Lindy Lowe

Director of Climate and Hazard Resilience

My favorite problems are the difficult ones—those sticky, multi-jurisdictional, multi-sector problems that require us to find new partners, develop new frameworks for working together, and be brave, humble, and kind. I love building frameworks that enable the person with the least amount of power and the person with the most amount of power to share their perspectives and contribute to solutions. Whatever the issue, my goals are to develop transparent, equitable, and effective solutions and to have fun along the way!

Lindy Lowe (she/her) has over 20 years of experience finding creative and innovative approaches to address complex challenges at all scales of the public sector. Her areas of work have included community design and development, wildfire ecology, multispecies and watershed planning, regional airport planning, seaports, regional transportation and mobility, sea level rise and adaptation planning, and sustainable development. An expert on climate and hazard resilience, Lindy develops programs that combine data and research, stakeholder and community engagement, and the creation of flexible frameworks (including goals, objectives, metrics, evaluation criteria, and decision-making processes) to meet the needs of all stakeholders, from the smallest neighborhood to the largest regional service provider. Working with private, nonprofit, and community organizations, she creates programs that are built on a foundation of equity, sustainability, and governance and that have local support, identify funding and financing options, address regulatory requirements, and build partnerships along the way.

For the last 10 years, Lindy has been a climate and hazard resilience leader in the San Francisco Bay Area, working with public and private stakeholders and community members to build equitable, sustainable programs that use metrics to measure effectiveness. In 2011, her team partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to create the nationally recognized “Adapting to Rising Tides” program. She also led one of the first Federal Highway Administration vulnerability assessments to test and refine the federal process for transportation infrastructure, as well as many successful stakeholder engagement processes with multi-sector, multi-interest groups.

Lindy studied planning and policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, with a focus on public health, life cycle assessments, public policy, and law. She has a joint master’s and law degree in regional planning and public policy. Lindy’s many interests include hiking with family and friends, running her dogs, art museums, and travelling to places with lots of wildlife. She volunteers at the Berkeley Humane Society, Moms Demand Action, and Oakland Promise.

Jennifer Lam

Director

The most rewarding part of my work is being able to help our clients from behind the scenes, reflect on their impact, and find ways to become more effective and successful at conserving and protecting the world we live in.

Jennifer Lam (she/her) is a director of ERG’s Blue Earth team and oversees operations and client projects. She has over 10 years’ experience in natural resource management, outreach and engagement, and project coordination. She works with a variety of sectors, including academic institutions, foundations, nonprofit organizations, private businesses, and government, with a focus on constructing governance and management structures to bolster organizational operations for continued longevity and growth.

Jennifer specializes in strategy and survey development, research and data analysis, and engagement with underrepresented communities. She has managed projects to design community workshops for climate action and outreach planning for disadvantaged communities; help working groups reverse the decline of vaquita and stop the illegal totoaba fishery and wildlife trafficking; prepare a proposal to establish a Caribbean Coastal Capital Center of Excellence to increase knowledge and institutional capacity for climate-resilient coastal zone management; develop sector companion plans for California’s State Wildlife Action Plan; and develop and implement a replicable monitoring protocol and survey to evaluate the effectiveness of annual federally funded fisher workshops.

Jennifer holds an M.S. in marine resource management and a B.S. in general science, with minors in health management and policy and chemistry, both from Oregon State University. She currently serves as co-chair of ERG’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee – Recruiting Work Group and a member of the Environmental and Climate Justice Solutions Marketing Group. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors near the water, watching NFL football (go Saints!), and traveling to search for the best brunch spots and street art in town.

Diana Pietri

Senior Social Scientist

Designing solutions for sustainable environmental conservation and management efforts is a constantly challenging, yet rewarding, endeavor. I love collaborating with our clients to discover and develop strategies to promote environmental sustainability–including defining priorities for long-term funding and financing and identifying innovative best practices for coastal and ocean planning.

