During Beth’s 32-year career with the Maryland Environmental Service (MES), she served as a senior strategy and policy advisor to six MES Directors. Most recently she served as chief operating officer and deputy director. In this position, she was responsible for directing the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the agency. She was responsible for managing over 800 environmental professionals on more than 1,000 projects across Maryland and its neighboring states. MES provides water and wastewater, stormwater, dredging and restoration, geospatial, recycling, solid waste management, and other environmental services to state, local, federal, and private sector clients.

Her previous responsibilities at MES included communications, legislative and government outreach, human resources, safety and environmental compliance, organizational development and training, contracts and procurement, finance and resource allocation, facilities management, business development, and grants administration.

She has extensive experience in problem-solving, strategic planning, mediation, and reviewing and revising policies and programs, resulting in increased accountability and costs savings.

Beth holds a Bachelor of Political Science from Towson University.  She served as a Commissioner on the Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Advisory Commission and is a recipient of the YWCA of Anne Arundel County TWIN (Tribute to Women in Industry) award.

Beth enjoys waterfowl and upland hunting, sporting clays, traveling, and horse riding.

Bob Hoyt is one of the founders and principals of EcoLogix Group, where he focuses on helping clients partner with stakeholders to further stewardship, environmental education, environmental justice, and natural resource restoration programs and policies. Bob led the EcoLogix Group team that designed and implemented the highly successful stakeholder strategy that led to the development of the Port of Baltimore’s Masonville Dredged Material Containment Facility and the Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center.

Prior to founding EcoLogix Group in 2002, Bob served as assistant secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, senior vice president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, associate professor, Widener University School of Law, Harrisburg, PA Campus, and a deputy attorney general for the state of New Jersey. While in these roles, he has served on many boards and committees including the DC Water Board of Directors (chair of the Environmental Committee), Chesapeake Bay Trust Board of Directors, and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Board of Directors.

From 2007-2014, Bob served as director of the Department of Environmental Protection for Montgomery County, Maryland, an agency responsible for developing and implementing the County’s stormwater, air quality, recycling, water quality monitoring and other environmental programs. During Bob’s tenure there, the County had the highest recycling rate in the State, implemented one of nation’s most stringent Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, and created the Montgomery County Green Business certification program.

Rejoining Ecologix Group in 2014, Bob helps clients understand and effectively respond to issues such as environmental justice, cumulative health impacts, or stormwater management by building understanding among the array of stakeholders having diverse perspectives on these matters. Bob currently serves as chair of the Board of Directors of the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE).

Bob’s educational background includes a Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Princeton University. Bob is an accomplished public speaker with experience in legislative testimony, citizen meetings, and media relations.

When he is not working, Bob enjoys running marathons, swimming, gardening, and sailing. He lives in Big Pool, Maryland with his wife, labradoodle, Portuguese water dog, and cat.

Tad Aburn is a virtuoso on resolving air quality and environmental justice issues through collaboration.

Tad recently retired from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), after spending 15 years there as the Director of Maryland’s Air Pollution and Climate Change Program. During his 40-year career with MDE, Tad was Program Manager for the state’s Air Toxics Program and led Maryland’s Clean Air Act planning efforts to develop and implement plans to clean the air, protect public health and meet federal health-based standards. Tad also has considerable expertise in air monitoring, permitting, compliance assistance and enforcement.

Tad has substantial legislative experience. Between 2005 and 2022, Tad worked with Maryland legislative leaders and a diverse group of stakeholders to lead MDE’s efforts to pass the Maryland Healthy Air Act and the Maryland Clean Cars Act. Both acts were made law.

In 2009, Tad led a facilitated MDE stakeholder process that included legislative leaders that generated model legislative language which was used as the basis for the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Act (GGRA). The 2009 GGRA was, at that time, one of the Country’s most aggressive, but economically friendly, climate change laws.  In 2016 and 2021, it was reauthorized and amended. The 2021 version of the GGRA was renamed the Climate Solutions Now Act and establishes the most aggressive climate change goals in the United States.

Tad also has a significant amount of experience working on issues at the national level.  As a two-time President, long-time Board member and Criteria Pollutant Committee Chair of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA) and past Chair and Board member for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA), Tad has worked with EPA and Congress on a wide range of air pollution and environmental justice issues.

Another critical area that Tad has experience in is coordination with local governments. He has worked closely with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia on critical local issues like transportation conformity and the role of the counties in implementing clean air initiatives. As part of his work with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) and the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee (MWAQC), Tad chaired the MWAQC Technical Committee for many years while being a member for almost 20 years.

Tad’s proudest accomplishment is that the State of Maryland, which in the early 2000’s had some of the worst air pollution in the U.S., is now in compliance with all federal air pollution standards. In a relatively famous 2005 MIT study, Maryland was identified as having the Country’s riskiest air pollution east of the Mississippi. In 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated the Baltimore area as having the worst ozone air pollution (or Smog) anywhere outside of California and Texas. That has changed and Maryland’s air is now considered to be protective of public health across the State.

