david alfred

staff scientist

The Horsley Witten Group is happy to announce that David Alfred has joined our wetlands and engineering team in Sandwich as a Staff Scientist. A Rochester New York native, David grew up learning about ecology in the Finger Lakes region raising crayfish and tadpoles and enjoying fishing with his family. In college he started out studying human biology and medicine but changed to biology and chemistry with a conservation focus soon after his first year.

David earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry at the State University of New York College at Oneonta (SUNY) and his Master of Science in Conservation Biology at Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont. David has experience with good laboratory practice (GLP) and has acquired many technical skills like hydrographic surveying, and trench and excavation competence to name a few.

David has completed several internships in New York and Florida. He was a Research Fellow at SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station in Cooperstown and a Biologist Technician for the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Hobe Sound, Florida. He has held positions as a Field Research Director, Turbidity Technician, and an Environmental Technician Survey Party Chief.

When he is not working in the field, David enjoys disc golf, exploring new places, hiking, fishing, drone work, and learning more about the Cape Cod environment as well as travelling both for work and personally. Welcome to HW, David!

 

ryan mitchell

staff planner

Horsley Witten Group is excited to share that Ryan Mitchell has joined our planning team in Providence as a staff planner. Ryan grew up in Newbury, MA and was fortunate to travel abroad with parents involved in international conservation. As a young person he was inspired by nature as he lived close to beaches and marsh areas. After high school, Ryan left home and embarked on his college career in Canada.

Ryan earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography with a Minor in French at Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB, Canada and his Master of Arts in International Development and Social Change from Clark University, in Worcester. Ryan is fluent in French, proficient in Spanish and Portuguese and knows some German. He enjoyed his internships as a remote intern researching and working on climate change-related projects for Mexico City and Chile. Ryan worked with the Chile-based Center for Climate and Resilience Research on different projects, including writing climate-focused policy briefs, researching and organizing information on climate laws and regulations, translating texts, and writing a master’s paper on responses to harmful algal blooms.

Through research and writing Ryan has led teams and mentored students with communications and writing assignments. Ryan is a current volunteer for A2Empowerment, an education-focused nonprofit. When he is not working, Ryan enjoys living in the City of Providence and can be found walking, frequenting museums, biking, and discovering the next best tea spot with a good non-fiction (e.g., architecture, history) book in hand. Welcome to HW, Ryan!

 

darsh shah

staff planner

The Horsley Witten Group is pleased to announce that Darsh Shah has joined our planning team in Providence as a staff planner. Darsh has experience in designing vibrant, livable, and self-sustainable cities. An avid researcher, creative-thinker, and planning advocate, our clients and staff will benefit from his experience.

Darsh earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in city planning from Anant National University in India, and a Masters of Community Planning at the University of Cincinnati. He worked as a planning intern with the City of Sandusky, Ohio. A prominent project, the Jackson Street Pier, Sandusky’s public space, was nominated by the project team for the 2022 APA Ohio Great Place Award on behalf of the city.

The group won the competition, and the Jackson Street Pier was awarded the title of a 2022 Great Place. A key factor in this accomplishment was the story map Darsh created as an introduction to the area.

Darsh has also worked as an urban planning research associate, junior urban planner, and urban planning research assistant in Ahmedabad, India. He is a co-founder of a foundation located in India that focuses  on  village development plans to uplift rural areas through green infrastructure and placemaking designs in collaboration with state government.

When he is not working, Darsh loves being outdoors and likes to visit new places. He enjoys cooking and likes to dance as well as listen to music and enjoys watching movies, series, and anime. He is working on a book that can help people who are struggling alone or are unable to convey their emotions. Currently, Darsh is busy lending a hand with our USVI planning projects and learning about open space and recreation planning. Welcome Darsh, to HW!

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

SANDWICH, Mass., November 14, 2023 – Horsley Witten Group, a full-service environmental consulting firm providing sustainable and resilient environmental design solutions, has partnered with the Town of Mashpee, the Massachusetts In-Lieu Fee Program, and the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration to restore the former Chop Chaque cranberry bogs to healthy, thriving wetlands similar to what they were prior to conversion to cranberry farming approximately a century ago.

