Jean Akers

Experience

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  Oak park park district

  Jan 1975 - Jan 1978

  Director of conservatory operations

  Environmental education programming for school field trips. Greenhouse management, park horticulture, design and development of conservatory collections, urban forestry and tree canopy projects and adult education instruction.

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  Thomas Comitta Associates, Inc.

  Jan 1994 - Jan 1996

  Landscape designer

  Development review with special emphasis on evaluation of tree and landscape ordinance compliance. Landscape design for new commercial development and residential estates. Park master planning for towns in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

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  Montgomery County Planning Commission (MCPC)

  Jan 1996 - Jan 2000

  Section Head: Design Planning

  Prepared conceptual design for parks, plazas, and regionall open spaces. Developed best management practices for integrating stormwater management into landscape design. Designed numerous prototypes for storm water landscapes. Oversaw county land use review program for Act 247 and trained new planners in review process. Tested model land use ordinances.

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  Simone Collins Landscape Architecture

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2002

  Senior project manager

  Expanded firm's expertise in stormwater landscapes and conservation design; managed development of recreation master plan for PA state park; designed state heritage sites, regional trails and community parks; mentored junior staff in design, project management, and effective communications.

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  The Conway School: Graduate Program in Sustainable Planning and Design

  Jul 2002 - Jun 2006

  Professor

  Taught teams of graduate students in conservation planning and ecological site design; integrated GIS into curriculum, mentored students' oral, written and graphic communications; coordinated community planning projects and team management.

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  Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation

  Feb 2007 - Jun 2013

  Chief Park Planner

  Plan and implement park land acquisition program; plan for regional land & water trails; supervise park capital projects; develop and evaluate park policies; develop and manage capital facilities/improvement plan; lead community-wide park planning efforts; develop and expand partnerships and leveraging for park system; integrate GIS into acquisition program & asset management; supervise planners, landscape architects, property managers and analysts.

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  Conservation Technix, Inc

  Jun 2013 - now

  Senior Associate

  Park, trail, and open space system planningoperations & management assessmentgreen infrastructurecommunity planning & public involvementoutdoor recreation planningsite design & project managementconservation land acquisitionurban forestry planning