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Natural Resources Staff

Mark Brown, Natural Resources Program Manager - Mark’s environmental career spans 38 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 environmental assessments; coordination and collaboration with Alachua County’s nine municipalities.

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

Emily Rodriguez, Senior Planner - A lifelong Alachua County resident, Emily graduated from the University of Florida with a Master’s degree in Forest Resources and Conservation. She enjoys birding, hiking, and paddling throughout north Florida and has a passion for native plant landscaping. Emily previously worked at EPD in the Water Resources Division enforcing the County’s irrigation rules. Her duties currently include development review (DRC, land use, zoning), reviewing and assisting with environmental assessments, and inspecting conservation easements.

Phone: 352-264-6836, erodriguez@alachuacounty.us

Betty Rosenblatt, Senior Environmental Specialist - Betty's background in geology (specifically hydrogeology) has been invaluable in developing guidelines for significant geologic feature protection and water conservation planning. Her responsibilities include development review (building permits),dock permitting,compliance and enforcement. She has also been engaged in educational outreach efforts targeted particularly to lake shore home owners.

Phone: 352-264-6814, brosenblatt@alachuacounty.us

Sandy McGee, Senior Environmental Specialist - Sandy's extensive background as a Regulatory Scientist with the St. Johns River Water Management District gives her invaluable experience in this position. She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Warren Wilson College. Responsibilities include review of regulated natural resources for development review for homeowners (building permits). She also volunteers for many educational outreach programs administered by the County and local schools. Her interests include hiking, kayaking, birding, and biking in natural habitats and educating others in the same.

Phone: 352-264-6813, smcgee@alachuacounty.us

Chris Boever, Senior 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, Senior 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

Link to EPAC documents