One of Tad’s career long interests has been the role of public education as part of the clean air process. In the 1990s, under Tad’s leadership, MDE was one of the first states to implement a color-coded, animated mapping system that, for the first time ever, allowed the media to be able to visually show the public how dirty or clean the air was and what a bad air day actually looked like as it builds in the morning, moves with wind and reaches peak levels in the afternoon. This MDE color-coded, animated mapping system was later built into a national “AIRNOW” system and is used across the Country to communicate air quality.

Tammy joined EcoLogix Group in August 2023, bringing 34 years of significant environmental and personnel management experience and capabilities to the firm.  Previously, Tammy served as Managing Director for the Environmental Dredging & Restoration Group at the Maryland Environmental Service (MES). There, she was responsible for managing ~140 environmental, engineering, operations, and administrative professionals working on dredging and restoration projects, a confined hazardous waste facility, and environmental management services at a marine terminal on behalf of the Maryland Port Administration.  She worked on nationally renowned dredged material management projects, including the Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project and the Masonville, Cox Creek and Hart-Miller Island Dredged Material Management projects.

Tammy has program, project and financial management experience, presentation, and meeting facilitation skills.  She has environmental monitoring, data analysis, reporting, and laboratory coordination experience. She has permitting and regulatory experience including managing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) projects and their documentation on various dredging projects.  She has experience with dredging and dredged material containment facility operations, and restoration projects.

Tammy also provided management, administrative services and staffing for various agreements with Maryland Department of Natural Resources.  This included contract and budget management services, staff supervision, technical support, interagency coordination and facilitation services, presentation development and delivery, literature reviews, meeting summary services, and report preparation for NEPA documentation on the Oyster Restoration Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). She also provided management, permitting and administration of the Maryland Artificial Reef Program and reef placement projects.

Tammy holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Shippensburg University with an emphasis in Marine Science.  Tammy lives in Maryland and enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dogs. She enjoys gardening, hiking, nature, and football season.

Sara is part of EcoLogix’s fleet electrification and innovation practice team and has over 15 years of experience. Sara provides EcoLogix clients with procurement supervision, grant execution, future proofed planning, construction management and project design. She has experience working with regulatory agencies and understands the policy around electrification and grid integration.

Before EcoLogix, Sara led IKEA’s national distribution fleet electrification, which became a global model and resource for other corporations. Most recently, she was the EV Product Manager for Redaptive in California as an expert in electrification market entrance to help businesses navigate through capital and contractual barriers. Sara has led multiple teams through competitive audits, building certifications, risk identification, GHG methodology, and infrastructure upgrades – achieving national fleet electrification and national recognition.

Sara has extensive experience in Maryland from her work with regulatory agencies, Patuxent Naval Air Station, and Straughan Environmental, and contract experience across relevant agencies including the EPA, DOT, and MVA. Sara worked with the Environmental Defense Fund on state-level policy development to promote electrification and charging infrastructure and has served as co-chair for USGBC MD testifying in front of both legislative bodies.

Sara earned her MS in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, and her BA in International Political Economy from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. ADD SOMETHING LIKE: In her free time, Sara enjoys spending her free time outside with her family enjoying the region’s natural resources either exploring the Chesapeake Bay by sailboat, biking local trails or hiking.

Kathy Broadwater serves as EcoLogix Group’s seaport and maritime practice leader, bringing more than 40 years of experience in the field. Most recently, Kathy served as deputy executive director of the Maryland Port Administration, where her responsibilities included finance, planning, dredging, engineering, and human resources.

As the seaport practice leader for EcoLogix Group, Kathy helps seaport executives understand and implement policies and programs necessary to achieve a “social license to operate.” Kathy understands how all parts of an organization, such as finance, planning, human resources, government relations, engineering, and harbor development, play a role in communications and outreach. Kathy works with seaport clients to minimize mitigation and remediation expenditures and maximize community enhancement benefits.

Prior to joining the Maryland Port Administration, Kathy was a principal with Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc.’s Transportation Consulting Division. She also served as director of marketing and pricing for Lykes Bros. Steamship Co. Inc. where she was responsible for marketing five trade routes, ocean tariffs and agreement, ocean rate analysis, government regulation and market research and analysis.

She was elected chair of the U.S. Seaport Delegation of the American Association of Port Authorities, where she led seaport industry positions on issues including environmental programs, freight issues, and the harbor maintenance tax. She was also the U.S. North Atlantic Ports representative to the Executive Committee. At the Baltimore Port Alliance, Kathy has served as a member of the Executive Steering, Environmental, and Education and Outreach Committees. She was also a member of the NOAA Science Advisory Board.

A recognized thought leader and strategic thinker, Kathy is an accomplished public speaker, equally at ease with congressional testimony, industry forums, or citizen meetings. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the global infrastructure advisory firm, Moffatt & Nichol.

