Lacey Hirschvogel
JEFFERSON CITY,MO
Summary
Accomplished Regulatory Team Lead with a proven track record at HDR, Inc., specializing in state and federal environmental policy and stakeholder engagement. Expert in navigating regulatory landscapes, driving innovative compliance strategies and fostering business development. Recognized for exceptional public communication skills and environmental compliance consulting.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Regulatory Team Lead - Utility Management Services
HDR, Inc.
04.2021 - Current
- Follow state and federal regulatory issues on water policy to educate our clients on relevant utility impacts.
- Coordinate with state and federal regulatory agencies on planning, permitting, and water quality compliance for our clients.
- Manage and execute project delivery for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utility projects.
- Develop integrated plans that are effective and affordable to prioritize capital and operational investments across dissimilar municipal utilities and functions.
- Perform Project Management duties including tracking project financials and managing the project team.
- Develop, mentor, and manage the Utility Management Services Regulatory Team, including scheduling, assigning, and reviewing project deliverables.
- Active engagement in selected professional conferences and industry associations with presentations, committee assignments, and leadership positions.
- Work collaboratively with the Water Business Class Leads and Market Sector Leads to market, pursue, and deliver regulatory services to existing and potential clients.
- Implement effective quality assurance and quality control reviews.
- Participate in building business development plans through strategic planning, budgeting, and implementation.
- Provide internal leadership to develop, coordinate, monitor, and improve technical services for municipal water and wastewater support services, particularly utility planning, asset management, finance, and environmental compliance consulting.
- Identify project opportunities to solve utility management drivers such as integrated planning initiatives, digital transformation, new regulatory requirements due to PFAS, and other emerging contaminants.
- Work with the business development manager on marketing and strategic pursuits to market and deliver UMS services to existing and potential clients.
- Promoted a positive work environment by fostering teamwork, open communication, and employee recognition initiatives.
Environmental and Public Policy Manager
Missouri Public Utility Alliance
01.2018 - 04.2021
- Reviewed and commented on regulatory issues impacting member utilities during public comment periods for draft NPDES wastewater permits, draft Total Maximum Daily Load studies, and other enforcement actions drafted by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources or the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
- Assessed utility member water quality data to review current wastewater treatment performance and permit compliance.
- Educated member utilities about upcoming Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act regulatory changes and their potential impacts on current practices, operations, and associated permit compliance.
- Worked with member utilities to develop affordable compliance strategies with new regulatory requirements.
- Communicated with key personnel with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to discuss proposed regulations and their impacts on municipal utilities.
- Worked with the regulatory agencies to develop effective and implementable compliance strategies providing municipal utilities with necessary regulatory flexibility and compliance schedules that meet the intent of the regulation and maintain affordable customer utility rates.
- Educated municipal utilities about emerging environmental issues and how they could impact the management and operations of their drinking water, wastewater, gas, or electric utility.
- Provided legislative advocacy on behalf of the municipal utility members as a registered lobbyist for the Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities.
- Authored MPUA’s monthly state and federal policy update. The updates included information collected during state and federal stakeholder meetings, rulemaking, water and air commission meetings, and legislative proceedings.
- Assisted utility members with submitting NPDES permit applications and SRF funding applications.
- Actively engaged during industry stakeholder meetings to discuss municipal utility needs. Stakeholder meetings included the Clean Water Commission, Clean Air Commission, 4-State Governmental Affairs meetings, and Water Protection Forums.
- Designed training programs for 119 municipal utility members to enhance their understanding of the new state and federal policy requirements.
Water Protection Special Projects Coordinator
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
11.2012 - 01.2018
- Develop policies and procedures for use within NPDES permits or other enforcement documents.
- Train new wastewater NPDES permit writers on effective public communication methods.
- Collaborate closely with stakeholders to establish clear objectives aligned with their unique needs while maintaining alignment with Department goals and initiatives.
- Assist with permit negotiations related to setting schedules of compliance based on the Cost Analysis for Compliance.
- Championed continuous improvement initiatives within the Water Protection Program through regular review of existing processes and identification of opportunities for optimization.
- Active member on the variance steering committee for the Association of Clean Water Administrators.
- Draft the Water Protection Program recommendations to be presented to the Missouri Clean Water Commission.
- Participate in the rulemaking process, including, drafting, reviewing, stakeholder engagement, and sending language through the administrative process to be included in the Code of State Regulations.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL05-2010
Skills
Public Communication
Stakeholder Engagement
Business Development
Project Management
Affiliations
- Missouri Water Environment Association - Governmental Affairs Committee, Chair
Timeline
Regulatory Team Lead - Utility Management Services
HDR, Inc.
04.2021 - Current
Environmental and Public Policy Manager
Missouri Public Utility Alliance
01.2018 - 04.2021
Water Protection Special Projects Coordinator
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
11.2012 - 01.2018
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
University of Florida
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