Monica Rockstroh

Experience

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  Gullo's Garden Center

  May 2007 - Sept 2011

  Ornamental Plant Expert

  • Assisted customers in finding the correct tree, shrub or plant for their planting location based while working outdoors daily in extreme heat, cold and precipitation • Reduced the rate of deceased plants returned under company guarantee by 25% through guiding customers to select the correct tree, shrub or flower for their specific site location, as well as proper care instructions

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  USDA

  Jun 2007 - Aug 2007

  Watershed Science Intern at the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)

  • Persuaded farm owners to use government subsidized project plans -from stream bank stabilization in cattle fields, altering fertilization application to periods with less precipitation, to re-sizing manure ponds- in order to protect local watersheds from livestock and agriculture pollutants• Assisted in creating project plans with ArcGIS, Leica GPS 500 system and Sokkia Total Survey Station with a TDS Ranger data logger

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  Peace Corps

  Feb 2009 - Apr 2011

  Community Based Natural Resource Management Advisor

  • Developed demonstration gardens with water sensitive design principles to extend the growing season• Excelled at facilitating PACA (Participatory Analysis for Community Action) sessions for local projects• Worked closely with 3 rural community-based organizations to develop sustainable income-generating skills to deter the illegal cutting of a nearby forest reserve • Generated a successful proposal (5,000USD) funded by the U.S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) grant, to organize a week-long empowerment workshop for 35 young women • Established a model girls’ empowerment program which includes funding sources, community resources, curriculum and a monitoring and evaluation component for replication at other Peace Corps posts Show less

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  Kusamala Institute for Agriculture and Ecology

  Dec 2010 - Apr 2011

  Sustainability Project Leader

  • Assisted with training and education in sustainable agriculture through demonstration, with the goal of achieving community-based food and nutrition security in one of the globes poorest and most food insecure nations• Facilitated an environmental workshop for 25 school children, covering topics such as deforestation and permaculture• Worked closely with the U.S Peace Corps to incorporate permaculture into their Pre-Service Training curriculum for volunteers. Taught incoming volunteers to incorporate food security into their work by teaching plant species, planting techniques as well as cultural sensitivity training regarding meals and farming techniques Show less

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  University of the Western Cape

  Dec 2011 - Jan 2013

  Assistant to the SADC WaterNet Chair for Water and Society

  The University of the Western Cape is a public university located in the Bellville suburb of Cape Town, South Africa.• Project Manager of The Anthropology of Water Research Group, a think-tank comprised of professors, postgraduate students, interns as well as working professionals who have an interest in water and society.• Co-facilitated the submission of African Union (700,000USD) and Water Research Commission (500,000USD) grant proposals• Managed content for and maintained the group's website, building it from scratch using WordPress• Generated content and edited a quarterly newsletter Show less

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  African Climate & Development Initiative

  Jan 2014 - Jan 2015

  Climate Change Communications Coordinator

  ACDI is research and training Institute bringing together academics, NGOs, government and private sector stakeholders to help to solve Africa's climate and development challenges.• Responsible for all climate science related social media posting and engagement with the public, having doubled followers within my first two months • Assisted in regular media decisions, from printed advertisements to website layout to increase site visits and navigability

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  Center for Neighborhood Technology

  Jul 2015 - Sept 2015

  Water Program Intern

  CNT is a nonprofit organization improving urban economies and environments through innovation and research.• Assisted the RainReady program, an initiative of the nonprofit designed to help individuals, businesses and communities find solutions to the problem of too much or too little water• Contributed to community-based RainReady plans through urban flooding literature and nationwide best management practice research

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  Christopher B. Burke Engineering - Chicagoland

  Oct 2015 - Jun 2018

  Water Resources Scientist

  CBBEL is a full-service consulting engineering firm specializing in water resources, environmental management and restoration.• Managed the largest roadside stormwater best management practice (BMP) Monitoring & Maintenance project in the state of Illinois, with 35+ miles of vegetated bioswales and naturalized detention basins along newly widened and extended toll roads• Responsible for a bi-annual county-wide seminar series for MS4 (municipal separate storm sewer system) communities, sourcing out of state speakers and managing seminar logistics• Assisted with ecological restoration projects (prescribed burns, selective herbiciding, etc.) in extreme weather conditions across various terrain • Conducted water resources project analysis and design with hydrologic and hydraulic tasks including green infrastructure, land use characterization, floodplain/floodway delineation, detention and compensatory storage determination, hydraulic analyses, and the design of conveyance systems• Routinely supervised, trained and mentored undergraduate interns Show less

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  The Conservation Foundation

  Jul 2018 - Aug 2019

  Watershed Education & Outreach Manager

  TCF is one of the region’s oldest and largest not-for-profit land and watershed conservation organizations. • Led education and outreach efforts for three local watershed groups: DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup, Lower DuPage River Watershed Coalition, and the Lower Des Plaines Watershed Group.• Managed a $70k+ grant-driven project focused on restoration in a village owned park, including contractor coordination and the organization of 120+ volunteers on a bi-annual community workday to remove invasive species, improve trails, and plant native species. Show less

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  Monica Rockstroh

  Jan 2019 - now

  Owner

  An online consultancy and digital shop helping women negotiate salaries and job offers• Worked with hundreds of women from 10+ countries to help land their dream jobs and negotiate their job offers• Expertise in helping women tell their story during interviews in a way that connects to what a hiring manager is looking for, even with a diverse or previously paused career path• Excels at taking clients from unsure to confident in their salary negotiations through strategy and practice Show less