Supervised and provided training and development to two employees, including a GS-4 Soil Science Pathways Intern and a GS-9 Soil Scientist. Trained employees on wetland delineation methodology, Food Security Act Conservation Compliance policy, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), soil characterization, etc.
Developed and created recorded trainings on the above listed topics to facilitate the transfer of knowledge to staff.
Developed work plans; prepared, scheduled, and set priorities for work to be accomplished.
Created training plans to enable employees to obtain Job Approval Authority to complete wetland determinations.
Conducted quarterly performance reviews of staff.
Experience interviewing and selecting candidates for Soil Scientist and Soil Conservationist positions.
Designed and provided training on soils, wetland delineation, Food Security Act Conservation Compliance policy, Web Soil Survey, LiDAR, and GIS to USDA staff, other federal, state, and local agencies, universities, and professional organizations.
Completed over 1,000 certified wetland determinations to ensure compliance with the wetland conservation provisions of the Food Security Act in Virginia. The process requires extensive use and knowledge of GIS to analyze remote data which may indicate the presence of wetlands, such as LiDAR DEMs, soil survey maps, topographic maps, aerial imagery, color infrared imagery, and National Wetlands Inventory. It also requires the production of a professional wetland delineation map for each certified wetland determination.
Completed field wetland delineations in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont of Virginia, which required the ability to infer coastal geomorphology, interpret and describe soils, identify hydrophytic vegetation by species, and recognize wetland hydrology indicators.
Developed wetland mitigation/restoration plans, worked with wetland mitigation banks, and wrote manipulated wetland agreements.
Managed the highest wetland compliance workload within Virginia NRCS.
Involved with local and national wetland compliance appeals and reconsiderations.
Worked with USDA customers through challenging and stressful wetland compliance violations by providing exceptional customer service.
Wetland Restoration Easements; evaluated sites for wetland restoration feasibility as member of pre-screening team. Monitored sites for success after restoration had taken place.
Oversaw VA NRCS Area 4 annual HELC/WC compliance reviews and conducted quality assurance reviews.
Maintained excellent working relationship with the Norfolk District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
From 2017-2023, served as a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Norfolk District’s hydrology study team which monitors over 20 wells throughout southeast Virginia. This is an ongoing study conducted annually from January-June to determine water tables on mineral flats during the growing season for wetland delineation purposes. Study involved well monitoring, analyzing and presenting data, and creating reports for statewide distribution.
Presented at USACE meetings and facilitated inter-agency trainings.
Completed Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) requests for federal agencies and private consultants. Suggested and assisted with the development of a Virginia NRCS web page that helped external customers properly submit FPAA requests.
Submitted articles on projects and outreach to the Soil Survey Division Weekly Newsletter and the National Soil Survey Center Newsletter.
Assisted other federal agencies when technical soil services were requested.
Conducted outreach to educate the public about soil science and soil conservation; produced and distributed educational material and fact sheets for the agency.
Developed an ArcGIS Story Map on the Geology of Virginia to help support on-line learning during the COVID-19 pandemic for Virginia Beach City Public Schools Earth Science classes. The Story Map is public and available to all Virginia students.
Assisted Future Farmers of America (FFA) and the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) with soil judging, Envirothon judging, Farm Days, and Agriculture in the Classroom events.
Constantly worked to improve the customer experience and educate producers, landowners, and USDA employees on wetland compliance in an effort to minimize wetland compliance violations.
Member of FY2022 FPAC Customer Experience Enhancement Committee.
Developed wetland compliance fact sheet for NRCS Virginia.
Developed and organized inter-agency wetland compliance Q&A sessions for farmers and landowners with FSA and USACE.
Developed and provided training to NRCS and FSA staff on the AD-1026 process.
Collateral duty as State Compliance Specialist for Virginia NRCS.
Assisted with review and development of policy documents and statewide HELC/WC quality assurance reviews. Wrote the annual compliance reviews quality assurance review report for NRCS VA.
Developed Qualtrics survey for compliance reviewers in an effort to improve the compliance review process in the future.
Leveraged datasets, models, and tools to improve agency ability to conduct conservation compliance determinations.
Engaged with staff at all levels to conduct needs assessments to identify critical conservation compliance knowledge gaps and developed trainings and tools to address them.
