Maggie Melin is a research associate at the Green Infrastructure Center. She is conducting research and outreach for several GIC projects such as a green infrastructure assessment for Accomack County on the Virginia coast and a review of green infrastrucurre planning capacity in the southern U.S., and she is a teaching assistant for green infrastructure courses at the Univeristy of Virginia (UVA). She is currently working on her master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning at UVA's School of Architecture and is focused on both environmental planning and urban design. She received her B.S. in statistics from the University of Michigan. She developed an interest in urban environmental planning after living in the San Francisco Bay Area for several years.

Tim Padalino, Research Associate

Tim Padalino is a research associate with the Green Infrastructure Center. He is assisting with the Richmond Green Infrastructure Assessment – a project that strongly correlates with his studies in the Master of Urban & Environmental Planning program at the University of Virginia. Mr. Padalino is interested in working collaboratively to develop creative design and planning solutions for complex issues, with a specific interest in the intersection of urban built environments, natural systems, and socio-cultural networks. Prior professional experience includes landscape architecture, urban design, conservation land planning, and regional economic development projects across the eastern United States. Mr. Padalino holds a B.S. degree from the Department of Landscape Architecture at Penn State University.

Associates

Courtney Barrett, Accounts Assistant

Courtney Barrett is the accounts assistant for the GIC. She has over six years of experience in accounting and contract management with E² Inc., and works in a number of areas, including business development, budgeting, and financial analysis.  Additionally, Ms. Barrett plays a key role in developing human resources for E² Inc.  Ms. Barrett received a B.A. in linguistics from the University of Virginia.

Kate Bird, Researcher and Analyst

Kate Bird is a researcher and analyst for the GIC and provides E² Inc with analytical and technical support to EPA's Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST), Superfund Redevelopment Initiative (SRI), and Superfund Program. Ms. Bird's project work has included alternative fuels policy research, Web site development and management, GIS-based mapping analyses, and analytical support of the Superfund Five Year Review process. For SRI, Ms. Bird has conducted site assessments and developed reuse scenarios for ecological and recreational land uses and historic preservation at several Superfund sites and coordinated the production of videos highlighting reuse successes. Ms. Bird has developed graphic design materials for EPA conferences, case studies, trainings, and reports and has also served as a coordinator and facilitator for community-based watershed management meetings in Virginia.

Dr. Luis Carrasco, Technical Advisor

Dr. Carrasco has twelve years of academic and professional experience in environmental assessment and spatial analysis. He will provide technical direction to the project as well as expertise in designing management and implementation tools. His green infrastructure planning expertise includes researching and developing spatial analysis methodologies to determine land cover change and suitability, and developing GIS-based stream and wetland monitoring and mitigation tools for organizations. Mr. Carrasco is an associate with E² Inc.’s Technical Assistance and Communication group and assists the GIC with GIS analysis, data analysis, modeling and statistics. Prior to his work with GIC and E² Inc., he was employed as a GIS Analyst for the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation where he provided GIS expertise to environmental professionals in cartography, GIS analysis, spatial database design and management, and GPS data collection. He has a broad background in environmental science and policy, including natural resources, forestry and environmental impact assessment. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Assessment and Spatial Analysis and a Master of Science in Environmental Assessment, both from North Carolina State University. His Bachelor of Science degree is in forestry from the National Agrarian Univ., Peru. He also received a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from North Carolina State Univ.

