Staff
Resumes in Adobe Acrobat Reader Format. Click to download the free reader.
SANDRA (SANDY) WALTERS, President
Ms. Walters has more than 25 years of professional experience in Florida. She is qualified as an Expert Witness in Florida administrative hearings and court proceedings; has conducted and supervised environmental studies, and developed avoidance and mitigation plans, in all South Florida submerged and upland habitats; has successfully permitted projects ranging from single family homes to developments of regional impact, working with all regulatory agencies; has extensive experience in design and implementation of public participation programs and review and development of comprehensive plans; and has represented clients successfully with many agencies and government boards. She is presently serving as immediate past chair of the South Florida Regional Planning Council, appointed by governors Bush and Crist; serves on EPA’s Water Quality Steering Committee for the Florida Keys; and served from 2000 to 2004 as a Governor’s appointee on Florida’s Acquisition and Restoration Council, which supervises purchase and management of State conservation lands.
MICHELLE (SHELLI) BRAYNARD, Senior Project Manager
Ms. Braynard is an accomplished and knowledgeable researcher and project manager with extensive experience in Florida coastal habitats. She is particularly skilled in designing and implementing ecological data collection programs, including mapping of resources using sub-meter-accuracy GPS, analyzing and presenting resulting data using state-of-the-art GIS software, and communicating results effectively to agencies and the public. Her in-water experience, including scientific diving and boating certifications, prepare her for both supervising and participating in all aspects of coastal environmental data collection. In addition, she has direct field and laboratory experience with water quality monitoring, phytoplankton ecology, and microbiological identification. Ms. Braynard is currently serving as adjunct faculty at Florida Keys Community College, teaching classes in marine data collection and seagrass restoration.
JILL BETH COHEN, Senior Planner & Landscape Architect
Ms. Cohen is a Registered Landscape Architect (RLA), Certified Planner (AICP) and LEED AP with more than 29 years of professional experience focused on planning, urban design, landscape architecture and sustainable design. Her professional experience includes working closely with municipalities, institutional and private clients on projects involving planning, site planning, landscape architecture, land use, variances, rezoning, platting, processing and permitting, due diligence and documentation. Currently, Ms. Cohen’s focus is on revitalization projects and providing proactive, responsive and personalized service including attention to detail to provide quality projects. Ms. Cohen is a senior associate with SWC and also has her own consulting business.
JASON C. HIGNITE, Regulatory Compliance Specialist
Mr. Hignite has more than 18 years of professional experience in environmental sciences and regulatory compliance, both in the United States Navy and as a civilian consultant. He has completed projects throughout the United States, including several in Florida. He has over 15 years experience in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance for various state departments of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Defense (DOD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the US Postal Service. Furthermore, educated as an ecologist and trained in hazardous materials (HAZMAT) management, Jason has carved a rare niche of dealing with HAZMAT issues in sensitive natural environments. He also has experience in stormwater management, spill response planning, environmental site assessments, wetland and riparian studies and permitting, mitigation design and implementation, monitoring, watershed assessments and management plans, and habitat assessments. Jason is a member of the National Association of Environmental Professionals, and has spent years on the environmental committees of the Florida Airports Council, the American Association of Airport Professionals, and the Airport Consultants Council.
ANGIE A. BERA, Project Manager
Ms. Bera has 10 years of extensive practical experience working with communities and utilities to improve wastewater and stormwater management and reduce pollutants. She has developed an in house water quality laboratory to analyze fecal indicator bacteria, nutrients, and a variety of chemical parameters. Ms. Bera managed Santa Monica Baykeeper’s Beachkeeper Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program for over five years. The program educates residents about the impact of urban runoff that directly affects all waterways of Los Angeles County and enables them to take a hands-on approach to help solve the problem. She was successful in creating partnerships with other government agencies and municipalities, working with volunteers from the community. Ms. Bera gained extensive knowledge in water quality monitoring and education, was actively involved in Los Angeles region Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) regulations aimed at pollution reduction, and has experience with large project management.
STEPHANIE VORIS, Senior Project Manager
Ms. Voris has extensive experience working with the environmental resource permitting process in Southeast and Southwest Florida. She is well-qualified to conduct wetland jurisdictional determinations, collect all required data and prepare and process ERP applications, as well as applications for local government permits. Her expertise includes emergent wetland and submerged habitats, as well as upland trees and listed species, and she has designed and implemented mitigation projects, including conducting permit compliance monitoring. She has conducted numerous seagrass surveys, seagrass transplanting, bathymetric and hydrographic surveys, water quality studies, and assignments involving aquatic and marine macro faunal identification, analysis, and mapping. She also is qualified in the preparation and processing of coastal construction control line permits. Ms. Voris works for SWC as a contract employee and also has her own consulting firm.
KRISTY FRITTS, GIS Specialist
Ms. Fritts is an experienced and versatile Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialist with extensive experience within the government sector. Her wide range of knowledge, from GPS field data collection in both urban and rural settings, to project and field crew management, data processor, and GIS specialist gives her a particularly-broad expertise in the field. She has successfully worked for a broad range of clients, delivering timely and accurate data and deliverables, utilizing up-to-date best industry practices. She has performed numerous detailed sub-surface utility inventories for municipalities and military installations and has built GIS base data from the ground up. Ms. Fritts has extensive experience working throughout Florida, and has also completed projects across the country. She has worked on watershed restoration projects, and has participated in phases of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project (CERP). Her software skills include proficiency with ArcGIS 10.0, and she regularly participates in continuing education to stay current with industry trends and technology.
LILI CARPENTER, Senior Scientist
Dr. Carpenter is an experienced scientist working in the fields of biological and ecological monitoring and management of Florida’s ecosystems, wetland plant ecological physiology, hydrogeomorphic assessment of wetland function, restoration of wetlands, and fisheries ecology and management. She is an effective manager for biological studies, including preparation of research proposals; coordination with county, State and federal agencies; planning for field activities; and training and supervising project staff. Her research publications (under Carpenter and former name of Martin) include first authorship of three and contributions to seven peer-reviewed publications, and contributions to technical reports for U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Florida Water Management District, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. She is also proficient in statistical analysis for data sets using Excel, SPSS and Sigma Plot. She works as a contract employee with SWC and also has her own consulting practice.
CHRISTIE PRITCHARD, NEPA Coordinator
Ms. Pritchard is an environmental scientist knowledgeable in all phases and aspects of roadway construction projects; capable of assessing and documenting impacts to the social, cultural, natural, and physical environments with regard to roadway improvement projects. She is well-versed in environmental laws, regulations, policies, and procedures at the local, state, and federal levels, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). She is knowledgeable and experienced in FDOT processes and procedures, including preparing of all required environmental documents, and coordinating with federal, state, and local governmental agencies and the public. She is presently working as an employee of SWC and also has her own consulting company.