EBC Ascending Leader Award

Announcing the 2023 Award Recipients

2023 marks the seventh year of the EBC Ascending Leader Award. The Award recognizes professionals in the energy and environmental sectors demonstrating exceptional leadership and industry involvement early in their careers.

This year, EBC will continue the tradition of recognizing the recipients of the EBC Ascending Leader Award at the EBC 27th Annual Summer Garden Party! The event is scheduled for Thursday, August 3, at the Exchange Conference Center in the Seaport District of Boston, MA.

Congratulations to this year’s EBC 2023 Ascending Leader Award Recipients!

Jessica Bardi, Associate
Robinson + Cole

Jessica Bardi concentrates her practice on land use and environmental law and related litigation. She is a member of the firm’s Real Estate + Development Group.

Jess counsels developers, landowners, businesses, and other organizations on local, state and national land use and environmental regulations, and represents them in permitting for development projects. She has experience with zoning, planning, subdivision, local and state wetlands permitting, Chapter 91 licensing, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, Army Corps of Engineers permitting, NPDES permitting and Chapter 21E. Jess has appeared on behalf of clients in a broad range of proceedings , including wetlands permitting appeals and land use disputes in front of the Massachusetts Superior Court, Massachusetts Land Court, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and local Conservation Commissions, Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeals. Prior to joining Robinson+Cole, Jess practiced with a municipal law firm and with a firm focused on wetland and waterways permitting and counseling.

In addition to her practice, Jess is an active member of Robinson+Cole’s Associates Council and its Wellbeing Committee. The Council serves as a liaison between associates and firm management to ensure that issues that are important to associates are effectively communicated to partners within the firm. The mission of the Wellbeing Committee is to provide education, assistance, and opportunities to help ensure the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of everyone who works at the firm, to help combat mental health distress and substance abuse, and to meet the goals of the American Bar Association Well-Being Pledge.

Jess is an active member of the Environmental Business Council of New England. She holds positions on the Ascending Professionals Committee and the Ocean and Coastal Resources Committee, where she regularly participates in planning efforts and co-chairing panels for both committees. She is also a member of the Women’s Environmental Network Young Professionals Committee.

Caroline Booth, Environmental Planning Specialist
Beals and Thomas, Inc.

Caroline Booth is an Environmental Planning Specialist at Beals and Thomas, Inc. (B+T) in Southborough, Massachusetts. Caroline earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and Environmental Sciences in 2019 from the University of Maine, Orono. At the University of Maine, Caroline was a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) teaching assistant and focused on environmental sciences, field research, species identification, forestry practices, and urban development impacts. She was also part of a research team where she used her GIS expertise to analyze spatial data to assess how urbanization drives phenotypic evolution in mosquitofish, with the results later published.

In March 2020, less than a year after her start date, the COVID-19 pandemic changed our industry and how we work and interact. Caroline continued to rapidly adapt and advance her technical knowledge and experience while also fostering her professional relationships.

As an Environmental Planning Specialist, Caroline coordinates with local, state, and federal government agencies and prepares various reports and permitting documents. Caroline also manages projects, and her colleagues note her focus on shepherding complex projects through land use entitlement, staying abreast of project status with significant detail.  She also conducts a variety of field work including potential vernal pool evaluations, vegetative inventories, and wildlife habitat assessments. Her experience includes a variety of public and private sector projects, including renewable energy, cranberry bog and estuary restoration, municipal resiliency, and residential and commercial development in both urban and suburban settings. Caroline is passionate about her work and the success of her projects, clients, and colleagues.

In addition to her role with various project teams, Caroline is also co-Chair of B+T’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council, leading monthly meetings and researching and developing topics and ideas and directing their implementation in an open and honest way. With her initiative, B+T’s DEI Council has been able to make strides towards several of its goals, including creating and disseminating resources to educate staff about DEI topics and increasing volunteering at external DEI related events. She also manages B+T’s permit database that tracks permit expiration dates, critical notification dates for Project Managers and Directors to be aware of, and other relevant project information. During her time overseeing the permit tracking system, Caroline has developed several improvements that have resulted in more clear and timely documentation as well as increased accuracy.

