Vote for the 2022–2025 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 6 nominees and 6 spots to fill.
The NAEP Elections deadline has now passed. Please stay tuned for further updates.
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, AEP
Sapphos Environmental, Inc.
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
Having had the honor to serve as an elected At-Large Director for the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP), my goal in seeking an additional term is to continue to provide support in the development of emerging and advancing environmental professionals by coordinating and implementing diverse opportunities for educational programming. As a Hispanic woman, I believe that there is an opportunity to expand the overall participation in the environmental profession, and the NAEP membership by expanding outreach efforts to diverse communities. I am also dedicated to the continued alliance between NAEP and affiliated chapters for the collective good of environmental professionals and the protection of the natural and cultural environment.
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.
- President, Chief Executive Officer of Sapphos Environmental, Inc.
- 1992–present Sapphos Environmental, Inc. Provide strategic advice and program and project management related to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Serve as the Environmental Oversight Manager for the California High-speed Rail (HSR) project Construction Package 4. Responsibilities include oversight of the EIR/EIS Mitigation Monitoring and Enforcement Program and related environmental permits
- 1987–1992 Associate, MBA. Oversaw a team of environmental specialists in the preparation of environmental documents pursuant to NEPA and CEQA, and related federal and state permits, for primarily major public infrastructure projects
- 1982–1987 Acting Environmental Resources Branch Chief, Los Angeles District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers UCLA Geography (Geomorphology and Biogeography) BA UCLA Ecosystems: Conservation of Natural Resources
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held.
- 2016–Present Elected At-Large Board Member California Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP)
- Organized and presented five AEP Institutes: Air Quality and Environmental Justice (2022, in preparation); Environmental Justice (2020/2021); Fire Resiliency (2019); CEQA and Housing Crisis (2018); and Vehicle Miles Traveled Analysis (2017)
- 2010–2016 Director, Los Angeles Chapter of California AEP
- 1992–2010 Elected Board Member, Various Positions, Los Angeles Chapter of California AEP
- 1998–2019 Trainer: CEQA Essentials, Advanced CEQA, Advanced NEPA
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held.
- 2018–Present Co-Chair NAEP Education Committee
- 2021 EPR Podcast
- 2012–2021 Participation in NAEP Annual Conference, including speaking and moderating
- 2019–2021 Advanced NEPA Workshops
- 2018–2021 Moderator/Facilitator for over 20 NAEP webinars
- 2019–2021 Immediate Past President, 2017–2019 President, 2015–2017 Vice-President
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
With Claudia Garcia, I co-chair the California AEP DEI initiative. California AEP honored Sapphos with the DEI achievement award in 2021 for our work on acknowledging the contributions of African Americans in Altadena, a community in Los Angeles County. In addition, I presented at the 2021 Annual California AEP Conference on the topic of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the environmental professions, and the work that is being undertaken to integrate DEI into all aspects of California AEP governance and activities. During my tenure as President, the Board of Directors drafted revisions to the NAEP Code of Ethics to enhance the emphasis on respect for all people, and the expectations related to professional conduct. During that time, an ethics panel was added to the Conference Agenda and has also been presented twice as a NAEP webinar.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation for improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
- Expand opportunities for accessible and affordable environmental training, workshops, and webinars that support the development of environmental professionals
- Invite participation of a broader range of environmental professionals, from students to seasoned professionals to participate in NAEP
- Actively engage with affiliated chapters to the mutual benefit of NAEP and the chapters, particularly by leveraging the bargaining power of the collective 5,000 members
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in?
California AEP 1992–Present
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
As the owner of a small business, and having served on boards of directors for a number of not-for-profit entities, I am fiscally conservative and understand the delicate balance between investment for advancement and prudent saving to safeguard against unanticipated issues.
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Emily Gulick, CEP-IT
Jacobs
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
I joined NAEP essentially right out of college. Since then, NAEP has been and continues to be paramount in my success, including my professional development and career advancement. The opportunity to join the NAEP board as an at-large member would allow me to support and continue to develop an organization that has provided so much to 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 joined Jacobs Engineering Group in 2017, which began my current career as an Environmental Planner. In this role, I am primarily focused on implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for various federal agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Defense (DoD). In this role, I've supported a wide range of projects including large-scale and controversial Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and small-scale streamlined Environmental Assessments (EAs). I also lead Jacobs' Environmental Justice subgroup.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held.
I have attended a handful of the California chapter events. But, I look forward to being more involved in the future.
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held.
