Janice Jijina of Cameron Engineering & Assoc. manages marketing, HR and technology functions

As a partner at Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP, Janice Jijina handles the firm's planning and environmental projects, and manages the firm's marketing, human resources and technology functions. Jijina has a very varied background in science and engineering. She has a master's degree in Biological Oceanography from the University of Washington in Seattle, is a licensed professional engineer in the State of New York, a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, a certified environmental inspector and a LEED Accredited Professional. This broad background and her managerial and organizational skills have allowed her to manage significant environmental and development projects on Long Island, while actively supporting the profession through volunteer positions with professional organizations. Jijina started her career working for Dr. Anita Freudenthal, PhD, at the Marine Ecology Section of the Nassau County Health Department, where she was responsible for studies of the county's marine and freshwater ecosystems. Having a successful woman mentor early in her career, it never occurred to her that women could not perform any job they were capable of fulfilling, despite the disparity in numbers between males and females in the technical professions. Jijina joined Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP in 1988 and rose from an environmental scientist, through manager and associate, to become a partner in 2008. She played an important role in the growth of the firm to the present 70-person full service multi-disciplined consulting engineering firm it is today. Cameron Engineering's diversity of civil/site engineering, planning and environmental engineering, sustainability, mechanical and electrical engineering, security/CCTV engineering, site development and landscape architecture, traffic and transportation engineering, structural engineering, water and wastewater engineering, storm water/ecological restoration, solid waste engineering, and construction management has been key to the firm's on-going success, as it starts its 25th year. Jijina is responsible for the firm's planning, environmental assessment and environmental permitting projects. Her responsibilities include preparation of planning studies including master plans and land development feasibility studies, preparation and review of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements, coordination of the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process and processing of development approvals. Environmental projects include the redevelopment of Oyster Bay's western waterfront and the restoration plan for West Meadow Beach. Development projects include redevelopment projects at the former Naval facilities in Bethpage and Calverton (the 500-acre Calverton Industrial Park and the proposed 755 acre Riverhead Resorts), residential developments, religious facilities, schools, retail, industrial and office complexes, including the proposed headquarters for Canon USA. Jijina served as the president of the New York Metropolitan Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) and actively participated in the organization of the 2000 National APA Conference held in New York City, that was attended by over 5,000 planners. During her tenure as chapter president, a chapter office was established and the first staff was hired. She also served as president of the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA), a statewide organization with 2,400 water-quality professionals dedicated to protecting and enhancing the state's water resources. Jijina was only the second woman in NYWEA's 81-year history to serve as president. Currently Jijina serves as one of two NYWEA Delegates to the national Water Environment Federation (WEF). Jijina was been involved in school programs and public education efforts on "floatables" contaminating Long Island's beaches and waterways, and the value and condition of the country's water and wastewater infrastructure. Jijina created a women's initiative for NYWEA to provide networking for women in the environmental field, increase the number of women in leadership positions and provide mentoring opportunities for women in a male-dominated workplace. An issue of NYWEA's Clearwaters Magazine was devoted to women in the environmental field, and provided to high school science teachers and guidance counselors, to be used as a tool to encourage more young women to consider science and engineering careers.