Vote for the 2019–2022 NAEP At-Large Board Members

The NAEP Elections deadline has now passed. Please stay tuned for further updates.

Per Article V, Section 2 of the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) bylaws, NAEP's membership must affirm the slate of officers and directors. Please review the slate below put forth by the Nominating Committee and cast your vote.

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:

Marie Campbell 
J. Peyton Doub, PWS, CEP
Mark F. Gerber
Ann Miracle
Charles P. Nicholson
Laura Porter
Laura Thorne
Fred R. Wagner


Marie C. Campbell
Sapphos Environmental, Inc

What are your environmental duties at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities?

  1. Training team members regarding the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Federal and State Endangered Species Act (ESA), and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
  2. Client coordination regarding environmental compliance strategies for infrastructure projects
  3. Development of peer professionals through annual participation as an instructor in the California Associated of Environmental Professional Advanced CEQA topics and serving as either a panelist or moderator at an annual professional conference

Please detail any past local Chapter activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

2015–2019: AEP Los Angeles Chapter Direct, State Board of Directors
2015–2018: Trainer, Advance Topic CEQA/NEPA Essentials
2011–2013: AEP Co-Chair for 2013 NAEP/AEP Joint Annual Conference
2009–2012: Emeritus Legislative Policy Issues
2009: Legislative Committee for California AEP
2008: Chair Symposium on Assessing Environmental Effects of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Global Climate Change for 2007 NAEP/AEP Joint Annual Conference
2008: California AEP Liaison to NAEP for Joint Annual Conference
2004: Conference Chair, California AEP
2003: Moderator of Special Session to Provide California AEP input to State Legislature regarding Native American Sacred Sites
1999–2005: Director, Los Angeles Chapter, California AEP
1997: Conference Chair, California AEP
1992–1998: President, Los Angeles Chapter, California AEP
1982–2012: Member

Please detail any past NAEP activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

2017–2019: NAEP President
2016–2017: NAEP Member–at-large, Vice-President
2009–2016: NAEP Member–at-large, Chair Education Committee
2011–2013: AEP Co-Chair for 2013 NAEP/AEP Joint Annual Conference
2008: Chair Symposium on Assessing Environmental Effects of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Global Climate Change for 2007 NAEP/AEP Joint Annual Conference
2008: California AEP Liaison to NAEP for Joint Annual Conference
2008: National Environmental Excellence Award for Best Available Environmental Technology in recognition to Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District and Sapphos Environmental, Inc. for the 2008 Owens Valley PM10 Planning Area Demonstration of Attainment State Implementation Plan EIR
2006–2008: Drafted and Facilitated Adoption of Agreement for California AEP to become a Chapter of the NAEP
2001: National Merit Project: The Ahmanson Ranch Resource Management Plan
2000–2012: Member

What do you see as your key objectives or goals for NAEP should you be elected to the Board of Directors?

Having had the honor of serving in the NAEP Board of Directors, in the capacity as an elected-at-large board member, vice-President, and President, I look forward to supporting the incoming President in continuing to advance the strategic plan, particularly in relation to membership retention and recruiting, marketing, education, and publications initiatives.

Membership Retention and Recruiting
I have enjoyed travelling to over half the Chapters, over the past year, and want to continue to meet with Chapters and explain the importance of participating in NAEP, encouraging existing members to fully avail themselves of the benefits of membership, the network of amazing professionals across the Nation, the NEPA Annual Report, NEPA Practice Group, webinars, ethics training, workshops, annual conferences, and publications.

Marketing and Communications
With respect to marketing and communications, I hope to see the full roll-out of the new branding of NAEP, website update, and expanded communication with the Council on Environmental Quality, key federal agencies, members, and affiliated members.

Education
I would like to expand the Advanced NEPA training that was conducted a pilot program in 2018 to ultimately be available to all affiliated Chapters.

Publications
Assist the publications committee in identifying subject matter that is relevant to environmental practitioners in relation to their professional practice for publication in the newsletter and peer-reviewed Environmental Practice.

How will you finance your attendance to the Quarterly Board Meetings and Annual Conference?

My attendance at the Quarterly Board Meetings and the Annual Conference has been financed throughout both terms on the board and would continue to be supported by my company, Sapphos Environmental, Inc. As president and sole-owner of the company, I am authorized to make that financial commitment on behalf of the company and have the support of the management team.

Please list any other factors to consider:

Having been a member of NAEP since I was in graduate school, I have seen the growth and development of NAEP. I have witnessed and respect the work that has been undertaken to grow and develop this organization. I also understand the need to be vigilant in our attention to the current political climate, as well as, the future. There an estimated 155,000 environmental professionals working in the United States and I want to work diligently to invite as many of them as possible to join those of us who are already members, and expand the dialogue.

