Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! 

On today’s episode, we talk with Tom Ries, Vice President with Environmental Science Associates, nationally known ecologist, and longtime member of TBAEP about Living Shorelines, Scholarships, and Rattlesnakes.   Read his full bio below.

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Showtimes: 

1:44  Nic and Laura discuss conservation on military bases

8:34  Interview with Tom Ries starts

10:29  Tom talks about scholarships

12:21  Tom discusses living shorelines

21:56  Tom's current projects

32:37  Field Notes segment- Rattlesnake encounter

35:05  Tom talks about TBAEP and the importance of getting involved with local NAEP chapters

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This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.

Connect with Tom Ries at https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-ries-532a919

Guest Bio:

Tom is a nationally known ecologist with more than 35 years of experience in restoring natural systems in the southeast.  His work has garnered numerous environmental awards and resulted in the restoration of more than 3,800 acres of wetlands.  In 2013, Tom received the prestigious National Wetlands Award in Conservation & Restoration from the Environmental Law Institute, in Washington DC. 

Tom founded Ecosphere Restoration Institute in 2007 to advance restoration activities through innovative public-private partnerships.  He currently also serves as Southeast Biological Services and Restoration Director for Environmental Science Associates (ESA), an environmental science and planning firm with offices throughout the U.S. 

Tom graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Geology.  In his early career, he mapped wetlands for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and implemented several coastal habitat restoration and stormwater retrofit projects in Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor while working for the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s SWIM program.

Music Credits

Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa

Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller

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