Gary Kelman
CAFO Program Manager
Maryland Department of the Environment
Baltimore, MD
Phone: 410-537-4423
E-mail Address: [email protected]

Gary F. Kelman has been an environmental professional for over 35 years.  His practice has specialized in water and wastewater issues, project management, technical presentations and regulation of industries and public works.  After graduating with a degree in Life Sciences from Philadelphia University, Gary was admitted to the University of Maryland Civil Engineering Graduate Program, earning his MS in Environmental Engineering.  Working for a small consulting firm in Bethesda, Maryland, he developed environmental assessments, impact statements, operated water quality laboratory analytical equipment and performed environmental sampling.  Next, Gary joined the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), where his career started with water quality modeling for municipal NPDES discharge permits, design of water quality field studies, development of industrial NPDES discharge permits and the management of Maryland’s pretreatment program.  Recognized as a leader by upper management at MDE, Gary was elevated to Director of Permitting and Customer Service by Maryland’s Environmental Secretary.  This position put him in charge of MDE’s Environmental Permits Service Center, Pollution Prevention Program and Small Business Assistance Center.  It also included Department-wide oversight of MDE’s enforcement, compliance and permitting programs.  A need existed at MDE for development of a program to regulate nutrient discharges from animal feeding operations.  As he does with all of his projects, Gary brought his enthusiasm to this new assignment and now manages MDE’s Animal Feeding Operations (AFO) program, elevating it to the premier program of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic/Chesapeake Bay region and earning respect from the regulated community, USDA, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, farm lending institutions and other agencies.  During his career, Gary received many honors and awards including MDE’s Employee of the Year in 2010 (out of over 1000 employees) and being named an NAEP Fellow in 2010, one of only 7 in the organization’s 37 year history.

Gary first heard of NAEP while a consultant in 1978 and initially joined the Maryland Chapter.  He quickly moved up the ranks of the Chapter to become its President.  As President he expanded the Chapter to include Virginia, Maryland and Delaware as NAEP’s Chesapeake Chapter.  During this time Gary started attending NAEP National Board meetings in Washington, DC as the Maryland/Chesapeake Chapter representative, and was asked to run for the National Board.  While on the NAEP Board, he participated in several committees including the permanent conference committee.  Gary was involved with several NAEP conferences and volunteered his wife, Wendy, to coordinate conference logistics for a couple of them.  He rose up the NAEP ladder to be Secretary, Vice-President and President, serving one term in the 1990’s and two terms from 2004 through 2006.  Gary felt that there should be a formal agreement between NAEP and its chapters that outlined the responsibilities of each.  This idea was developed into the chapter affiliation agreement.  Gary drafted and managed the first round of these documents.  Over the years he got to know Jim Roberts very well and, after Jim passed away in 2007, he participated on a committee to initiate the Jim Roberts Memorial Scholarship Fund.  Now he is its Chair.  Currently, Gary is in his third term as President of the Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals (ABCEP).

Gary has long said that the best way to get the most from an organization is by participating in its activities.  Paying dues and expecting benefits and services does not maximize the organization’s value to an individual.  He has developed long-lasting friendships and professional relationships through his involvement with NAEP.  Information is just a phone call or e-mail away since he can tap into the resources of the environmental professionals he has met over the years.  If you want to discuss NAEP, or ABCEP for that matter, Gary can be contacted at 410-537-4423 or [email protected].  He currently works for the Maryland Department of the Environment in Baltimore, Maryland and volunteers on weekends at the Newseum in Washington, DC.