There are two cranberry bogs at Chop Chaque totaling 6.5 acres that are situated on a nearly 12-acre town owned parcel of land adjacent to Santuit Pond. The cranberry bogs have been out of production for approximately four years.

Since cranberry cultivation has become more economically challenging in recent decades for farmers on Cape Cod, many have opted to retire bogs and place the land under conservation easement protection. Municipalities and other conservation entities that acquire the land or the conservation easement for these retired bogs often seek to restore them to something similar to the natural wetlands that existed prior to the conversion to cranberry agriculture and that will better support complex ecosystems and associated habitat. Ancillary benefits, such as improved nutrient management, are also often realized.

 

“It is a major trend and for good reason – restoring cranberry bogs to their natural state benefits the environment, encourages the return of wildlife and rare species habitats and contributes to the health of our waterways,” said Horsley Witten Group Principal Scientist Neal Price. With no restoration, intervention frequently fails to allow for recovery of wetlands systems with wetland functions and values similar to what would have existed prior to the original establishment of cranberry agriculture.”

The Chop Chaque project is being funded through a $525,000 In-Lieu Fee Program allocation from the Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game.  Horsley Witten Group was responsible for assessment of the Chop Chaque site, developing designs for restoration, which will include removal of the excess sand that had been added periodically over the decades of agriculture, filling artificial ditches, roughening bog services, removing a culvert that connects Santuit Pond to the bogs, and permitting of the project. Final design, construction, and post-project monitoring are still to come. Construction work on the Chop Chaque restoration project is expected to begin during the fall of 2024 and be completed in approximately two to three months.

 

“We look forward to once again working with Horsley Witten Group on this important ecological restoration project,” said Mashpee Conservation Agent Andrew McManus. “The organization and its team of talented and accomplished environmental scientists have worked with the Town of Mashpee on a wide range of projects including culvert replacement, dam repair and planning, and permitting processes.”

Horsley Witten Group has also managed or participated in other local cranberry bog restoration projects in Mashpee, Falmouth, Marstons Mills, Plymouth, and Yarmouth.

 

ava schully

environmental engineer

The Horsley Witten Group is happy to announce that Ava Schully has joined our engineering team in Boston as an Environmental Engineer.  An editor, teaching assistant, mentor, musician, athlete, and engineering student are only a few of her former roles. Her experience with numerous technical programs as well as technical skills and presentation experience with state organizations make her a well-qualified addition to our group.  

Ava earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in environmental engineering and urban studies from Brown University. At Brown, Ava  helped an engineering professor to understand the music side of articles he 

peer reviewed for scientists addressing the relationship between fluid mechanics and music. She also served as the editor of the urban studies department newsletter. Ava completed internships at the Nature Conservancy in Providence as a coastal restoration scientist and as a team leader for data analysis on a Coronavirus visualization team remotely. She presented the team’s findings to several environmental organizations including the Sierra Club.

Ava has a strong interest in sustainable agriculture and food system efficiency. Her work with the RI Commerce Corporation as a food strategy intern and the Farmlink Project as a logistics coordinator has prepared her well for future project work. She is currently helping out with stormwater peer reviews, watershed delineation, and work on a river model.  

Ava plays the cello, which she started practicing at age six along with her twin sister who started on violin. She is a long-distance runner who as a teenager participated in cross country running and enjoys cooking with her father who is a chef and specializes in seasonal cooking practices. Ava plays soccer as a striker in a co-ed pick up league and hopes to find a spot in a community orchestra. We hope you do too Ava, and we are glad that you are part of our group.
Welcome to HW!

 

 

CNU New England award

Reuse Design of the Iconic Crook Point Bascule Bridge

PRESS RELEASE

Sandwich, Mass., October 2, 2023 – Horsley Witten Group, a full-service environmental consulting firm providing sustainable and resilient design solutions, has been honored with a regional award for its reuse design of the iconic Crook Point Bascule Bridge and revitalization of the Seekonk River shoreline in Providence, Rhode Island.

Horsley Witten Group, along with project partners Jonathan Harris, Abernathy Lighting, and the City of Providence, received the 2023 Excellence in Urbanism Award on Thursday, September 14th at the Fall Summit of the New England Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU New England). In selecting the 2023 winners, CNU New England prioritized projects that contribute to the creation of walkable, sustainable and equitable places in New England. The project proposal is also the winner of an international design competition hosted by the City of Providence.

