 Name: Annette Meagher
E-mail: annette.meagher@hamilton-co.org
Job Title: Public Relations Specialist
Company Name: Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District, www.hcswcd.org
Number of years in this position: 4
Number of years working in an environmental career: 4
Educational Background:
I earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cincinnati in 2005. To increase my public speaking and facilitator skills, I'm a member of the local Environmentally Speaking Toastmasters Club.
Description of your job:
In order to raise awareness regarding conservation practicies and storm water pollution, I create informational marketing materials, facilitate District social media sites, conduct a variety of presentations, and coordinate public outreach events for communities throughout Hamilton County, Ohio.
Favorite part of your job:
Coordinating with local agencies and residents to organize educational events for our region.
Least favorite part of your job:
Difficult to raise funds sometimes.
Recent accomplishment/Interesting facts:
Last year, I was awarded the Hamilton County Employee of the Year award for Professional Achievement. I was awarded this honor for my efforts in coordinating with other agencies to organize a regional pharmaceutical collection event that provided a safe and free service for citizens to properly dispose of their unwanted medications. I met with local police chiefs and area leaders to form the DROP collaboration and led the first regional collection event in the Greater Cincinnati area. This event was held at 22 locations throughout Hamilton, Clermont and Warren counties and collected over 1 ton of pharmaceuticals; keeping the drugs off our streets and out of our local waters. I am passionate about raising awareness regarding the dangers of pharmaceuticals entering our environment and our DROP collaboration is currently working to create a free permanent collection program for residents throughout the Tri-State area.
 Name: Melody Wolf
E-mail: melody@millcreekrestoration.org
Job Title: Urban Agriculture educator
Company Name: Mill Creek Restoration Project
Number of years in this position: Just started!
Number of years working in an environmental career: 7
Educational Background:
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Bachelors in Fine Arts, Metalsmithing
Minor in Geology
West Dean College, Sussex University, England
Conservation and Restoration of Fine Metalwork
Description of your job:
I will be working with several pilot schools to either start up or enhance their school yard produce gardens; teaching about the benefits to organic gardening (good food! Exercise! Applied math and science skills- stuff that will make you wonder why you weren't out in a garden before!)
Favorite part of your job:
I love using all the skills I've learned to take an ugly or, in many cases, polluted site, and convert it into something beautiful and productive that everyone can enjoy.
Least favorite part of your job:
Trying to come to terms with why people pollute and do harmful things to our environment when its hurting them too!
Recent accomplishment/Interesting facts:
My home vegetable garden was published in Edible Estates Magazine. It was all the more exciting for me because when we bought our house it was condemned and scheduled to be torn down. We were able to restore it, keeping thousands of pounds from going to a landfill- and then make it into a 'hidden Oasis'.
 Name: Gwen Roth
E-mail: gwen.roth@hamilton-co.org
Job Title: Education Specialist
Company Name and website link: Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District www.hcswcd.org
Number of years in this position: 13
Number of years working in an environmental career: 15
Educational Background:
Bachelors of Arts in Independent Studies with an emphasis on education and environmental studies.
Description of your job:
I present environmental science related programs to students in PreK-12 grade. As well as library and public programs. I also am certified in many environmental education curricula that I present to teachers.
Favorite part of your job:
Working with such a variety of people. One day I may be working with 1st graders and worms and the next day I am teaching teachers and the next day I am teaching 4th graders about soil. Everyday is different!
Least favorite part of your job:
All the paperwork.
Recent accomplishment/Interesting facts:
Last year, I organized our staff to participate in over 45 public events.
 Name: Jeffrey Gati
E-mail: jeff.gati@ge.com
Job Title: Environmental Engineering Manager
Company Name and website link: GE Aviation http://www.geae.com/
Number of years in this position: 12
Number of years working in an environmental career: 23
Educational Background:
B.S. Environmental Engineering
Description of your job:
Responsible for managing staff and programs to ensure that the facility maintains or exceeds regulatory compliance.
Favorite part of your job:
Always learning something new since regulations are always changing or new ones are being written.
Least favorite part of your job:
As is the case with any job, the politics associated with the work.
Recent accomplishment/Interesting facts:
Working to reduce facility fresh water usage by 50%. Already reduced fresh water usage by over 1 million gallons per day.
 Name: Ryan Mooney-Bullock
E-mail: rbullock@civicgardencenter.org
Job Title: Green Learning Station Program Manager
Company Name and website link: Civic Garden Center www.civicgardencenter.org
Number of years in this position: 1
Number of years working in an environmental career: 6
Educational Background:
Walnut Hills High School
B.A. Environmental Studies, University of Chicago
M.S. Environmental Studies and Teacher Certification, Antioch University New England
Description of your job:
I am coordinating the development of a new environmental education facility, which includes everything from dealing with the construction crew renovating the building to developing signage and a website to preparing lesson plans and field trips for middle and high school students to teaching classes to all ages. I also manage our vegetable garden so work out there whenever I can.
Favorite part of your job:
Seeing people really get an idea I am trying to share with them... whether it is explaining something I am doing in the vegetable garden or during a more formal class.
Least favorite part of your job:
The amount of time I have to spend at the computer, especially in the winter when there is less to do outdoors.
Recent accomplishment/Interesting facts:
I'm helping develop the signage for our new facility and I love seeing such a tangible finished product.
