Professional Experience

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• Vice President, Coastal Planning and Adaptation (May 2013 - present); Coastal Environments, La Jolla, California.

Conduct Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Vulnerability analysis; recommend land use, and adaptation strategies for coastal environments; mainstreaming adaptation policy and Local Coastal Plans; develop international market in the area of resiliency, coastal adaptation planning and development

 

• Post-Doctoral Fellow (May 2017 - present); Beach Erosion Authority Control Authority (BEACON), Ventura, California, Joint Powers Authority of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties and the cities of Goleta, Santa Barbara, Carpentaria, Ventura, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme. Prepared Elected Officials Education and Outreach Program 2017-2018; prepared report in the implications of TMDLS for Beach Nourishment within BEACON's area of Jurisdiction; prepared report exploring pathways for the implementation of sediment management, beach nourishment, and shoreline management strategies as coastal adaptation policies in the area; served as liaison with Caltrans in attaining blanket permits for coastal retreat and beach nourishment projects in the area (in progress) 2019.

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• Project Coordinator for California United States-Netherlands Connection Pro (USNC) (May 2014 - present); Florida Earth Foundation (FEF).  Acted as regional coordinator for California, Supporting the FEF’s international coastal adaptation knowledge exchange, a cooperative effort between UNESCO-IHE, Netherlands Rijkswaterstaat, Deltares, and organizations within the state of California, Washington DC and Florida focused on coastal engineering and water governance. Helped to transition the organization to the new center for global resiliency, an initiative with the European Development Bank; helped to expand the knowledge exchange efforts to the United Kingdom and expanded group’s scope to study financing methods for Climate Change Adaptation world-wide.

 

• Lead Scientist and Principal Investigator, Coastal Adaptation Planning (Nov 2014 - Nov 2016);

National Institute for Environment and Climate Change (INECC) and the World-Bank. Managed coastal planning, feasibility and climate change vulnerability studies; led numerical modeling of coastal process, mangrove evolution and socio-economic analysis of local communities and the region; created low cost adaptation measures for increasing resiliency on the Lacunar System Carmen Pajonal Machona and the Gulf of Mexico; wrote adaptive plans and ordinances to implement adaptation measures using optimal pathways approach; function as US project manager; prepared action plans, evaluations and technical reports.

 

• Coastal Planner, Oceanographer, Environmental Consultant (Sep 1996 – May 2013); Coastal Environments, La Jolla, California. Conducted environmental and oceanographic data collection and analysis; utilized existing and when necessary developed new numerical models, protocols, and algorithms, to process coastal and oceanographic information; designed visually compelling plots, websites and scientific illustrations; wrote technical reports and publications; acted as liaison with planning and government officials, to convey scientific findings to a variety of high level executives and elected officials--both internally and within the community. Performed office management duties under direct supervision of owner and president; disseminate departmental information, and assisted in resolving administrative issues.

 

• Lead Scientist/ Expert in Environmental and Social Justice Issues (April 2012 – August 2012); Council for Watershed Health; Los Angeles, California. Led Social Justice/ Social environmental justice research and provided bilingual outreach and community engagement for identification of the water related needs of a Disadvantaged Community (DAC) in the Upper Los Angeles Watershed.

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• Consultant, Entitlements and Environmental Planner (May 2005 – December 2018); Various Projects, Republic Dominican, Puerto Rico, Maui, Hawaii. Conducted due-diligence and research, Land Use and Developing Permits. Helped client to successfully overcome challenges and constraints that previous developers faced while trying to obtain the Special Area Management (SMA) permits required for site development into a time-share; advised in beach erosion management and regulatory issues to obtain a SMA permit for tourism related development; performed due diligence, feasibility, and prospecting of international projects in coastal Mexico; Technical functions included: collecting, analyzing, presenting planning data; and made recommendations to fulfill project requirements, property requirements, ordinances, laws, codes, and others as required; reviewed plans and blueprints, overviewing technical aspects to get approvals; prepared reports for presentation to various groups and commissions; performed critical review of beach nourishment legal agreements and permit conditions; supported project management in office an administrative functions under direct supervision of owner/president.

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• Independent Consultant, Sustainability Expert, and Project Management Support to SE Corporation CEO and Principal Project Manager (March 2010); Corona and Beverly Hills, CA. Prepared response to state level RFP “Catalyst Projects for California Sustainable Strategies Pilot Program on behalf of Corona City; researched California’s main issues regarding cities and greenhouse gas emissions; design strategies to address climate change challenges at project level to fulfill California’s current and proposed sustainability practices, interpreted legislation and performed policy analysis to make project recommendations; provided technical support and scientific advice for the RFP responding team, helped writing reports, and supported technical meetings and public meetings with several committees, elected officials and personnel of Corona City.

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• Planner, GIS Analyst (January 2012 to May 2012); City of Pasadena, and University of Southern California USC School of Policy, Planning,& Development; Pasadena and Los Angeles, California. Supported Principal Investigator Woodie Tescher, developing alternative designs for a Transit Oriented Development expanding the Metro Golden line; functions included  land survey, photo documentation, and geo-spatial analysis of existing conditions, report writing, performed socio-demographic analysis using census data and geospatial of transportation efficiency for the East Pasadena region; prepared projection of new land-use distribution to allow Transit Oriented Development and Carbon Emissions Reduction around the upcoming extension of the Metro; assisted in overseeing a transit-oriented group feasibility study; deriving planning information from the Pasadena City Planning Department Documents and Maps; prepared analysis on property development rights, historic preservation, permit processes, zoning regulations, regulatory policies, and other relevant planning functions; helped local communities to integrated their vision in a multimodal (bike, walk, energy efficient and  public transportation) based community within a mile of the Metro station.

