MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT - Key Persons
Abigail provides technical assistance and customer service related to the administration of permits for water resources. She also implements the Wetland Conservation Act and helps identify public-private partnerships to improve water quality, restore ecological integrity, and promote thriving communities.
Alex coordinates all facets of MCWD's geographic information systems (GIS), including managing the district's GIS database, analyzing data, and determining technology needs. He also works across the organization to create interactive and static maps to communicate data and inform MCWD's projects and priorities.
Job Titles:
- Member of the TAC
- Director of Policy Planning
- Policy Planning Manager
Becky cultivates and maintains MCWD's direction and alignment through the development of the District's Strategic Plan and Watershed Management Plan. She leads the development and implementation of the District's Balanced Urban Ecology policy, developing local, regional, and state policy strategies to integrate land use and water planning. She also leads the Land and Water Partnership program by identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing the District's response to public-private partnership opportunities.
Job Titles:
- Research & Monitoring Program Manager
Brian oversees MCWD's research and monitoring department. He leads the development and implementation of the District's data collection, the technical analysis of watershed and partner data to help guide and evaluate and guide the district's work, and the aquatic invasive species program. He also oversees the development of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) studies within the District and provides technical support to the MPCA.
Deb supports the general business operations of the MCWD by providing external and internal customer service, assisting with permit fee processing, managing detailed records, assisting with accounting, preparing reports and meeting packets, and supporting the general office maintenance.
Job Titles:
- Planner - Project Manager
Gabe works with MCWD's partners to develop and design capital projects that manage and improve water within the watershed, with a focus in the Minnehaha Creek subwatershed. He works with staff and partners to identify emerging issues and opportunities, develop innovative solutions, and construct projects that improve water quality, manage water quantity, restore ecological integrity, and enhance thriving communities.
Job Titles:
- Administrator
- District Administrator
James oversees the administration of MCWD's programs, services, and staff. He works closely with the Board of Managers to lead and coordinate the organization's strategies, priorities, policies, goals, and budgets. Throughout the watershed, James develops relationships and partnerships with other governmental agencies, stakeholders, and policymakers to achieve MCWD's goals to improve water quality, manage water quantity, restore ecological integrity, and create thriving communities. He has served as an elected official on the Hennepin Conservation District Board and in 2009 received the Minnesota Division Isaak Walton League Stewardship Award.
Job Titles:
- Research & Monitoring Technician
Jill assists in the implementation of MCWD's monitoring plan, collecting field data, training seasonal field assistants, and performing data analysis. She also assists in implementing MCWD's aquatic invasive species program and managing field equipment.
Job Titles:
- Project Maintenance and Land Management Program Manager
Josh coordinates the ongoing maintenance of MCWD's capital projects and infrastructure. He also manages the District's land conservation strategies and works with other Project Maintenance and Land Management staff to oversee the operations of the Gray's Bay Dam.
Kailey coordinates the implementation of MCWD's monitoring plan for collecting field data for long-term trend analysis, subwatershed health assessments, evaluating capital project efficacy, and identifying system issues and drivers. She also trains and oversees seasonal field assistants, performs data analysis, and manages the district's laboratory.
Job Titles:
- Policy Planning Coordinator
Kate supports MCWD's Policy Planning Program by coordinating with state, regional, and local entities to promote and develop policy to improve the integration of land use and water planning. She also supports the implementation of the District's Balanced Urban Ecology policy and Response Program to collaborate with public-private partners to achieve the District's goals of improving water quality, managing water quantity, restoring ecological integrity, and creating thriving communities.
Maggie processes and reviews water resource permit applications, provides technical assistance and customer service, and conducts field inspections to ensure quality service and compliance with MCWD's permitting rules. Maggie also implements the Wetland Conservation Act and helps identify public-private partnerships to improve water quality, restore ecological integrity and promote thriving communities.
As a permitting technician, Maria works with other members of the permitting team to provide technical assistance and customer service through administration and issuance of MCWD permits. She also contributes to the implementation of the Wetland Conservation Act, compliance enforcement, and collaborates with public and private partners to achieve natural resource benefits.
Job Titles:
- Director of Project Planning
Michael oversees and guides MCWD's capital improvement program, the implementation of capital projects, and land conservation initiatives in coordination with planner - project managers. He also works closely with the District Administrator to cultivate and maintain MCWD's strategic direction and alignment by identifying and prioritizing watershed opportunities, developing public-private partnerships, and developing funding strategies.
As Outreach Manager, Samantha leads a small team of communications professionals that coordinate external engagement, create impactful content, and contribute to MCWD's outreach strategy. She collaborates with staff across many programs to promote meaningful, strategic engagement and build productive partnerships for capital projects and policy initiatives. Samantha is the District's staff liaison for the Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC). She is also the District's media contact.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Project - Planning Team
- Planner - Project Manager
As a member of the project-planning team, Sophia works with the District's partners to plan and develop capital projects that improve the watershed's resources. By working with partners across private and public sectors, Sophia identifies emerging project opportunities that provide mutual benefits for the watershed's resources, communities, and economy.
Job Titles:
- Senior Project Maintenance Coordinator
Tiffany plans and implements MCWD's most visible and complex capital projects and assists the Planning Project Manager in overseeing the capital project planning program. She leads the ongoing management and maintenance of MCWD's land and project infrastructure and manages its land conservation strategies. She also oversees the operation of Gray's Bay Dam.
Trey performs technical work and customer service by administering and issuing permits. In addition, he implements and administers the Wetland Conservation Act, supports compliance enforcement to advance the strategic objectives of MCWD, and works closely with other members of the permitting staff to build new public and private partnerships that achieve natural resource benefits beyond regulation alone.