Dr. Diana Pietri (she/her) is a senior social scientist with ERG’s Blue Earth team and has more than 12 years’ experience in natural resource management and policy; science integration; monitoring, evaluation, and learning; community-based solutions; and area-based management. She works with and provides intermediary services to foundations, government agencies, nonprofits, and academic institutions. Her work includes exploring the viability of existing and new governance and institutional arrangements and developing recommendations to improve the effectiveness of organizational structures.

Diana manages several projects for the Blue Earth team, including projects to assess marine protected area effectiveness; develop funding, long-term financing, and strategic business plans to improve organizational success; and monitor and evaluate terrestrial and marine management and conservation programs. Other project work has included support for protected area stewardship, community-based management and capacity building, and climate resilience and fisheries policy and adaptive management.

Diana holds a Ph.D. from the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington; a Master of Marine Affairs from the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at University of Washington; and a B.A. in ecology, evolution, and environmental biology from Columbia University. Outside work, Diana spends her time practicing aerial silks, sailing, and hiking around the Bay Area in search of the perfect dog-friendly trail with great coastal and ocean views.

Sylvia Chang

Coastal and Marine Resources Specialist

I enjoy collaborating with my team to design innovative ways to tackling challenges our oceans and coasts face. Our work supports decision-makers from all sectors and scales–including providing tailored, effective, and practical solutions based on robust research methods.

Sylvia Chang (she/her) is a coastal and marine resources specialist at ERG’s Blue Earth team and has more than six years of experience at the nexus of science, policy, and natural resource management. She supports strategic planning and monitoring, evaluation, and learning projects that focus on building long-term protected area financing, science-integrated decision-making, and ecosystem valuation for academic institutions, philanthropies, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Her work includes supporting the implementation and delivery of projects with specializations in research, data analysis, GIS, evaluation, survey development, coastal and ocean conservation, and area-based management.

She works on several projects for the Blue Earth team: for example, creating a series of GIS maps illustrating abalone populations and habitat off the coasts of Orange County and Catalina Island in California, coordinating keynote speakers and expert panelists for climate resilience workshops, and conducting an economic valuation of coral reef and seagrass ecosystems in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Other project work has included impact evaluations of grant investments, literature reviews, and donor landscape analyses.

Sylvia holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University and a B.S. in environmental sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. Sylvia has a green thumb for indoor and outdoor gardening–she has grown a fruiting avocado tree from a seed! In her free time, she is on a quest to visit the natural and historical wonders of the world.

AnnaClaire Marley

Climate Adaptation Expert

I am passionate about integrating environmental data analysis, communication, and stakeholder engagement to help our clients build effective management solutions and adaptation strategies to climate change.

AnnaClaire Marley (she/her) joined ERG as a Climate Adaptation Expert in 2020. She provides technical and communications support for local, regional, and state climate action and adaptation plans. She specializes in harnessing environmental data to make informed management decisions.

As part of ERG’s Blue Earth team, AnnaClaire’s work is focused on climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning. She supports municipalities and other government agencies to integrate resiliency into their long-term plans and day-to-day operations. She also draws on her water resources experience to support ERG’s work with Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Yuba Water Agency to assess forecast informed reservoir operations for improving flood control and water supply reliability.

AnnaClaire has a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at the University of California, Santa Barbara and a BSc in Geography from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. In her free time, AnnaClaire enjoys playing volleyball, hiking with her dog, and spending time near the water.

Elizabeth Weathers

Junior Analyst

It is exciting and rewarding to be part of a team that addresses environmental issues through a multidisciplinary approach, as I believe that is the best way to succeed in making lasting change for our environment.

