Communications Workgroup
The Communications Workgroup works to provide strategic planning and expert advice to the Bay Program Communications Office and to support the communications needs of Bay Program partners, ensuring accurate and timely reporting of Bay health.
Upcoming Meetings
No upcoming meetings.
Scope and Purpose
The Communications Workgroup offers communications advice to the Chesapeake Bay Program's Communications Office in order to help this office meet its goals of:
- Supporting the communications needs of Bay Program partners, and
- Spurring public action through consistent messaging and media coverage, comprehensive branding and promotion, stakeholder outreach, and coordinated internal and external communications.
The workgroup also advises various subcommittees, committees and workgroups and offers support to Bay Program leadership by providing expert perspective on communications-related issues. Lastly, the workgroup provides a forum to discuss Bay-related communications activities, initiatives and issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries in an effort to better connect Bay Program science and partners with the public.
Projects and Resources
Communications Workgroup Charter
The Communications Workgroup charter states that the purpose of the workgroup is threefold:
- To foster cross-jurisdictional communication among Chesapeake Bay Program partners by providing a collaborative forum to discuss communications issues, meet communications needs and conduct public relations with the media, the public and other critical audiences
- To provide expert advice and recommendations when asked to address the communications needs of Chesapeake Bay Program groups (including the Chesapeake Executive Council, Principals’ Staff Committee or Management Board; Advisory Committees; Goal Implementation Teams; workgroups, committees and subcommittees; and Chesapeake Bay Program leadership)
- To provide professional guidance to the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Communications Office in support of its mission to support and communicate the policy, science and data of the Chesapeake Bay Program through media outreach, web- and print-based products, high-quality multimedia, an established and consistent brand, targeted messaging and collaboration and engagement with stakeholders around the watershed.
Publications
Green Re-Entry: How Environmental Jobs Help System Involved People
This webinar discusses “Green Re-Entry,” the process of providing environmentally focused jobs and opportunities to assist formerly incarcerated people in finding professional opportunities as they leave the prison environment and re-enter society.
View detailsSlides: Who is the Chesapeake Bay Program and How Can We Help You Webinar
This webinar will offer an overview of the partnership and how we work together and discuss what we can offer to you regarding data, access to experts and content (including photos and videos).
View detailsSlides: May 2021 Wetlands Webinar
In this webinar, a panel of experts discussed challenges impacting wetlands and what’s being done to save them.
View detailsRelated Links
Google Group
This group is meant to be a place where CBP Communication Workgroup members can keep in contact with each other between meetings, ask questions, solicit input and share resources.
Webinar: Who is the Chesapeake Bay Program and How Can We Help You?
This webinar will offer an overview of the partnership and how we work together and discuss what we can offer to you regarding data, access to experts and content.
Webinar: Intro to Community-Based Social Marketing
This one-hour webinar provides an overview of the community-based social marketing process. It was produced as part of a GIT-funded project between the Communications and Stewardship Workgroups.
Webinar: Behavior Selection
This webinar provides a closer look at the Behavior Selection step of the CBSM process. It was produced as part of a GIT-funded project between the Communications and Stewardship Workgroups.
Webinar: Barrier/Benefit Research
This webinar provides a closer look at the Barrier/Benefit Research step of the CBSM process. It was produced as part of a GIT-funded project between the Communications and Stewardship Workgroups.
Webinar: Strategy Development
This webinar provides a closer look at the Strategy Development step of the CBSM process. It was produced as part of a GIT-funded project between the Communications and Stewardship Workgroups
Webinar: Pilot Testing
This webinar provides a closer look at the Pilot Testing step of the CBSM process. It was produced as part of a GIT-funded project between the Communications and Stewardship Workgroups
Webinar: Native Plants and Pollinators
In this webinar a panel of experts discussed the benefits of native plants and pollinators. .
Webinar: Wetlands
In this webinar, a panel of experts discussed challenges impacting wetlands and what’s being done to save them
Webinar: Green Re-Entry: How Environmental Jobs Help System-Involved People
Learn more about “Green Re-Entry,” the process of providing environmentally-focused jobs and opportunities to assist formerly incarcerated people in finding professional opportunities.