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• Research Assistant (May 2011- August2011); Center for Sustainable Cities, University of Southern California (USC); Los Angeles, California. Prepared California statewide inventory of policy and planning efforts in response to Sea Level Rise (SLR); conducted bibliographic research and literature review to find state of the art academic research in planning and strategic response to climate change and sea-level rise; prepared GIS maps highlighting areas of high risk to sea level rise in California; used HAZUS, FEMA software analysis Decision Support System (DSS), and numerical models for disaster scenario simulation and evaluation of cost benefit analysis.

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• Research Assistant / GIS Analyst (August 2007- December 2011); USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, Los Angeles, California, Long Beach, California and Chicago, Illinois. Worked under direct supervision of Principal Investigator Lisa Schweitzer; prepared research grant applications and supported writing of technical reports and peer reviewed publications; performed geospatial analysis of transportation needs for underserved population around hazardous materials sites, performed multi city socio-economic and demographic analysis using census data; performed geographical analysis, of transportation efficiency during emergency conditions and massive evacuations; performed efficiency evaluation of models for transportation forecast; conducted focus groups, elected official interviews, helping with report writing, translation, interpretation; and organization of public forums. Completed all research with a high level of academic excellence; exceeded original scope and secured additional funding for several projects related to transportation, environment, social justice, access to health services, and transportation of hazardous materials.

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• ​Planner, Study Manager, and GIS Coordinator (June 2001 – December 2005); Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Los Angeles District, Coastal Studies Group, Los Angeles District, CA, Morro Bay, CA, Sacramento, CA, San Francisco, CA, Washington DC​​.

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​Worked as study and project manager for the coastal studies group; planned, supervised, and coordinated contractors and subcontractors; leading environmental projects with value in excess of 50 million dollars

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Prepared feasibility studies, mainly related to sediment management, beaches and watershed restoration; assured compliance with ordinances, guidelines, environmental laws and best management practices during project construction; review and anticipate other important legislative aspects for project implementation; organized public forums, technical committees  and expert symposiums to achieve collaborative and transparent decision making during project planning and execution; rendered decisions and technical recommendations to planning and government officials; presented cases to governing bodies with recommendations for approval/disapproval​.

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Served as planning and academic liaison between ACOE and USC.​

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Achieved efficient execution of General Investigations and Continuing Authorization funding following scientific methodology and principles of quality control superior to the required ACOE standard practices; continuously surpassed local sponsor and public’s expectations building stronger agency client relations while gaining recognition at headquarters and division level.​

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Acted as co-Study Manager for the California Sediment Management Master Plan conducting policy analysis and comparative research of the sediment management policies of various jurisdictions; and search for sediment management feasible alternatives; served as ACOE liaison and/or member of various committees, boards, and/or teams and technical boards; collaborated with and persuade different audiences to collaborate with ACOE initiatives by presenting new ideas, complex concepts and projects to a diversity of audiences in order to achieve general consensus, goal setting and project implementation. Negotiated with other Government Agencies with overlapping jurisdictions, to coordinate efforts and maintain cooperative and efficient relations disseminating a variety of information and/or reports to various agencies, divisions, and departments.​

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Acted as bilingual study manager for international projects such as Puerto Madero dredging, maintenance and feasibility study; developed community outreach efforts for the Los Angeles river revitalization and restoration project.​

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Implemented and promote state-of-the-art GIS technologies in house, provided mentoring and training to staff at division level; served ad GIS Staff Scientist for the restoration and preservation of Morro Bay Estuary (CA); conducted geographical information systems (GIS) visualization, mapping and research developing of databases, protocols for interoperability and protocols to join information tables and metadata to shape files and satellite and aerial photograph for compatibility at division level; conducted research and disseminated findings; assuring necessary components for project and permit approval; wrote environmental correspondence in accordance with standard policies, answered various public inquiries, and explained policies and procedures to other agencies and public official; processed routine and non-routine administrative matters independently.​

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Acted as Project Manager and Web designer for the Congressional Projects Showcase, working directly under Col. Thompson creating IMS maps (Internet Map Services) among others.

                                                                                                                          

• Research Assistant (Jan 2001 – Dec 2001); Coastal Community Research, USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Southern California (USC); Southern California. Performed GPS beach survey and Photo-identification of Southern California Beaches from San Luis Obispo to Coronado under direct supervision of PhD Linwood Pendleton; project achieved academic excellence recognition.

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• Staff Research Associate I & II - (May 97 - July 2000) Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Center for Coastal Studies, University of California San Diego. La Jolla, California.​

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Conducted environmental and oceanographic data collection and analysis for the San Diego Homeporting Project; monitored disposed sand in nearshore environment as a result of the San Diego Bay deepening project; coordinated project results and reports with the California Department of Boating and Waterways to determine the fate of beach nourishment sand placed in the nearshore environment; supervised beach surveys, bathymetry surveys, water level measurements and performed wave data compilation; performed data analyses and use of numerical simulation software; utilized existing and when necessary developed new numerical models, protocols, and algorithms, to process coastal and oceanographic information; designed visually compelling plots, websites and scientific illustrations; wrote technical reports and publications.

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Acted as liaison with planning and government officials, to convey scientific findings to a variety of high level executives and elected officials; developed a Coastal Hazards Web Site is sponsored by the California Boating and Waterways and in Coordination with CERES (The California Resources Agency) containing the most important information related to coastal hazards in California. Performed office management duties under direct supervision of owner and president; disseminate departmental information, and assisted in resolving administrative issues independently.

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• International Environmental Consultant (Sep 94 - Sep 96) Full project description upon request.

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