RICK is thrilled to announce new in-house services in environmental planning and welcome Teresa Wilkinson to our team as Director of Environmental Planning Services. We are honored that she chose to bring her 32 years of large- and small-scale CEQA and NEPA experience to RICK. With her expertise, we now offer clients expedited environmental permitting, environmental considerations early in the design process, and sustainably minded solutions throughout the lifecycles of projects. Teresa’s abilities and passion for impactfully protecting our local natural resources and communities fit in seamlessly with our mission to create resilient communities and infrastructure through innovative planning, creative design, and sustainable engineering.
With an incredibly diverse background, Teresa’s regulatory and project management experience includes serving local/state/federal government agencies, private and public sector clients, and nongovernmental organizations. She has managed a wide range of project types, including transportation planning, energy, public utilities, watershed planning, affordable housing, and commercial projects. Having worked in Mexico, Central America, and South America, Teresa also brings international development experience. She is an expert at managing environmental and engineering teams with a focus on designing, approving, and implementing environmentally sensitive projects.
The federal NEPA compliance oversight expertise Teresa gained on projects for the California High Speed Rail Authority, California Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, and Federal Highway Administration will be incredibly valuable in the preparation of compliant environmental documents and for assisting clients in navigating the complex environmental regulatory process.
Teresa has been a partner to RICK since she started her own consulting firm ten years ago. RICK has been proud to collaborate with her for the last decade and has benefited from her breadth of knowledge and her passion for conservation planning and sustainability.
“RICK was a favorite teaming partner of mine and as a small business, I felt supported by RICK. When it was time for me to make the jump, I chose RICK because it’s one of those local consulting firms that feels like family. I want to be able to trust and enjoy the people I’m working with.” —Teresa Wilkinson
Teresa is looking forward to pursuing her interest in local San Diego work while at RICK, especially in the affordable and supportive housing sector, leaning into her belief that development needs can be met in a balanced, sustainable, and equitable manner. As a former small business owner working for non-profits to build greener spaces in disadvantaged neighborhoods, she is passionate about improving the built environment for all community members.
“I’ve always had a belief that we can find a balance between development and conservation. At the local level, I feel our non-profit and environmental justice groups and our agencies can find a way to come together to develop climate-resilient communities.” —Teresa Wilkinson
Our teams are also looking forward to working with Teresa on important public infrastructure and watershed restoration projects, including the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Building Removal. Teresa prepared the Environmental Impact Report for the site before joining RICK and has thorough knowledge of the area.
“The Sunset Cliffs area is a beautiful resource for San Diego and will continue to provide picturesque outdoor recreation spaces for the community.” —Teresa Wilkinson
In addition to her new position, Teresa plans to continue her involvement with local non-profits. She is on the Board at San Diego Canyonlands and the Advisory Board at Groundwork San Diego. These organizations focus on bringing community awareness about the importance of creating natural and open spaces along the Chollas Creek Watershed and urban canyons throughout the region. She also has a passion for supporting women early in their A/E/C careers. As a member of Women in Transportation (WTS), Teresa developed environmental education outreach programs for middle and high school students in inner-city San Diego to introduce them to careers in civil engineering, planning, and design. In 2014, she received the WTS Rosa Parks Diversity award for her outreach work, and Teresa continues to mentor young professionals through the WTS Mentoring Program. Teresa is also a former Senior Educator of Environmental Programs with the National Wildlife Federation, and she lived in Honduras as a member of the Peace Corps.
Along with Teresa, RICK teams will continue to partner with local environmental service firms to provide exceptional service for client and project needs. We look forward to maintaining valued, long-term partnerships and developing new ones in this important service area.