Committee Chairs
The following individuals are the Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs. Please contact a committee if you are interested in helping out.
Programs Chair:
Kelly Palmer, CFM
Floodplain Manager
Charles County Government
Kelly has worked in the field of Floodplain Management for almost 14 years. She currently works for Charles County Government in the Department of Planning and Growth Management on the Zoning and Land Use team. Kelly serves as the County’s Floodplain Manager and she is working to get the County into the Community Rating System Program. Kelly graduated from Frostburg State University in 2006 with a degree in Urban and Regional Planning.
Membership Chair:
Jason Sevanick Durant, CFM, GISP
GIS Manager
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Jason is both a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) and a Certified Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP). Since 2002, he has provided GIS and technical support to a broad range of water resources, environmental, and engineering projects, including flood risk analysis and mapping, asset/infrastructure inventory assessments, MS4 outfall inspections and reporting, Stormwater Utility implementation, and emergency preparedness through Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) services. Jason has been an active member of MAFSM since 2015.
Mitigation Co-Chair:
Mark D. James, CFM
Michael Baker
For over 20 years, Mark has been active in increasing public awareness and sound community planning through mitigation activities, community engagement and risk communication. He has extensive experience in project management, team building and communications. As the Coastal, Hazard Mitigation/Resiliency manager in the Michael Baker Alexandria office Mr. James provides strategy and tactical insight into hazard mitigation planning, risk assessment, and mitigation action to build state and local capacity for resilience.
Mitigation Co-Chair:
JaLeesa Tate, CFM
Senior Community Resilience Professional
Tetra Tech
JaLeesa Tate is an experienced professional in the areas of hazard mitigation, floodplain management, and urban planning. She currently serves as a Senior Community Resilience Professional in Tetra Tech’s EMI Division. Her hands-on experience in emergency management and urban planning, focusing on mitigating adverse impacts associated with human development and natural hazards, has positioned her to be a leader for developing strategies and recommendations to build resilient communities. JaLeesa is a nationally recognized thought leader and has contributed to flood resilience initiatives with the Pew Charitable Trust and Urban Land Institute. She also previously provided national and statewide resilience guidance through her service as the Maryland State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO) and chair of the SHMO subcommittee for the National Emergency Management Association. Additional prior roles include serving as the City of Baltimore’s Coastal Resources Planner and as the Environmental Planner for Wicomico County – City of Salisbury Department of Planning and Community Development. In these roles she worked on local water quality improvement and environmental land use in urban and rural communities. JaLeesa holds a Bachelor of Science in geography and geosciences from Salisbury University.
Mapping and Technology Chair:
Patrick Varga, CFM
Floodplain Management/GIS Specialist
Carroll County Government
Pat has worked for the Carroll County Government since 2006 after graduating from UMBC in 2005. He runs the Floodplain Management and CRS programs for the County and also provides GIS support for the Bureau of Resource Management for MS4 and NPDES compliance. His duties also include reviewing local permits, hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, and land developments.
Outreach and Public Relations Chair:
Benjamin Kaiser, P.E., CFM
Engineering Manager
AECOM
Ben has over 10 years experience working in support of the National Flood Insurance Program, primarily focusing on FEMA flood studies and Letters of Map Change. He has been a Certified Floodplain Manager since 2006.
Outreach and Public Relations Chair:
Necolle Maccherone, CFM
Sr. Project Manager
Atkins North America
Necolle has been active in increasing public awareness of sound floodplain and stormwater management through community engagement and risk communication in her professional and volunteer work for many years. As a Sr. Project Manager for Atkins North America, she supports Production and Technical Services in the western US and supports the Cooperating Technical Partners as they work with FEMA to update the nations flood hazard data and create resilience communities.
Stormwater Chair:
Bill Musico, P.E., CPESC
Montgomery County Government
For the past 6 years Bill has been the Montgomery County Floodplain Administrator with additional responsibilities of Stormwater and Sediment Control Permitting Review, with MC – DPS Department of Permitting Services. As floodplain administrator he developed the county’s Floodplain Study and District Permit requirements. He also implemented a County Floodplain GIS database for representation of Floodplain Maps and developed County policy for the regulations related to development within regulated Floodplains. He is responsible for review and permitting of Engineered Sediment Control and Stormwater Management Plans for construction. He also developed SC and SWM design standards and technical policies for implementation.