Christy Cunnington, Researcher and Analyst

Christy Cunnington is a researcher and analyst for the GIC. For E² Inc Ms. Cunnington works mainly on Five Year Reviews, redevelopment of contaminated properties, the removal of barriers to reuse at Superfund sites, and the development and implantation of land revitalization performance measures. She received her bachelor's degree in Applied Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Amanda Goyne, Environmental Scientist

Amanda Goyne, Ph.D., is an environmental scientist with the GIC and has experience applying in-field research, data collection, and analysis to the technical study of coastal marine and wetland conservation issues.  Previous research has included analyses of trophic dynamics in coastal Virginia and population dynamics of threatened marine mammals along the Eastern coast of the United States. In addition, Dr. Goyne has experience communicating technical issues and facilitating understanding of these issues by a wide array of audiences, including presentation of research findings at 14 academic conferences, development and presentation of technical trainings, and outreach to school classrooms.  As Deputy Program Manager for a contract with the Office of Underground Storage Tanks and Work Assignment Manager for a Hazard Ranking System Superfund contract, Dr. Goyne has a broad understanding of technical issues related to water quality, ground and surface water processes, fate and transport of contaminants in water, and the effects of these contaminants on habitats, plants, and animals.  Dr. Goyne has a doctorate and a master’s degree in environmental sciences and a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Alisa Hefner, Mapping and Assessment Analyst

Alisa Hefner is the Mapping and Assessment Analyst for the Green Infrastructure Center and has seven years of experience in landscape architecture, environmental planning, landscape assessments, and ecological restoration.  She has worked with local governments and state and federal agencies to develop land-use planning strategies for the restoration, protection, and preservation of ecologically sensitive areas, cultural landscapes, and historic resources. As part of her work with the GIC, Ms. Hefner works with multidisciplinary teams to conduct local and regional green infrastructure projects. She also works on developing strategies for implementing statewide Virginia Conservation Land Needs Assessment models at a local level as well as researching and developing new tools for green infrastructure planning. Ms. Hefner is also an Associate Designer with E² Inc.’s Community Planning and Design team and assists communities in planning and developing reuse strategies for environmentally impaired landscapes. Prior to working with E² Inc. and the GIC, she was employed as a contractor for the National Park Service as a preservation planner to conduct cultural landscape assessments and develop treatment plans to protect historic resources. Her professional experience also includes community-based projects such as rail to trails initiatives and photo-realistic simulations of alternative development scenarios to demonstrate watershed protection. Her master’s work focused on landscape ecology research and green infrastructure modeling for a coastal community in North Carolina. Ms. Hefner has a master’s degree in landscape architecture with a minor in ecological restoration from North Carolina State University.

Rob Kurtz, GIS Programmer

Mr. Kurtz has over eight years of experience with GIS and database programming, analysis and research. He will provide expertise in designing and developing management and implementation tools for the project. Mr. Kurtz is an associate database and GIS Analyst/Programmer for E² Inc.’s Technical Assistance and Communication group and assists projects with GIS analysis, data analysis, modeling and statistics. Prior to his work with GIC and E² Inc., he was employed as a GIS Analyst and Programmer for the Albemarle County Service Authority and Virginia Department of Forestry where he provided GIS expertise, database creation, and statistical analysis. Rob has a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning, Univ. of Virginia and a Bachelor of Science in Archaeology from James Madison University.

Sarah Malpass, Project Coordinator

Sarah Malpass is a project coordinator with the GIC, and is currently working on the green infrastructure assessment for Accomack County. She has a background in project management and community development and enjoys working collaboratively with communities to identify their existing assets and future opportunities. Ms. Malpass is also an Associate Planner with E2, Inc.’s Community Planning and Design team. She has a master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Sociology & Urban Studies from Wheaton College. While at the University of Virginia, Ms. Malpass contributed to a green infrastructure report for the City of Lynchburg, VA. She also worked as a project manager for the University Community Racial Reconciliation Project at UVA’s Institute for Environmental Negotiation.

