Marina Deligiannis
Public Policy And Engagement Specialist
Sacramento,California
Summary
Highly motivated professional with a passion for utilizing advocacy, science, and community engagement to protect, supply, and shape California's landscape. Diverse background in leadership roles and project management. Focuses on prioritizing a unique approach to communication, project planning, and relationship building. Successfully creates sustainable and equitable natural resource management solutions for California water communities and environments.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate
Work History
Public Policy & Engagement Specialist
Stantec Consulting Services
01.2024 - Current
- Prepare educational resources with specific learning objectives, instructional materials, and content focused on water and environmental topics, and tailored to various audiences and communities based on their needs, learning styles, and most used language.
- Support California in achieving the legislature's human right to water goals.
- Increase public awareness of key water resources items, such as California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and drought response and planning, through effective public speaking engagements and presentations.
- Support planning and assessments for water supply, drought, sanitation, flood control, and environmental restoration projects.
- Assist community members, clients, project managers, project engineers, and staff; regulatory agencies; and subcontractors on project deliverables.
Deputy Water Resources Director
Lake County Water Resources Department
9 2020 - 1 2024
- Recruit, hire, train and mentor (10) full time and fifteen (15) part time team members on operations and performance expectations
- Formed the Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (BVGSA), Advisory Committee and coordinated the preparation of the BVGSA adopted Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Plan to ensure compliance with California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
- Administers contracts and operating agreements with other agencies, entities and individuals on behalf of the Department and the County
- Represent the County to a variety of stakeholders and agencies including legislative, federal, state, local and tribal
- Manage Department programs and ensures that services are provided in accordance with federal and state laws, ordinances, rules and regulations
- Prepare and manage eight (8) Budget Units for the Department totaling over $500 million
- Develop comprehensive plans to satisfy current and anticipated future needs for the District and the Clear Lake Watershed
- Oversee flood control operations, storm water program, groundwater management habitat restoration, water quality monitoring and overall Clear Lake Watershed management programs and projects
- Leverage leadership skills to identify deficiencies and opportunities to improve policies, procedures and controls falling under the Department’s oversight.
Program Coordinator
Lake County Water Resources
10.2018 - 09.2020
- Program Manager providing direct oversight for the Department's Programs including Groundwater Management, Lakebed Management, Middle Creek Restoration Project, and Highland Springs Recreation Area
- Direct supervision of Water Resources Staff on Department Programs including Highland Springs Park Caretaker, Field Worker, and Technician
- Develop and administer Department grants totaling $16,442,205.00
- Manage outreach and training focused on Flood Fight Preparedness for the Department and community leveraging assistance from State Agencies
- Manage and coordinate bi-weekly Department Staff Meetings
- Prepare and present Program Reports to a variety of stakeholders including Water Resources Director, Lake County Board of Supervisors, local, State, Tribal and Federal representatives
- Manage Department Programs following local, state and federal rules and regulations including County of Lake Code of Ordinances, SGMA, CEQA, TMDL, MS4
- Effectively represent the Department with the public, community organizations, County and City officials, and State and Federal Representatives.
AmeriCorps CivicSpark Water Fellow
Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District
09.2017 - 09.2018
- Program Manager for the District's Infiltration and Inflow Identification (I/I) Project overseeing I/I research, Identification, data analysis, and report writing
- Spearheaded the District's Temporary Flow Monitoring Project surveying over 40% of the collection system in a 3-month time frame
- Developed the organization and completion of the I/I Assessment Report which included the District's I/I identification efforts, findings, and long-term I/I reduction plan
- Ensured that the District, District Board of Directors, community and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board received monthly updates on the District's I/I progress
- Launched the District's Manhole Lid Replacement Project, replacing 10 manhole lids in 5 months along with a manhole lid replacement long-term plan
- Organized and led a 3-day Watershed Lesson Plan and Habitat Assessment field activity for the local AP Environmental Science Class
- Collected, managed, and improved the organization of the District's GIS data and software.
Water Quality Program Coordinator
Nahant Marsh Education Center
06.2016 - 05.2017
- Introduced and managed a Water Quality Monitoring Program at Nahant while mentoring 5 volunteers
- Collected 5 months of water quality data at 4 specific test sites throughout the marsh, analyzed findings and completed a water quality report of data
- Presented findings at one University symposium, one community meeting, and two national conferences
- Using GIS, created a map of the delineated watershed of Nahant Marsh Collaborated with natural resource specialists and environmental professionals on potential wetland restoration and management practices to aid in the protection of the Nahant Marsh water quality.
Education
B.A - Geography and Environmental Studies, Water and Land Resource Management
Augustana College
Rock Island, ILSkills
Leadership & Supervision
Community Outreach & Engagement
Policy & Government Relations
Active Listening & Strategic Communication
Project Management
Collaboration & Teamwork
Interpersonal Relations
Organizational Skills
Work Planning & Prioritization
Adaptability & Flexibility
Creative Thinking
Public Speaking
Certification
California County Senior Executive, California State Association of Counties Institute for Excellence in County Government
Volunteer Experience
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, California Groundwater Resources Organization (2022- Present)
- Sacramento Branch Vice-President, California Groundwater Resources Organization (2020-2022)
- Sacramento Branch, Board Member, California Groundwater Resources Organization (2019-Present)
Timeline
Public Policy & Engagement Specialist
Stantec Consulting Services
01.2024 - Current
Program Coordinator
Lake County Water Resources
10.2018 - 09.2020
AmeriCorps CivicSpark Water Fellow
Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District
09.2017 - 09.2018
Water Quality Program Coordinator
Nahant Marsh Education Center
06.2016 - 05.2017
Deputy Water Resources Director
Lake County Water Resources Department
9 2020 - 1 2024
B.A - Geography and Environmental Studies, Water and Land Resource Management
Augustana College