Elizabeth Weathers (she/her) joined ERG’s Blue Earth team in 2020. She conducts web-based and document background research on a variety of environmental, institutional, and organizational issues to support various projects, as well as supporting day-to-day office administrative activities. Prior to joining the Blue Earth team, Elizabeth held development and research internships at environmental nonprofits. In business development, she spearheaded a fundraising campaign for Marina Trash Skimmers and conducted donor database management. Her research projects focused on clean energy initiatives such as battery storage and community solar projects, and climate change adaptation strategies such as cities’ plans to combat sea level rise.

Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College with majors in International Relations and French, with a minor in Environmental Studies. In her free time, she enjoys all manner of outdoor activities and has most recently picked up sport climbing and surfing.

Linda Diamond

Vice President

My greatest professional satisfaction has been working with tremendously dedicated colleagues and clients to design, develop, and implement technology solutions for some of our most pressing environmental, health, and safety challenges.

Linda Diamond, an ERG vice president, has more than 25 years of practical experience providing IT services and strategic business consulting to environmental, occupational safety and health, public health, and transportation programs. Since founding ERG’s digital and information solutions group in 1989, she has led hundreds of projects to evaluate, modernize, and transform client workflow and technology platforms to better support data collection, decision-making, business process transformation, outreach, and communications. Her work has included development and implementation of scientific applications, national data management systems, workflow and content management systems, and data visualization solutions and applications.

Balancing strategic vision with practical know-how, Linda leads knowledge capture and innovation sessions with federal, state, and commercial clients to define priorities, discuss options and solutions, and guide development of the technology vision and roadmap for their project. Linda particularly enjoys building, mentoring, and empowering IT and digital project teams to create solutions that provide measurable organizational impact. As ERG’s chief information officer, Linda also leads ERG’s IT strategy efforts, aligning the company’s infrastructure with its business needs.

Linda holds a B.S. in resource economics from the University of Vermont’s School of Natural Resources, with a concentration in operations research and computer modeling.

Charles Goodhue

Senior Economist

As an economist, I have come to appreciate that the qualitative context–including co-benefits, benefits distribution, environmental and health impacts, and social and political obstacles–can be as essential to decision-making as the numerical outputs. I enjoy working holistically with my government and community clients to determine how best to meet their needs and communicate the results.

Charles Goodhue (he/him) is an ERG Senior Economist and Project Manager with expertise in the ocean economy and the intersection of economics and resilience. For over a decade at ERG, he has developed and implemented surveys, developed valuation methodologies, performed benefit-cost analyses, and implemented economic impact analyses across a wide array of projects.

He extensively supports NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management to both measure the economic contribution of the ocean to the economy and develop methodologies that value resilience and coastal management activities. He leads ERG’s work with NIST’s Community Resilience Group supporting research to model community vulnerability and disaster recovery. Charles has also authored the socioeconomic sections of several National Shoreline Management Studies for the USACE Institute for Water Resources.

Charles holds a B.A. in both Economics and Chemistry from Brandeis University and an M.A. in Chemistry from Harvard University. He is also a Project Management Professional and Certified Lean Project Manager. Outside of work, he enjoys skiing, playing and coaching soccer, and stays fit by chasing after his three young kids.

Jenny Helmick

Vice President

George Bernard Shaw once said, ‘The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.’ Given the environmental and public health issues we face today, we ignore this illusion at our peril. My work is to help scientists and policy makers understand, engage, and inform their audiences. ERG’s clients know that if they hand me some dingy prose, I can make it sparkle. If they tell me whom they hope to reach and why, I can craft a strategy to cut through the noise. For me, making science engaging and accessible is a skill, an art, and a calling.

Jenny Helmick (she/her) is a highly accomplished writer, educator, trainer, and communications strategist. Growing up in Florida in the 1960s, Jenny was deeply affected by the die-off of pelicans and destruction of the Everglades, and she has worked on behalf of the environment ever since. An ERG vice president, she has put her strong science background and communications skills in the service of environmental protection and public health since joining the company in 1988. ERG’s clients frequently turn to her to solve their tough communication challenges–from quick-turnaround fact sheets and Web content, to multi-year, multi-author research reports, to comprehensive stakeholder engagement and communications strategies. She also designs and delivers training, workshops, and curricula on environmental science, effective writing, and other topics.

