Nate Drag Email & Phone Number

Buffalo, Ny, Us

Buffalo, New York, United States

Serves as the Great Lakes Leader of Coastal Literacy for New York Sea Grant by developing and implementing a research-based extension program on a Great Lakes basin, national and binational basis relating to coastal literacy programs, specifically on Lakes Erie and Ontario. New York Sea Grant lead on the Great Lakes Ecosystem Educator Exchange and other education efforts throughout the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network and the National Sea Grant Program. Serves as Associate Director of the Great Lakes Program at the University at Buffalo.

Buffalo, New York, United States

• Management of regional policy campaigns on plastic pollution, ballast water regulation, and crude oil transportation to advance organizational and coalition policy goals. • Management of state policy campaigns on drinking water affordability and lead service line replacement in Ohio.• Advance other organizational and coalition policy goals through policy analysis and advocacy to local, state, and federal elected officials, staff, and government agencies.• Management of stewardship and education programming in the eastern basin of the Great Lakes (Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario) including Adopt-a-Beach, volunteer ecosystem restoration projects, outdoor recreation events, and student stewardship activities.• Facilitator of public education and outreach events throughout New York State.• Management of outreach staff in New York office to design and implement programming.• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with community leaders, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.• Present policy initiatives at regional conferences and meetings including the International Association of Great Lakes Research, Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Restoration Conference, and the International Joint Commission Microplastics Workshop.

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

Responsibilities include:• Develop, manage, and implement volunteer ecosystem restoration projects, ranging in size from 30-150 volunteers, throughout year. Volunteer project include sand dune grass planting, streambank stabilization planting, invasive plant species removal, native pollinator and wetland native plantings, etc.• Develop and foster relationships with government agencies, educational institutions, and private sector companies to fund, staff, and implement restoration projects• Advance organizational and coalition determined policy goals through advocacy to elected officials, staff, and government agencies in Albany and Washington DC• Engage students and educators from middle school to college level in stewardship activities, teacher trainings, and other place based education efforts.• Continued duties of New York Outreach Coordinator, listed below.

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

Responsibilities include:• Process and analyze beach cleanup database for over 1,000 annual events using Microsoft Access. • Create queries in Microsoft Access to produce reports for grant manager, policy staff, and agency partners.• Customer service and troubleshooting for Adopt-a-Beach website, online database, and data entry through personal communication and Blackbaud Net Community.• Manage and host monthly webinar training presentation for new Adopt-a-Beach volunteers across the Great Lakes using Webex Meeting Center. • Manage and moderate webinars for the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee on invasive species and new technologies as subcontractor with the Alliance using Webex Events Center.• Maintain relationship with corporate partners by designing and managing one time and ongoing volunteer programs.• Develop relationships with local, county, and state agencies to share data, facilitate policy development, and achieve grant deliverables. • Recruit and train Adopt-a-Beach volunteers in New York. • Responsible for organizational representation in New York on basin wide policy and management issues.

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society, Inc. is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization and a living museum dedicated to advancing appreciation for and knowledge of plant life and its connection to people and cultures through its documented living plant collection, historic conservatory, education, research and exhibits. Responsibilities:• Staff member responsible for communication between volunteers and department directors.• Coordination of over 275 volunteers in five departments to ensure daily duties essential to operation of Gardens as well as for special events.• Create and maintain multiple databases to track volunteer hours, services, trainings, and other information in Microsoft Access and Excel.• Recruit and train new and existing volunteers for service in Horticulture, Education, Facilities, Gift Shop, and Special Events departments.

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

Crew member for public and private charter sails on the traditionally rigged tall ship, Spirit of BuffaloOperation of sails, lines, and other components while ensuring passenger safety and enjoyment

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

Buffalo Urban Outdoor Education encourages individual growth and discovery through interactive learning and shipboard education. BUOE serves youth and the Great Lakes community - on the water, along the shores, and in the classroom.Responsibilities:Shipboard Environmental Educator on tours with inner city and at risk youths from schools and youth groups to introduce topics such as freshwater ecology, watershed models, and traditional sailingLead classrooms visits focused on watersheds, citizen science, and action projects.Assisted development of kayak based experiential education programsDevelopment of education materials and curriculum design for shipboard and classroom visits

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

The Elmwood Village Association is a hub for community involvement that enhances the unique urban character of our community. Our commercial district is economically healthy, vibrant, walkable, clean, safe and sustainable. Residents, businesses, and visitors experience a welcoming attitude and distinct sense of community.Responsibilities:• Administered communications with Association members, community groups, and business owners.• Administrative duties such accounting and bookkeeping using Quickbooks and management of membership and volunteer database using Microsoft Excel and Access.• Coordinate and moderate community meetings on proposed developments, zoning ordinances, and other land use issues in developing urban neighborhood.

American Studies/Ecosystem Restoration

National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Research and Education Trainee (IGERT) - Ecological Restoration Through Interdisciplinary.

Masters Of Urban Planning, Environmental Planning

Projects: From Vacant Lots to Garden Plots: A Community Plan for Urban Agriculture in the Masten Park Planning Neighborhood Buffalo, NY.

B.A. Politics; Minor Environmental Studies