Natural Resources Staff

Mark Brown, Natural Resources Program Manager - Mark’s environmental career spans 43 years in Florida, including several years employed with engineering & environmental consulting firms (BCI-Lakeland, PBS&J-Tampa) and the remaining with various public agencies [USDA-NRCS, Polk County, SWFWMD (twice), FDOT-District 7, Hillsborough County, City of Gainesville, Alachua County]. His experiences include a range of technical environmental assessment & regulatory permitting, project design and program managerial positions involving ecological evaluations, habitat restoration, wetland mitigation, and habitat/land management. His EPD responsibilities include management, supervision, collaboration and coordination of development review (DRC, land use, zoning); assisting agencies, landowners and consultants with enviro​nmental assessments; coordination and collaboration with Alachua County’s nine municipalities.

​Phone: 352-264-6815,  mbrown@alachuacounty.us

Chris Boever, Sr. Environmental Specialist - Chris's extensive background as a Field Botanist and recent service with FL Fish & Wildlife’s Division of Habitat and Species Conservation provides him with invaluable experience in this position.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany from Humboldt State University and a Master of Science in Riparian Ecology from the University of South Dakota. Responsibilities include review of regulated natural resources for development review for homeowners (building permits).  He enjoys working with volunteers and looks forward to educational outreach program opportunities administered by the County and local schools. His interests include hiking, kayaking, botanizing, and biking.

Phone: 352-264-6801, cboever@alachuacounty.us

Summer Waters, Sr. Planner - Summer recently relocated to Gainesville from the Florida panhandle where she had the distinction of becoming the first Natural Resources Planner for Bay County early in her career.  She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of South Florida and went on to earn her master’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she studied environmental and water resources engineering.  Her work experience outside Florida includes Environmental Planner with San Diego County, Water Resources Extension Agent with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and managing a joint program with the Sonoran Institute and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Her responsibilities with Alachua County EPD include development review and liaison to the Environmental Protection Advisory Committee (EPAC). When she isn’t working you can usually find her in the springs.

 Phone: 352-264-6812, swaters@alachuacounty.us

Charla Markesteyn, Senior Environmental Specialist - As a native Floridian, Charla was raised to appreciate our state’s unique and precious natural resources –particularly the Florida springs. An early career in hospitality informs her education-centered approach to project review, public engagement, and service leadership as a County employee. Her environmental background includes government consulting, from NEPA reviews of natural and cultural resources to wetland inventories, risk assessments, and HazMat management. Following an undergraduate degree in Environmental Management in Agriculture and Natural Resources and a Graduate Certificate in Wetlands and Water Resources, Charla is now in the last stages of earning a Master of Science in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Science; her research has focused on several practical subjects: soil science, septic systems, and the environmental implications of wastewater treatment in Florida –including biosolids management practices.

 Phone: 352-363-7081​, cmarkesteyn@alachuacounty.gov

Jessica "Jesh" Hong,​ Sr. Planner - Jesh is a UF graduate with both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Forest Resources and Conservation, as well as minors in Wildlife Ecology and Soil & Water Sciences. She is also a certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) with qualifications in Tree Risk Assessment and Pruning. As you can tell from her educational background, her interest in the natural world is practically unlimited. She also enjoys getting outside and running, kayaking, and volunteering her time at environmental cleanup events. She has too many hobbies to count because she always enjoys trying new things!