Fred Jacobs, Ph.D.

Fred Jacobs, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and head of the Natural Resources practice at AKRF, Inc., has over 30 years of experience in natural resources, impact assessment, and aquatic ecology. His expertise focuses on the environmental impact of anthropogenic activities on water quality and biological communities in marine, wetland, and estuarine habitats. He also has considerable experience complying with NEPA guidelines and procuring environmental permits from governmental agencies. Dr. Jacobs played an important role in preparing the Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to NEPA and SEQRA guidelines for the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, which has replaced the Tappan Zee Bridge. He is a graduate of the City College of New York and University of Virginia.

Christopher Calvert, AICP

Christopher M. Calvert, AICP, Senior Vice President at AKRF, Inc., directs the firm-wide transportation planning practice preparing environmental reviews pursuant to federal, state, and local guidelines for transportation and infrastructure projects. He has a comprehensive understanding of National Environmental Policy Act analysis and documentation requirements, as well as the unique regulations of Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and Executive Order 12898, Environmental Justice. Chris managed the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Environmental Impact Statement among many other bridge, highway, and public transportation projects. He is a Certified Planner and graduate of DePaul University and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Andrea Fortman

Andrea Fortman, EIT, water resources engineer and scientist at AKRF, Inc., has special expertise in stream geomorphology, GIS analysis, sediment and erosion control, and green infrastructure stormwater management design. She has served in a variety of support positions at AKRF and has been responsible for developing stream restoration and green infrastructure design plans, field work plans, and technical reports including design reports, environmental impact statements, and stormwater pollution prevention plans. Andrea helped asses the existing environmental conditions for the secondary channel restoration at Gay’s Point for the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing mitigation and assisted in the design work for the channel. She is an Engineer-in-Training and graduate of Cornell University and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. 

Justin Krebs, Ph.D.

Justin M. Krebs, Ph.D., is a Senior Technical Director and Fish Ecologist at AKRF, Inc. He is one of AKRF's technical leads during the NEPA permitting process for large transportation infrastructure projects, waterfront development, and offshore wind. In this role, he conducts environmental impact assessments and biological evaluations for the aquatic aspects of the project and routinely coordinates with state and federal agencies on Endangered Species Act and Essential Fish Habitat issues. Dr. Krebs is AKRF's deputy project manager for the Governor Mario M. Cuomo/Tappan Zee Bridge Environmental Mitigation and Sturgeon Conservation Program and is one of the Designated Biologists for the New York State Thruway Authority on this project. He is a graduate of Millersville University, the Florida Institute of Technology, and the University of South Florida.

Terry McKiven

Terry L. McKiven, Hydrographic Survey Manager at Prudent Engineering, LLP, has over 15 years of experience in land and hydrographic surveying and mapping and is responsible for coordinating Prudent’s hydrography operations. He is a U.S. Coast Guard-certified Master Captain with expertise in a range of hydrographic operations, such as single- and multi-beam bathymetric surveys; sub-bottom surveying and profiling; side-scan surveys; bottom classification mapping; and endangered species studies, as well as HYPACK-certified with proficiency using SonarWiz 6. As hydrographic party chief for the Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing project he was responsible for mapping the Hudson River Shallows, for which high-resolution side-scan imaging of approximately 27,000 acres of river bottom was conducted to produce bottom classification and benthic habitat maps. 

Melissa Toni

Melissa Toni is the Environmental Program Coordinator for the New York Division of the Federal Highway Administration. She has been with FHWA for 12 years and works with the environmental and biological aspects of project development and construction. Regarding the Highway Program, Melissa has developed streamlined and efficient procedures related to Section 404 Clean Water Act wetlands and the Endangered Species Act. Melissa has 20 years of experience in the environmental field, working in consulting, for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Army National Guard. She has a B.S. in Natural Resources Management and Engineering from the University of Connecticut.