Hope to See You in Tacoma!

2017 Closes Strong

The National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) finished 2017 with a flourish of activity, including the Conference Planning Session and Board meeting in preparation for the 2018 Annual Conference in Tacoma, Washington; the final webinar in the annual series with American Public University on Career Development: Getting in the Door and Being Present; a final NAEP webinar for the year on the Impacts of Power Generation and Transmission on Birds (moderated by NAEP member, Mike Mayer); and elections for open positions for at-large board members.

2018 NAEP Annual Conference in Tacoma, Washington, March 11 – 14, 2018

The 43rd Annual NAEP Conference, Sound Leadership in Environmental Adaptation and Resiliency, is being hosted by the Northwest Chapter of the Association of Environmental Professionals in Tacoma, Washington, March 11-14, 2018. Registration and sponsorship opportunities are still available (Registration; Sponsorship information). Tacoma is readily accessible from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, located on Puget Sound, midway between Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park. 

Sunday Workshops and Training

Come in on Sunday to take advantage of the full-day Advanced NEPA Workshop, a seminar on Seattle’s Elliott Bay Seawall Replacement Project, or the afternoon Emerging Professionals Career Skills and Motivational Workshop.

President’s Dinner

I look forward to seeing you all at the President’s Dinner on Monday evening, which will include live music and a dinner highlighting Pacific Northwest cuisine and beverages.

Professional Education Tracks

The Conference Committee has planned 53 sessions this year, including speakers from federal, state, and local agencies; environmental consulting firms; and non-governmental organizations. The NEPA track is particularly unique and exciting, featuring a special set of sessions related to Executive Order 13807, Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process, and vetting the NAEP NEPA Practice Group’s white paper in preparation for submittal to the U.S. Council on Environmental Quality.

Keynote Speakers

Take advantage of the opportunity to be inspired by all four of the keynote speakers, who are leaders in their respective areas of environmental practice:

March 12th

Morning Keynotes

• Leonard Forsman, Tribal Chairman of the Suquamish Tribe
• Lynda Mapes, Environmental Reporter, Seattle Times

Networking Lunch

• Edward (Ted) Boling, Associate Director for NEPA, Council on Environmental Quality

March 13th 

Networking Lunch

• Gloria Flora, Founder and Director, Sustainable Obtainable Solutions

Tours

Five tours are available to enrich your conference experience:

• Link Light Rail Walking Tour
• Port of Tacoma Boat Tour
• Dine Around Tacoma and Historic Brewery Tour
• Thea Foss Waterway Superfund Site Walking Tour
• Film Screening: Return of the River

Sponsors

The Annual Conference is made possible by support of our sponsors:

Mount Adams Sponsor

• HNTB

Mount Hood Sponsors

• AECOM
• American Public University
• Ecosystem Investment Partners
• HDR, Inc
• TRC

Mount Baker Sponsors

• Anchor QEA, LLC
• David Evans and Associates, Inc.
• ManTech
• Parametrix
• Sapphos Environmental, Inc.
• Vermont Law School

Glacier Peak Sponsors

• Port of Tacoma
• University of Pennsylvania, Penn LPS

Mount Jefferson Sponsors

• Case Studies in the Environment
• Historical Research Associates, Inc.
• Redfin
• Terraphase Engineering

Three Sisters Sponsors

• Floyd Snider

Affiliated Chapters

• Alaska Association of Environmental Professionals
• Arizona Association of Environmental Professionals
• California Association of Environmental Professionals
• Florida Association of Environmental Professionals
• Hawaii Association of Environmental Professionals
• Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals
• Mid-Atlantic Region Environmental Professionals
• Mid-America Association of Environmental Professionals
• North Carolina Association of Environmental Professionals

Exhibitors

• ASM Affiliates, Inc.
• Environmental Risk Information Services (ERIS)
• Environmental Science Associates
• Hart Crowser
• Holt Services, Inc.
• Volaero UAV and Drones Imaging Services

Table Top Displays

• Historical Information Gatherers, Inc.

2018 Is Off to an Exhilarating Start!

After a brief rest to enjoy the winter holidays with friends and family, Board reconvened for the first Board Meeting of 2018, hosted by the South Texas Chapter of the National Association of Environmental Professionals. On the day preceding the Board Meeting, the Permanent Conference Committee convened a special meeting to revisit the conference planning manual with input from recent conference hosts and chapters that have expressed an interest in hosting an annual NAEP Conference. The NAEP Board initiated the year with a flurry of activity at the January Board meeting:

• Past President Brock Hoegh and Membership Chair Leslie Tice proposed revisions to the bylaws related to membership categories, qualifications to serve on the Executive Committee of NAEP, that were vetted and will be presented at the General Membership Meeting at the Conference brought back to the Board for consideration at the March 15, 2018 Board Meeting.
• NAEP Treasurer Joseph Musil provided a Financial Report indicating that 2017 was a successful year and that he is working with the accountant to close the books for the year.
• Marketing and Communications Pillar Lead and Chair David Mattern provided an update on the branding exercise being led by Kite (who will provide an update at the General Membership meeting at the conference).
• NAEP Association Managers Lynne Bynder and Candace Bynder announced that the Lord Baltimore Hotel has been secured as the venue for the 2019 conference.
• Permanent Conference Committee Chair Rona Spellecacy provided a summary of the work accomplished by the committee and an overview of anticipated updates to the conference manual.
• Leadership Pillar Lead Ron Deverman provided a summary of 2017 activities and plans for 2018, which inspired the California Chapter to revisit the Leadership Webinar from November 2017 and share it with their full board and the boards of their local chapters.
• President of the South Texas AEP Chapter April Brandon made a presentation regarding their efforts to reinvigorate the Chapter, excellent participation in events, and short- and longer-term objectives for the Chapter.
• Chapters Pillar and Committee Chair Bill Plumpton presented a motion to increase the frequency of Chapter Summits, which was unanimously approved.
• NAEP Vice-President and Publication Pillar and Committee Chair Betty Dehoney reported on the efforts of Frank Dirrigl, the new editor-in-chief of the Environmental Practice, to expand the repertoire of manuscript submittals. Frank will be at the conference and seeking out presentations that are well-suited for conversion to manuscript for publication.
• Membership Chair Leslie Tice presented excellent news regarding expanding NAEP membership and a new membership brochure. Sadly, she also said her good-byes, as this was her last board meeting. She will be at the conference, so please make sure to reach out to her and thank her for all her efforts on behalf of NAEP.

Many thanks for your collective efforts on behalf of the environment and your fellow travelers on planet Earth. I am looking forward to seeing as many of you in Tacoma as possible. For those of you who will not be with us, you will be with us in spirit...

Yours in Service,
Marie Campbell, NAEP President

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