What other associations are you currently a member of and/or active in?

Association Active Current Office
California Association of Environmental Professionals Since 1990 At-large Board Member


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J. Peyton Doub, PWS, CEP
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

What are your environmental duties at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities?

I serve as the senior ecologist performing environmental reviews of applications for new reactor licenses. I review technical information submitted with license applications, prepare ecology and land use sections of EISs, and prepare biological assessments for consultations under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. I frequently prepare written guidance on ecology and environmental reviews for use by applicants and other NRC staff. I am a frequent author of books, articles, and other NEPA and ecology publications and a frequent speaker at NAEP conferences. My CV is available on request.

Please detail any past local Chapter activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

I was a co-presenter of a presentation titled "Environmental Review Process and Challenges at the NRC. Presentation to Mid-Atlantic Region Environmental Professionals" at the May 24 meeting of the Mid Atlantic Regional Environmental Professionals (MAREP) Chapter of NAEP.

Please detail any past NAEP activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

ABCEP Board of Trustees (2011–2017)
ABCEP Certification Review Board (2000–2011; 2017–Present)

What do you see as your key objectives or goals for NAEP should you be elected to the Board of Directors?

NAEP must be the preeminent professional society promoting excellence in the practice of NEPA and related environmental planning and consulting. NAEP must continue to play a prominent role in adapting NEPA and other environmental statutes to meet modern demands for efficiency and value without compromising their founding objectives. I have authored a number of recent articles in the NAEP Newsletter (and one in press for the December 2018 edition of Environmental Practice) on the societal benefits of NEPA and how to make NEPA most beneficial and least burdensome. The founding principles of informed decision-making must not be lost as we adapt NEPA to FAST-41, EO 13807, and other efficiency directives. NAEP must continue to be a membership-focused organization that provides real value to its members in the form of a well attended annual conference, a useful journal and newsletter, and useful webinars, all with minimal dues. NAEP has always and must continue to focus on the practitioner, and it must serve to unify the environmental profession and promote the profession among the public. NAEP conferences must be sited to maximize accessibility and attendance at minimal cost. NAEP awards must be targeted primarily on the achievements of NAEP members and not just glorify high-visibility projects.

How will you finance your attendance to the Quarterly Board Meetings and Annual Conference?

Self-Finance

Please list any other factors to consider:

I have been an NAEP member and CEP since 1996 (most years). I have been a frequent speaker at NAEP conferences and author in Environmental Practice and the NAEP Newsletter. While I admire NAEP's attempts to save paper and reduce costs, I feel that we would be well served to resume a print option for these publications, funded by adequate pricing. The same is true for the NAEP Conference proceedings, where I worry that a lot of good articles never see the light of day because they are so deeply buried electronically.

What other associations are you currently a member of and/or active in?

Association Active Current Office
ABCEP Yes CRB
SWSPCP Yes Member (PWS)
American Nuclear Society Yes Member


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Mark F. Gerber
Cardno GS, Inc.

What are your environmental duties at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities?

I currently manage large NEPA projects and the teams that function on the teams doing the work. I maintain technical expertise in Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Air act as well as noise resources. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with agencies and their environmental projects and ensuring that these projects function within defensible and sound environmental principles.

Please detail any past local Chapter activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

I was involved in the re-initiation of the South Texas AEP (STAEP) and am currently assisting in the Idaho AEP (IDAEP).

Please detail any past NAEP activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

Past NAEP Board of Directors (elected board position, student chapter committee chair and on the chapter committee and education committee), Past ABCEP Board of Trustees for two terms as elected Board member (Immediate Past President, President Elect, Secretary). ABCEP - CEP certification task force – oversaw the re-issuance of the essay portion of the certification process.

What do you see as your key objectives or goals for NAEP should you be elected to the Board of Directors?

Having spent 18 months removed from the day to day operations and management of NAEP and ABCEP, it has become acutely evident to me that there is tremendous growth opportunities for NAEP membership. There are areas in the country that lack awareness of NAEP and its goals and mission. I believe awareness of the benefits that NAEP offers, both to members, affiliates and government agencies. I believe that through education and expansion of NAEP offerings such as assistance to local chapters and members in professional growth and development will expand NAEP to areas of the country and world where NAEPs impacts can have legacy effects on policy and policy implementation.

How will you finance your attendance to the Quarterly Board Meetings and Annual Conference?

My current company has committed to sponsor my attendance and fully supports my efforts in NAEP workload. They recognize that long-term sustainable environmental strength in the professionals that practice is a long-term positive investment.

