Chris Ward Email & Phone Number

Greater Seattle Area

Serves as project/program permitting lead on major capital projects; performs daily management of staff and programs or projects; manages negotiates, and oversees the scope of work and deliverable for multiple interdisciplinary teams of consultants and consultant contracts for complex land use and technical permit packages.Performs advanced policy and regulatory program development work on issues such as those related to environmentally critical areas, land use, and high-capacity transit issues; researches the viability of existing codes and regulations (e.g., building, land use), performs risk assessments; evaluates emerging trends and policy impacts, identifies the need for new code development, code revisions or policy changes, and recommends courses of action. Collaboratively develops permitting paths and negotiates approvals with senior staff from agencies having jurisdiction where existing regulations do not contemplate the construction of Sound Transit facilities. Serves as the technical expert to perform complex code interpretation and land use analysis; and serves as an expert resource on design, land use and environmental matters with respect to agency programs. Is relied upon by department heads and/or senior Sound Transit staff to make decisions affecting Sound Transit’s highly visible or high impact services. Shapes policy by making authoritative policy recommendations to department heads and/or senior Sound Transit management; develops and defends policies with significant long-term impacts on the agency’s capital programs; strongly influences policies having significant and long-term resource implications; strongly influences policies which impact the conduct of business by multiple agency departments. Determines project-wide regulatory requirements for approval. Manages and oversees the complex regulatory process to ensure permit compliance for Sound Transit’s light rail corridor projects, including small contract job orders.

Greater Seattle Area

Responsibilities Continued project management in support of the Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). Technical writing of all resource sections in the Draft and Final SEIS document. Managed sub-consultants budgets and deliverables. Coordinated with State Parks staff and other stakeholders in the development of environmental documentation. Provided project updates to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission at numerous public meetings across Washington State. Accomplishments Successfully obtained agency approval for the largest recreation project in Washington State Parks history. Maintained a friendly relationship with the client throughout this long and difficult process. Skills Used Clear communication, exersized foresight, task delegation, analytical thinking, project management.

Bellevue, Wa

Diverse scope of projects include: 1) Code and ordinance research and interpretation in jurisdictions throughout the United States, 2) Modeling air quality impacts for the 2015 World Alpine Championships at Beaver Creek Resort in Colorado, 3) Project management and preparation of the SEPA Supplemental EIS documentation for the Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park expansion, and 4) Preparation of NEPA support documents and public outreach strategy for ski area expansion projects at White Pass Ski Resort, Washington. SEPA Process: Reviewed a potential expansion area at Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park for sensitive water resources and environmental features in support of a SEPA process with Washington State Parks (WSP). As Project Manager for Mount Spokane 2000 (ski area concessionaire) he has represented Mount Spokane in contentious public meetings in front of the Washington State Parks Commission and is project manager during the development of the SEPA SEIS for the ski area expansion. NEPA Process: Acted as Project Manager on numerous ski NEPA projects throughout the United States. Working as a third-party contractor he managed process from scoping, through the development of alternatives, public participation, technical writing and preparation of NEPA documentation from Categorical Exclusions to Environmental Impact Statements. Code and Ordinance Interpretation: Researched municipal codes and ordinances nationwide on a variety of ski area expansion projects. This included obtaining various local permits necessary for the project to proceed (e.g., clearing, grading, building, variances, and substantial development permits). Implementation: Prepared the Vegetation Management Plan at Loon Mountain Resort in New Hampshire to gain Forest Service approval for new ski area projects within the Special Use Permit area.

Bellingham, Washington Area

Worked closely with engineers, contractors, government officials and landowners to assess the environmental impact of major development proposals and ensure compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). Responsible for inspection and enforcement of state and local regulations pertaining to environmental compliance and water quality protection. Problem Solving: Reputation for successfully balancing community goals with environmental regulations. Communication: Educated landowners on necessary project constraints, enabling them to make cost-effective decisions before engineering commences. Clearly explained complex regulations and their rationale to avoid future conflicts. Reputation for excellent client service. Environmental Remediation: Built relationships and collaborated with landowners, attorneys and US Army Corps of Engineers to design win-win solutions to environmental problems. For example, resolved a wildlife habitat degradation violation with an immediate stream flow restoration solution as well as negotiated an effective long-term repair plan.

Provided outstanding customer service, occupational health and safety training, and conflict resolution for major airline. Trained ground personnel in occupational health and safety skills, including identifying hazardous working conditions and safety problems. Duties included recommending changes in protocols and enforcing established regulations to improve safety and security procedures. Responsible for safe removal of chemical, biological, and environmental hazards. Provided training to customer service staff in approaches to serving disabled customers, and a baggage loss prevention system for baggage personnel. Successfully audited the company’s baggage loss tracking system, including the tracking of over $50,000 in daily charges.

Farmington, Missouri

Determined value of timber, handled negotiations for pricing, set up sale contract, and drafted ingress/egress agreements.Ensured contract compliance of private timber companies’ logging and timber sale activity, including erosion control, stream and wetlands protection, threatened and endangered species habitat protection, road design and construction, and forest reclamation.Impact Planning: Designed timber harvest plans which reduced the impact of road construction, improved forest health, protected streams, and prevented disruption of critical wildlife habitat.Revenue generation: Handled individual wood sales ranging from $10,000 to over $1 million; for 2 of the 3 years, was the only staff member on team of 20 to show a profit.Innovation: Developed a timber cruise software program that allowed the company to accurately analyze and customize timber data and make more cost-effective buying decisions.

Chillicothe, Missouri

Diverse projects included: 1) Designing environmental education for over 200 elementary and junior high school students, 2) Managing and directing all fieldwork performed on the Poosey Conservation Area, 3) Conducting outreach and establishing forest management plans for private landowners that promoted forest stewardship, 4) Developing forest management plans for private landowners, and 5) Supervising prescribed burning to restore native prairies.Conservation: Maintained over 5,000 acres of State forest, implementing wildlife improvement projects, forest management activities, and evaluations for the Wetland Reserve and Conservation Reserve programs.Collaboration: Repeatedly requested for special projects because of ability to build relationships.