Miranda Maupin, Project Manager

Miranda Maupin works with the GIC on community planning and design. She is a senior associate with GIC's partner firm E² Inc where she is the Manager of the Community Planning and Design Team. Ms. Maupin brings more than eleven years of public-sector planning, policy, urban redevelopment, and stakeholder involvement experience to her current work in land use planning for Superfund and brownfield impacted communities. She is recognized for her expertise in leading multi-disciplinary teams to resolve complex environmental and development conflicts that address state and federal requirements with an approach tailored to the needs of local jurisdictions. Her track record of finding win-win solutions for public agencies and local stakeholders is based on a solid understanding of the site specific regulatory requirements, technical analysis and community values. Ms. Maupin has developed site designs, legislation, policies, programs and capital projects. During her prior role as a senior strategic advisor for the City of Seattle, she led multi-disciplinary teams to initiate sustainable redevelopment projects, including High Point which was featured in the PBS series, Edens Lost and Found as a national example of sustainability. Ms. Maupin holds a MLA from the University of Washington and was a recipient of the “Excellence in Government” Award from Harvard Business School.

Matt Robbie, Environmental Planner & GIS Analyst

Matt Robbie is a geographer, environmental planner and GIS analyst with GIC. He has six years experience in community and environmental planning.  Working with organizations, local, state, and federal governments, he has developed land-use planning strategies for the restoration, protection, and preservation of scenic roads and byways, national heritage corridors and former industrial properties. 

Mr. Robbie also works with E² Inc. as an associate planner on the Community Planning and Design Team to assist communities in developing reuse strategies for Superfund sites and environmentally impaired properties. Prior to joining E² Inc., he worked as a graduate associate at the University of Virginia's Institute for Environmental Negotiation, coordinating a community watershed-planning project in Fairfax County, Virginia. He has also worked as an assistant planner in landscape architecture firms in Middlebury, VT, and Providence, RI. He received his master's degree in Urban & Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and his bachelor of arts in geography from the University of Vermont.

Krissy Russell-Hedstrom, Environmental Scientist

Krissy Russell-Hedstrom, Ph.D., is an environmental scientist with the GIC and IAP2 certified in public participation. She has taught chemistry and environmental science at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale, Colorado, where she also directed the school's recycling program and served as science department chair. She has also worked as a field science and outdoor education instructor at the Gore Range Natural Science School in Red Cliff, Colorado. Dr. Russell-Hedstrom received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Delaware in 1994, an M.S. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia in 1997, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia in 2002. Her graduate research focused on wet and dry nitrogen deposition to sensitive waterbodies on the mid-Atlantic U.S. coast and she has published her findings in several research journals.

James Wilkinson, Researcher, Editor and Land Use Planner

James Wilkinson is a researcher, editor, and land use planner with the GIC.  Mr. Wilkinson has eleven years of experience and at E² Inc provides technical support to communities as they generate and evaluate options for reuse planning and land revitalization initiatives for environmentally impaired properties. He has visited, managed, and served as a researcher, trainer, and facilitator at most of these sites. Mr. Wilkinson has a master's degree from the University of Virginia in Urban and Environmental Planning; he also has an M.A. in American Literature from Cambridge University and a BA in English and History from the College of William and Mary. Prior to joining E² Inc., Mr. Wilkinson worked as a journalist, a freelance editor, and as a writer for the Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University of Virginia.

Casey Williams, GIC Planner

Ms. Williams has nine years of experience in mixed-use development, community facilitation, mediation and project management. Her green infrastructure expertise includes developing sustainability guidelines to inform residential development and creating development suitability maps for Audubon Environmental based on landscape characteristics. Ms. Williams in an Associate Planner with E² Inc.’s Community Planning and Design team where she provides project management for revitalization planning and assessment projects. Casey is the lead coordinator for the Richmond City Green Infrastructure Assessment. She has significant experience in working with diverse groups focused on environmental issues including serving as Director of Sustainability for Bundoran Farm and the Coordinator of the national Save Our Streams program for the Izaak Walton League. She has a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science, both from the University of Virginia.

Johnny Zimmerman-Ward, Field Technician

Johnny Zimmerman-Ward is a field technician for the GIC. She is also involved in a variety of projects with E² Inc. including website management, conference support, and research and data analysis. Additionally, Ms. Zimmerman-Ward has worked as a program specialist at a team and leadership development consulting firm. Ms. Zimmerman-Ward received a B.S. in environmental science from the University of Virginia.