Kathy holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Stephen F. Austin State University.

When she is not working, Kathy enjoys reading and traveling.

A dedicated communications specialist, with nearly thirty years’ experience, Anthony Brown is energized by the opportunity to connect communities to information that empowers and transforms. His career began as public relations specialist with the Maryland Transportation Authority where he supported both internal and external communications. From there he ended up leading the communication and marketing efforts for the Maryland Transit Administration, one of the state’s most visible public agencies. Anthony led marketing and communication efforts for the construction of the Light Rail system, anniversary of the Baltimore Metro, Light Rail Double-Tracking, the Purple Line and numerous other transit initiatives. Shifting to the private sector, his passion and expertise have been critical in many large communications projects including the Baltimore Red Line, Regional Transportation Studies, North Avenue Rising and the B&P Tunnel Replacement Project.

Missy Cassidy offers over 30 years of experience in transportation policy, regulatory and legislative issues. As an official with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), she was an advisor to eight Secretaries of Transportation dealing with policy issues, federal and state funding, regulation and legislation.

She has extensive knowledge of a broad range of transportation topics including seaports and knowledge of federal and state legislative processes as well as strategy development. As director of policy for MDOT, she initiated a working group with the Baltimore District USACE officials and MDOT MPA to coordinate the pursuit of federal funds for the Dredged Material Management Program.

At EcoLogix Group, Missy leads the design and development of stakeholder engagement and outreach planning. She has provided strategic analysis and recommendations to seaport clients for enhanced organizational interface with all vertical levels of the US Army Corps through the transformation of the federal planning and budgetary process. Missy has conducted research and provided strategic planning program development to revitalize the AAPA Quality Partnership Initiative, and supported MDOT MPA executives in their roles with national organizations and coalitions. Missy designs and leads large scale organizational and sustainability Assessments.

Prior to joining EcoLogix Group in 2010, Missy was an independent transportation consultant providing strategic planning and policy support for private business, governments and associations in the pursuit of federal funding, state business and government relations.

Missy served on the Board of Directors of the South River Federation, was a member of the Northeast States Rail Transportation Task Force and participated on the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Committees on Environment and Rail Transportation.

Missy holds a Master of Science in Resource Development from Texas A & M University and a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas.

Missy and her husband live on Warehouse Creek near the Chesapeake Bay where she enjoys gardening and birdwatching, as well as finding inspiration for watercolor painting. In addition to time with her family, she enjoys travel throughout the United States and abroad.

Jody joined EcoLogix Group in 2018, bringing 25 years of communications experience and capabilities to the firm including public relations, media relations, writing, website development, video production, and strategic messaging. A native of Annapolis, Jody’s love for the Chesapeake Bay inspires her work promoting environmental initiatives for EcoLogix Group clients and at Chesapeake Conservancy where she manages communications for an ambitious small nonprofit.

Previously, Jody was principal of River Bay Communications, LLC, providing public relations, marketing, social media and political campaign expertise for issue and advocacy campaigns, non-profits, federal government and political clients. Jody served as campaign press secretary for a Maryland gubernatorial candidate. She was a cabinet member and director of communications for a county executive , serving as principal spokeswoman for the county with a population of 500,000. As public information officer for the American Medical Association (AMA), she served as liaison with Washington, DC and national news media on public policy issues and the promotion of health-related issues and campaigns.

As director of communications and development for the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), Jody served as White House liaison and oversaw a star-studded nationally televised awards program for heroic police officers attended by the President and Vice President of the United States. At The Kamber Group, Jody served as public affairs specialist and production manager of the video department. During college, Jody was a staff writer at The Capital newspaper in Annapolis, Md.

Jody serves as co-chair of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change Education, Communication and Outreach Work Group representing the Chesapeake Conservancy. Jody was elected president and secretary of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Chapter, two-term president of the Association of Women in Communications, Maryland Chapter. She volunteered as public relations coordinator with the American Red Cross, Central Maryland, Southern District and the Anne Arundel County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). She was the event coordinator of the Celebration to End Youth Violence for Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse.

She holds a Master of Arts in Political Management from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Roanoke College.

Cece joined EcoLogix Group in 2020, bringing almost 40 years of environmental management experience and capabilities to the firm, including water and wastewater management, NEPA documentation, dredged material projects, energy projects, and transportation project environmental support. Cece has worked as a federal, state, and local government employee. A Maryland native, Cece now divides her time between Maryland and Florida.

Previously, Cece served as managing director for environmental services at the Maryland Environmental Service (MES). There, she was responsible for managing over 400 environmental professionals working on several hundred projects across a 5-state area in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. She worked on nationally-renowned dredged material management projects, including the Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project, the Masonville Dredged Material Management project, and Hart-Miller Island. Additionally, in her last 10 years at MES, she worked on hazardous waste remediation, stormwater management, provided environmental management support to all of the Maryland Department of Transportation modes, energy projects, and oversight of all of MES’s water and wastewater projects.

