2012 Board of Directors

Harry Simmons, President: Simmons is mayor of Caswell Beach, NC, and chairman of the Brunswick Beaches Consortium, a countywide sand management group. He is executive director of NC Beach, Inlet & Waterway Association, a coastal education and advocacy organization. Mayor Simmons is a member of the NC Coastal Resources Advisory Council and is treasurer of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association. He was recently appointed to the National Sea Grant Advisory Board. He spent most of his first career as owner of Simmons Management Group, a music management firm and is still a voter for the prestigious Grammy Awards.

Tom Campbell, P.E., Vice President: President of Coastal Planning & Engineering in Boca Raton, FL, Campbell is an engineer who works with a variety of coastal communities. His national experience helping communities renourish their beaches brings hands-on knowledge of coastal engineering.

Tony Pratt, Vice President: Delaware’s shoreline and waterway administrator, Pratt oversees programs related to beach nourishment, beach construction regulation, coastal hazards mitigation and waterway management. He was a member of the National Research Council Committee on Beach Nourishment and Protection and the Heinz Center Panel on Risk Vulnerability and the True Costs of Coastal Hazards.

Russell Boudreau, P.E., D.CE, D.PE, Vice President: With 25 years of experience in coastal engineering and a registered civil engineer in California and Hawaii, Boudreau is an Associate Vice President and Senior Coastal Engineer with Moffatt & Nichol in Long Beach, California. His responsibilities include planning, engineering and construction management for a broad range of beach nourishment, regional sediment management, wetland restoration, water quality and navigation improvement projects in the U.S. and throughout the Pacific Rim. He was an inaugural recipient of the specialty certifications of Diplomate, Coastal Engineering and Diplomate, Port Engineering from the Academy of Coastal Ocean Port and Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE).

Phillip Roehrs, P.E., Vice President: As Water Resources Engineer, Roehrs leads the City of Virginia Beach’s Coastal and Storm Water Engineering Divisions. Programs under his supervision include beach replenishment, shore protection works, maintenance of navigation channels, storm water system improvements, storm water quality initiatives, and the City’s Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit and National Flood Insurance Program. Roehrs is a past-president of the Virginia Shore & Beach Preservation Association and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Public Works Association and the Engineering Club of Hampton Roads.

Nicole Elko, Ph.D., Secretary: As the former Coastal Coordinator for Pinellas County, Elko managed five major beach nourishment projects along 35 miles of shoreline. She now operates her own consulting business out of Charleston, South Carolina that specializes in the management, funding, and public relations of major beach nourishment projects. Elko has a Ph.D. in Coastal Geology from the University of South Florida. She is familiar with coastal erosion issues on the west coast of Florida and has published several research papers on the performance of beach nourishment at erosional hotspots.

 Brad Pickel, Treasurer: Pickel is co-principal of Seahaven Consulting, a coastal and environmental consulting firm in Beaufort, SC. Prior to starting his own business in 2007, he was the director of beach management for the Walton County, Florida Tourist Development Council for seven years and oversaw beach restoration and maintenance activities for the 26-mile long shoreline. He received a B.S. in Marine Biology from Auburn University and M.S. in Marine Sciences from the University of South Alabama.

ASBPA board members:

Lisa Armbruster: The Director of Governmental Affairs for the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association, Lisa represents the Association and its member government’s educational and advocacy agenda at the Florida Legislature. She also continues to serve as a beach management consultant for the 18-mile Panama City Beaches, Florida shore protection project – a program she has managed since 2004. Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in Coastal Engineering from the University of Florida.

Patricia C. Bates: Supervisor for Orange County’s 5 th District, and serves as co-chair of the Orange County Coastal Coalition, providing a means for governmental agencies and interested parties to collaborate in issues related to the coast. She serves on the Coastal Greenbelt Authority, a Cooperative Management Authority of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. As a former State Assemblywoman, Bates received the California Coastal Coalition and the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project’s Coastal Stewardship Award for her efforts to promote the preservation, protection, and restoration of California’s coastline. 

