A leader in environmental construction permitting and natural resources management with 25 years of experience, Jennifer serves as Hanson’s natural resources discipline manager. She heads Hanson’s biologists and natural resources team, which specializes in compliance with the Clean Water Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, Endangered Species Act and other federal and state regulations. Since joining Hanson, Jennifer has prioritized sustainability for rail, power- and industry-focused permitting, guiding clients to meet project goals while minimizing impacts to natural resources.

Jennifer’s career reflects deep experience in environmental planning and permitting that spans Clean Water Act compliance, National Environmental Policy Act reviews and natural resource inventories, such as wetland delineations and mitigation planning. She’s worked extensively with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and various state agencies to secure Section 404 permits, Section 401 water quality certifications and Section 402 land disturbance permits for railroads, utilities and other industries. Her strong relationships with project engineers and federal and state regulators, as well as her understanding of rail, power and industry projects’ unique needs and how they relate to the everchanging regulatory climate, have helped Jennifer successfully manage Clean Water Act permits.

IN JENNIFER’S WORDS
“Working with great clients and our dedicated staff on a variety of projects is personally inspiring and keeps our job interesting and rewarding. Hanson provides great opportunities to work on challenging projects, and our natural resources staff continues to meet the objectives of each project with high-quality work.”

Jennifer’s high-profile portfolio includes a variety of projects across the country for railroads, such as capacity, structural and facility improvements for BNSF Railway Co., Canadian National Railway Co. and Norfolk Southern Corp. She has also worked on industry expansion projects for aggregate mining companies and utility line expansions, substation developments and renewable energy sites for power clients. Many clients have benefited from her comprehensive permitting knowledge, including the award-winning Norfolk Southern Corp. Grand River Bridge emergency repairs in Brunswick, Missouri, and the replacement of Norfolk Southern Bridge N-462.01 over the Tug Fork River in Matewan, West Virginia. Jennifer’s efforts on BNSF Railway’s La Crosse double-track project through Wisconsin’s La Crosse River Marsh and her mitigation settlement for impacts to a Mississippi River mussel community demonstrate her ability to balance technical challenges with environmental stewardship.

An established thought leader, Jennifer has presented at several industry conferences, including the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association’s (AREMA) annual conference and the University of Illinois Railroad Environmental Conference. She has also served as an instructor for AREMA’s environmental permitting seminars, sharing her expertise with peers in the rail industry.

Jennifer’s commitment extends beyond her technical work. She co-founded Hanson’s STL Next Gen program to promote diversity in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics fields and has partnered with organizations such as Wyman and Vitendo4Africa to inspire women and high school students of all backgrounds to pursue careers in engineering and environmental consulting.