Welcome Jordan

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jordan claman

HE/HIM

GIS Analyst

The Horsley Witten Group is pleased to welcome Jordan Claman to our Boston office as a GIS Analyst. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a minor in Science, Technology, and Society from Tufts University, and recently completed an Urban Planning and Design summer course at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

At Tufts, Jordan was actively engaged in both campus and community efforts, serving as the Operations Director for 91.5 WMFO Tufts Freeform Radio, working as a campus tour guide, and running with the Tufts Marathon Team. Recently, he worked with Action for Boston Community Development to provide GIS support for surveying and outreach.

Jordan’s professional background includes internships with Recover Green Roofs, the Somerville Community Corporation, and Rockefeller State Park Preserve. Most recently, he served as a Senior GIS Analyst at an environmental consulting firm in the Boston area, where he specialized in advanced geospatial analysis and database management for a range of environmental applications.

His current work includes spatial analysis and mapping support for comprehensive planning projects, interactive web-mapping for climate resilience planning and design, and GIS processing for the Massachusetts Integrated Land Use Strategy project, which will support integrated land-use planning across the state.

Outside of work, Jordan enjoys running, swimming, and traveling—especially visiting local favorites such as Walden Pond and Mystic Lakes. When not working he can be found at his favorite independent cinemas in the Boston area, including the Brattle Theater and the Coolidge Corner Theater, of which he is an active member.

We are delighted to welcome Jordan to HW and look forward to the expertise and energy he brings to our team!

Welcome Liz

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elizabeth perry

administrative coordinator

The Horsley Witten Group is excited to announce that Elizabeth Perry (Liz) has joined our Sandwich Operations Team as an Administrative Coordinator. Liz earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics from Southern New Hampshire University. She has years of experience in bid preparation, estimating, finance, plan review, and sales support.

A lifelong learner, Liz is always looking to improve her skills. She appreciates technology and is happiest when helping others to analyze and improve processes. Liz has worked independently for herself, thrived as a cost estimator and administrative assistant in the commercial construction field, and as a stay-at-home parent.

Liz grew up in Swansea and was surrounded by relatives who immigrated from Portugal. Grandparents and parents who made their livelihoods working in textile mills and fishing nearby waters shared important life skills with her like sewing, textile arts, fishing, and map study. In high school she enjoyed field hockey (wishing the school had a girl’s ice hockey team), softball, and the drama club. She appreciates fine art and spending time with her family. She is a hockey fan from a hockey family and when not working she can be found at an ice rink cheering on her three children, of whom two are goalies! Liz also enjoys knitting, embroidery on kid’s t-shirts, and sewing. Welcome to HW Liz, we are so happy that you are here!

Welcome Casey

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casey proto

staff Scientist

The Horsley Witten Group is happy to announce that Casey Proto has joined our Sandwich Restoration team as a Staff Scientist. Casey recently earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science, Safety, and Environmental Protection from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA). During his time at MMA, Casey enjoyed being a peer tutor in the chemistry department and being part of a study on eelgrass health and its abundance in Buzzards Bay. Additionally, Casey had the opportunity to mentor underclassmen students during a tropical ecology field course at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences.

Casey has completed internships with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC). As a Compliance Intern in the Ship Operations Department at WHOI, Casey worked to ensure the Institution’s vessel operations complied with safety and environmental regulations through reviewing and drafting documents and protocols. At APCC, Casey collected and analyzed water samples from freshwater ponds to identify and quantify cyanobacteria. His current project portfolio includes a watershed assessment, environmental due diligence assignments, GIS work, and field work related to water sampling and topographic surveying.

Growing up in Centerville, Casey enjoyed the various Cape Cod landscapes and the numerous hiking trails, which grew his appreciation for the local environment. When not working he can be found golfing, reading, or hiking with his Golden Retriever Charlie.

Welcome to HW Casey, we are glad you are here!

A brief interview with Rich Claytor

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Richard claytor, Jr., P.E.

Sr. Water Resources Engineer

HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE THE HORSLEY WITTEN GROUP (HW) AND THE WORK YOU DO TO SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF THE A|E|C AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONS?

HW is a small business planning, engineering and environmental service consulting firm. Much of our work involves ensuring that clean and plentiful water is available for use by humans and nature. We do this through careful short- and long-term planning, assessment of natural resources, and designing solutions to ensure a sustainable future for people and the natural world alike. HW is also engaged in making communities a better place to live, work, and play; our mission is to address both environmental and social challenges with sustainable solutions.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS ONE THING ABOUT THE HORSLEY WITTEN GROUP THAT IS A DIFFERENTIATOR FROM OTHER FIRMS IN YOUR INDUSTRY?

HW is a mission driven firm, and this informs all aspects of our decision-making process, particularly as related to our staff and wanting them to feel proud to work here.

HOW DO THE HORSLEY WITTEN GROUP COMPANY VALUES IMPACT THE WAY YOU OPERATE ON A DAILY BASIS OR MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS?

Similar to answer above, our values drive our day-to-day decision making; from the projects and work we pursue, to the clients we work with, and the outcomes we strive to achieve. We frequently ask how a given project aligns with our values. These values are not static nor were they defined by a small group of HW staff. These values can evolve over time or as conditions change and they are truly our shared values.

BEYOND THE REQUISITE TECHNICAL SKILLS, WHAT SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN YOU HIRE SOMEONE TO JOIN THE HORSLEY WITTEN GROUP TEAM?

We seek out and attract people who really want to make a difference in protecting our natural resources and enhancing the communities where we live. Our staff are committed to making our world a better place.

WE NEED MORE PROFESSIONALS IN THE CIVIL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE PROJECT WORK DEMANDS. WHAT IS THE HORSLEY WITTEN GROUP DOING TO ATTRACT THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS INTO THE INDUSTRY?

We work in partnership with local high schools and trade schools to expose future professionals to the kind of work we do. Our staff volunteer annually at local high schools to engage STEM students in a few technical areas covered by our engineering and planning practices, for example. In the last several years, we’ve been very active in the X-CEL Education program working with students in Greater Boston’s underserved communities to expose students to sustainable career paths in the technical and geographic areas where we do business.

WHAT ENCOURAGED YOU TO BECOME AN ENGINEER, AND WHAT ABOUT YOUR CAREER ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

I was an analytical-type child, and I enjoyed the order and precision of engineering and I loved nature. Civil engineering afforded me a career that combined the natural and built environment and I gravitated to the earth-sciences (water, soils, geology, etc.). I’m most proud of the people who work for HW and their collective aspirations for the future.

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF LEADERSHIP ADVICE YOU WISH SOMEONE HAD SHARED WITH YOU SOONER?

I had a mentor who often repeated the adage “the client is always right,” and that’s true, except when it’s not. But what was never said, was you can choose your clients and you can both be right. It took me several years to recognize that when we work together with shared values so much more can be accomplished.

LOOKING FORWARD, WHAT ASPECTS OR TRENDS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRY ARE THE MOST EXCITING FOR YOU?

That is a difficult question. Certainly, the technological advancements in data collection, management and manipulation allow us to do so much more, with more accuracy and in less time. That’s exciting. But equally exciting are the challenges brought on by climate change. Though troubling, they are also motivating, and it often involves water, maintaining or restoring quality water supplies for the future, managing the risks of changed precipitation characteristics that cause or contribute to flooding and/or drought, reacting to sea level rise and associated coastal impacts, all while protecting or enhancing nature and human interactions are important now and will only be more so in the future.

Credit: Smith and Wilkinson.

Video: Hear Rich Claytor, P.E., talk about the importance of natural stormwater management best practices.