Cindi Johnson, GIC Accountant

Cindi has served as GIC's Accountant since 2009. Cindi hails from New England and graduated from Bryant College with B.S. in accounting. When she is not trying to sort out the many complicated grants and donations at GIC, she enjoys taking time for nature photography and making her own clothes. Cindi supplied this bee for us instead of her picture!

Associates

Kate Bird, Researcher and Analyst

Kate Bird is a researcher and analyst for the GIC. She also provides Skeo Solutions 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. She is currently working on mapping for the Cherokee National Forest. 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.

Christy Cunnington, Researcher and Analyst

Christy Cunnington is a researcher and analyst for the GIC. For Skeo Solutions, 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 from the University of Virginia 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 eight 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 Skeo Solutions’ Community Planning and Design team and assists communities in planning and developing reuse strategies for environmentally impaired landscapes. Prior to working with Skeo 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/Database Programmer and Analyst

Mr. Kurtz has nine years of professional experience in GIS and database development and analysis. Mr. Kurtz is an associate with Skeo Solutions' Technical Assistance and Communication group and assists the GIC with GIS and database programming and analysis. He is currently serving as the technical advisor to the Nelson County Green Infrastructure Assessment that began in summer 2010. He also provides database and programming assistance to the U.S. EPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tanks program as well as consultation on many other smaller projects. Prior to his work with GIC and Skeo Solutions, he worked as a GIS and database consultant, running the GIS department of the Albemarle County Service Authority in Charlottesville, VA, and developing an automated satellite imagery land-use classification algorithm for the Virginia Department of Forestry in Charlottesville. Rob has a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning,from the University of Virginia, and a B.S. in Anthropology, concentration in Archaeology from James Madison University, VA

Sarah Malpass, Project Coordinator

Sarah Malpass is a project coordinator with the GIC, and worked 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 Skeo Solutions' 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 Skeo Solutions 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 Skeo Solutions 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 Skeo Solutions, 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.

James Wilkinson, Researcher, Editor and Land Use Planner

James Wilkinson is a researcher, editor, and land use planner with the GIC.  Mr. Wilkinson has twelve years of experience in planning and research. For Skeo Solutions he 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 Skeo Solutions, Mr. Wilkinson worked as a journalist, a freelance editor, and as a writer for the Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University of Virginia.