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Presenter BIOS
Green Infrastructure Maintenance Training
Scott Wheeler
Superintendent of Parks, Grounds and Forestry - City of Newport
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25 years of experience with the development and maintenance of the city's buildings, trees, parks, recreational facilities, athletic fields, cemeteries and related facilities.
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Responsible for urban forestry program
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Oversees capital improvement plan for the parks
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ISA Certified and Licensed RI Arborist
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Chair – Portsmouth Tree Commission
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Rhode Island Director – NE Chapter International Society of Arboriculture
James Houle
Director of the Stormwater Center – University of New Hampshire
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Ph.D in Natural Resources and Environmental Science
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Over twenty years of experience with water quality related issues in New England
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Certified professional in storm water quality (CPSWQ) and a certified professional in erosion and sediment control (CPESC).
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Directs and manages research projects at UNH Stormwater Center
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Areas of expertise include diffusion of innovative stormwater management solutions, the design and implementation of innovative stormwater control measures including green infrastructure (GI), and low impact development (LID) strategies, planning and implementation, operation and maintenance, and water resource monitoring.
Brian Byrnes
Deputy Superintendent – Providence Parks Department
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Degree in Urban Planning & Resource Development – URI
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Over 30 Years of Construction Experience
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Certified Playground Safety Inspector
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National Storm Water Center - Certified Stormwater Inspector
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Started with Providence Parks in 2015
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Project Manager for Projects in (120) Providence Parks
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Supervisor of (130) Parks Department Personnel
Steven Ricci
Director Of Field Operations – Groundwork Rhode Island
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18 years’ experience in the field of landscape maintenance and construction
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Experience in rain garden installation, curb cut tree pits, bioswales, native planting designs, green infrastructure installation, and full landscape site construction
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Director of the GroundCorp crew
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Managed and planned GSI projects with Rhode Island housing, WBNA, One Builders, West Elmwood Housing Authority, Southside Landtrust, Pawtucket Foundation, City Of Providence, City Of Warwick, City Of Central Falls, and the City Of Pawtucket
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Landscape Architecture and Community Planning degrees from URI
Eric Larson
River Rangers Program Manager - Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC)
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Joined WRWC as the Invasive Plant Manager in June 2013.
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Manager of the River Rangers program since 2019
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Responsible for maintenance along the Fred Lippett Bike Path as well as the Woonasquatucket River,
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Involved with the construction and maintenance of RIDOT funded green stormwater projects in the Woonasquatucket River watershed.
Jacob Gorke
River Ranger - Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC)
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River Ranger for the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) since 2018.
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Responsible for planting and maintaining green stormwater installations within the Woonasquatucket River Watershed.
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Serves as a co-leader for WRWC’s Urban Community Fish Monitoring Project- a study which gathers data on fish populations and assesses water quality in local watersheds.
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Currently attending school for environmental studies
Eric Beck
Administrator of Groundwater and Wetlands Protection in the Bureau of Environmental Protection, Office of Water Resources- Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
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Twenty-nine years of experience developing and implementing a broad range of environmental regulatory programs involving permitting of municipal and private wastewater and storm water systems and activities that might impact groundwater or freshwater wetlands.
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Involved in development and implementation of the RIPDES General Permit for Construction Stormwater, the Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater and the Small MS4 general permit.
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Involved in the development and implementation of RI’s 2010 Storm Water Design Manual, and the 2014 Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook.
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Responsible for the RI DEM’s Office of Water Permitting Programs and implementation of the RI Storm Water Design Manual, On-site Wastewater Treatment System Regulations, Freshwater Wetlands Regulations, Groundwater/Underground Injection Control Regulations, and Water Quality Regulations.
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Graduated from Merrimack College with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Rhode Island.
