The Alliance is thrilled to welcome three new staff members to our team!

Joining the Green Infrastructure team in Washington, DC is David Lanier. He comes with a degree in environmental science from Towson University and a fondness for outdoor recreational activities. David’s addition has greatly increased the team’s capacity to help out the contractors who are doing rain garden installations. Besides helping with reviewing garden designs and other administrative work, David has entirely taken over running percolation tests for new rain gardens. Previously the responsibility of the contractors, these tests determine the infiltration rate of a yard and are crucial to the success of a rain garden. This has allowed the team to provide contractors with accurate recommendations based on each property’s soil conditions.

David is also taking a lead role in the new inspection requirements that have been added to the RiverSmart Homes landscaping grant. He has been inspecting gardens that were installed 5+ years ago to evaluate how well they are treating stormwater. This work will help both the Alliance and our partners at DOEE to better understand the longevity of the work we are doing.

In Pennsylvania, Rebecca Lauver joins the Alliance team as our Pennsylvania Forests Projects Associate. She helps to implement tree plantings, coordinate volunteers, and further reforestation efforts within Pennsylvania.

Rebecca graduated from Messiah University with a B.S. in Biology and an Ecology concentration. During college, she interned at Stroud Water Research Center for three summers in the entomology lab, working to measure water quality through the use of benthic macroinvertebrates. After graduation, Rebecca joined the Alliance team for a one-year position through the Chesapeake Conservation Corps, where she worked with Alliance staff on our Forest team before joining the Alliance full-time in August 2021. Beyond the time spent outdoors for work, Rebecca also enjoys hiking, kayaking, and exploring the local landscape. She can frequently be found reading, drawing, or playing with her cat, Toph.

In Washington D.C., Mel Throckmorton (they/them pronouns) is joining our team in a part-time, temporary capacity through December 30th, 2021. Mel has spent the last year with the Alliance as a Chesapeake Conservation Corps participant where they became certified as a Water Quality Monitor and completed a capstone project expanding the Alliance’s RiverTrends program to Washington, DC. Mel has been integral in forming the foundation for our urban agriculture work throughout the past year, now moving forward with a program investment fund proposal and new partnership in Ward 8 of DC.

Mel graduated from the University of Virginia, receiving a B.A. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in Global Studies of the Middle East and South Asia. They grew up in Southside Virginia and discovered their interest in the environmental field while working as a Contact Ranger at Virginia State Parks as a teenager. When Mel is not working, they enjoy roller skating, reading science fiction, and spending time with their cat, Sybbie.

Welcome to the team, David, Rebecca, and Mel!