 Name: David Whittaker
E-mail: dwhittaker@humannature.cc
Job Title: Landscape Architect & Design Manager
Company Name and website link: Human Nature www.humannature.cc
Number of years in this position: 12.5
Number of years working in an environmental career: 14
Educational Background:
High School
Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology (East Tennessee State Univ.)
Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (University of Kentucky)
Master of Landscape Architecture (University of Oregon)
Description of your job:
I am responsible for the planning and design of parks, bikeways, urban plaza, school campuses, nature preserves, environmental education facilities, and other public open spaces. My profession requires a balance of skills and interests in science and art.
Favorite part of your job:
I love to draw and create concepts for a wide array of landscape design projects. My favorite part is generating lots of ideas, exploring different forms, and playing with relationships between various landscape elements.
Least favorite part of your job:
My least favorite part of my job is having to remember so much information about projects. Thank goodness for emails and other communications that help me recall discussions and agreements I have made in the past.
Recent accomplishment/Interesting facts:
I got to travel to China for the dedication of a garden we designed in collaboration with the Cincinnati Park Board. The garden was a gift to our sister city Liuzhou to demonstrate Cincinnati's on-going friendship with that city and its citizen.
 Name: Devin Schenk
E-mail: schenkd@nku.edu
Job Title: Restoration Ecologist
Company Name and website link: NKU Center for Applied Ecology http://appliedecology.nku.edu/
Number of years in this position: 8
Number of years working in an environmental career: 11
Educational Background:
BS in Biology from University of Cincinnati
MS in Environmental Science Miami University
JD Chase Law School NKU
Description of your job:
I provide technical guidance on all of the Center's ecological projects. I work as project manager for many of our community projects, providing ecological services to local non-profit organizations, governments, and businesses. I also help coordinate, train, and manage our student interns.
Favorite part of your job:
I really like that I get to do a lot of different jobs. My days are always exciting and challenging. I also like that I get to work outdoors.
Recent accomplishment/Interesting facts:
The NKU Center for Applied Ecology has protected and restored 32 miles of stream and 1,232 acres of greenspace.
 Name: Tracy Sparks
E-mail: tsparks@greatparks.org
Job Title: Stewardship Technician
Company Name and website link: Hamilton County Park District http://www.greatparks.org/conservation/conservation.shtm
Number of years in this position: 1
Number of years working in an environmental career: 1
Educational Background:
Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio 2009
Description of your job:
As a Stewardship Technician for the Hamilton County Parks District my world revolves around habitat and wildlife management. Most of the work I do is with aquatic habitats including the lakes and streams located within the Park District. During the field season we collect and process numerous water samples, conduct fish population surveys, and do habitat restoration projects among many other things.
Favorite part of your job:
My favorite part of my job is being able to enjoy the outdoors nearly every day of the field season. I also love the fact that every day I learn, see, or discover something new.
Least favorite part of your job:
My least favorite part of my job is the anticipation for the field season after a long cold winter. It seems like April takes forever to get here.
Recent accomplishment/Interesting facts:
I absolutely love my job, and look forward to going to work EVERY morning!
 Name: Jack McGlasson
E-mail: jmcglasson@humannature.cc
Job Title: Landscape Architect
Company Name and website link: Human Nature www.humannature.cc
Number of years in this position: 5
Number of years working in an environmental career: 5
Educational Background:
B.S. in Landscape Architecture, University of Kentucky, May 2008
Conner High School, May 2003
Description of your job:
a wide range of projects in the Landscape Architecture, Environmental Planning, & Urban Planning fields, including: green infrastructure planning, stormwater BMPs, site design, public parks design, planting plans, city/county/regional master planning, nature trails, greenways, stream restoration design
Favorite part of your job:
the diversity of projects and interests that I'm able to explore; designing both very technical & site-specific works to very broad range master planning efforts allows me to experience a huge variety of issues within my daily work. It's very interesting work and also rewarding to see projects built in your community
Least favorite part of your job:
While we do go out into the field to oversee construction projects and do site visits/ reconnaissance, there is also alot of time spent at the computer working & designing. However, most design offices like ours have an open 'studio' atmosphere where we all work together & share tasks on projects, which is great. We're not stuck in cubicles!
Recent accomplishment/Interesting facts:
I've recently passed the professional registration exam for Landscape Architects, I'm currently licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We have several large projects under construction, including Washington Park downtown, the I-75 Terraced Reforestation in Covington, KY, and portions of the Mill Creek Greenway Trail
 Name: Lora Alberto
E-mail: lora@millcreekrestoration.org
Job Title: Environmental Education Director
Company Name and website link: www.millcreekrestoration.org
Number of years in this position: 12
Number of years working in an environmental career: 15
Educational Background:
Bachelor of Science from Miami University,
Master in Community Planning from UC
Description of your job:
Each school year, as the education director I plan and coordinate over 20 teachers with over 100 classroom and field trip activities. I work with over 1,000 students and record data from approximately 50 water monitoring field trips.
Favorite part of your job:
Working with the students and being outside.
Least favorite part of your job:
Cold weather - but I try to limit the amount of time we take field trips in the cold.
Recent accomplishment/Interesting facts:
In April 2010 I will be working with a group of students from Hughes STEM High School during a week long intersession focusing on the Mill Creek watershed which will include, water monitoring, community service, touring LEED certified buildings, and conducting an energy audit, all while exposing the students to different environemental careers.
|
