About us
The Northeast Chapter of the Florida Association of Environmental Professional (NEFAEP) is an organization of public and private sector environmental professionals and students from a diverse array of backgrounds throughout Northeast Florida.
We provide a platform for networking with a diverse array of industry members through thoughtfully planned professional development opportunities, social luncheons, hands-on trainings, and more.
New members are always welcome!
Explore the perks of membership.
Our members include professional biologists, engineers, geologists, archaeologists, educators, regulatory agents, GIS analysts, and more. All are welcome!
We serve Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Levy, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, and Union County.
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Support our mission to advance the environmental industry of Northeast Florida.
We offer four tiers of sponsorship:
Platinum Annual Sponsor
$1250 per year. Contact to purchase.
BENEFITS:
- Exposure & recognition at NEFAEP functions as a “Platinum Sponsor”;
- Promotional emphasis on NEFAEP flyers & banners;
- Opportunity to be featured on NEFAEP social media;
- All the benefits of the Gold & Silver Sponsorships.
Gold Annual Sponsor
$500 per year. Purchase here.
BENEFITS:
- Exposure and recognition at every NEFAEP function as a “Gold Sponsor”;
- Opportunity to be a speaker or moderator at a program;
- One complimentary registration for all NEFAEP events for one year;
- All the benefits of the Silver Sponsorship.
Silver Annual Sponsor
$250 per year. Purchase here.
BENEFITS:
- Exposure and recognition at every NEFAEP event as a “Silver Sponsor”;
- Company logo on printed NEFAEP flyers and banners;
- Company logo on the NEFAEP website with link to company website;
- Opportunity for your company to make a presentation at one NEFAEP luncheon.
Networking Social Sponsor
$150 per month. Contact to purchase.
BENEFITS:
- Your choice of one month;
- Company name and sponsorship in our promo announcements and event flyers;
- Special recognition at Social and opportunity to offer brief remarks to attendees;
- Opportunity to distribute company promotional materials at the event;
- Provides for appetizers and one complimentary drink per social attendee.
Meet Our Board
Our team includes professionals from many sectors of the environmental services industry.

Clif Payne
President & Sponsorship Committee Chair
Clif is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist and environmental lead at Pond & Company. Clif’s three decades of experience in the environmental resource and regulatory sector includes federal service with the Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Park Service.

Mary Szoka
Vice President & Gainesville Regional Director
Mary is a professional water resources engineer with expertise in low impact development / green stormwater infrastructure and ecological design and restoration. She works as an Environmental Professional Engineer within Alachua County’s Environmental Protection Department.

Amy Guilfoyle
Treasurer
Amy is a Regional Director of Environmental at NV5. She manages large, high profile contamination assessments and remedial implementations for gas stations, commercial and industrial businesses, agricultural properties, and roadways. Amy also assists municipalities with the EPA Brownfields program.

James Richardson
Secretary / Student Outreach

Caitlin Ramsey
Membership

Andy Woodruff
Sponsorship
Andy is a Senior Ecologist and certified Professional Wetland Scientist serving as Vice President at NV5. He specializes in wetland and threatened and endangered species regulatory permitting throughout Florida. Andy is certified in natural areas management, wetland delineation, and gopher tortoise relocation. In his off time, he dreams up epic trail rides and fishing adventures.

Brett Bartek
Events
Brett is an ecological consultant at NV5. He is a registered gopher tortoise agent, and is experienced in environmental impact assessments, ecological assessments, listed species surveys, wetland delineation, PD&E studies, OSMP preparation, and permitting. He is a passionate advocate for turtle conservation and a great wildlife photographer.

Kara Fincham
St. Augustine Regional Director
Kara is a Senior Project Manager at CDM Smith. She has more than 20 years of experience in environmental consulting, specializing in soil and ground water assessment and remediation, phase I and II ESAs, brownfields, petroleum, NEPA, and RCRA/CERCLA.

Marijke Maxwell
Jacksonville Regional Director
Marijke is a Project Manager and Regulatory Specialist at Tetra Tech.

Mariam Higginbotham
Marketing
Mariam is a marketing coordinator at NV5. She likes engaging with and learning about the many evironmental services that shape Florida’s built and natural environments. Outside of work, she can be found at home with her two cats, or on local trails and waterways snapping photos of nature.

Ethan Vroonland
Communications
Ethan is an ecologist at NV5. His day to day work includes threatened and endangered species surveys, regulatory permitting, and report writing. He loves discovering the diverse shapes and abilities of living things, and exploring how they connect with each other and their surroundings. Ethan’s hobbies include skateboarding, soccer, running, guitar, and eating.

Chris Ellis
Member at Large
Chris is Vice President of Environmental Services at Taylor Engineering. He brings over 25 years of experience as an environmental scientist, project manager, and team leader supporting a broad range of water-related projects throughout Florida and the southeast.

Ryan Sipe
Member at Large
Ryan is a professional archaeologist

Jeffrey Foster
Member at Large
Jeff is an environmental engineer

Aaron Sarchet
Member at Large
Aaron is a biologist at the US Army Corps of Engineers. He is experienced in enviornmental resource permitting, CWA section 404 permitting, NEPA permitting, and wetland science and delineation.

Danielle D'Amato
Member at Large
Danielle works at the US Army Corp. of Engineers as a Team Lead of the South Atlantic Division (TREC). She has a background in biology, wetland delineation, and environmental permitting, including NEPA, CWA Section 404, threatened and endangered species, and more.
Events
Virtual Lunch and Learn with SJRWMD
Join us on Teams for an overview of Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP) from Christine Wentzel, Regulatory Manager at the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD).
This free event will feature a Q&A session.
Details:
May 21, 2025
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Free for members & non-members
Virtual event – contact board@nefaep.com for registration link
Upcoming
We have a variety of exciting events planned for 2025, including:
- May 21 – Virtual lunch and learn with St Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD)
- May 28 – Guided site visit to Trail Ridge landfill
- Jun 26 – Virtual lunch and learn with Army Corps of Engineers
- July 9 – Virtual lunch and learn with FDOT District 2
- Nov 7 – Itchetucknee Moonlight Paddle and Overnight Stay
…and more! Sign up for our email list to stay updated and learn about volunteering opportunities while networking with your peers.
Past
In 2024, we held social events in Jacksonville and Gainesville, hosted a hydric soils training, arranged a fossil hunting tour, and celebrated the year with a full moon Ichetucknee River paddle.
In 2025, we’ve held Gainesville and St. Augustine socials, attended the 2025 FAEP Conference, participated in the annual St. Johns River Cleanup, hosted a virtual Lunch and Learn, and supported a turtle conservation fundraiser.
Becoming a Member
Interested in building your professional network, gaining access to unique training workshops, and diversifying your knowledge of current environmental issues?
Consider joining the NEFAEP!
As a member, you will be able to attend local chapter happenings and the annual FAEP conference at a discounted rate. Membership also gives you access to our Member Directory, a comprehensive database that links you to over 900 environmental professionals throughout the state.
Get in touch with us
Use this form to send us a message and/or join our mailing list.