I joined NAEP in 2018 and have subsequently been engaged in a variety of activities. I regularly attend the annual conferences and in 2021 I co-presented on "Applying Best Practices and Mitigations for NEPA Documents." I am also actively engaged in NAEP Working Groups, including co-founding and currently chairing the Environmental Justice Working Group, NAEP's newest working group, and regularly attending the NEPA Working Group. Additionally, I co-presented with Fred Wagner on the environmental justice topic for NAEP's 2021 Advanced NEPA Workshop.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
As the current chair of the NAEP Environmental Justice Working Group, I strive to facilitate a WG that is a resource for all practitioners, a gathering place for thought leaders, and an incubator for rising professionals. To accomplish this goal, the WG meets regularly to discuss emerging trends, case studies, etc. relating to EJ in an open discussion format. The members are encouraged to engage in the dialogue and provide any suggestions on topics for discussion.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
If elected as a board member, I would encourage a wide range of initiatives. I would work to engage with the next generation of environmental professionals, aiming to increase the number of emerging professional members and initiatives. Additionally, I would focus on growing and fostering DEI initiatives across all of NAEP's working groups, which are a vital component of the NAEP membership benefits.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in?
ABCEP, CEP-IT, 2020 (active)
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
I am deeply honored that I was selected as the ABCEP's Emerging Environmental Professional Achievement Award for 2021. The award demonstrates my commitment to the profession, being a leader for the emerging professional, and my desire to make the world a better place for future generations to come.
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Chris Holdridge
HDR Inc.
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
I am interested in joining the NAEP Board as an at-large member to increase my professional network, help increase NAEP membership, and promote the environmental field. I see a significant opportunity/need to continue working to increase NAEP’s young membership, which is a problem that other professional associations also have.
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.
At HDR, I am a Senior Project Manager with a staff of four. I manage complex NEPA projects, portfolios of NEPA projects, and environmental due diligence documents (i.e., Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Environmental Baseline Surveys). I am also HDR’s Impact Assessment Practice co-lead responsible for company-wide development, coordination, monitoring, and improvement of the technical competencies of over 150 impact assessment professionals, and I am the Quality Control Lead for HDR’s military NEPA group.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held.
Pennsylvania did not have an approved NAEP Chapter until recently. I have attended a few meetings and events over the past several years.
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held.
I have been a member of NAEP since 2014 and presented “Beans, Bullets, and Bunnies: Navigating the Complex World of DoD NEPA” in 2017 and “DLA NEPA and Protection of the Chesapeake Bay” in 2019. I have attended several NAEP workshops and seminars and provided comments on CEQ’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 2019.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
I have been HDR EOC’s Plymouth Meeting Office’s Affirmative Action Plan Outreach coordinator. In this role, I collected and submitted our office’s outreach efforts for four protected classes (veteran, minority, female, and disabled). I have attended several Society of American Military Engineer Small Business events, which include a significant number of veteran-, minority-, and female-owned businesses. My reason for attending these events was to identify small businesses with which we could team on future projects.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
Based on my experience with NAEP, I believe NAEP could improve membership benefits via improved communication and expanded webinar registration options. I have been a member of NAEP for 8 years and just recently learned of NAEP Happy Hours with Leadership and how to join a committee. This information is on the website, but I typically only review the website when I am looking for specific information. Perhaps an annual email of opportunities or a more obvious way to join a committee on the webpage would be helpful. Regarding webinar registration, I work at a large business and it’s not efficient to have multiple individuals pay to join a webinar, request approval, submit expense reports, and wait for reimbursement. It would be more efficient (and may result in more attendance) if there were an option to register a group (say up to 10 or 20).
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in?
I have been an active member of the Society of American Military Engineers Philadelphia Post since 2001 and was on the Board of Directors from 2005–2015. While on the Board, I set up and managed several monthly member meetings (dinner with professional presentation or environmental tour with a social event) and led the communications committee via developing and submitting monthly meeting emails and providing website updates to our webmaster. I also maintained the post’s membership list and requested sponsors for each monthly meeting.
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Michael Mayer, AEP
HDR, Inc
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
I have been involved with the NAEP for a number of years and have been a NAEP Board Member as the Minnesota Chapter Representative since 2017. I am passionate about the environmental profession and the ability of NAEP to create a community of professionals that focuses on collaboration and continued education. As a Board member, I would hope to work to increase NAEP's visibility among non-members to grow our organization. I am currently the Vice President of NAEP; however, I cannot also serve as the Minnesota Chapter Representative in that capacity. Therefore, to continue as Vice President, I need to seek an At-Large Director position.
