MVPC is delighted to announce the addition of two staff members that will bolster our capacity to assist our communities across a wide variety of initiatives.
Please welcome our new GIS Specialist, Joseph Barmashi. Joe comes to us from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he earned his M.S in the Geographic Information Systems and Technology program. During his time in the program he conducted research and practiced analytical techniques such as land suitability and hazard mapping that make his experience a valuable asset to the GIS program. He also earned his B.S in Geography, Planning, and Sustainability at Westfield State University in Westfield, MA where he gained essential knowledge of the problems that community planners face and developed skills such as site plan reading and quantitative methods for data analysis.
As the GIS Specialist, Joe supports the GIS and Information Technology program at MVPC with building and maintaining geospatial databases, executing analyses and making a wide variety of maps, including adopting the parcel mapping initiative. His work contributes to our communities by supporting their planning initiatives and the many mapping needs they require.
When he isn’t making maps, Joe finds himself enjoying movies, spending time at the gym and heading into Boston to enjoy the city with his friends.
GIS isn’t having all the fun however, the Environmental program also welcomes a new hire with the addition of our Coastal Resources Planner, Hanna Mogensen.
As the Coastal Resource Planner, Hanna supports MVPC’s Environmental Planning Program and Massachusetts Bay’s National Estuary Partnership Regional Coordination Program through a number of initiatives including: water resource management, stormwater assessment and mitigation, coastal and estuarine habitat assessment and restoration, open space and recreation planning, and hazard mitigation planning. Through her role, Hanna works to facilitate collaboration and promote protection of critical habitats and sustainable use of natural resources within the Merrimack Valley.
Before joining MVPC, Hanna worked with many of the communities within the Valley, first as a research technician supporting the Hurricane Sandy Resiliency Grant in the Great Marsh, and then as the Chief Program Officer at Terracorps, a non-profit environmental organization based in Lowell. Most recently, Hanna has been working to obtain her Master’s in Marine Biology from the University of New Hampshire, where her research has focused on studying how coastal flooding and storm events impact microplastic presence within New England estuaries. To this role, Hanna brings environmental restoration and management experience, knowledge of our coastal communities, and a deep connection and commitment to our region.
Hanna lives in Topsfield with her partner and their two crazy pups! When not working, you can find her lost in the garden, mountain biking, swimming, backcountry skiing, or adventuring around the region.
Please give a warm welcome to our newest team members. We are excited about the energy and expertise they will lend to our ever evolving programs. Thank you to the region and our communities for your continued support of our efforts. We look forward to the many ways which these new staff will assist in your needs.
For more information about the respective GIS and Environment Programs. check out our program pages!
Joe Barmashi, GIS Specialist
Hanna Mogensen, Coastal Resources Planner