Alisa Diaz-Richardson
Managing Engineer -MS, PE, PMP – Rhode Island Department of Transportation
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RIDOT Environmental Division
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Engineer for 25 years at the Department of Environmental Management Office of Water Resources
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Supervised the RIDEM Water Resources Engineering Review Team
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Contributor to the 2010 RI Stormwater Manual
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Co-Author of the RIDOT Stormwater Linear Manual
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Currently Managing Engineer over Stormwater Partnership Projects
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State and Federal Environmental Coordination on all RIDOT Projects
Heather Hamilton
Principal Environmental Scientist– RIDOT Environmental Division
• RIDOT Natural Resources Unit/MS4 Compliance Program, with a focus on construction stormwater issues
• 10 years of experience with the State of RI in the environmental compliance/wetland science fields
• Extensive education & outreach experience for non-profit environmental sciences/STEM programs
Chris Shea
Senior Associate / Senior Project Manager /PE –Wood Environmental
• Over 30 years of civil/site engineering experience
• Designed some of the earliest green stormwater designs in RI (Pre-RIDEM mandate): o Fidelity Investments Campus, Smithfield o FM Global Campus, Johnston
• Recently designed the 2019/2020 stormwater projects at Roger Williams Park
• Volunteer Affiliations: Green Infrastructure Coalition - Providence Stormwater Innovation Center
Brian Byrnes
Deputy Superintendent – Providence Parks Department
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Degree in Urban Planning & Resource Development – URI
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Over 30 Years of Construction Experience
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Certified Playground Safety Inspector
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National Storm Water Center - Certified Stormwater Inspector
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Started with Providence Parks in 2015
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Project Manager for Projects in (120) Providence Parks
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Supervisor of (130) Parks Department Personnel
CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT of Green infrastructure Training
A RESIDENTIAL GUIDE TO STORMWATER TRAINING
Lee Ann Freitas
Botanical Center Director - Providence Parks Department
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Bachelor's degree in Horticulture from University of Rhode Island
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Manages operations and volunteers at the Botanical Center in Roger Williams Park
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Oversees maintenance of all green infrastructure projects in Roger Williams Park
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Local grower, farmer and sustainable foods advocate
Amelia Rose
Executive Director - Groundwork Rhode Island
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Executive Director of Groundwork Rhode Island since 2014,
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Oversees programs related to environmental job training and employment, brownfield redevelopment, stormwater management, composting, and youth engagement.
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Formerly worked at the Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island for 6 years.
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Amelia has also worked for the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Washington Interfaith Network, and Toxics Action Center.
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She has a B.A. in Anthropology from Mary Washington College.
Steven Ricci
Director Of Field Operations – Groundwork Rhode Island
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18 years’ experience in the field of landscape maintenance and construction
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Experience in rain garden installation, curb cut tree pits, bioswales, native planting designs, green infrastructure installation, and full landscape site construction
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Director of the GroundCorp crew
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Managed and planned GSI projects with Rhode Island housing, WBNA, One Builders, West Elmwood Housing Authority, Southside Landtrust, Pawtucket Foundation, City Of Providence, City Of Warwick, City Of Central Falls, and the City Of Pawtucket
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Landscape Architecture and Community Planning degrees from URI
Jacob Gorke
River Ranger - Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC)
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River Ranger for the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) since 2018.
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Responsible for planting and maintaining green stormwater installations within the Woonasquatucket River Watershed.
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Serves as a co-leader for WRWC’s Urban Community Fish Monitoring Project- a study which gathers data on fish populations and assesses water quality in local watersheds.
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Currently attending school for environmental studies
Sara Canuel
Education Director - Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC)
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Education Director for the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council: has worked with the organization for four years coordinating and facilitating all K-12 Education Programs as part of in-school and afterschool programs, and adult resiliency programs.
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Runs our Urban Fish Community Monitoring Project.
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Graduated from Eckerd College in January 2017 with a BA in Environmental Science and Sociology.
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Favorite tree is a Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
STORMWATER PLANNING SERIES TRAINING
James Houle
Director of the Stormwater Center – University of New Hampshire
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Ph.D in Natural Resources and Environmental Science
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Over twenty years of experience with water quality related issues in New England
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Certified professional in storm water quality (CPSWQ) and a certified professional in erosion and sediment control (CPESC).
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Directs and manages research projects at UNH Stormwater Center
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Areas of expertise include diffusion of innovative stormwater management solutions, the design and implementation of innovative stormwater control measures including green infrastructure (GI), and low impact development (LID) strategies, planning and implementation, operation and maintenance, and water resource monitoring.
Jen West
Coastal Training Program Coordinator – Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
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INFORMATION COMING SOON
Wenley Ferguson
Director of Habitat Restoration – Save the Bay
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INFORMATION COMING SOON