The award was accepted by Horsley Witten’s Jon Ford, Johnson and Wales University Professor Jonathan Harris, and Joseph Mulligan III, director of planning and development for the City of Providence.

 

“I am so grateful to be accepting this award on behalf of Horsley Witten Group and our team of collaborators,” said Jon Ford, Senior Associate-of Community Design . “We knew it was important that our design focus on climate-based resiliency, provide a welcoming environment for all, and to celebrate the bridge structure’s iconic status, while creating improvements that are realistic and cost-effective – we are looking forward to working with the city to implement the vision.”

The Crook Point Bascule Bridge originally built in 1908 to provide a direct link between the Providence, New York-New Haven, and Hartford rail lines, once connected the cities of Providence and East Providence over the Seekonk River. It has been fixed in the upright position since its abandonment in 1976, becoming a local icon and point of fascination for local neighborhoods and beyond.

Horsley Witten Group’s design calls for a series of unique riverfront public spaces to connect people physically and visually to both a restored riverbank and a celebrated bridge structure, the existing remnants of which were originally planned for demolition. The CNU New England Jury noted how the project underscores the need to preserve and renew historical landscapes which in turn affirm the continuity and evolution of urban society.

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

Robert J. Esposito III

CAD technician

The Horsley Witten Group is proud to announce that Bobby Esposito has joined our engineering and landscape architecture team as a CAD Technician in Sandwich and Providence. We are hopeful his role will grow into a CAD Manager position. Bobby’s current assignment will ensure that all CAD drawings meet all of our standards by ensuring they are accurate, consistent, clear, and presentable. A Smithfield, RI native, Bobby’s past experience includes a traffic/transportation internship at a prominent engineering firm, and an architectural CAD Technician position at Brown University.

Bobby earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Design & Configuration Management and two Master of Science Degrees in Data Analytics and Engineering Management from Johnson & Wales University at the Providence, RI campus.  Bobby was a member of the JWU National Society of Leadership & Success Program, JWU Emerging Leadership Program, and the Alpha Beta Kappa National Honors Society.

In his free time Bobby enjoys playing basketball and watching New England professional sports. He enjoys being active and can often be found leading all types of landscaping projects. Hiking is also a favorite activity, and we look forward to sharing our holiday hikes and other activities with him. Welcome to HW, Bobby!

 

kynoch real-munroe

Environmental Scientist

Horsley Witten Group is thrilled to share that Kynoch Reale-Munroe (Ky) has joined our water resources team in St. Croix, USVI! Prior to joining HW, Ky administered research projects related to monitoring terrestrial erosion and its impacts on water quality, coral reefs, and bioluminescent bays; potable drinking water quality in cisterns and city water; and  invasive marine species.

Ky earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Idaho State University and her Master of Science Degree in Natural Resources with a concentration in water quality, water resources, and aquatic ecology from the University of Connecticut. Raised in Idaho, Ky learned early on that water can be scarce and later on contributed to a water research project at her parents’ home in Manchester, CT when they learned their private well contained contaminants.

She is currently working on a USVI bird habitat restoration project and reducing land-based sources of pollution in the east end watersheds of St. Croix. Ky has experience leading research groups, collaborating on interdisciplinary projects, administering grants, and teaching as a university adjunct research professor. She co-founded the non-profit Caribbean Oceanic Restoration and Education Foundation (CORE) and is Chair of the Board of Directors for the St. Croix Environmental Association (SEA). Her main focus will be working on HW’s Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico projects as well as other projects that require a knowledge of natural resources and monitoring/statistical data analysis support.    

Whether teaching and mentoring emerging Caribbean scientists at the University of the Virgin Islands, leading diving research projects about lionfish over population in the reefs, co-founding a non-profit to teach locals about lionfish fishing (Yes, she had the record fish back in 2011 at 13”!), or protecting precious mangroves, Ky has the knowledge and passion to help solve tough issues that affect our environment.

When Ky is not working, she can be found at her computer researching her family genealogy that includes a background originating in Scotland and Italy. She also enjoys playing tennis, making jewelry, hiking, and snorkeling. We look forward to learning more about Ky and our staff, clients, and partners will truly benefit from her experience.