Caroline participates as part of EBC’s Energy Resources Committee and is constantly striving to educate herself and others on challenges related to grid modernization and renewable energy development. She is also a member of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC), and the Association of Massachusetts Wetland Scientists (AMWS).

Outside of work Caroline is an avid runner. Caroline has participated in several fundraising walks, runs, and events for the American Kidney Foundation and ran 100 miles in July of 2020 to raise funds for the American Heart Association. This fall she will run the Chicago Marathon as part of the American Red Cross Team. From her fundraising page: “I started my running journey years ago to celebrate life. Running is a humbling experience for me – a constant reminder to be grateful and take advantage of your time and use that time to help others. I am honored to raise funds for the Red Cross to help ensure others continue to get their second chances.”

William C. Chandler, PE, Project Manager
Weston & Sampson

Will is a Project Manager in Weston & Sampson’s wastewater discipline and specializes in the design of wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure for municipal and private clientele. He is an expert in all phases of project execution, from system planning and concept evaluation to detailed design and construction phase services and has helped realize many important infrastructure projects for communities across North America.

After earning his BS in Environmental Engineering at the University of Vermont, he began his career in British Columbia where he helped advance sanitation infrastructure in urban centers and First Nations communities across the province. He then relocated to Texas, where, in addition to helping to lead historic infrastructure projects in the Austin area, he became integrally involved with the Central Texas section of the Water Environment Association of Texas (CTWEAT) in roles spanning from Young Professionals (YP) Chair to section Treasurer. Will used these roles to drive positive industry engagement by organizing frequent networking and volunteer events such as lake cleanups and food and clothing drives.

Since returning to Massachusetts, Will has continued his growth and expanded his reputation as a capable engineer and promising leader throughout the region. He has cemented his reputation for expertise in pump station design and is regularly called upon as a specialist for complex projects throughout New England. He also helps train younger staff members in hydraulic analysis and pump station design and enjoys mentoring young engineers and interns as they begin their career in engineering consulting.

Will plans to expand his involvement with his professional associations to become better integrated in the local and national industry. He understands the complex geo-political landscape in New England and hopes to use his capabilities to fortify the critical infrastructure that assures sanitation and sustainability in our society. He strives to lead by example and bring public awareness to the importance of wastewater engineering.

April Doroski, PWS, CPSS, Water Resources and Climate Resilience Specialist
Fuss & O’Neill, Inc.

April Doroski is a Water Resources and Climate Resilience Specialist at Fuss & O’Neill in Springfield, Massachusetts. She is a Professional Wetland Scientist and Certified Professional Soil Scientist. As a member of Fuss & O’Neill’s Water and Natural Resources practice, she leads environmental permitting strategy and preparation for a wide array of climate adaptation, resilience, ecological restoration, transportation, energy, water infrastructure, and development projects. April leads planning and permitting efforts for numerous climate resilience and adaptation projects funded through the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program. She is helping Fuss & O’Neill lead the charge in the climate adaptation arena, and in doing so, piloting new approaches to permitting as the project teams tackle new types of restoration and resilience projects that sometimes push the boundaries of typical permitting pathways. Around the office, April is responsible for organizing the Fuss & O’Neill soccer team, helping to foster camaraderie, pride, and engagement with her colleagues.

Prior to joining Fuss & O’Neill, April was a Project Environmental Scientist with Tighe & Bond where she developed environmental permits, led wetland delineations across New England, and performed compliance monitoring and hydrologic assessments. At Tighe & Bond, April was an active member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and served as Chair of the STEM Initiatives Sub-committee.

April is passionate about volunteering and giving back to her community and gives her time and energy in numerous ways. She frequently returns to her alma maters to speak with students about future careers in consulting and wetland science. She was appointed as Vice Chair on her local Conservation Commission and elected as President of the New England Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists where she organizes and leads programs to engage the membership and promote STEM for future generations. April is also known for her annual mushroom photography calendar which she pairs with a fundraiser for an environmentally focused non-profit.

April received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Resource Management from Pennsylvania State University, and her Master of Science in Natural Resources: Land, Water, and Air from University of Connecticut.

