Why Contractors Choose Watershed GeoData

I’ve managed debris operations from all three perspectives: overseeing monitoring firms, managing contractor performance, and coordinating agency requirements. This experience protects your bottom line.

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Experience Managing Both Sides

Real-world execution overseeing contractors, monitoring firms, and FEMA compliance on high-stakes disaster recovery operations.

NC Emergency Management – Hurricane Helene Waterway Debris Program (2025)

Operations Planning & Multi-Jurisdictional Program Coordinator

• Managed 4 debris haulers and 2 monitoring firms across $375M program covering 22 jurisdictions and 12.4 million linear feet of waterway assets (5,400+ sites)
• Built contractor-side operational systems that provided superior visibility compared to monitoring firms’ proprietary tools, enabling proactive identification of bottlenecks and compliance issues
• Prevented $22 million in FEMA deobligations through statistical analysis and documentation reconstruction:
  • Overturned $14M deobligation risk when FEMA retroactively challenged previously approved sites; reconstructed approval documentation and successfully reversed determination
  • Identified systemic FEMA review disparities (98% vs 59% denial rates, p < .001); presented findings to state leadership resulting in $8.5M recovered across 442 sites and 9 jurisdictions
• Coordinated Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) across 5,200+ properties and 17 jurisdictions, managing eligibility determinations from application through closeout
• Directed work package distribution and progress tracking across multiple haulers while maintaining FEMA Public Assistance compliance standards
• Served as primary interface between FEMA, NC Emergency Management, contractors, monitoring firms, and local jurisdictions for problem resolution and regulatory alignment

What This Means For Contractors: I know where monitoring firms make mistakes because I managed them. I know what FEMA audits for because I prevented millions in deobligations. I know contractor operations because I coordinated four haulers simultaneously.

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Southern Disaster Recovery – Hurricane Helene Operations (2024-2025)

Geospatial Operations Manager

• Directed operational planning and program management for debris removal across 15 jurisdictions, ensuring contractor execution met FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement requirements
• Established GIS and Field Technology Programs from scratch: hired staff, developed SOPs, created compliance frameworks to mitigate deobligation risk
• Designed field documentation systems for progress tracking, Rights-of-Entry verification, and eligibility capture, standardizing data collection across multiple crews and jurisdictions
• Built automated reporting tools providing real-time project insights to jurisdictions, NC Emergency Management, and FEMA stakeholders
• Managed contractor interface with monitoring firms, local jurisdictions, and FEMA as primary point of contact for problem resolution

What This Means For Contractors: I built the systems that keep contractor operations compliant and visible. I know how to structure field documentation so it survives FEMA audit.

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Field Operations Experience

I’ve done the actual work, not just managed it from a distance.

Haywood County IMT – Hurricane Helene Emergency Response (2024)

GIS Specialist & Lead UAS Pilot

• Deployed to Emergency Coordination Center and Field Incident Management Team as primary GIS specialist and lead UAS pilot during active disaster response
• Instrumental in implementing first rural PECO operation in US history, coordinating needs assessment across 10,000+ residences in cooperation with county agencies and NC National Guard
• Embedded with FEMA and USAR teams for UAS operations supporting victim recovery efforts
• Developed substantial damage assessment tools enabling rapid FEMA documentation and decision support
• Executed critical pre/post-disaster mapping along Pigeon River to document baseline conditions and quantify storm impacts

Haywood Soil & Water Conservation District (2022-2024)

District Soil and Water Conservationist

• Performed debris field operations including load calls, Temporary Debris Management Site staffing, and sponsor inspector QA checks—direct experience verifying contractor compliance at operational level
• Managed Right-of-Entry program: developed GIS tools enabling field crews to verify access rights before mobilizing to sites
• Oversaw 40+ miles of streambank restoration and Emergency Watershed Protection initiatives for Tropical Storm Fred recovery—federal disaster funding with strict compliance requirements
• Maintained NRCS Job Approval Authority as Level 2 Certified Conservation Planner, ensuring compliance with NEPA, NHPA, and NRCS engineering standards

What This Means For Contractors: I’ve been in the field verifying loads, staffing TDMS operations, and managing ROE collection. I understand contractor operations from ground level, not just from dashboards.

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Technical Capabilities

Tools and systems I deploy to protect contractor operations from monitoring firm errors and FEMA deobligations.

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Certifications & Qualifications

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Speaking Engagements & Thought Leadership

• Technology as a Competitive Edge – Southern Disaster Recovery Annual Meeting (Greer, SC – 2025)
• GIS For Conservation – NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation Training (Atlantic Beach, NC – 2024)
• Drone Mapping for Conservation – NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation Training (Greensboro, NC – 2023)
• Technology Tools You’re Missing Out On – NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation Training (Greensboro, NC – 2023)

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Additional Experience

National Weather Service Warning System Analysis (2017)

Student Volunteer – NWS Newport/Morehead City

• Performed geospatial analysis identifying coverage gaps in severe weather warning system (WARNGEN/AWIPS)
• Analysis and recommendations resulted in coverage improvement from 71.9% to 91.4% of County Warning Area population

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