Prior to her work at MES, Cece worked in the environmental engineering office of the US Naval Academy and spent five years at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.

Cece enjoys biking, sewing, camping, and watercolor painting and volunteers with the League of Women Voters. She also volunteered with the Baltimore Port Alliance, serving on the Women in Maritime History Committee for a decade.

She holds a Master of Science in Technology Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Track, from the University of Maryland University College Graduate School, a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland University College, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology, emphasis Marine Biology from the University of Maryland College Park.

Matt Fleischer has more than 20 years of unparalleled business and marketing skills to help clients achieve growth objectives and branding of product lines or entire organizations.

A native of Washington, D.C., Matt manages several contracts for EcoLogix Group on alternative commuting strategies, business plan modeling, and new product market analysis. He also works on marketing strategy and growth opportunities for the firm. Previously, as Executive Director of Rock Creek Conservancy, Matt grew this small environmental non-profit by raising $3.5m over 4 years, doubling the amount of money raised in the first 8 years of the organization. Prior, Matt was President and CEO of Hook & Ladder Brewing Company growing the company from inception to over $7m in revenue and 25 employees with national distribution of Hook & Ladder’s product lines.

Matt offers EcoLogix Group’s clients product or business branding, new product extension, strategic marketing plans, market analysis, competitive analysis, pricing strategies, sales strategies and forecasting, business plans, high growth infrastructures, high-stake negotiations, profitability and budget analysis, capital raises/fundraising, board of directors management partnership development.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland at College Park and a Bachelor of Arts in American studies from the University of Mary Washington.

Matt lives in New Market, MD on Lake Linganore with his wife and two sons. He enjoys hiking and boating on the lake and spending time with family and friends.

Amy is always looking to serve her community and is also employed by the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College as a part of the Job Corps Scholars Program. Amy was most recently working for the Town of Hancock, Maryland as their Workforce and Economic Development Program Manager.

Prior to moving to Maryland, Amy was an executive director of a nonprofit agency and most recently developed an apprenticeship readiness program for women and underrepresented populations in the construction trades. Amy has a bachelor’s degree in history/political science/secondary education from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. She also has a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Post University in Waterbury, CT.

She has a 25-year background in corporate training and continues to work as a part-time lecturer and adjunct professor for the Connecticut Community College System.

Amy has a fabulous husband, four boys and three dogs who are her world. She loves the beach, teaching and reading.

Barry brings his unique multi-faceted experience from both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the dredging industry regarding navigation, operations and management, dredge fleeting, and operational expertise. He is known for his broad-based knowledge of the dredging and navigation industries and his leadership and technical skills. Barry is able to assist clients in developing successful strategies for accomplishing complex port development and water resources projects.

With his technical and operational knowledge of the dredging industry, he is well-positioned to develop complex procurement strategies and optimal contracting recommendations for ports and navigation stakeholders. Barry has offered management support for ports and coastal and beach communities on dredging and dredged material disposal contracting issues.  He has provided government relations and federal agency partnering with USACE.

Barry managed a national trade association representing the dredging industry with Congress, the Administration, federal and state agencies, ports, and navigation stakeholders.  He planned and coordinated dredging industry and USACE partnering program, including oversight and support of all project delivery teams. Barry served as the co-chair of the Industry/Corps Hopper Dredge Management Group, identifying issues including managing schedules and operational challenges for endangered species.

Barry worked 33 years with USACE, beginning with the Dredged Material Research Program, where he was responsible for development, administration, and interagency coordination of environmental research programs investigating dredged material disposal operations.

Following this four-year effort, Barry moved to the Wilmington District and spent 13 years as chief of the navigation branch. He was responsible for the District navigation program and hydrographic surveying operations, including administration and inspection of dredging contracts, developing contract plans and specifications, managing environmental coordination, and serving as contracting officer’s representative on all dredging construction contracts and placement site construction. Barry is experienced in all facets of the dredging industry and dredging equipment.

Subsequently, Barry moved to USACE headquarters and became the navigation program manager responsible for formulating strategy and annual program execution of USACE navigation business program. He provided oversight and strategic guidance for O&M and construction of ports, waterways and harbors, beach nourishment projects, environmental restoration projects, wreck removal operations, and management of a fleet of Federal dredges and other marine vessels.

Barry is an avid golfer and enjoys woodworking.

Jennifer A. Hughes joined EcoLogix in 2020. She is the former director of Montgomery County, Maryland’s office of management and budget. She was appointed by then County Executive Isiah Leggett in 2011. Jennifer was responsible for advising the County Executive and County Council on resource allocation and fiscal planning for the County’s operating budget and six-year public services program as well as the capital budget and the six-year capital improvements program.