What other associations are you currently a member of and/or active in?

Association Active Current Office
IDAEP Yes  
TWS Yes  


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Ann Miracle
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

What are your environmental duties at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities?

I am the manager for environmental regulatory programs and permitting for PNNL. My staff assess and apply NEPA, NHPA Section 106, and ESA Sections 7 and 10 on behalf of DOE, and prepare permitting for compliance with various federal, state, and local agencies for research projects and facilities/operations.

Please detail any past local Chapter activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

I have attended NAEP meetings for the past 3 years and became a member this year. I am a part of the newly formed Idaho Chapter, and serve as the eastern Washington regional representative.

Please detail any past NAEP activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

See above.

What do you see as your key objectives or goals for NAEP should you be elected to the Board of Directors?

My objectives are to contribute to the broader understanding and practice of NEPA and other federal environmental regulatory efforts to diverse applications both to the NAEP membership, and to research and environmental staff at PNNL and other national laboratories. My specific interest is in engaging the next generation of environmental practitioners, which is why I signed on to assist in standing up the Idaho chapter, and target the eastern Washington colleges and Universities.

How will you finance your attendance to the Quarterly Board Meetings and Annual Conference?

As a manager, I have discretionary funding to attend at least half of the quarterly board meetings and the annual meeting, and will need to call in to the others.

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Charles P. Nicholson
HDR, Inc.

What are your environmental duties at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities?

I am a part-time Senior Environmental Scientist/Planner with HDR, Inc. with a primary focus on National Environmental Policy Act compliance. I assumed this position in May, 2017, a few months after retiring from 39 years at the Tennessee Valley Authority. At the time of my retirement from TVA, I was the senior NEPA compliance specialist and both prepared and oversaw the preparation of NEPA documents by contractors for a wide variety of TVA- and applicant-initiated actions. I served as the agency NEPA liaison to CEQ and provided strategic advice to TVA project managers.

Please detail any past local Chapter activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

I am an active member of the relatively new Tennessee chapter. I was involved in early chapter organizing activities and presented the program at an early chapter meeting. Because most chapter functions are held in Nashville (3+ hours travel), I am rarely able to attend them in person. I am not currently an officer.

Please detail any past NAEP activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

I have been a member of NAEP for about 13 years and have attended most annual conferences during that period. I have been an active member of the NEPA Practice group for most of that time and have chaired the group for about three years. I have contributed articles to and compiled the most recent annual NEPA reports. I have given presentations at several annual conferences and in NAEP webinars. I was elected to the Board of Directors in 2016. While on the Board, I have headed the Jim Roberts Scholarship Committee and been a member of the Budget Committee and the Publications Pillar. 

What do you see as your key objectives or goals for NAEP should you be elected to the Board of Directors?

The NAEP has made significant progress in implementing the 2015 strategic plan. I will continue to actively participate in the Pillar groups and other Board activities with the overall goals of increasing the value and services that NAEP provides to members and maintaining and enhancing the NAEP’s engagement and reputation in the environmental practice field. NAEP’s ongoing involvement in responding to Executive Order 13807 on the environmental review and permitting process is a good example of activities to achieve these goals. The EO was the subject of NAEP webinars and sessions at the Annual Conference and NAEP is preparing a best practices guide for practitioners involved in implementing the EO. Because of its interdisciplinary structure, along with a major, unique focus on NEPA compliance, NAEP is well positioned for this type of activity. As a Board member, I will continue my efforts to maintain and enhance NAEP’s focus on NEPA compliance.

Other more focused goals include continuing efforts to make the NAEP publications more relevant to members and increasing involvement and conference attendance by federal and state employees.

How will you finance your attendance to the Quarterly Board Meetings and Annual Conference?

I have some support from my employer to attend at least the Annual Conference and associated Board Meeting. I will self-finance my attendance at other Quarterly Board Meetings, as I have done since first being elected to the Board. 

Please list any other factors to consider:

I have 40+ years of experience in the environmental field. My early professional career was devoted to wildlife management, ornithological studies, and endangered species compliance. The second half of my career has been more devoted to NEPA compliance activities, with an emphasis on complex, strategic, and programmatic NEPA reviews in recent years. My TVA career exposed me to environmental issues associated with a wide range of activities including power generation and transmission, land planning, reservoir operations, and natural resource management. My current employment at HDR has given me additional perspective as a contractor/consultant. I have extensive experience in coordinating public involvement, working with NGOs, and managing large groups of volunteers. I have taught undergraduate and adult non-credit college courses. This broad range of experience has and will continue to enhance my service as a NAEP board member.

