professional growth opportunities we bring to our members. We truly hope you’ll join our village—you are welcome.

My name is Mike (Michael if you’re angry with me) and I am your NAEP President, having started my term in May 2023. I am honored to serve our members in this role and look forward to engaging with you throughout my term and beyond. I am excited about the future of NAEP. We continue to implement our strategic plan and bring new programming, webinars, workshops, and other benefits to our members. If you’re interested in helping us further implement the plan, please let us know!

This year we’ve implemented a special rate for government employees, and all NAEP members have free access to our webinar series. Our expert volunteer members have been assembling panels and providing information on emerging issues as they develop, such as the recent changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and the release of the final regulations, as well as the Supreme Court decision on Chevron deference. I encourage our members to take advantage of this benefit.

We also continue to grow our Working Groups in earnest. Modeled after our NEPA Practice Working Group, we now have eleven member-led working groups, including two new groups focused on geospatial analyses and technology in environmental planning. The Working Groups are intended to provide more resource-topic-focused discussions and are open to all members. The hope is that members will actively participate, allowing us to leverage all the expertise that makes up NAEP.

Finally, I am excited to announce that the 2025 Annual Conference & Training Symposium will be from April 28 - May 1, 2025, in Charleston, South Carolina. The South Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP-SC) is working hard with NAEP to bring together a great conference with engaging speakers and fun and educational field trips. We hope you will come and experience true southern hospitality in historic downtown Charleston. Enjoy a stroll along the waterfront Battery and White Point Gardens to view historic houses on one side while dolphins crest through the glistening water on the other. Take a horse drawn carriage or self-guided tour along Rainbow Row and through historic churches and cemeteries. Wander through the cobblestone streets of the French Quarter, marvel at the architecture, and visit iconic landmarks like Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Tired of walking? Then just dip your toes in the water at one of the numerous barrier island beaches or take a reprieve in the A/C at the South Carolina Aquarium or Mace Brown Museum of Natural History. Whether your passion is history, nature, or delicious food – Charleston delivers! There is something for everyone and we look forward to seeing you!