Jenny holds a B.A. from Harvard University, social studies concentration, and an M.S. in environmental health/urban and environmental policy from Tufts University.

Chris Lamie

Vice President

My work is all about continual improvement. Whether it’s tackling emerging challenges in our environment, setting and working toward incremental sustainability goals, or designing information products that reach new audiences in innovative ways, I enjoy opportunities to raise awareness, raise the discourse, and help our clients improve human well-being and the health of our planet.

Chris Lamie (he/him) is a vice president and senior scientist with more than a decade of experience at the nexus of environmental science, public health, and communications. He specializes in conveying technical information in an engaging and accessible yet scientifically rigorous manner, as well as coordinating interdisciplinary teams of scientists, writers, artists, web developers, and consultants to achieve these goals.

Chris has led ERG’s support for several high-profile products, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Change Indicators in the United States, a new interactive web version of EPA’s Report on the Environment, and several other interactive data visualization tools. He has advised other U.S. and European organizations on best practices for using indicators to track environmental condition and trends, and he has also assisted clients with various energy, public health, and occupational safety topics, as well as environmental management system implementation, training, and auditing. He is well-versed in climate science topics, best practices in climate change communication, web systems, and principles of graphic design.

Chris holds a B.A. in Earth and planetary sciences from Harvard University. Outside work, he enjoys trail running, winter sports, and exploring the outdoors–including a somewhat quixotic quest to hike to the highest point in every state. He also teaches science and outdoor skills for the Boy Scouts of America.

Lou Nadeau

Vice President

Agencies tend to manage what can be readily measured, but with a large toolbox of analytical and data collection techniques and some creativity, so much more is possible! I am proud and inspired to apply my program evaluation and economic valuation expertise to help agencies manage better–by providing them with valid, reliable data to enhance decision-making and by effectively communicating this information to my clients, their stakeholders, and upper management.

An expert in econometrics, statistical analysis, survey design, and process analysis, Dr. Lou Nadeau joined ERG in 1996. A vice president, he developed and currently manages ERG’s program evaluation and performance measurement practice, which focuses on two areas: evaluating the impacts of federal programs (including developing performance metrics) and valuing ecosystem services.

Government agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Labor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Commission for Environmental Cooperation have used Lou’s services to learn where their programs are making impacts, discover ways to improve program effectiveness, and provide a data-based foundation for enhanced management decision-making. Lou is hands-on in the projects he manages, leading interviews and conducting statistical analyses. He often presents his work at national conferences and to upper management at federal agencies.

Lou has a B.A. in economics from Assumption College and a Ph.D. and M.A. in economics from Clark University.

Arleen O’Donnell

Vice President

I cherish the connection with nature I feel from the strength of the ocean, the run of a river, the serenity of a lake, the intensity of estuaries, and the magic of vernal pools. It’s from this sense of appreciation that I apply my knowledge, experience, and passion to protect and restore the ecological integrity of water resources.

Arleen O’Donnell has been working to protect and sustainably manage water resources since beginning her career as a researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Since then, she has worked to strengthen the effectiveness of water resource programs at all levels of government. During her six-year tenure at the Massachusetts Audubon Society followed by 18 years at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection–where she rose to the position of Commissioner–she spearheaded a series of innovative water supply and water resource management regulations and policies. She has held national leadership positions at the Environmental Council of the States and the Association of Clean Water Administrators.

As an ERG vice president, Arleen has developed and led ERG’s natural resource management practice since 2008, managing contracts and projects to support the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Her current work includes climate adaptation, wetlands protection, ecosystem restoration, and integrated water resources management. An experienced stakeholder engagement facilitator, Arleen specializes in collaborative problem solving and innovative approaches.