Prior to her appointment, she served in a variety of senior-level positions with Montgomery County Government including acting director for the department of permitting services, special assistant to County Executive Leggett, and appointments with the Montgomery County Council. She was first appointed as a legislative analyst for the County Council in 1985, focusing on education and criminal justice issues, as well as environmental issues. For two years, she served as an aide to Council Member Howard Denis.

Jennifer first moved to the Washington D.C. area to serve as a presidential management intern in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. She is a member of the Leadership Montgomery Class of 1998.

When she is not working, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family.

Saeid has over 37 years of extensive experience in water quality and water quantity. Saeid led the Maryland Water Supply Program for 27 years before he retired from the Maryland Department of the Environment in 2022. As the Administrator of the Water Supply Program, he was responsible for the implementation of all aspects of the Safe Drinking Water Act, as well as the State Program overseeing the Water Appropriation and Use permit in Maryland.

In his early career, Saeid created the first water supply funding program in Maryland in 1984 which was recognized by the water industry for pioneering a water supply financing program that incorporated affordability. This funding program partnered with various Federal and State agencies including the USDA and HUD to leverage more than $200M in capital funds for financing the construction of more than 100 water supply projects in low-income and rural communities throughout Maryland and significantly reducing the risk of a waterborne disease outbreak, a prelude to environmental justice. He was also instrumental in establishing Maryland’s drinking water drought monitoring program that provides monthly drought updates and helps the State to take action before a drought develops.  He also played a major role in the creation of the Maryland Water Conservation Act (2001) which required all permits for public water systems in Maryland to include specific provisions to ensure the conservation of water supplies during treatment, storage, and transmission to water users.

Saeid brings a wealth of knowledge in water supply planning, compliance, enforcement, engineering, policy analysis, water security, source protection, emerging contaminants, water reuse, water resource management, grant management, water conservation, operation, legislation, and strategic planning. Saeid is a critical strategic thinker who can see the “big picture”, predict and plan for future problems in advance, find the best solution for problems by involving all stakeholders, and blend and balance all needs and political perspectives.

Saeid has represented Maryland on various state and interstate commissions such as SRBC, ICPRB, Baltimore Reservoir Watershed Management, and EPA Climate Change workgroups. He has also served as a member of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council, providing EPA with advice and recommendations related to the national drinking water program. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA).

Saeid has degrees in Civil engineering and Business Administration and Finance from the University of Kansas.

As principal at EcoLogix Group, Janet provides support for our clients in environmental permitting, rulemaking and coordination, water policy development and analysis, and environmental problem solving. She is highly skilled at facilitating resolution of complex technical and regulatory challenges associated with physical development.
Janet has more than thirty years of experience in managing diverse programs to protect water resources. She has a detailed understanding of federal, state and regional water regulatory programs.

Previously, Janet served as policy administrator at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Office of Water Policy where she worked with the state’s five water management districts (WMDs) to ensure consistency with statutes and state water policy, including review of regional water supply plans, minimum flows and levels, and regulatory rules.
Janet also served as the director of the Division of Water Resource Management for Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection, where she was responsible for nearly 300 employees and a budget of approximately $360 million.

Earlier in her career with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Janet participated in crafting and implementing legislation for the development of minimum flows and levels, regional water supply planning, the creation and implementation of the Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP) program, and the development of the state wetland and wetland mitigation banking programs.

She holds her Master of Science in Biological Oceanography from Oregon State University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Nebraska, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

Janet, an avid scuba diver, has also served as a guest instructor at Florida State University environmental law classes. She enjoys traveling and reading.

Widely recognized as an advocate for seaport navigation needs, Jeffrey McKee recently joined EcoLogix Group, having retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Headquarters, where he served as the chief of the Navigation Branch and manager of the Navigation Business Line.

Prior to joining USACE Headquarters, Jeff served as the chief of the Deep-Draft Navigation Section and as the Dredging Program Manager in the Baltimore District, where he was responsible for all engineering and design, construction, and operation and maintenance of the Baltimore Harbor and Channels Project and construction management of the Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

As a lover and avid user of social media, Megan has five years of experience in curating original and fresh content for the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office, the Chesapeake Conservancy, home builders along the east coast, the Baltimore National Heritage Area, the Greater Baltimore History Alliance, and a slew of small businesses in the DMV metro area.

She prides herself on staying up-to-date on the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing and growing social media trends. Her favorite platforms are the big three (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), but she’s upped her content creation game on Tik-Tok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Snapchat. With a keen eye for post-worthy content, Megan effectively enhances an organization’s digital presence with engaging posts and copy. Megan also has experience developing strategic plans for community outreach to underrepresented neighborhoods in Baltimore City.

From social media management, for the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office, to staffing the Roving Ranger, a mobile visitor center for the Chesapeake Conservancy, Megan found a new appreciation for local, state, and national parks. When she’s not compiling content calendars and writing blogs, you can find Megan at the Northwest Regional Park in Owings Mills, where she resides, playing fetch with her dog Tinsley, or streaming and critiquing Netflix shows for her own personal enjoyment. Megan graduated from Stevenson University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Communication.

