NEWS RELEASE
Planning Industry Veteran to Lead Environmental Consulting Firm:
SANDWICH, Mass., June 20, 2023 – Horsley Witten Group, a full-service environmental consulting firm providing sustainable and resilient design solutions, has announced the appointment of Nathan “Nate” Kelly to the position of president.
Kelly succeeds Richard Claytor, Jr., P.E., who will remain with Horsley Witten Group as senior water resources engineer and will continue to serve on the company’s board of directors. Claytor led the firm for over a decade and is a prominent leader in the stormwater management field.
An accomplished environmental planning professional, Kelly joined
Horsley Witten Group in 2001, most recently serving as the firm’s principal planner and leading its Providence, R.I. office.
Kelly has been instrumental in the growth of Horsley Witten Group during the past two decades, having provided professional planning, zoning and facilitation services to more than 50 municipalities throughout New England. He is also widely recognized as a leading expert in the disciplines of comprehensive planning, affordable housing, regulatory reform, village and downtown planning, low impact development and watershed assessment.
In his new role, Kelly will assume overall responsibility for Horsley Witten Group’s strategic planning, business administration, financial management, marketing, business development, DEI efforts and human resources.
“The environmental, economic and social challenges facing our communities are considerable and only getting more urgent as the effects of global climate change take hold,” said Kelly. “I look forward to leading Horsley Witten Group and our world-class team of environmental engineers, scientists, and planners to create and implement sustainable solutions that mitigate the effects of and adapt to climate change.”
“Nate is a perfect choice to usher in the next era of environmental stewardship and growth for Horsley Witten Group,” said Claytor. “His collaborative leadership style, experience and proven expertise in developing solutions for a wide range of issues will serve Horsley Witten Group well, now and into the future.”
Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from Boston College and a master’s degree in urban and environmental policy and planning from Tufts University.
He was appointed to the Rhode Island State Legislature’s Land Use Commission in 2021, and regularly provides training services for the Cape Housing Initiative and MassHousing. Kelly has also served as president of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Planning Association.