Empowering Communities: Engagement and Blue Infrastructure

Associate Professor, Public & International Affairs, UNCW

Jennifer Biddle's career goal is to bridge the gap between science and policy. A team-player by nature, collaboration between scientists and decision-makers was a natural choice for the focus of her research. A clear communicator and an inherently positive person, she has always been able to relate to people easily. She intends to use this skill, combined with her knowledge, to effect change in the way natural resources, specifically water, are managed and perceived.

Biddle has worked in both the private and public environmental sectors, which has given her a balanced perspective on the logistical challenges that arise when implementing water policies.

Bonnie Mitchell

Bonnie Mitchell, Coastal Education Coordinator, for the NC Coastal Federation, was once a volunteer for the Federation. She joined the staff in 2019 and coordinates the education, outreach, and volunteer programs in the southeast region while managing the region’s volunteers, interns, events, coastal ambassador program, and more. Bonnie, originally from Richmond, VA, graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in marine biology. Interning with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as an environmental educator, working as the Swamp Boat Captain for Shallotte River Swamp Park providing educational tours on local flora and fauna, and coordinating volunteers for Plastic Ocean Project inspired and influenced her passion for environmental education and outreach.

Leonard Nelson

CEO, Natrx

Leonard Nelson is the co-founder and CEO of Natrx, Inc., a company that delivers economic and environmental benefits to its clients through an Assess-Address-Appraise delivery model. This platform enables users to systematically implement modular nature-based solutions as an alternative to traditional heavy construction in coastal, riverine, upland, and ocean settings.

Mr. Nelson began his career at IBM Corporation, where he achieved over $1 billion in enterprise software and hardware sales. Following his tenure at IBM, he successfully founded three technology firms focused on machine learning and artificial intelligence: Covisus Inc. and Senitron Inc. (both active and profitable), and StyleWhere Inc. (acquired in 2016). He is a co-founder and 20+ year volunteer for The Least Among Us, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which has built over 100,000 square feet of educational facilities and provides scholarships for at-risk youth in gang-threatened communities in El Salvador.

Leonard holds two U.S. patents and earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

Susan Munroe

Community Engagement Manager, TotalEnergies

As Community Engagement Manager for TotalEnergies' Carolina Long Bay, Susan supports the company’s growing public engagement efforts in North Carolina and South Carolina, which include multi-state stakeholder management, community outreach planning and coordination, strategic advocacy development, as well as policy and regulatory analysis. Before joining TotalEnergies Renewables, Susan served as Deputy Director at Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) where she coached and supported chamber of commerce and economic development leaders, elected officials, and other stakeholders to best navigate renewable energy development to help their communities prosper.