 Bob Battalio, P.E.: CSBPA president and principal of Philip Williams & Associates, Ltd., San Francisco. For over 20 years he has lead studies of coastal and estuarine processes, mapping of coastal hazards and designs restoration of natural aquatic ecosystems including beaches and coastal wetlands. Battalio provided coastal engineering and geomorphology for the Pacifica State Beach Restoration Project, winner of ASBPA’s America’s Best Restored Beaches Award in 2005. He holds a Masters of Engineering in Civil (Coastal) Engineering from UC Berkeley.

Bill Curtis: Technical Director for Flood and Coastal Storm Damage Reduction with the USAE Research and Development Center, and leads flood and coastal storm risk management and water supply related R&D for the Corps. Curtis has 20 years experience as a research oceanographer, and conducted a wide range of studies of coastal waves, currents and sediment processes in support of storm damage reduction, navigation and environmental restoration project design and performance assessment.

 Michael Dombrowski, P.E.: President of MRD Associates, Inc. in Destin, Florida, he has more than 20 years’ experience with coastal projects and leads a talented team of engineers and scientists. His wide range of experience includes coastal processes, shoreline restoration, structures, and tidal inlets. Michael provides consulting services for the Florida Park Service and to local governments across the Gulf coast. He holds a Masters degree in Coastal Engineering from the University of Florida.

Scott Douglass, Ph.D.: A civil engineering professor at the University of South Alabama specializing in coastal engineering research, hee is the author of a book about beaches for laypersons entitled “Saving America’s Beaches: The causes of and solutions to beach erosion.”

Douglas A. Gaffney, P.E.: A Diplomate of Coastal Engineering, Gaffney is with Ocean and Coastal Consultants, Inc., with clients ranging from nonprofit organizations to the Federal government. Prior to OCC, he was a project manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has 25 years experience with numerous papers published on aspects of dredging and coastal engineering. Doug has a master’s degree from the University of Delaware and a bachelor’s degree from the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Doug is the president of the Northeast Shore & Beach Preservation Association.

Bill Hanson: Vice President of Government Relations and U.S. Business Development for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company. He holds a B.S. in Ocean Engineering from Texas A&M University, where he also currently serves on the Board of Industry Advisors for the Ocean Engineering Program. He is immediate past chair of the Western Dredging Association (WEDA); and also serves on several Federal Advisory Committees including NOAA (HSRP); International Trade Agency (ITAC 10);and the Outer Continental Shelf Policy Committee (Dept. of the Interior) .

Thomas O. Herrington, Ph.D.: Assistant Director, Center for Maritime Systems, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey. Herrington is the Vice President of the NSBPA, Director of the NJ Coastal Protection Technical Assistant Service, and the Stevens-NJ Sea Grant Cooperative Extension in Coastal Processes. He is a member of the Jersey Shore Partnership BOD and the NWS Storm Ready Communities Committee. Herrington is a former member of the NJ State Hazard Mitigation Planning Team and past chair of the USCG NY/NJ Harbor Education Subcommittee.

Barry Holliday: Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA), nonprofit organization representing the nation's dredging and marine construction contractors, Holliday previously served for over 33 years as a civilian with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, retiring in 2006 as the Navigation Program Manager for the entire Corps command. Mr. Holliday serves on the Board of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association, the National Waterways Conference, and the American Maritime Partnership.

Tim Kana, Ph.D. : Tim Kana, Ph.D.: Founder and president of Coastal Science & Engineering (Columbia SC), Kana has 30 years experience in coastal erosion projects and has written over 250 reports and publications relating to coastal processes, sediment budgets, beach nourishment, impacts of sea-level rise and coastal zone management. Dr. Kana has served as project director on more than 20 beach nourishment projects in the Carolina's including several inlet relocations. He co-chaired ASBPA 2010 National Coastal Conference in Charleston.

