Contact Us.We are here to lead, teach and assist professionals in the floodplain management industry. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns using the contact information below.
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Our Team
Elissa C. Commins, PE, PP, CME, CPWM is the Township Engineer, Floodplain Manager and CRS Co-Coordinator for the Township of Brick in Ocean County, New Jersey. She serves on many municipal committees as professional staff and is active on a variety of state-wide, regional, and county technical advisory committees with an emphasis on flood protection and engineered solutions. She continues to work with residents, developers and realtors regarding navigating floodplain regulation, flood insurance requirements and the day-to-day struggles associated with living with tidal and nuisance flooding.
Elissa graduated from Rutgers College of Engineering with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. After graduation, she attained a job at a private consulting firm in Brick Township. She received her licenses as a Professional Engineer and a Professional Planner. In 2001 she made the switch to municipal consulting and became a Certified Municipal Engineer and a Certified Public Works Manager. In 2013, Elissa transitioned to a civil service and became a Certified Floodplain Manager and a member of NJAFM. Elissa enjoys the activities that the Jersey Shore has to offer all year round as she makes her home in back-bay community in New Jersey’s coastal plane.
Elissa graduated from Rutgers College of Engineering with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. After graduation, she attained a job at a private consulting firm in Brick Township. She received her licenses as a Professional Engineer and a Professional Planner. In 2001 she made the switch to municipal consulting and became a Certified Municipal Engineer and a Certified Public Works Manager. In 2013, Elissa transitioned to a civil service and became a Certified Floodplain Manager and a member of NJAFM. Elissa enjoys the activities that the Jersey Shore has to offer all year round as she makes her home in back-bay community in New Jersey’s coastal plane.
Christopher Crane, PE, CFM is a principal with Dynamic Engineering Consultants, PC in Lake Como, NJ and specializes in Hydrology and Hydraulics. He leads a group of engineers on technical designs including hydrologic and hydraulic analyses of rivers and streams, bank stabilization design, dam design, stormwater management design, as well as various land development projects. He works closely with various review agencies and developers to find a solution that both meets the needs of the developer while ensuring a safe and resilient design.
Chris graduated from Lehigh University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and holds a Professional Engineering License in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. He has worked in the private sector, working mostly in private development with the occasional project as a municipal consultant.
Outside of work he enjoys carpentry, gardening and the outdoors, with his dog, cat, and chickens.
Chris graduated from Lehigh University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and holds a Professional Engineering License in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. He has worked in the private sector, working mostly in private development with the occasional project as a municipal consultant.
Outside of work he enjoys carpentry, gardening and the outdoors, with his dog, cat, and chickens.
Sean O’Leary, CFM is the New Jersey Territory Manager for Floodproofing.com and Smart Vent Products, one of the nation’s largest floodproofing suppliers for sites and structures. Sean began his career following in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and became a Certified Floodplain Manager in 2016. When not at work, Sean is an active Volunteer Firefighter in Longport NJ and volunteer for the South Jersey Special Olympics. He enjoys being around the water surfing, boating, and swimming, and of course cheering on his Phillies and Eagles. Go Birds!
Ann Holtzman, CFM. After a successful career in corporate retail, planning and logistics, and 7-years as Senior VP at Footlocker, Ann left the corporate world to pursue other interests in architecture, design, building and municipal planning. She attained Zoning Official Certification from Rutgers University, and later went to work for the City of Hoboken as Zoning Officer. In 2012 when Hurricane Sandy hit the City hard, Ann operated a triage center from a Verizon trailer outside City Hall connecting property owners and tenants with inspectors and contractors to speed recovery. She was later an active contributor to the City’s Rebuild by Design application to HUD and FEMA. Having shown an aptitude for flood response and with the support of Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Ann attended CFM and CRS training, and became a CFM in 2013. In addition to her Zoning Officer responsibilities, she has served as the City’s Floodplain Administrator since 2013. In 2015, Ann co-authored and published the NJAFM award winning Hoboken Resilient Buildings Design Guidelines. She is also a regular speaker on flood hazard prevention and building resilience on various platforms.
Ann holds a BS in Business, Marketing & Management, and a minor in Fine Arts. When not at work, she enjoys her rescue dog Rupert, skiing, entertaining, Peloton, and maintaining her collection of orchids.
