Ecologist and Project Manager
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MEET CHRIS LORENZ
My Skills & Experience
As a skilled and experienced professional in my field, I know how much hard work and careful thought it takes to succeed. My CV site is my way of documenting everything I’ve done and also lets you know a little bit more about myself. If you’d like to learn more about me, browse through the site. If you see something you like, or you want to discuss what I can do for you, feel free to drop me a line.
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"Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you" - Walt Whitman
GET TO KNOW ME
Up Close & Personal
I strongly believe that happiness in life boils down to two simple aspects of love: Surround yourself with those you love, and do what you love. With my family, I have achieved the first of the two. I have a wife and three wonderful children, Logan (6), Ari (4) and Isla (6 months).
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For the second, I knew I wanted to work in either physical and health education or ecology/environmental science, as my two passions as a child were sports and the environment. Luckily I found a program at Queen's University that allowed me to pursue both avenues concurrently, and I completed undergraduate degrees in both Physical and Health Education and Biology. Ultimately, my love of the natural world won out and I decided to pursue a graduate degree in Limnology, the study of fresh water, inland lakes and rivers.
I still embrace my love of physical activity, playing hockey, soccer and hiking whenever I get the opportunity. I also coach both of my boys' soccer teams and am happy to say it appears as though they have embraced the sport almost as strongly as myself!
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If you'd like to continue and hear more about my personal journey, please keep reading below.
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PAST EXPERIENCE
What I’ve Done, Where I've Been
Take a look at my employment history, everywhere I've worked professionally after my graduate studies
PROJECT MANAGERÂ / AQUATIC ECOLOGIST, HEMMERA INC.
September 2019 - Present
Project Manager for the Canadian Pacific sightline clearing project, a multi-million dollar project designed to ensure Fisheries Act compliance through the application of new grade crossing regulations established by Transport Canada in response to changes to the Railway Safety Act. Aquatic ecologist and field coordinator for the Burlington Beach Master Plan Implementation project. Prepare and review internal proposals and quotations for Request for Proposal (RFP) submissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER, CITY OF GUELPH
March 2019 - September 2019
Implement priority actions within Guelph’s Natural Heritage Action Plan and develop broader environmental strategies. Comment on development and site plan applications as they relate to natural heritage policies within Guelph’s Official Plan. Support Guelph’s ‘Bee City’ designation and the development of pollinator projects on City lands. Inspect development and restoration efforts as they relate to land development and conditions within implementation reports. Selected project experience includes:
PROJECT MANAGER / AQUATIC ECOLOGIST, WSP CANADA GROUP LIMITED
November 2013Â - March 2019
Manage and coordinate multiple projects simultaneously in a faced-paced, demanding environment with tight turnaround for analysis and deliverables. Develop and implement a wide range of biological surveys and long-term monitoring programs in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment to assess existing conditions and potential impacts of infrastructure and land development on natural heritage features. Evaluate alternatives as part of multidisciplinary Environmental Assessments and make decisions and recommendations for municipalities as they relate to natural heritage planning and policies within their official plans.
PROJECT MANAGER / AQUATIC ECOLOGIST, AQUAFOR BEECH LIMITED
January 2011Â - November 2013
Managed multiple projects while communicating with clients and regulatory agencies to manage tasks according to client-approved scope of work and budget. Project manager for a variety of projects with budgets up to $65,000. Developed communication and marketing materials to promote the Ecology Group, including promotional flyers and fact sheets. Supported the manager of ecology with ecology-related equipment and service purchases from retailers and distributors. Responded to inquiries from clients and the public, including attending public meetings and developing public information packages.
FISHERIES AND RESTORATION TECHNICIAN, CREDIT VALLEY CONSERVATION
June 2010 - January 2011
Responsible for fish population assessments throughout the Credit River watershed as part of long-term fish community and water quality monitoring programs. Additional responsibilities included planning and coordinating community outreach programs and special events aimed at youth, setting up display booths for the public, collaborating with community partners, conducting habitat restoration projects, salmonid spawning surveys and data analysis using Microsoft Access and Excel.
RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYST, BIRD STUDIES CANADA
September 2009 - May 2010
Responsible for refining analysis procedures for the Marsh Monitoring Program. Managed a large dataset of bird, amphibian and benthic invertebrate survey data using Microsoft Access and computed Indices of Biological Integrity (IBI) using R programming language and Microsoft Excel to assess the health of Great Lake Coastal Wetlands. Completed a two-day instructional course in Microsoft Access.
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Learning and Living
M.SC. BIOLOGY (LIMNOLOGY), QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
September 2006Â - January 2009
Used Paleolimnological techniques in multivariate statistical analyses to infer fire and climate history during the mid-Holocene in western Canada with implications to water balance and current land use practices. NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship recipient, awarded to Canada's highest achieving scholars.
B.SC. BIOLOGY (HONOURS), QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
September 2001Â - April 2006
After finishing my degrees in biology and physical and health education, I stayed an extra year to receive my Honours designation by completing an undergraduate thesis project in conservation genetics, studying population dynamics of a rare arctic seabird of the coast of Alaska.
B.PHE (PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION), QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
September 2001Â - April 2005
As part of this degree I worked with Special Olympics Canada coaching various sports for kids of all ages. It was one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done and I credit this experience with my current love of presenting, engaging and working with children of all ages.
PROFICIENCIES
Knowledge & Expertise
My skills have been built up over years of personal and professional work experience. If you’re interested in getting to know more about me, and the skills i can put to use for you, please feel free to get in touch with me.
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
Fun and Learning!
Kids are our most important resource and I find nothing more fulfilling than passing on some of the knowledge I've gained over the years in a fun and engaging way! Over the years I have been involved in various activities / programs aimed at youth engagement in sports and the environment, including:
Organize and administer natural heritage special events at Belfountain Conservation Area aimed at teaching youth about the wonders of the natural world
Coaching basketball with the Special Olympics and organizing day athletic activities for children with disabilities in the Kingston area
Volunteering at my son's school during field trips and science day
Coaching my kids soccer, baseball and hockey teams
Leading nature walks with neighbourhood children
Assisting with nature activities during camping trips with Scouts Canada
"Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you"
Walt Whitman