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 environmental section manager for Minnesota and Wisconsin and serve as a project manager and senior environmental planning lead. I also support our Environmental Science and Permitting National Practice as a Principal. I am engaged in staff management, project management, business development, and regulatory updates. Prior to my position with HDR, I worked for several other consulting companies and the federal government focused on NEPA, ESA, MBTA, and other laws and policies.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held.
I initiated the establishment of the Minnesota Association of Environmental Professionals in 2017 and served as President from 2018–2021 (four years). I am the Vice President as of 2022. I was also the MNAEP chapter representative to the NAEP Board from 2018–2021. I helped establish bylaws and other policies for MNAEP, build membership, host a NAEP Board Meeting, and develop programs and present webinars.
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held.
I have served on the education committee for NAEP and have organized a number of webinars. I also serve as the biological resources practice group lead for NAEP. I received the NAEP President's Award in 2018. I served on the Chapters Committee and on the Board as the MNAEP Chapter Representative from 2018–2021. I worked on the Chapters Committee to develop a grant process for new and emerging chapters. I have contributed to the Newsletter and provided an interview for EPR. I currently serve as the Vice President of the NAEP.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
I wholeheartedly support DEI initiatives and have had discussions related to programming and membership at the state chapter level. Although I have not led an initiative, I would appreciate the opportunity to work with others to expand our membership and programming to be more inclusive.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
I would work with the other members of the Board to diversify the NAEP programming to better reflect the diversity of professionals that are members. I would also seek to develop additional benefits included as part of the dues, such as meaningful Practice Group engagement. I think that there are a lot of professionals that are yet to be introduced to NAEP, and I would work with the membership committee to seek ways to increase our visibility and membership. A priority would also be to find safe ways for in-person interactions to promote networking and information sharing among 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.
- The Wildlife Society 1994–current - Member
- MNAEP 2017–current - Vice President
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
I have really enjoyed my time as a member of NAEP and interacting and collaborating with the Board as a Chapter Representative. I'd like to continue to support NAEP in my role as Vice President.
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Charles (Chuck) Nicholson
HDR, Inc.
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
I first joined the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director in 2016. At that time, I was heavily involved with the NAEP NEPA Practice and wanted to increase my involvement in other NAEP activities. I was then a federal employee and believed this allowed me to bring different experiences and perspectives to the Board. Since joining the Board, I have been involved in numerous Board activities
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 part-time Senior Environmental Scientist/Planner with HDR, Inc. with a primary focus on National Environmental Policy Act compliance. My main roles are as a NEPA advisor during project planning, QA/QC reviewer, and co-chair of the HDR Impact Assessment Practice Group. 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. In addition to my part-time employment, I am actively involved in other environmental activities through organizations/associations listed below, as well as volunteer-in-park activities at two national parks.
Please list any past local chapter activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or offices held.
I am a member of the Tennessee chapter. I was involved in its early organizing activities and presented the program at one of the first chapter meetings. I am not very active in the chapter at this time because most chapter functions are held in Nashville (3+ hours travel) and I am rarely able to attend them in person. I have not been a chapter officer.
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held.
I have been a member of NAEP for about 16 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 six years. The last few years were particularly active for the NEPA practice as we responded to a flurry of executive orders, rulemakings, and other initiatives that have made major changes in NEPA compliance processes. I contributed articles to and compiled the recent NAEP annual NEPA reports. I have given presentations at several annual conferences and in NAEP webinars. I was first 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, Publications, and Awards Committees. I have been an instructor in NAEP’s advanced NEPA training classes and have led the development of several NAEP comment letters on rulemakings related to the National Environmental Policy Act.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
My involvement with DEI initiatives has been through participation in the NAEP Environmental Justice Working Group and the HDR Environmental Justice and Equity Practice Group, as well as leading or co-leading discussions of emerging issues in environmental justice impact assessment by the NAEP NEPA Practice. Given the Biden administration’s current emphasis on this topic, I expect this involvement to increase in the future.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
The improvement of membership benefits has been and will continue to be a major focus of the NAEP Board. As part of this focus, we need to continue to emphasize the unique organizational niche that NAEP fills through our publications, annual conferences, webinars, training, state chapters, and practice groups. Deciding on the scope and cost of these services/benefits involves hard choices and trade-offs. An example of this was the decision a few years ago to cease publication of the Environmental Practice journal and transform the NAEP newsletter into the Environmental Practice Bulletin. Nevertheless, we have been able to improve overall benefits/services in recent years in recent years despite some major challenges. We can continue this improvement by focusing on what differentiates NAEP from other organizations, continuing to maintain a fiscally responsible budget, and increasing the involvement of the general membership in our activities. The pending update to the NAEP strategic plan is a critical step in this process.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in?