What other associations are you currently a member of and/or active in?

Association Active Current Office
Norris, TN Tree Commission (city urban forestry commission) Yes Chair since 2011
American Association for the Advancement of Science Yes  
Wilson Ornithological Society Yes  
Tennessee Ornithological Society (former president, journal editor, board member) Yes Curator, webmaster
Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation Yes  


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Laura Porter
Clean Water Services

What are your environmental duties at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities?

I work in watershed management at Clean Water Services (CWS), a local water resources management utility, outside of Portland, Oregon. CWS is a funding partner and cooperating agency with the the Bureau of Reclamation on the Tualatin Basin Dam Safety and Water Supply Joint Project. I am CWS' NEPA and Permitting Lead for this project. As such, I'm managing all the pre-NEPA activities to frontload the anticipated one-year EIS process. This includes all project management activities; writing requests for proposals; managing consultants to conduct field work and write resource reports; and ongoing coordination and communication with Reclamation.

Please detail any past local Chapter activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

In association with the local Chapter, I've participated in planning for two Portland conferences and occasionally attended chapter events.

Please detail any past NAEP activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

I've attended a couple webinars, two recent NAEP conferences, and am looking forward to attending the 2019 conference.

What do you see as your key objectives or goals for NAEP should you be elected to the Board of Directors?

My goal would be to represent local cooperating agencies as well as those who are new to the NEPA process. While federal agencies need to play the lead role, there are opportunities for local agencies to help frontload the process and contribute to a successful project. Also, I'd like to see NAEP's website and the conference be more welcoming to those who are new to NEPA. This could be accomplished by creating a "New to NEPA" section on the website and an introductory track at the national conference. In addition, it would be great to have a rundown on recently released executive and secretarial orders available on the NAEP website that gets regularly sent to its members to provide additional info to cooperating agencies and others.

How will you finance your attendance to the Quarterly Board Meetings and Annual Conference?

My organization has agreed to support my participation.

Please list any other factors to consider:

I have a background in biology and a master's in bioresource engineering with over 20 years experience working in watershed management in the public and private sectors. In addition, I really love my work, look forward to learning more about NEPA to lead my project to successful completion, and am excited about the opportunity to help others who are new to NEPA or the environmental profession.

What other associations are you currently a member of and/or active in?

Association Active Current Office
Society of Ecological Restoration Northwest Yes  
Tualaitn Hills Parks and Recreation District - Nature and Trails Advisory Committee Yes Chair


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Laura Thorne
Laura Thorne Consulting / The Environmental Career Coach

What are your environmental duties at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities?

After a 10-year career at the Environmental Protection Commission in Hillsborough County and 7 years with a nonprofit that evaluates business performance excellence, I started my own consulting firm and career coaching practice. Helping others to attain their goals, especially as they align to environmental needs, is a passion of mine. In those two capacities, my current environmental activities include advising businesses on environmental
management systems and sustainability and coaching environmental students, recent grads, and career changers to navigate the environmental industry and getting into jobs they will love and turn into long-lasting careers.

Please detail any past local Chapter activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

I joined the Tampa Bay Association of Environmental Professionals (TBAEP) in 2011. In 2015 I joined the board and was elected Vice-President. This corresponded with my first membership with NAEP. As President of TBAEP in 2016, I focused on improving our processes to be more effective and membership initiatives. One of those initiatives involved providing more value for our women members. We started an annual workshop for Women in STEM in environmental fields that has been wildly successful, culminating in an annual workshop that has been sold out in each of its 3 years.

Please detail any past NAEP activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

I first attended an NAEP conference in 2015 and was very impressed. Since moving to Syracuse, NY from Tampa, FL, I have shifted my commitments to NAEP and efforts to assist in starting chapters in New York State. I currently serve on the NAEP conference committee, education committee, and the branding committee.I presented, moderated, and led the emerging professionals workshop at the 2018 annual conference in Tacoma, WA. Earlier
this year, I volunteered to lead and participate in the first NAEP online training focused on project management and NEPA happening in November. Most recently, I was asked to serve as co-chair for the education committee.

What do you see as your key objectives or goals for NAEP should you be elected to the Board of Directors?