Ed started as an intern after graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in communications in December 2019. Ed is now a Senior Associate with the firm, providing research, outreach, and administrative support on numerous projects.

Ed is presently assisting two U.S. seaports in administering their Dray Truck Programs. He does outreach to the trucking community to inform them of the programs, determine interest, and facilitate applications. Once a trucker has applied, Ed assists with the application process. Success is when a trucker obtains a grant for a newer, more environmentally-friendly dray truck.

For an environmental non-profit organization, Ed creates social media posts to assist in communicating with key stakeholders. For a major seaport client, Ed researched the scope and organizational placement of the environmental function of other seaports. To accomplish this, he surveyed major U.S. seaports and described the environmental function in terms of scope and responsibilities.

To support various EcoLogix projects, Ed organizes meetings and helps with report production.

Kadija Ndiaye is an educator who specializes in family and consumer science and is dedicated to addressing the disparities impacting vulnerable communities. She is excellent at establishing and maintaining key working relationships with a variety of stakeholders. She also has strengths in recruiting, program management, database creation and maintenance, capacity building, training facilitation, and youth development.

At EcoLogix, Kadija supports the Masonville Cove Partnership’s Urban Conservation Experience Internship (UCEI) Program at the Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center. Her duties include planning, program development, intern recruitment, and support.

Kadija is also a Family and Consumer Science Teacher for Prince George’s County public schools. Before EcoLogix and teaching, Kadija worked at the Living Classroom Foundation, wearing many hats. Kadija ended her full-time work at the Foundation as a Program Coordinator but still works seasonally as a Youth Specialist. Kadija graduated from Morgan State University with a BA Family and Consumer Science and is bilingual, speaking English and French.

Robert provides navigation and environmental program expertise to EcoLogix Group’s clients, bringing vast federal and private sector experience in strategy development, issue resolution, and development of integrated solutions to water resources management and environmental issues. Robert leads EcoLogix Group’s federal policy review practice for seaport clients and others and provides water resources planning support

He is a participant in the Quality Partnership Initiative of the American Association of Port Authorities and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), developing collaborative solutions to legislative, project delivery, and communication issues in the navigation community. He leads EcoLogix Group’s work supporting project development, justification, and federal processing of navigation and dredged material placement projects.  He is a stormwater management specialist in Pennsylvania.

Robert brings direct experience to EcoLogix Group in the planning and operations processes of USACE that are essential for implementation of navigation projects. His expertise includes project planning and authorization, budgeting, appropriations processes, USACE Civil Works transformation and modernization, and Water Resources Development Acts.

He has in depth understanding of various Civil Works authorization and post-authorization reports including feasibility studies, reevaluation reports, and Chief’s Reports required for congressional authorization for project construction. In addition, he has provided civil works planning and policy interpretation to assist clients in advancing their projects through USACE, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, the Office of Management and Budget, and Congress.

As chief of the Operations Division for the Baltimore District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, his responsibilities included operation and maintenance of more than 100 navigation projects. Robert also served as chief of the Planning Division for the Baltimore District for 8 years supporting Chesapeake Bay restoration projects and interagency initiatives. He served as the strategic water resources planner to the U.S. Africa Command, North Atlantic Division. He also served as USACE staff assigned to  the House Energy and Water Appropriations Committee and as a participant on various river basin and watershed restoration initiatives. Robert also spent 10 years doing national and international environmental consulting for EA Engineering, Science, and Technology.

Robert has a Master of Science in Business Management from The Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Arts in Geomorphology and Geography from Binghamton University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from The State University of New York at Albany.

Robert enjoys traveling, hiking, and gardening. He is a Certified Master Watershed Steward through Penn State Cooperative Extension and volunteers for a non-profit organization serving the Latino community in Norristown, PA.

An executive coach, facilitator, and inspirational public speaker, Mamie Parker is a retired fish and wildlife biologist who rose to the rank of Assistant Director for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Washington, DC. She made history when appointed the first African American USFWS Northeast Regional Director in the Senior Executive Service.  She also served as Chief of Staff and Chief of Fisheries. Mamie has vast experience in water resources planning, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act, wetland protection, and restoration.

As the USFWS Assistant Director, she served as the facilitator at the White House Conference on the Environment. Dr. Parker played a major role in implementing the Coastal Barrier Resources Act system mapping and flood insurance, Coastal Program, and protecting our nation’s waters from pollutants and invasive species such as listing the snakehead fish as an injurious wildlife species. She helped create the National Fish Habitat Action Plan in partnership, for which the President of the United States presented her with the Presidential Rank Award, the highest award given to government employees. She also received the Department of Interior’s Silver Award presented by the Secretary of the USFWS.

Her executive coach clients include the Gates Millennium Scholars Program; Bureau of Land Management; Defense Language Institute; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); the Maryland Department of Labor and the Department of the Interior. Dr. Parker also serves as principal of EcoLogix Group, Inc.

