Implementation Committee
CRC Implementation Committee
The Implementation Committee is a small group of individuals in addition to Center staff who meet quarterly to help be a voice of direction, track progress, serve as a connector to efforts outside of the Center, and, as scope and mission areas align, participate in moving different priorities forward. They represent different areas of expertise, geographies, and experiences to ensure that the Center is meeting the community-defined objectives. Implementation committee members also provide regular updates on their own work and activities with the broader network of climate resilience practitioners and researchers to keep the Center connected.
Cynthia Cannon
Cynthia Cannon, AICP, began her career in urban and environmental planning over twenty years ago in Pensacola, Florida. She holds a Master of Public Administration in Coastal Zone Management and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Resource Management and Planning from the University of West Florida. She is currently earning a Master of Science degree at Tulane University’s Disaster Resilience and Leadership program.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Cannon worked as a Conservation and Land Use Planner in Northampton, Massachusetts overseeing brownfields redevelopment and conservation projects. She returned to Pensacola to continue work in regional and local government on long-range planning and community development projects.
In her current role as Planning & Zoning Division Manager with the City of Pensacola, she oversees long-range planning, master planning, and development in special districts. Her passions include collaborating on local government coastal resiliency strategies.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Cannon worked as a Conservation and Land Use Planner in Northampton, Massachusetts overseeing brownfields redevelopment and conservation projects. She returned to Pensacola to continue work in regional and local government on long-range planning and community development projects.
In her current role as Planning & Zoning Division Manager with the City of Pensacola, she oversees long-range planning, master planning, and development in special districts. Her passions include collaborating on local government coastal resiliency strategies.
Leslie Gahagan
Leslie Gahagan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Alabama with a major in marine biology. She began her career with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management as a stormwater inspector. Leslie is currently the Sustainability and Natural Resources Director for the City of Foley where she manages environmental and nature park programs.
She is active in multiple regional and watershed organizations and has over twenty years of experience in stormwater management, water quality, and conservation education.
She is active in multiple regional and watershed organizations and has over twenty years of experience in stormwater management, water quality, and conservation education.
Abbey Hotard
Abbey Hotard is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Alabama in the School of Marine and Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on disaster recovery, coastal relocation, and climate adaptation policy.
She holds a PhD in Marine and Coastal Management and Science from Texas A&M University at Galveston and has worked with FEMA and the National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program.
She holds a PhD in Marine and Coastal Management and Science from Texas A&M University at Galveston and has worked with FEMA and the National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program.
Andreanecia Morris
Andreanecia M. Morris serves as Executive Director for HousingNOLA, leading efforts to address New Orleans’ affordable housing crisis through data-driven and community-informed strategies.
She has led major post-Katrina housing recovery programs supporting thousands of households and has been nationally recognized for leadership in housing equity and policy innovation.
She has led major post-Katrina housing recovery programs supporting thousands of households and has been nationally recognized for leadership in housing equity and policy innovation.
Niki Pace
Ali Rellinger
Ali Rellinger is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Sciences at Mississippi State University, where she leads coastal resilience and climate adaptation programming through PLACE.
Her work focuses on climate education and resilience across communities and age groups.
Her work focuses on climate education and resilience across communities and age groups.
Charles Sutcliffe
Charles Sutcliffe is Senior Advisor for Resilience at the National Wildlife Federation. He previously served in the Louisiana Governor’s Office, where he worked on coastal policy, climate strategy, and resilience planning.
He was Louisiana’s first Chief Resilience Officer and contributed to statewide climate action and coastal master planning efforts.
He was Louisiana’s first Chief Resilience Officer and contributed to statewide climate action and coastal master planning efforts.