Flood Resiliency Blueprint Technical Advisory Groups

What are TAGs?

The NC Flood Resiliency Blueprint's Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) are made up of subject matter experts invited to give feedback and advice on all aspects of the Blueprint project. With over 100 technical advisors distributed across six groups, the Blueprint will benefit from the input of a diverse group of stakeholders and government agencies. TAG members include representatives from Federal, State, County, Municipal, and Tribal governments; non-governmental organizations; and universities.

Below, you will find descriptions of each TAG along with a list of members. 

TAG Member Lists

Tab/Accordion Items

The Governance TAG will provide advisory input and feedback on existing and proposed policies, processes, and programs at a Federal, State, Tribal, and/or other local level that will impact the rollout and operations of the Blueprint.

Organization Type

Name

Organization

Title

DEQ

Tancred Miller

NC DEQ/ Division of Coastal Management

Policy & Planning Section Chief

DEQ

Toby Vinson

NC DEQ/ Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources

Program Operations Chief; NCORR Liaison

Municipality

Sarah Collins

NC League of Municipalities

Chief of Staff

NGO

Amanda Sand

NC Foundation for Soil & Water Conservation

Executive Director 

NGO

Brittany Love

Robeson County Church and Community Center 

Director of Systemic Programming

NGO

Chris Baillie

North Carolina Coastal Federation Eastern North Carolina Sentinel Landscape

Resilience and Climate Adaptation Coordinator

NGO

Michelle Lovejoy

Environmental Defense Fund

Manager of Climate Resilient Coasts & Watersheds

NGO

Tony McEwen

American Flood Coalition

Carolinas Director

State

Alexander "Sandy" Stewart

NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Assistant Commissioner 

State

Andrea Webster 

NC Department of Public Safety/Office of Recovery & Resiliency 

Resilience Policy Advisor

State

Emily Roach

NC Department of Commerce

Director, Policy & Strategic Planning

State

Gary Thompson

NC Department of Public Safety/Floodplain Mapping Program

Chief of Geodetic Survey

 

University

 

Lydia Olander

Duke University

Ecosystem Services Program Director; Senior Policy Associate Ecosystem Services Program

University

Sara Mason

Duke University

Senior Policy Associate

University

Steve Wall

UNC Policy Collaboratory 

Outreach Director

University/Tribal

Danielle Hiraldo

UNC American Indian Center

 Director

Federal

Valerie Anderson

FEMA Region IV

Natural Hazards Program Specialist

 

 

The Partnership/Funding TAG will advise on funding and financial partnership opportunities to support implementation of Blueprint projects. The group will also advise on criteria and modeling used to calculate benefit and prioritization.

Organization Type

Name

Organization

Title

COG

Robert Hiett

NC Association of Regional Councils of Government

Upper Coastal Plain Executive Director 

County

Bob Carruth

NC Association of County Commissioners

Risk Control Manger 

DEQ

Stephanie Bolyard

NC DEQ/ Office of Secretary 

 Senior Engineer to the Assistant Secretary

DEQ

Stephanie Suter

NC DEQ/ Division of Water Infrastructure

Deputy Director

DEQ

Steve Bevington

NC DEQ/ Division of Water Infrastructure

Restoration Program Manager 

Federal

Kristen Martinenza

FEMA Region IV

 Risk Analysis Branch Chief

NGO

Bill Holman

The Conservation Fund

North Carolina State Director

NGO

Kasey Ginsberg

Golden Leaf Foundation 

Vice President- Chief of Staff 

NGO

Kristiane Huber

The Pew Charitable Trusts

Officer, Flood-Prepared Communities

State

Maggie Battaglin

NC Department of Public Safety/Office of Recovery & Resiliency

Director of Mitigation 

University

Susan White 

NC Water Resources Research Institute 

Executive Director

The Hazard Identification TAG will provide input on data and modeling used to calculate and display flood probability and extent. This work will include consideration of deterministic and probabilistic riverine, lacustrine, dam and levee induced, urban, stormwater, and coastal and/or riverine confluence flooding. 

Organization Type

Name

Organization

Title

DEQ

Klaus Albertin, Pamela Behm

NC DEQ/ Division of Water Resources

Water Resources Engineer

DEQ

Mackenzie Todd

NC DEQ/ Division of Coastal Management

Coastal Resilience Specialist

Federal

Doug Marcy

NOAA

Hazards Specialist 

Federal

John C Weaver

USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center

Hydrologist

Federal

Wesley Brown

USACE

Wilmington District Hydraulic Engineer

NGO

Adam Gold

Environmental Defense Fund

Manger, Climate Resilient Coasts and Watershed NC & VA

NGO

Danica Schaffer-Smith

The Nature Conservancy

Watershed Scientist

NGO

Gian Tavares

American Flood Coalition

Senior Strategy Associate 

NGO

Kathryn Gaasch

MDC Rural Forward Director 

Director

State

Kurt Golembesky

NC Department of Transportation/ Hydraulics Unit

Engineer III

State

Tom Langan

NC Department of Public Safety/Floodplain Mapping Program

Engineering Supervisor

University

Rick Luettich

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Science

Professor

 

The Vulnerability/Risk/Impact TAG will advise on data and modeling to calculate and display present and future vulnerabilities and impacts to people and receptors. Populations include historically marginalized communities, and Tribes. Receptors include, e.g. environment, structures, infrastructure, and commerce. The group will also provide input and feedback on criteria and modeling utilized for risk and equity ranking and rating.