John Lee Jr.: Managing Director for Coastal Strategies Group who recently retired from the Galveston County Engineers Office with over 33 years of service to the county, Lee also serves on the ASBPA Executive Committee, and Chairs the Membership Committee. In Texas, Lee is Vice-President of the Texas Chapter of ASBPA, and Secretary of the Galveston County Beach Erosion Task Force. He has been involved in the protection of coastal resources for over 33 years and believes it is possible for everyone to participate in that process through partnerships and collaborative efforts.

Tom Linton, Ph.D.: Senior Lecturer Emeritus, TAMU at College Station, TX, He was formerly the Director of Research Ministry of Conservation, Melbourne Australia; Executive Director Office of Marine Affairs, State of North Carolina; and Commissioner of Fisheries State of North Carolina. Linton presently teaches at Texas A&M University at Galveston; Coastal Zone Management & Wetlands Management.

Mike McGarry: Beach Project Manager for Brevard County Florida, Mike administers coastal management and restoration projects along 72 miles of Atlantic Ocean shoreline. Since 2003 he has completed seven federal and non-federal projects placing sixty four million dollars of sand along thirty five miles of shoreline. McGarry holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a master’s degree in Oceanography/Coastal Zone Management from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Alicia M. Mahon: Ph.D Candidate in ocean engineering and president of the first student chapter of ASBPA at Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey. Mahon was the recipient of the ASBPA Coastal Scholar Award (2010) and Student Award (2009), and serves as the president of the American Society of Civil Engineers North Jersey Younger Member Group.

Leslea Meyerhoff, AICP: Principal, Harvey-Meyerhoff Consulting Group. Meyerhoff has 20 years of coastal project and environmental planning and regulatory permitting experience with expertise in CEQA and NEPA compliance. Meyerhoff has managed beach nourishment, shoreline protection, lagoon restoration, and seawater desalination projects for a variety of clients. Meyerhoff has also worked as a legislative aide in both the California Assembly and Los Angeles City Council. Meyerhoff is the co-founder of the Summit Environmental Group and holds an M.A. in Environmental Analysis and Policy from UCLA.

D.T. Minich, CDME: A ppointed Executive Director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Convention & Visitors Bureau on April 30, 2007, Minich oversees all operations of the bureau, which has a staff of 36 and an annual budget of $25 million. He received his Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) designation in 1998 from the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Kentucky.

Jerry Mohn: President of the Texas Chapter of the ASBPA, Mohn is also President of the West Galveston Island Property Owners Association; Vice Chairman of the Galveston County Beach Erosion Task Force; past Chairman and current Board Member of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce; Past Board member and Officer of the Rotary Club of Galveston; Board member of the Galveston Bay Foundation and the Galveston Historical Foundation; Co Chair of the ASBPA/G LO 2007 Fall Conference; and, Chairman of Chem One LTD.

M. Cameron Perry, P.E.: is with HDR Engineering, Inc. A graduate of Texas A&M University Galveston with a B.S. in Maritime Systems Engineering, Perry spent six years working in Florida and the Caribbean on various beach nourishment and coastal projects. In early 2004, Perry joined HDR Engineering, Inc. in Corpus Christi, Texas as a coastal project manager and has been performing numerous shoreline protection, nourishment, numerical modeling, coastal design and marsh restoration projects.

 Tamara Pigott serves as executive director for the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau (VCB). Named one of the “2010 News-Press Heroes,” she oversees the promotion of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel as a travel destination and is responsible for strategic planning of domestic and international sales and marketing efforts and day-to-day operations. A graduate of Florida State University, she holds a bachelor of science degree in economics and political science and a master of science degree in political science. Tamara and her family live in Fort Myers, Florida.

Robert N. Pinkerton, Jr.: Presently on his sixth term as Mayor of South Padre Island, Texas, Pinkerton has also served two terms as alderman prior to that. Robert has been involved in beach re-nourishment projects on South Padre since the mid to late eighties. He is also President of Island Services, a real estate, property management and condominium rental company on South Padre Island. He has resided on South Padre since 1973.