Dr. Parker is a leader in various organizations and serves on the board of directors of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Virginia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Duke University School of the Environment Visitors Board, Northland College, Student Conservation Association, the National Wildlife Refuge Association, Brown Advisory Sustainable Investment, Marstel-Day Consulting Company, Defenders of Wildlife, the Potomac Conservancy, and the Chesapeake Conservancy.

The Governor of Virginia recently appointed her to the Board of Directors of the Game and Inland Fisheries. The Council of World Women Leaders awarded her with an Aspen Institute Fellowship where she worked in the Kingdom of Lesotho and in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa. She is a 2018 winner of the prestigious William K. Reilly Award from American University School of Public Affairs’ Center for Environmental Policy, and a 2015 Champion of the Chesapeake from Chesapeake Conservancy. Born and raised in Arkansas, she was inducted into the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame by the Governor.

Dr. Parker holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), a Master of Science in fish and wildlife management, and a doctoral degree in limnology from the University of Wisconsin. She also received executive leadership training at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

When she is not working, Mamie enjoys watching movies, hiking and mentoring young ladies.

Steve brings more than 36 years of experience from the public and private sector and strong consensus building skills, having managed a variety of contentious issues.

At EcoLogix Group, Steve provides strategic planning and stakeholder engagement services to various clients, and in this role, he facilitates multi-stakeholder teams and provides support for environmental compliance and stewardship programs. Steve serves as the senior project manager on stakeholder engagement and outreach efforts for several clients, leading the development and implementation of stakeholder engagement strategies.

Steve was assistant secretary at the Maryland Department of the Environment where he oversaw permitting, compliance, regulatory development, public outreach, strategic planning and internal services such as human resources, procurement and information technology. Steve managed the state agency compliance project, resulting in environmental management systems at more than a dozen state agencies. He was chairman of the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership Steering Committee and served as the state of Maryland’s state liaison officer for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Steve was a member of the Governor’s Joint Executive Committee on Homeland Security responsible for developing Maryland’s Homeland Security Plan. He had operational responsibility for emergency response for hazmat, oil and radiological incidents across the state. He served on the Coast Guard’s Area Maritime Executive Steering Committee.

Steve spent more than 21 years at Baltimore Gas & Electric Company, and Constellation Energy, where he managed the group responsible for providing compliance assistance on a variety of regulated activities including air quality, climate change, hazardous and non-hazardous waste management, site assessment and remediation, community right-to-know, emergency response, groundwater, storage tanks, pollution prevention and recycling.

Steve holds Master of Science in Environmental Science from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science & Forestry and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Wildlife Management from Purdue University.

Steve is a former board member for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Steve enjoys fly fishing, reading non-fiction (especially compelling biographies) and Big Ten basketball……”Go Boilers!”

Rick Sheckells joined EcoLogix Group in 2004 after 30 years in state and local government, much of it in the transportation sector specializing in environmental policy issues with special interest in air and water quality. Known for his ability to manage large scale projects, Rick is an accomplished problem solver who thrives on efficiency and building consensus among stakeholders.

Rick’s ability to get things done was detected early in his career as a member of the Mayor of Baltimore’s “Trouble Shooting Team.” Today, Rick is effectively still leading trouble shooting teams, but now for EcoLogix Group’s clients, where he provides creative solutions for a wide range of challenges and opportunities.

Appointed by the Governor, Rick was Maryland’s first director of statewide conservation programs. Later, he managed the transportation components of Maryland’s Smart Growth initiative at the Maryland Department of Transportation. As director of planning and environment for the Maryland Port Administration, he oversaw strategic business planning, quality cargo handling initiatives, dredging and harbor development, environmental initiatives, partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and advised on legislative issues for the Port of Baltimore.

Rick’s public sector accomplishments include representing transportation interests for the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia during the crafting of a multi-jurisdictional agreement setting environmental policy goals for Chesapeake Bay. He led the establishment of Maryland State Government’s Telework initiative.

Rick was a founding member of Clean Air Partners, a regional organization promoting voluntary actions to reduce ground level ozone in the Baltimore-Washington region. He served on the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee, the U.S. Task Force on Transportation and Air Quality, the Air Quality Committee of the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials, and the Chesapeake regional task force dealing with invasive aquatic species in ballast water. He is a member of the Environmental Committee and the Harbors and Navigation Committee of the American Association of Port Authorities.

Rick earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Towson University and served in the Maryland National Guard.

He enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, saltwater sportfishing, and exploring the tidal marshes behind North Carolina’s Topsail Island.

Dan manages a variety of environmental projects for EcoLogix clients, including grants and program management related to air quality improvement.

Dan serves as a liaison with tenants and external partners of clients and fosters direct connections with a wide variety of stakeholders to allow for meaningful conversations about a variety of issues that have the potential to impact stakeholders and clients alike. He engages port related businesses to take steps to reduce impacts of their operations to nearby communities and engages with stakeholders to increase awareness of environmental initiatives.