If I am elected to the NAEP Board of Directors, my key objective would largely be to serve as needed and continue to volunteer as I have been. As a person who works closely with environmental students and recent grads, I anticipate one of my goals to be aligned with encouraging new membership, supporting the emerging professionals, and ensuring that NAEP’s efforts are inclusive of the next generation who are going to be the ones who have
some serious environmental issues to tackle. Another membership issue that I would also like to see more prominently addressed is diversity in the environmental/STEM fields. Supporting women is one step in the right direction, but there is additional work needed in the areas of people of color and other minorities. Additionally, coming from one of the largest and very successful local chapters, I recognize the need to continue to provide resources and tools to help the local chapters succeed and ensure that their efforts are aligned with NAEP’s as well as finding ways to encourage membership at both levels. The local chapters sometimes drift into entities of their own and I believe there is an opportunity to improve promotion on both sides as well as offer branding help and other information sharing to enrich collaboration between groups. As a person who is highly technically capable, I would like to continue to be involved with ensuring that initiatives are effective and using the most up to date technologies. One thing I would love to see it a better map to help people discover local chapters.

How will you finance your attendance to the Quarterly Board Meetings and Annual Conference?

As a sole-proprietor, I will be self-funding attendance to the meetings. I typically opt to stay in nearby Airbnb’s than the more expensive hotels or share rooms with colleagues.

Please list any other factors to consider:

I think I bring a broad and valuable set of skills to the table. Some of the ones that served us well in TBAEP were my technical abilities, brainstorming and meeting facilitation skills, productivity habits, and the ability to lead and collaborate. As an experienced project manager, I have the skills to move ideas into application. In every nonprofit, membership and funding present challenges, I think having someone on-board to keep tabs on efforts to get the next generation of professionals involved would be valuable for NAEP. Finally, I have a balanced left-right brain that never stops churning out ideas.

What other associations are you currently a member of and/or active in?

Association Active Current Office
TBAEP Ex-officio Past-president
NYSAEP/SYRAEP Yes Committee
PMI.org Yes  
Believe in Syracuse Yes Member
NCDA Yes Member


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Fred R. Wagner
Venable LLP

What are your environmental duties at your current company or affiliation? If retired, what are your current environmental activities?

I am a partner in Venable’s environmental law practice group. My field of concentration is federal environmental reviews, permitting and natural resources law. I counsel public and private sector clients on NEPA compliance, permit approvals, as well as defense of those actions in federal trial and appellate courts. Besides my current practice, I participate actively in a variety of industry associations such as the Transportation Research Board and the American Public Transportation Association, assisting those groups with continuing education and advocacy in the field of federal natural resources law.

Please detail any past local Chapter activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

I have not yet served in a local NAEP chapter.

Please detail any past NAEP activities/accomplishments/committees/offices held:

I have been an active participant in many NAEP annual meetings. I coordinate with Michael Smith and Pam Hudson on the regular NEPA law and litigation update for the Annual Conference. I have delivered multiples presentations on NEPA reform and federal policies impacting infrastructure development. Besides my personal involvement, I had the privilege of signing up my son, David Wagner, as an NAEP member! I have also written articles for Environmental Practice and currently service on the volunteer editorial review board.

What do you see as your key objectives or goals for NAEP should you be elected to the Board of Directors?

The pressures facing environmental professionals under the current administration are greater than ever. Even if the coming years result in a change of leadership in Washington, D.C., I don’t foresee these pressures diminishing greatly. Governmental and private parties will continue to demand that environmental reviews and permitting analyses be performed more quickly than ever. Many proposed administrative reforms will likely find their way into regulatory or statutory language. NAEP should take a leadership role in helping its members and the clients they serve understand how to meet these pressures, but at the same time not sacrifice either professional standards or environmental values in the process. I have been a high-ranking
federal policy maker in this arena, as well as a legal advisor to environmental professionals across the country. My goal on the Board would be to help NAEP members better understand their obligations from a legal perspective, and to help institutionalize best practices that live up to the highest standards for all environmental professionals.

How will you finance your attendance to the Quarterly Board Meetings and Annual Conference?

I expect that Venable will support the cost of my attendance at Board meetings; they already support my attendance and participation at the Annual Conference. I am also willing to personally fund certain expenses associated with my participation in Board activities.

Please list any other factors to consider:

Having an experienced environmental lawyer on the Board would provide a valuable perspective on the various issues NAEP addresses on a regular basis. Moreover, having served in a leadership position in the federal government (Chief Counsel of the Federal Highway Administration under President Obama), and working in Washington, D.C., I could assist the Board in following political and regulatory actions impacting the environmental profession. In this era of remarkable transition, the number of legal challenges to all manner of environmental issues has grown to unprecedented levels. I can help the Board understand and follow those developments.

What other associations are you currently a member of and/or active in?

Association Active Current Office
Transportation Research Board Yes Chair, Legal Resources Group
American Public Transportation Assn Yes Member, Legal Affairs Committee
NAEP Yes Member
American Exploration and Mining Assn Yes Member


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