 Joan Pope: Program director for Civil Works with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, responsible for coordinating water resource-related research and development conducted by the Corps, Pope has worked nationally and internationally in coastal erosion control, geomorphology and engineering. Pope directed the development of the National Shore Erosion Control Development and Demonstration Program (Section 227) and edited the “Coastal Engineering Manual.”

Thomas W. Richardson - Deputy Director, Center of Excellence for Natural Disasters, Coastal Infrastructure, and Emergency Management. Headquartered at Jackson State University in Jackson, MS, and funded by the Department of Homeland Security, the Center is a partnership among nine universities, of which six are Historically Black. Its mission is to develop curricula and conduct studies that promote holistic, creative, and resilient solutions to the challenges of natural disasters in the Nation's coastal zone.

Todd Roessler: A lawyer at Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, he has extensive experience related to coastal and environmental issues. With respect to coastal law, Roessler's practice is primarily related to beach erosion and sand management issues. Before attending law school, he earned a Masters degree in marine sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where his thesis related to the effects of a federal navigation project on nearshore processes on an adjacent barrier island.

Julie Dean Rosati: A Research Hydraulic Engineer with the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rosati has 30 years’ experience in coastal and inlet sediment transport, developing regional sediment budgets, and applied coastal studies. She received a B.Sc. from Northwestern University in 1984, and M.Sc. from Mississippi State University in 1988, both in Civil Engineering. She received her Ph.D. in Oceanography from Louisiana State University in 2009, and is Program Manager of the Coastal Inlets Research Program.

Peter Seidle, P.E.: Coastal Engineer for Applied Technology & Management, West Palm Beach, FL, he has worked on numerous coastal projects in the U.S. and Caribbean. He has worked on feasibility studies, project design and permitting, and construction phase services for several projects ranging from beach nourishments to marinas to wetland restorations. His coastal engineering expertise includes shoreline analyses, sediment budget analysis, numerical modeling, wave analyses, etc. He received a MS in Coastal Engineering from University of Florida.

Charles Shabica, Ph.D., P.G.: President of Shabica & Associates, a coastal design and engineering firm established in 1984, specializing in urban coastal engineering and environmental management. As emeritus professor of earth science at Northeastern Illinois University, Shabica’s research interests focus on performance of coastal structures and effects on coastal ecosystems. Shabica is president of Great Lakes Shore and Beach Preservation Association.

Gerard Stoddard: Chairman of the Long Island Coastal Alliance and president of the Fire Island Association in New York, Stoddard’s membership on the board not only brings geographical diversity, but a sense of what communications strategies need to be implemented to further coastal issues awareness.

Gary Vegliante: Instrumental in the creation of the Village of West Hampton Dunes, NY, in November 1993, Vegliante was elected mayor in March 1994. He has since been re-elected twice. Vegliante has been featured in national and local publications regarding municipal issues. He is an advocate of municipal home rule and has been involved in a series of successful landmark lawsuits concerning beach nourishment and management and protecting the rights of village sovereignty and constituents’ advocacy.

Michael P. Walther, P.E., D.CE.:  President, founder, and Principal Engineer of Coastal Tech based in Vero Beach Florida, Walther has over 30 years of practical experience in the national arena of beach and inlet management from planning to design, permitting and construction. As an avid surfer, beach user, and volunteer activist, Walther has personal familiarity with coastal resources throughout the nation.

Lee Weishar, Ph.D., PWS: A Senior Scientist with the Woods Hole Group since 1989, He has more than 30 years experience in the fields of oceanography, coastal engineering, sediment transport, ecological restoration, environmental impact assessment, and project/program management. Prior to joining the Woods Hole Group, he was employed by the USACE Waterways Experiment Station (now ERDC). Weishar specializes in coastal engineering and wetland/marsh restoration and the integration of biological, ecological, and hydraulic data into wetland restoration designs to ensure that the design will meet the restoration objectives.