Evans of VHB: Environmental planning - a dynamic process

Name: Celeste Evans Title: Senior Environmental Manager Company Name: VHB Engineering, Surveying and Landscape Architecture, P.C. Years in Commercial Real Estate: 14 Email: [email protected] In the last 12 months, which project, transaction, honor or accomplishment are you most proud of and why? Just before leaving my prior role as deputy director at NYC Department of City Planning (NYCDCP) to join VHB, I was at the heart of the CEQR technical manual revisions and making it a useful and easy-to-use manual. In collaboration with other NYC agencies, we streamlined the manual to make it user-friendly without weakening any of the environmental protections. I enjoy demystifying NYC regulations and the environmental review process for people involved in real estate. So I continue to be proud of this achievement and its positive impact on NYC's real estate development. What was your first job and what did you learn from it? At The Presidio Trust in California, I learned about transforming the landscape of our communities within the realm of real estate. When the Army left The Presidio, it was given to the National Park Service. Two years later, Congress founded the Presidio Trust, to "preserve the natural, cultural, scenic, and recreational resources." I helped to play a role in starting up the new agency's environmental division, establishing review policies, and monitoring mitigation measures in the park. This early experience taught me that environmental planning is a dynamic and collaborative process that translates into real world changes to protect the environment. What is your favorite quote? One of my favorite quotes is "Be the change you wish to see in the world" by Mahatma Gandhi. It is inspirational and reminds me that the changes we make in the review process have a positive impact on real estate and the environment. It's easy to get caught up meeting tight deadlines and overseeing multiple projects, and lose sight of the bigger picture. But the positive changes we strive to make in the process translate to long term effects that will make a difference in our workplace, our home, and, as real estate professionals, on New York City. What are you doing differently in 2014 that has had positive impact on your career? After seven years at the NYCDCP, I joined VHB and am looking forward to putting my efforts from before into use on the other side of the table. My position at VHB also allows me to continue to clarify the environmental review process for clients, architects, and engineers. Having spent half of my career at NYCDCP and coordinating with NYC agencies, I can spot issues early and address them before they become costly problems for my clients. I'm excited about this big change and continuing to make a positive impact on NYC's real estate.