Ann holds a BS in Business, Marketing & Management, and a minor in Fine Arts. When not at work, she enjoys her rescue dog Rupert, skiing, entertaining, Peloton, and maintaining her collection of orchids.
PAST CHAIR // Vince Mazzei
PE, CFM - NJDEP
PE, CFM - NJDEP
Vincent Mazzei serves as New Jersey’s first State Floodplain Administrator, responsible for developing and coordinating flood plain management in collaboration with local floodplain managers across the state. Vince, a leading force in flood risk assessment and mitigation in the Garden State for nearly 35 years, is charged with ensuring consistent implementation of flood control standards at varying levels of government in New Jersey.
Vince earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Stevens and a master’s degree in theology from Pennsylvania’s Cairn University. He began his DEP career in 1988, following his graduation from Stevens Institute of Technology. A licensed professional engineer, Vince has worked to support environmentally responsible planning, design and construction of thousands of development and infrastructure projects throughout New Jersey for more than 30 years. He most recently served as Assistant Commissioner for Watershed and Land Management, overseeing the Division of Land Resource Protection, the Division of Watershed Protection and Restoration, and the Division of Resilience Engineering and Construction. Vince authored New Jersey’s Flood Hazard Area Control Act rules, which are the most stringent statewide flood hazard area and stream corridor protection regulations in the nation and has had a leading role in the development of NJPACT.
Vince was named the 2018 Government Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers, North Jersey branch, and the 2016 Civil Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Central Jersey branch. He is a two-time recipient of the State of New Jersey Teamwork and Partnership Award. He served as chairman of the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management from 2019 to 2021.
His interests include hiking, traveling, volunteering, and composing music, as well as studying history, theology and mathematical theory. Vince lives in Hunterdon County with his wife (and fellow DEP employee) and their three beautiful children.
Vince earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Stevens and a master’s degree in theology from Pennsylvania’s Cairn University. He began his DEP career in 1988, following his graduation from Stevens Institute of Technology. A licensed professional engineer, Vince has worked to support environmentally responsible planning, design and construction of thousands of development and infrastructure projects throughout New Jersey for more than 30 years. He most recently served as Assistant Commissioner for Watershed and Land Management, overseeing the Division of Land Resource Protection, the Division of Watershed Protection and Restoration, and the Division of Resilience Engineering and Construction. Vince authored New Jersey’s Flood Hazard Area Control Act rules, which are the most stringent statewide flood hazard area and stream corridor protection regulations in the nation and has had a leading role in the development of NJPACT.
Vince was named the 2018 Government Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers, North Jersey branch, and the 2016 Civil Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Central Jersey branch. He is a two-time recipient of the State of New Jersey Teamwork and Partnership Award. He served as chairman of the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management from 2019 to 2021.
His interests include hiking, traveling, volunteering, and composing music, as well as studying history, theology and mathematical theory. Vince lives in Hunterdon County with his wife (and fellow DEP employee) and their three beautiful children.
Joe Barris, PP, AICP, CFM is the Director of the Department of Planning, Transportation, and Community Services for Monmouth County, NJ and jointly serves as the county’s Planning Division Director. Much of his time at work is now spent coordinating Department efforts, administering programs, mentoring staff, and improving organizational processes. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science from Cook College, Rutgers University and a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning, from the Rutgers University Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Joe’s career has been one of diverse interests and assignments in the field of planning including the environment, transportation, arts and culture, land use, community development, and hazard mitigation. In response to Superstorm Sandy, he helped develop and implement the Monmouth County Community Rating System Municipal Assistance program and is the recipient of the NJAFM Floodplain Management Leadership Award (2017) for this effort. He is a founding member of the Freehold Borough Arts Council, former board member and past President of Monmouth Arts the county’s official arts and arts responder agency, has been a guest lecturer for the Hub for Creative Placemaking at NJIT, and ex-officio board member of the Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF). Joe enjoys nothing more than gatherings and laughing with friends and family. He has a borderline obsession with new cars and old movies, prefers his design flood elevation to be Deck 11 on a cruise ship, and enjoys wandering through new places…..because that’s what planners do.
Training
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Committee Chairpersons
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LEGISLATIVE CHAIR // Becky Jones
CFM - Owner, EcoAdapt Strategies Rebecca.Jones@EcoAdaptStrategies.com |
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COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM // Neil Byrne
Sea Isle City |
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