Organization Type

Name

Organization

Title

COG

Mary Roderick

Land of Sky Regional Council

Regional Planner  

DEQ

Brad Cole

NC DEQ/ Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources

Chief of Regional Operation

DEQ

Jordan Thompson

NC DEQ/ Division of Waste Management

 Geologist

DEQ

Joselyn Harringer

NC DEQ/ Division of Waste Management

Hydrogeologist 

DEQ

Julie Woosley 

NC DEQ/ State Energy Office

 Director

Municipality

Byron Reeves

City of Fayetteville/ Stormwater Management Program

Assistant Public Services Director 

NGO

Bethany Cutts

NC State University

Associate Professor 

NGO

Chad Martin 

NC Black Alliance

Environmental Justice Policy Strategist 

NGO

Mary Alice Holley 

Conservation Trust for NC

Director of Community Innovation

State

Autumn Locklear

NC Department of Health and Human Services

Climate Health Epidemiologist

State

Maria Polizzi

NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services/Forest Service

Forest Water Quality Senior Specialist 

State

Natalie Rivera

NC Department of Health and Human Services

Farmworker Health Program Manager 

State

Paul Ervin

NC Department of Public Safety/Emergency Management

 Economist

State

Peter Daniel, Jr.

NC Chamber of Commerce

Director of Government Affairs

State

Scott Melvin

NC Department of Agriculture/Division of Soil and Water Conservation

Engineering Services Section Chief 

University

Kathie Dello

NC State Climate Office

Director

University

Leila Hashemi Beni

North Carolina A&T University

Associate Professor

University

Todd Bendor

University of North Carolina

Professor

 

The Resilience/Mitigation/Reduction TAG will provide input on data and modeling to best calculate and display present and future loss avoidance to people and receptors. The group will also provide advice on criteria and modeling used for ranking and prioritizing mitigation strategies and projects.

Organization Type

Name

Organization

Title

COG

David Richardson  

Lumber River

Executive Director 

DEQ

Lin Xu

NC DEQ / Division of Mitigation Services

Environmental Engineer - Stoney Creek Project Manager

Federal

Ryan Loadholt

USDA

 District Conservationist

Federal

Carville Edwards

FEMA Region IV

 

Federal

Keith Keeney

USACE - Wilmington District

Senior Planner 

NGO

Grady McCallie

NC Conservation Network

 Policy Director

NGO

Lariza Garzon

Hispanic Federation

Director of North Carolina and Mid-South Operations

NGO

Rick Savage

Carolina Wetlands Association

Executive Director

NGO

Todd Miller

NC Coastal Federation 

Executive Director

NGO

Tom Potter 

NC Foundation for Soil & Water Conservation

Project Manager

NGO

Will McDow

Environmental Defense Fund

Senior Director 

State

Chris Crew

NC Department of Public Safety/ Emergency Management Division

 State Hazard Mitigation Officer

State

Marlena Byrne*

NC Department of Public Safety/ Office of Recovery and Resiliency

Deputy Chief Resilience Officer 

State

Misty Buchanan 

NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources/Natural Heritage Program

Deputy Director for Natural Heritage 

State

Pak Yip

NC Department of Insurance

 Chief Building Code Consultant

Tribal

Joey Owle, Designee Derek Tahquette

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

 Regulatory Specialist

University

Bill Hunt

NC State University

 William Neal Reynolds Distinguished University Professor/Extension Specialist

University

Katie Warnell 

Duke University

 Senior Policy Associate, Ecosystem Services Program

University

Narcisa Pricope

University of North Carolina - Wilmington

 Professor

University

Toni Sebastian

University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill 

Assistant Professor

 

 

The Tool Development/Acceptance TAG will provide input and feedback on the business case and functional requirements of Blueprint tools, websites, and applications.