Arleen holds a B.S. in biology and environmental science from the University of Massachusetts and an M.S. in civil engineering and urban/environmental policy from Tufts University. She commutes to work on her bicycle and enjoys cross-country skiing, snorkeling, gardening, birding, and wineries.

Hui Zhou

Vice President

I love the creative process and am passionate about new frontiers in information technology. I enjoy working with the talented and dedicated professionals at ERG. My most gratifying moments are delivering innovative solutions to our clients under challenging situations.

An ERG vice president—and the company’s chief information architect and cyber security officer—Hui Zhou leads technology initiatives to develop and manage cutting-edge IT solutions for federal and state agencies. For more than 22 years, he has applied his creative, conceptual, and problem-solving skills to translate client needs and goals into practical, forward-thinking solutions. Experienced in analysis, design, development, testing, deployment, and operation, he has delivered over 500 applications and systems to ERG clients across mobile, app, Web, and cloud platforms. Hui is proficient in many cutting-edge programming languages and platforms and particularly enjoys the challenge of applying new and emerging information technologies and methods to develop innovative technical solutions for clients.

Before joining ERG in 1996, Hui worked at Harvard University as a research fellow/specialist for three years. He participated in several high-profile national research projects in air pollution data modeling, GIS spatial and statistical analysis, and Superfund human health risk assessment. Hui holds an M.S. in environmental engineering from Bradley University and an M.A. in urban planning from Boston University. Outside work, Hui is a passionate Boston sports fan and enjoys travel, basketball, hiking, running, dancing, and photography.

Wes Ganter

CEO, PG Environmental, Vice President

Protecting and restoring water quality has been my career-long mission. I feel so fortunate to have had great mentors and customers, opportunities to serve throughout the U.S. and abroad, and the privilege of mentoring a new generation of water quality professionals. Watching my company, PG Environmental, grow, thrive, and ultimately find such a perfect match with ERG has been equally rewarding. Looking forward, I am excited to tackle the water quality issues of the future.

Protecting and restoring water quality has been Wesley Ganter’s career-long mission. For more than 20 years, he has specialized in Clean Water Act implementation, compliance, and enforcement work for federal and state agencies. He has extensive experience developing targeting programs and innovative data capture and analysis methods; conducting routine and event-driven NPDES inspections; mobilizing, training, and managing NPDES inspection teams that have cumulatively conducted thousands of inspections throughout the U.S. and U.S territories; and overseeing municipal stormwater programs.

Since cofounding PG Environmental in 2005 (with Jim Parker, recently retired), he has led PG’s compliance and enforcement practice and managed numerous prime contracts with federal and state agencies. Mr. Ganter’s sole support of federal and state agencies throughout his career likely makes him unique in the water quality enforcement field. He has provided enforcement and litigation support for wastewater, stormwater, sewer system, and jurisdictional water cases, and has facilitated resolution of some of the largest water infrastructure issues in the country.

An accomplished public speaker and trainer, Mr. Ganter has led countless training programs and presents often at professional conferences. He has B.A. degrees in environmental conservation and economics from the University of Colorado.

Kort Kirkeby

Environmental Scientist

As a child, I spent much of my time outdoors observing, collecting, and understanding the natural world. This early passion led me to study biology, communications, and environmental engineering and ultimately integrate them into my career in aquatic ecosystems. I have had great opportunities to work with outstanding people and manage large-scale projects across the U.S., and I am passionate about delivering high-quality work products that meet and exceed expectations.

Kort Kirkeby’s professional career as an aquatic biologist has involved designing, implementing, and managing a number of aquatic ecosystem assessment projects, from Alaska to Florida. Kort joined PG Environmental (part of the ERG Group) in 2011, where he has served as the technical lead responsible for managing multiple field crews including support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Aquatic Resource Survey field sampling efforts. He is a member of the American Fisheries Society, Trout Unlimited, and the Society of Wetland Scientists.