Rona Spellecacy is a certified Environmental Professional, senior environmental planner, and project manager with HDR in Seattle, Washington. Rona has 13 years of experience managing the NEPA process and documentation for a wide variety of projects. She has served as the Environmental Manager for the SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program consultant team, and managed the development of two environmental impact statements for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projects in the Yakima Basin.

In 2016, Rona led a multidisciplinary team of more than 30 consultants, serving as Project Manager for the Shell Anacortes Rail Unloading Facility SEPA EIS for Skagit County and the Washington Department of Ecology. Rona manages a team of environmental planners and scientists, and serves as managing principal of HDR's Seattle office.

Rona received her M.A. in political science and environmental studies from Western Washington University, and holds a B.A. in both biology and anthropology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She is a member of the American Planning Association (APA) and holds certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

Since joining NAEP in 2003, Rona has participated in many aspects of NAEP and the Northwest Chapter. Rona served on the Chapter’s Board of Directors and as Chapter Representative from 2006 to 2008. She has participated in seven NAEP conferences, presenting papers at three conferences and serving as Technical Co-Chair for the 2016 Annual Conference in Chicago. Rona has also published two papers in Environmental Practice (June 2009 and September 2014).

Rona is excited about her role as a member of the Board and Chair of the Permanent Conference Committee. The NAEP’s Annual Conferences represent both the foundation and the pinnacle of NAEP’s leadership in the environmental profession.

Rona’s goal is to support the Conference Committee and their mission to ensure the continued successful planning, implementation, and conduct of NAEP’s Annual Conferences well into the future.

David Mattern has over 30 years of experience and is a senior manager of NEPA EIS and similar projects. His responsibilities include managing environmental impact statement preparation, conducting siting studies, and policy evaluations for public facilities.

David managed Washington State’s first reader-friendly EIS, using innovative graphic design and clear writing to produce an easy-to-understand and engaging document. His EIS has won four awards for its pioneering approach.

His project experience includes siting studies and environmental documentation for highways, airports, landfills, and light rail systems. David was a member of working groups sponsored by FHWA, AASHTO, and ACEC, developing guidance on legal sufficiency and alternative formats for environmental documents. He taught the Duke University Environmental Leadership Program course on preparing and documenting environmental impact analyses.

David has been an NAEP member since 2005 and has presented at each annual meeting. He regularly attends meetings and events held by the Seattle branch of the Northwest Association of Environmental Professionals. David has made presentations at several of their events. David has also authored articles published in “Environmental Law Reporter” and “Environmental Practice.”

David believes NAEP should support and be a resource for environmental professionals by providing a meeting ground and platform for the integration of multiple subjects. NAEP should foster better understanding and excellence in all environmental practices.

As an organization of professionals, David believes NAEP should be a forum on and advocate for environmental work integrating the natural and social sciences to improve our understanding and ability to protect and improve the environment. Key activities David would like NAEP to support are 1) training for new and continuing environmental professionals and 2) disseminating current information as it develops on regulations and environmental science.

He says, “I want NAEP to be a useful and relevant resource for the practicing environmental professional. Our profession is important to our world and our communities. By supporting its members, NAEP can make a real, tangible, and positive difference.”

Anna Kohl is a Certified Environmental Professional In Training and a NAEP member, as well as a member of the Board of Directors and the National Liaison for the Alaska Association of Environmental Professionals. She serves on the NEPA track of the Alaska Forum on the Environment Planning Committee and holds a Certificate in NEPA from the Nicholas School of the Environment Environmental Leadership Program at Duke University.

She obtained her B.A. in geology from Mount Holyoke College. She is an Associate Vice President at HDR Alaska, Inc., where she has worked on NEPA and environmental science projects since 2004.

Anna leads HDR Alaska’s Resources business group, and she has 10 years of experience managing private- and public-sector environmental and NEPA projects. Anna manages project delivery and resourcing for a group of 55 scientists, including wetland biologists, environmental planners, cultural resource specialists, wildlife biologists, GIS analysts, compliance specialists, waste engineers, and fisheries biologists.

Anna has efficiently coordinated and reviewed technical reports and draft documents related to wetlands, hydrology, fish passage, wildlife movement, traffic projections, noise analyses, recreational and visual resources, contaminated sites, cultural resources, water quality, cumulative impact analyses, and project alternative evaluations. She is actively engaged in all technical discipline aspects pertinent to NEPA projects, as well as with agency and stakeholder coordination and communication.

She is experienced in field work and the composition of wetland delineations and functional assessments, environmental site assessments, and site monitoring. In addition, Anna has expertise in baseline environmental studies, review and incorporation of technical studies into environmental documents, subconsultant oversight, and agency coordination.

Anna has worked with teams throughout Alaska in remote, rural, and urban settings, and is a proven team leader and participant. Anna has worked on NEPA projects with FHWA, USAF, FERC, USFWS, and USACE as the lead federal agency.

As one of the principal senior environmental planners for HDR, Betty Dehoney is responsible for the delivery of complex environmental documents (including NEPA, CEQA, SEPA, ESA, CWA, 106, and other state and local regulatory programs) for major infrastructure programs. She is responsible for the technical accuracy of environmental documents, strategic guidance to agencies to support the navigation of the projects through the regulatory process, and mentoring staff for their professional growth.

Betty’s projects have included large-scale water delivery, water resources, habitat conservation programs, wetland restorations programs, transportation, and energy development. With a master’s and bachelor’s in biology, much of Betty’s project experience has focused on creating sustainable solutions for challenges with natural resources.

Although Betty has spent her professional career as a consultant working for environmental companies, she has also contributed to the education of our future leaders. She taught at the University of San Diego for over 10 years and at University of California San Diego for their Extension program to train professionals in the field.

Betty’s activities have been recognized by her peers in many arenas, including recognition from the California Chapter of AEP for Outstanding Contribution to the Environmental Profession. She has received the AEP President’s Award for Innovative Chapter Programs, a Certificate of Merit for several environmental documents and an award for Outstanding Chapter Activity – Legislative Committee (Committee Chair). CEQA Initial Study Evaluation; Other recognition includes acknowledgement by the State of California with a Proclamation for the Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Project and APA Section Planning Award – Outstanding Planning Project.

Serving environmental professionals is also very important to Betty. She has served AEP as the chapter lead on the Legislative Review Committee for over 10 years, as well as serving on ABCEP Certification Review Board.

Laura Thorne started her own consulting business for environmental companies after 10 years in a local environmental government. She has 25 years of experience implementing continuous improvement and helping organizations to realize potential opportunities and implement positive change solutions.

She has been praised for her ability to break complex issues into manageable bites. Laura uses a three-step strategy-to-solutions framework to work with “on-the-verge” companies, environmental organizations, and nonprofits. Laura helps companies to reach next-level performance using strategy evaluation, project management, and creative problem solving.

Laura is a high-quality, award-winning management consultant. She has served in leadership and other roles on boards and committees, such as the President of the Tampa Bay Association of Environmental Professionals, vice president of a Toastmasters club, and an advisor on the Hillsborough Education Foundation Scholarship Committee. In 2016, Laura spearheaded a Women in STEM workshop and group specifically focused on environmental careers.

She has a bachelor of science in biology from the University of South Florida. Laura is also certified as a Professional Project Manager (PMP) with Project Management International and as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Laura was an Advanced Florida Sterling Examiner until she moved to Syracuse, NY.