The Power of Connections
CC Environment & Planning is an environmental and planning resource for communities, conservation organizations, natural resource agencies, land trusts, economic developers, engineering firms, and landowners. With a mission to facilitate natural resource conservation and community vitality, we understand the importance of balance and connectivity and have the expertise and creativity required to get there.
JOB OPENINGS!
Senior Planner
CC Environment & Planning is seeking an experienced, creative, independent, and energetic planner to join our team and guide our ongoing and upcoming landscape, municipal, and natural resource planning projects! This is a full-time position with a complete benefits package, flexible work schedule, and remote and in-office options. The successful candidate will join a highly supportive team in a company that values diverse perspectives, facilitates professional growth, and encourages autonomy.
Environmental Science Technician
CC Environment & Planning is currently searching for an Environmental Science Technician to work on a variety of projects including wetland delineations, ecological surveys, land use and watershed plans, habitat restoration and management, and mitigation monitoring. This is a full-time position with a complete benefits package, flexible work schedule, and remote and in-office options. The successful candidate will join a highly supportive team in a company that values diverse perspectives, facilitates professional growth, and encourages autonomy.
SERVICES
We provide ecological surveys including listed species consultation, net conservation benefit plans (NCBP), ecosystem inventories and management, wetland and stream delineations, regulatory reviews (SEQR, NEPA), permitting, and mitigation including avoidance and impact minimization strategies.
01
Ecological Assessments & Environmental Review
We work with local governments, community groups, and nonprofits to provide natural resource and infrastructure inventories, visioning, strategic planning, comprehensive and land-use plans, climate adaptations, and specific resource-related management plans (e.g., agriculture, watershed, stream, community capacity, etc.).
02
Community Planning
From restoration design and construction to monitoring and management, we provide conservation services across NY. Our work includes forest management, reforestation projects, wetland and grassland restoration, and invasive species management.
03
Ecological Restoration & Management
We work with partners and clients to understand climate change impacts and to increase resiliency across our natural landscapes and within our communities. We conduct vulnerability assessments, develop resiliency plans, and design strategic, funded, nature-based projects for adaptation.
04
Climate Adaptation & Resiliency
We use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to facilitate spatial analysis and reporting within our ecological assessments, environmental reviews, climate, and planning projects. We support our clients and partners with high quality graphic design for use in reporting, public outreach, visioning, and final planning tools.
05
GIS & Graphic Design
Our executive staff provides strategic leadership, operational support, marketing, communication, and financial backing to our resource professionals. We value diverse perspectives and work closely with all staff to develop skills according to interests and to create a culture that ensures a strong and happy team!
06
Support Services
OUR STORY
CC Environment & Planning was formed in 2009 (originally named Conservation Connects, LLC) to provide environmental expertise for communities, corporations, developers, and conservation organizations. With more than twenty years experience in natural resource conservation, Sheila Hess founded CC Environment & Planning to provide innovative and integrated services that facilitate a balanced approach to land use, conservation, and economic and community development.
The success of CC Environment & Planning is based on a strong network among federal, state, and private entities including regulatory agencies, economic development organizations, municipal government, planners, watershed groups and nonprofit organizations. Recently, the company has added a strong environmental planning component to complement the ecological foundation of the company's mission. With a focus on balance, integration, collaboration, and communication, CC Environment & Planning creates strategies that optimize land use, facilitate economic growth, and conserve our resources.
MEET OUR STAFF
Sheila Hess
Principal Ecologist and CEO
Sheila is the founder of CC Environment & Planning, she has an established presence in the environmental field as an ecologist, innovative planner, and problem solver. She has expertise in natural resource conservation, land use planning, climate resiliency, and strategic leadership with a diverse background in wildlife biology, ecological restoration, non-profit conservation organizations, strategic planning, businesses development, and municipal planning.
Kaytee Hojnacki
Senior Ecologist and Assistant Operations Manager
Kaytee joined our team on April 1, 2020. She has over 15 years of experience in environmental and biological Sciences. She has worked closely with state and federal conservation agencies and has expertise in ecological assessments, environmental reviews and permitting, natural resource inventories, threatened and endangered species, and habitat conservation. Kaytee is skilled at managing multiple and diverse projects from start to finish.
Ben Zimmerman
Program Development and Operations Specialist
Ben joined our team Spring of 2023 bringing along 17 years of experience in the fields of natural resources, land management, and ecological restoration. He has managed and implemented ecosystem restoration projects across the Midwest and Northeastern U.S. He employs a diverse skillset that includes restoration design & implementation, field survey techniques, managing multiple field crews, invasive species treatment, estimating, machinery operations, and land management.
Jennifer Cook
Senior Business and Marketing Manager
Jennifer joined CC Environment & Planning in 2011. She has provided office management and graphic design for over 12 years with expertise in accounting using QuickBooks and Excel and development of office management and human resource systems. Jennifer's creative eye and background in graphic design is a key asset for developing reports, public outreach tools, interpretive signage, website design, and other marketing and edcuation materials.
Jacob Lynch
Environmental Science Technician
Jake joined our team in the fall of 2023 and is currently our lead biologist for threatened and endangered species surveys. With a degree in wildlife conservation and extensive field work experience, Jake is a highly skilled field ecologist proficient in plant and animal identification across the Northeast. When is' not in the field, Jake manages datasets, creates reports and is proficient with GIS.
Annie Swanson
Environmental Science Technician
Annie joined our team in spring of 2023. She has a degree in Environmental Science, specializing in aquatic and terrestrial ecology and wetland science and conservation. Annie has spent the last eight years working for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation where she specialized in the management of common terns, peregrine falcons, colonial waterbirds, bald eagles, migratory game birds, and reptiles and amphibians. Annie also has extensive experience with wildlife health, habitat management, and public outreach and education.
Balance, Integration, Collaboration, Communication
With a focus on balance, integration, collaboration, and communities, CC Environment & Planning creates strategies to develop and demonstrate sustainable land use and economic growth.
BALANCE
A high quality of life and true economic vitality relies on the availability of natural resources. Effective conservation of those resources relies, in turn, on the economic security of the community. The most vibrant communities have realized that one cannot exist without the other. We help balance economic development with the ability of the natural environment to support and sustain the community.
INTEGRATION
During the early planning stages, CC Environment & Planning assists with the identification and assessment of natural resource concerns and opportunities. Proactive strategies will be developed, to minimize impacts and optimize conservation opportunities. Conservation becomes an integral component of planning and design increasing sustainability and saving time and money.
COLLABORATION
We utilizes a creative and collaborative process based on experience and a broad network to bring the right people, partners, and resources to the table. Sustainable growth models (sustainable site design, watershed plans, green infrastructure plans, etc.) are developed at the local and landscape levels tapping into the synergy of community-wide collaboration.
COMMUNICATION
We develop education, communication, and marketing materials for clients, to share and celebrate their environmental efforts with their communities, members, and customers. Communication materials are also used to develop grant applications and generate partner support for natural resource and sustainable growth efforts. These materials can include fact sheets, brochures, etc.