Organization Type

Name

Organization

Title

NGO

Grady McCallie

NC Conservation Network

Policy Director

County

Daniel Adams 

Pender County 

Planning and Community Development Director

County

Ken Vafier

New Hanover County

Planning Manager

DEQ

Josh Colley

NC DEQ/ Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources

State Dam Safety Engineer 

DEQ

Kasen Wally

NC DEQ/ Division of Coastal Management

Coastal Resiliency Specialist

DEQ

Shannon Leonard

NC DEQ/ Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources

Assistant Regional Engineer

Municipality

Craig Harris

City of Wilmington

Associate Planner- Long Range Planning

Municipality

Nancy Watford

City of Asheville

Stormwater Supervisor

Municipality

Tim Trautman

Charlotte-Mecklenburg/ Stormwater Services

Engineering & Mitigation Program Manager

NGO

Lauren Kolodij

NC Coastal Federation 

Deputy Director

State

Colleen Kiley*

NC Department of Information Technology

GIS Coordination Program Manager

State

Will Best

NC Department of Commerce

Director of Certified Sites

 

The Neuse Regional Advisory Group will provide input on Neuse River Basin specific needs, including from historically marginalized communities and how to best use the information from Blueprint at a River Basin level. This group should be representative of the Basin and is intended to serve as a pilot that will help define how future basins are incorporated into the Blueprint process.

Organization Type

Name

Organization

Title

COG

Ben Farmer

Upper Coastal Plain COG

 Planning and Services Director

COG

Carlton Gideon

Eastern Carolina COG (In Neuse)

Senior Community Advisor

COG

Haley Hogg

Mid-Carolina COG (In Neuse)

Planning Director

County

Nancy Daly

Wake County

Water Resources Manager

DEQ

Anjie Ackerman

NC DEQ/ Division of Mitigation Services

Watershed Planner 

DEQ

Rachel Love-Adrick

NC DEQ/ Division of Coastal Management

District Planner

Municipality

Steve Miller

City of Kinston/ Public Services

Public Services Manger 

NGO

Charlie Colie

Neuse Regional Sewer and Water Authority

WTP Supt.

NGO

Jonathan Hinkle

GPI

Assistant Vice President 

NGO

Keith Larick

NC Farm Bureau

Natural Resources Director

NGO

Kendall Paramore

Southeast Drainage Commission

District Manger 

NGO

Thomas Caggiano

The Nature Conservancy

Resilience and Climate Policy Manager 

NGO

Yesenia Cuello

NC FIELD 

Executive Director

NGO 

Samantha Krop

Sound Rivers, Inc.

Neuse Riverkeeper 

State

Jamille Robbins

NC Department of Transportation/Public Involvement

Community Studies & Visualization Group Leader 

The Principal Advisory Group will provide advisory input and feedback on the policy, process, engagement, modeling, tools and support utilized to implement the Blueprint.

 

Organization Type

Name

Organization

Title

NGO

Amanda Sand

NC Foundation for Soil & Water Conservation

Executive Director

State

Bailey Recktenwald

Governor's Office

Climate Advisor

NGO

Chris Canfield

Conservation Trust for NC

Executive Director

Federal 

Christine Brayman

USACE/Wilmington District

Commander’s Deputy for Programs & Project Management

State

Colleen Kiley

NC Department of Information Technology/Center for Geographic Information & Analysis

GIS Coordination Program Manager

Federal 

Curtis Weaver

USGS

Hydrography Science Applications Lead

DEQ

Elizabeth Christenson

DEQ/Secretary's Office

Senior Policy Advisor

State

Gary Thompson

NC Department of Public Safety/Emergency Management

Deputy Chief

NGO

Katherine Skinner

The Nature Conservancy 

Executive Director, North Carolina

State

Kathie Dello

NC State Climate Office

Director/State Climatologist 

Municipality

Ken Ashe

NC Association of Floodplain Managers

Chair

NGO

Lariza Garzon

Hispanic Federation

Director of North Carolina and Mid-South Operations

DEQ

Marc Recktenwald

DEQ/Division of Mitigation Services

Division Director

State

Marlena Byrne

NC Office of Recovery and Resilience

Deputy State Chief Resilience Officer

NGO

Mary Alice Holley

Conservation Trust for NC

 Director of Community Innovation

State

Mike Ware

NC Department of Information Technology

Chief Information Officer

Tribal

Ricky Burnett, Greg Richardson

NC Commission of Indian Affairs

Chairman

Municipality

Sarah Collins

NC League of Municipalities

Chief of Staff

NGO

Scott Hamilton

Golden Leaf

President/CEO

County

Tim Trautman

Mecklenburg County

Flood Mitigation Program Manager

DEQ

Toby Vinson

NC DEQ/ Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources

Program Operations Chief

State

Tom Langan

NC Department of Public Safety/Emergency Management

Engineering Supervisor

NGO

Tom Potter 

NC Foundation for Soil & Water Conservation

Project Manager

NGO

Tony McEwen

American Flood Coalition

Carolinas Director

State

Vernon Cox Designee

NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services/Division of Soil & Water Conservation

Designee

Federal 

Vic Engel

USGS

Director

Federal 

Mary Giorgino

USGS

Associate Director for Hydrologic Studies

NGO

Will McDow

Environmental Defense Fund

Senior Director of Coasts and Watersheds

EJ Partner

La'Meshia Whittington-Kaminski

Secretary's Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board

 Subcommittee Chair Blueprint