Brian Drollette, Ph.D., Senior Managing Scientist
Ramboll

Brian Drollette is Senior Managing Scientist at Ramboll and an experienced environmental forensic scientist specializing in complex environmental chemistry problems at the nexus of empirical data and fate models. He leverages his background in environmental analytical chemistry and contaminant fate and transport analysis in a wide range of consulting areas. From contaminated site assessment, emerging contaminant liability evaluation, response cost allocation, and more, he advises clients on risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, and litigation support matters.

Brian is a graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh where he received his B.S. in Environmental Science, Duke University for his M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Yale University for his Ph.D. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering. He is a frequent author of peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and thought leadership pieces, and is a contributor at professional conferences. He is a member of the Environmental Business Council of New England’s Water Resources Committee leadership team and participates in technical organizations including ASTM.

Lauren Karam, Associate
Beveridge & Diamond PC

Lauren’s practice focuses on helping clients navigate through new air and climate regulations, defend against contaminated site remediation claims, and respond to government enforcement actions.

Lauren has represented clients in major CERCLA cost recovery actions and has advised clients on compliance audit self-disclosures. She is also engaged on developing environmental justice policies as well as advising clients on both new and existing environmental justice policies.

Prior to joining the firm, Lauren served as Counsel in the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Office of General Counsel in Boston, MA, where she focused on climate policy, air permit litigation, and enforcement matters. She also participated in a statewide group of attorneys from eleven different jurisdictions working to adopt regulations to reduce emissions from the transportation sector and has experience working on cap-and-trade programs.

While in law school, Lauren served as a law clerk for U.S. Department of Justice in the Environment & National Resources Division (ENRD) in their Environmental Enforcement Section Boston field office. In this role, Lauren assisted with enforcement cases arising under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Lauren was also an Editor on the Suffolk Transnational Law Review and volunteered with the Innocence Project.

Currently, Lauren serves as the Air Quality and Climate Change Co-Chair of the Boston Bar Association Environment and Energy Committee. Lauren maintains an active pro bono practice dedicated to protecting conservation restrictions.

Abbegail Nack, PE, Senior Engineer
Epsilon Associates, Inc.

Abbegail “Abbey” Nack is a Senior Engineer at Epsilon Associates. Over the last six years, Abbey has played an instrumental role in growing Epsilon’s offshore wind practice. She has contributed to the planning, permitting, and compliance support for ~11,000 MW of offshore wind projects, including Vineyard Wind 1, the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind project. These projects are critical to advancing our clean energy future.

After graduating from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2017 with dual B.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering and Professional Writing, Abbey joined Epsilon’s Air Quality group. In this role, she developed a methodology to calculate air emissions from the construction and operation of offshore wind projects. Abbey used this comprehensive emissions analysis to draft the EPA Outer Continental Shelf Air Permit application and the air quality elements of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Construction and Operations Plan (COP) for the Vineyard Wind 1 project. Through this work, which involved close coordination with the developer’s EPC team, Abbey amassed a thorough understanding of the offshore wind construction process and developed a deep passion for helping bring commercial-scale offshore wind to fruition in the US.

Early in her career, Abbey moved into Epsilon’s Coastal and Marine Group as she became immersed in all aspects of permitting offshore wind projects. Abbey’s herculean efforts helped Vineyard Wind 1 obtain all required federal permits in May 2021, and Vineyard Wind 1 is now under construction.  In six years, she has supported the development of five COPs (each several thousand pages) for projects located off the coasts of Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.  Abbey is a key contributor to nearly every facet of these COPs, reflecting her ability to grasp a broad array of highly complex topics, intellectual versatility, attention to detail, and maturity despite her relatively young age. Abbey is highly respected by colleagues, clients, and regulators and she routinely leads project team, client, and agency meetings.

Abbey is a licensed Professional Engineer in Massachusetts. She is a member of New England Women in Energy and the Environment and routinely represents Epsilon at major offshore wind conferences. She has also returned to her alma mater several times to judge student chemical engineering competitions. Outside of work, Abbey enjoys mountain biking, skiing, swimming, and hiking and supporting her local trail networks by volunteering to build and maintain trails.