Katie Flahive

After early career experiences across different environmental disciplines, leading environmental education programs in the Chesapeake Bay, researching tropical deforestation in Eastern Panama, and reducing transportation-related carbon emissions in the Bronx, I found a home in environmental planning in California. Before joining Ascent, I worked with the Department of the Interior, focusing on NEPA and land use planning at the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation. There, I led environmental planning efforts for a wide range of projects on public lands- everything from renewable energy projects to national monument conservation plans. I also served in technical advisory roles, where I advised decisionmakers, wrote policy, and trained junior planners to most effectively comply with environmental statutes and regulations across California. Most recently, I served as a senior project manager for a habitat conservation plan across 11-states in the West. I most enjoy projects that collaboratively build natural and community resiliency, bringing creative solutions to complex problems. Now happily with Ascent, I focus on NEPA & CEQA compliance for vegetation management projects that reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, and enjoy building a more sustainable California.

Outside of work, you can often find me walking the East Bay hills, baking sweet treats, or adventuring with a good book in my backpack and a nice coffee in my thermos.