In Maryland, Dan facilitates the Baltimore Port Alliance’s Environmental Committee, which seeks to identify and advise its members on emerging regulatory issues facing the seaport industry. The Committee also engages with community organizations, NGOs and public health advocates seeking ways to collaborate on common issues. Dan also leads EcoLogix Group’s initiative to support stormwater management requirements for industrial clients as well as providing guidance related to capital infrastructure projects for commercial companies. Dan collaborated with the Electric Power Research Institute on a report describing Sustainable Maritime Ports, while working with a strategic partner to promote energy efficiencies and advanced lighting systems for marine facilities.

Prior to joining EcoLogix Group in 2010, Dan worked for the Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) Corporation, the general agent for Evergreen Line, one of the world’s leading ocean carriers holding various positions over the course of 25 years, including heading the agency’s Philadelphia and Baltimore offices. He has extensive knowledge of goods movement and logistics relating to seaport operations and has specific expertise in the areas of business development, stakeholder collaboration, and contract management.

Dan has a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

In his spare time, Dan aspires to improve his golf game and refreshes his mind and body by practicing yoga.

Bob Summers leads EcoLogix Group’s water resources practice in the mid-Atlantic region and supports government and industrial clients in the area of outreach and technical solutions.

An internationally-recognized expert in water quality issues, he is an experienced multi-disciplinary environmental program executive, highly skilled in managing complex projects involving scientific, engineering, technical program, regulatory, legal and administrative staff. Dr. Summers has been a key participant and leader in the multi-jurisdictional Chesapeake Bay Program since the first agreement was signed in 1983. The EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program is the nation’s largest, most comprehensive and successful integrated watershed planning and implementation effort.

Prior to joining EcoLogix Group in 2016, he served for 33 years in Maryland’s progressive environmental programs, developing and leading a wide range of water, air, land and waste management program activities. He was appointed secretary of the Environment by Maryland’s Governor where he led the Department of the Environment (MDE) and its 1,000 employees responsible for the state’s planning, regulatory, management and financing programs to protect public health, restore and protect air and water quality, clean up contaminated land and ensure proper management of hazardous and solid wastes. Dr. Summers oversaw an operating budget of $111 million and a capital budget of $191 million.

Before being appointed Secretary, his primary focus was on planning and management of Maryland’s water pollution regulatory programs, including stormwater management and MS4 permits, erosion and sediment control, wastewater discharge, wetlands and waterways, water supply protection and state programs to assist local governments with financing of water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Dr. Summers has a doctoral degree in environmental engineering and a Bachelor of Arts Natural Sciences, both from The Johns Hopkins University.

Bob serves on the Board of Directors for Blue Water Baltimore and enjoys canoeing the region’s beautiful rivers and sailing on Chesapeake Bay.

Steve has had over 40 years of operational and environmental management experience with primary capabilities including solid waste recycling and disposal management, yard waste and food waste composting projects, energy generation projects, waste motor oil handling and environmental permitting and environmental compliance. He has worked for the private and public sectors in the past.

Previously, Steve served as Managing Director for the Environmental Operations group at Maryland Environmental Service (MES) for 16 years being responsible for over 250 environmental professionals working primarily on major projects for seven Maryland Counties as well as the energy supply for four Maryland DPSCS prisons. While in this role, Steve worked on the Midshore Landfill project for Queen Anne’s, Kent, Talbot and Caroline Counties providing solid waste disposal and recycling under a unique 80-year agreement in which each county hosts a landfill for 20 years. Highlights of this project included the establishment of a new landfill in Caroline County (2011), capping of the Easton landfill and work on the future Queen Anne’s County landfill near Centreville. Recent other projects included the overall project management of the Prince George’s Brown Station Landfill and the construction of a natural gas supply pipeline to the DPSCS Eastern Correctional Institution with conversion from wood chips to natural gas as an energy fuel source.

Prior to MES, Steve worked for Wheelabrator Technologies being responsible for the Baltimore, Gloucester County (NJ), Falls Township (PA) and West Chester (NY) waste to energy facilities processing over 6,000 tons per day of municipal solid waste. He was directly responsible for the initial construction and startup of the Baltimore facility as well as similar start up and initial operation of a Wheelabrator waste wood-fueled 20 MW power plant in northern Maine.

Prior to Wheelabrator, Steve worked Operations Manager for Bethlehem Steel at the Pennwood Power Station in Sparrows Point which generated 136 MW utilizing waste steelmaking gas fuels, natural gas and No.6 fuel oil.

Steve enjoys fishing, vegetable gardening and spending time with his three grandchildren. He previously volunteered for the South Baltimore Learning Center (adult literacy) as well as Maryland Save Our Streams for many years.

He earned a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University as well as graduate work at the University of Baltimore.