Workgroups and Action Teams
Members
Gregg Bortz (Chair), Maryland Department of Natural Resources
580 Taylor Ave., D-4
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: Gregg.Bortz1@Maryland.gov
Phone: (410) 260-8001
Rachel Felver (Coordinator), Director of Communications, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: rfelver@chesapeakebay.net
Phone: (410) 267-5740
Greg Barranco, Government Affairs, Partnerships Team Lead, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: barranco.greg@epa.gov
Phone: (410) 267-5778
Kim Couranz, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
410 Severn Avenue
Annapolis, Maryland 21403
Email: kim.couranz@noaa.gov
Phone: (410) 267-5673
Jody Couser, Chesapeake Conservancy
716 Giddings Ave.
Annapolis, Maryland 21403
Email: jcouser@chesapeakeconservancy.org
Phone: (443) 703-8678
Tom Damm, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Michelle DiNicola, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Philip Miller, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Christina Novak, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR)
Will Parson, Multimedia Manager, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: wparson@chesapeakebay.net
Phone: (410) 267-9848
Amy Pelsinsky, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Kristin Saunders, Cross Program Coordinator, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: ksaunders@umces.edu
Phone: (410) 267-5711
Shannon Powers, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
2301 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
Email: shpowers@pa.gov
Phone: (717) 783-2628
Davin White, West Virginia Conservation Agency
Aaron Ferster, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.
Washington, District of Columbia 20460
Email: ferster.aaron@epa.gov
Melissa Diemand, Potomac Conservancy
Medessa Burian, Environmental Finance Center - UMD
Trevor Manning, U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
Melinda Shultz, Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association
Molly Rose, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Shannon Wehinger, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts
Kelly Donaldson, Pennsylvania Sea Grant
Michael Bowman, National Park Service (NPS)
Laura Cattell Noll, Local Government Advisory Committee Coordinator, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
841 Flory Mill Rd
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601
Email: lnoll@allianceforthebay.org
Phone: (443) 949-0575
Ola-Imani Davis, Staffer, Local Government Advisory Committee, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
501 Sixth St
Annapolis, Maryland 21403
Email: odavis@allianceforthebay.org
Phone: (443) 949-0575
Lucy Heller, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Kaitlyn May, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: kmay@umces.edu
Phone: (410) 267-5734
Nathan Miller, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Kelsey Everett, National Park Service (NPS)
Lisa Jones, Maryland Department of the Environment
Natalia Sanchez, Environmental Finance Center - UMD
Deborah Klenotic, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
400 Market Street, 16th floor
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
Email: dklenotic@pa.gov
Phone: (717) 783-9954
Heidi Bonnaffon, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
777 North Capitol Street NE
Suite 300
Washington, District of Columbia 20002
Email: hbonnaffon@mwcog.org
Jennifer Clarke, Department of Public Utilities, City of Richmond
900 E. Broad Street, Room 11
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Email: jennifer.clarke@richmond.gov
Phone: (804) 646-8131
Jessica Rodriguez, U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
1510 Gilbert Street, Building N26
Norfolk, Virginia 23511
Email: Jessica.m.rodriguez@navy.mil
Drew Robinson, Choose Clean Water Coalition
20 Ridgely Avenue, Suite 203
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: RobinsonAQ@nwf.org
Phone: (443) 927-8049
Brent Peterson, District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE)
Haley England, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Emily Ramirez, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Emmy Nicklin, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Jay Clark, Virginia Sea Grant
Tali MacArthur, Pennsylvania Environmental Council
Jenna Mackley, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
37 East Orange Street
Suite 302
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602
Email: jmackley@allianceforthebay.org
Gregg Bortz, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
580 Taylor Ave., D-4
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: Gregg.Bortz1@Maryland.gov
Phone: (410) 260-8001
Jake Solyst, Web Content Manager, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
1750 Forest Drive Suite 130
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: jsolyst@allianceforthebay.org
Phone: (410) 267-5702