- American Association for the Advancement of Science – member since about 1995
- Sheltowee Trace Association – member since 2018, elected to Board of Directors in 2020, member of Land and Legal, Funding and Revenue, Membership and Volunteers, and Trails Management board teams
- The city of Norris, TN Tree Commission (urban forestry board) – member since 2006, chair since 2011
- Tennessee Ornithological Society – member since 1970, formerly held several leadership positions
- TennGreen Land Conservancy – member since 2016, annually monitor several owned preserves and conservation easement sites
- Tennessee Urban Forestry Council – member since 2017
- Wilson Ornithological Society – member since about 1979
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
I have 43+ 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 later years at TVA. 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.
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Fred Wagner, JD
Venable LLP
Why do you want to join the NAEP Board as an At-Large Director?
I am a current At-Large Director of the NAEP Board. During my first term, I have been active in helping to advance NAEP's important education and outreach missions. I am a frequent presenter at NAEP meetings and webinars, offering input to members on the legal perspectives so important to environmental professionals. I have emphasized the central role of environmental justice by creating the presentation used during the Annual Advanced NEPA Workshops. I have partnered with Emily Gulick and the new EJ Committee in keeping members abreast of fast-moving developments in law and administration policy dealing with all issues surrounding equity and the environment. With respect to member outreach, I have been a regular guest on Environmental Professionals' Radio, offering my views on legal developments in the Biden administration and helping members navigate the remarkable changes taking place almost every day. I have also garnered the support of my law firm to support EPR moving forward as a regular sponsor. If re-elected, I hope to continue these efforts and help NAEP continue to grow through effective partnerships with related professional organizations and individuals performing all aspects of environmental analyses for NEPA reviews, permitting, property evaluations, and more.
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 partner at Venable LLP in the firm's DC and Baltimore offices. I have practiced environmental law for 35 years in the private and public sectors. In the government, I have served as a Trial Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Environment Division and as Chief Counsel at the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. I serve as the Chair of the Legal Resources Section of the Transportation Research Board and on the Legal Affairs Committee of the American Public Transportation Association.
Please list any past NAEP activities, accomplishments, committees, and/or positions held
I have presented on legal developments under NEPA and related regulatory issues at NAEP annual meetings for over a decade. I have participated in and planned numerous webinars on similar topics. I will continue to be an Environmental Professionals' Radio "legal expert" for the podcast series in 2022.
What type of DEI initiatives have you contributed to previously or would you contribute to in the future?
I have served on a major law firm's hiring committee, in which capacity I was responsible for recruiting and attorney retention. I assisted the firm's hiring professional team in reaching out to minority law school organizations and national minority legal organizations to promote environmental law in general, and my firm's opportunities for diverse candidates. I also have sponsored a minority fellowship for participation in the TRB's Legal Resources Section, conducting outreach to law schools around the country to attract minority law students to the transportation law field.
Based upon your knowledge of NAEP, what would be your priorities/recommendation of improving NAEP's benefits for its membership?
NAEP is the nation's best source of educational opportunities under NEPA and related environmental permitting laws. It is essential that we make these resources widely available and affordable to our members. I also feel NAEP needs to enhance its profile by creating effective partnerships with other organizations that cover many of these same issues. In this way, we could be able to raise the organization's own profile, and perhaps also attract new members. The Infrastructure and Jobs Act will create tremendous opportunities over the next decade and NAEP needs to take advantage of those opportunities to explain how membership provides value to those working in this field.
What other associations are you currently a member of and active in?
- Transportation Research Board: 20+ years; current Chair of Legal Resources Committee; past Chair of Environmental Issues in Transportation Law Standing Committee; past member of Technical Advisory Council
- American Public Transportation Association: 10+ years; member Legal Affairs Committee
- American Bar Association: 35 years; member of the Section on Environment and Natural Resources
- Federal Bar Association: 10+ years; member of the Transportation Law Section
Please state any other factors that should be considered that support your election to the NAEP Board of Directors.
I feel the Board has benefitted from having the perspective of a legal professional amongst its members. So much of the work of NAEP members depends on meeting legal standards and, in many instances, defending that work in court. As an environmental lawyer with over three decades of government and private sector experience, and having had the privilege of working with hundreds of environmental professionals across the United States on projects big and small, I feel I can continue to be a valuable asset to the Board and the NAEP in general.
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Please review the slate above put forth by the Nominating Committee and cast your vote.
The election will close at 5:00 PM Pacific on March 11, 2022.
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