Meet Our Team
Claudia Listopad, Ph.D., GISP
President, Principal Scientist
Claudia Listopad is a cross-disciplinary project manager, water resources ecologist, and certified GIS Professional specializing in the application of modeling, ecological and hydrological field assessments, monitoring program design and implementation, statistical analyses, and remote sensing to complex data sets, particularly those related to natural resources, water resources, and restoration.
She has over 20 years of project management experience, including serving as a Federal Program Manager for key federal clients including the US Army Corps, the US Marine Corps, the US Space Force, and the US Coast Guard. Her project management portfolio includes over 250 projects successfully completed across environmental and planning services.
Dr. Listopad is an SME in the application of the Clean Water Act, particularly water quality standards and compliance, for the US Space Force.
Since founding Applied Ecology in 2009, she has led the growth and expansion of diverse environmental and engineering services lines while building strong partnerships throughout the US.
William "Bill" Paton
Vice President, Senior GIS Modeler, and Software Developer
As a lead software engineer with decades of federal project experience, Mr. Paton can customize unique software solutions for complex data management and visual representation.
William "Bill" Paton
Vice President, Senior GIS Modeler, and Software Developer
As a lead software engineer with decades of federal project experience, Mr. Paton can customize unique software solutions for complex data management and visual representation.
Our Subject Matter Experts
Leesa Souto, Ph.D.
Director of Non-Federal Programs
Dr. Leesa Souto is a Sr. Project Manager and Principal Scientist at AEI in addition to leading the planned growth of AEI’s non-federal programs. She is an urban ecology researcher who investigates linkages between land-based human actions and downstream water quality. Dr. Souto specializes in water resources policy, program planning and evaluation, landscape and regional planning, integrated socio-environmental research design, social marketing methods, persuasive communications, workshop facilitation, conflict resolution, technical writing, and public engagement. Prior to AEI, Leesa was an Environmental Scientist, Research Professor, and a leader of Nonprofits.
Andrea Bishop
Director of Federal Programs
Andrea Bishop has 30+ years supporting federal programs across DoD with technical, project, and acquisition management experience in all environmental programs to include compliance, pollution prevention, planning, and restoration. She has managed multimillion dollar environmental compliance and restoration projects and program+s across the DoD portfolio for multiple military installations (CONUS and overseas) with hands-on control of cost, schedule, and risk. In addition, she has proven aptitude to analyze/mesh environmental requirements with military mission requirements with a strong understanding of how programs are funded, structured and executed.
Chris Bishop, Ph.D.
Director of Business Operations
Chris Bishop has 30 years of technical, operational, and leadership in organizational growth and transformation across the public and private sectors. Before joining AEI in 2026, he was an operational leader in the consulting industry. He also served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force as a change leader at all operational levels, directing engineers, scientists, and physicists, served on two major command staffs, and led environmental health and safety operations across multiple Air Force installations across the globe. As an expert in operational leadership and organizational growth, Mr. Bishop drives the successful execution of AEI’s sustainability initiatives and demands of high-quality performance.
John Hussain, CE, PWS
Senior Environmental Scientist
John Hussain is an environmental scientist and project manager with prior experience in both government and private sector. He brings significant cross-disciplinary experience in wetland and terrestrial ecology, environmental assessments, listed species surveys and determinations, hydrological and water quality data collection, and spatial analyses.
Walker Dawson, P.E.
Senior Project Manager
Walker Dawson, P.E. has more than 20 years of experience spanning governmental leadership, water quality, and coastal and waterfront engineering. Over the course of his career, he has built a strong foundation in project management, successfully leading multidisciplinary teams, consultants, and contractors through complex infrastructure and environmental projects.
Daniel Hammond
Senior Water Resource Scientist
Dan Hammond has over 25 years experience in water resources with a foundation in water quality protection, habitat restoration, and ecological assessments. He has led numerous projects focused on science-based solutions to a wide range of environmental issues. Dan serves as a senior project manager and Water Resources Lead with a passion for advancing the science of restoring ecosystems and protecting marine and freshwater resources.
Rachael Cooper, Ph.D., PE, CFM
Senior Water Resources Engineer
Dr. Rachael Z. Cooper has over 10 years of experience integrating watershed science, stormwater engineering, and applied research to support efforts in ecological engineering. She has performed hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, assessed nutrient pollution, and designed and evaluated nature-based stormwater treatment systems. Her work has included collaboration on grant writing, preparing technical documentation, leading peer-reviewed publications, and applying engineering methods in both research and practice.
Kelsey Mack, AICP
Senior Planner
Kelsey Mack is an environmental scientist and certified planner with 8 years of experience working throughout the southeastern US. Kelsey specializes in environmental, sustainability, and resilience planning with a strong focus on applying the best available science to guide planning initiatives and policy recommendations. Her experience includes conducting numerous vulnerability assessments, developing sustainability action plans, and leading technical studies and spatial analyses that support informed policy and management decisions.
Geraldine Klarenberg, Ph.D.
Senior Data Analyst
Dr. Geraldine Klarenberg has 20 years of experience in the water and natural resources sector. She is an experienced applied statistician, data analyst, and QA/QC professional with a passion for data management, programming, and data visualization. Geraldine has intimate knowledge of water quality issues, watershed management, hydrological research, simulation models, and spatial analyses. Having worked across various sectors, she gained experience leading interdisciplinary teams while addressing Florida’s complex resources challenges.
Jonathan Taylor, PE
Senior Water Resources Engineer
Jonathan is a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and University of Central Florida alumnus with over 19 years of experience in site development and utility design and permitting across Florida. He brings a strong track record of successfully delivering complex projects for public and private clients, providing leadership throughout the entire project lifecycle with a consistent focus on regulatory compliance and quality execution.
Claudia Listopad, Ph.D., GISP
President, Principal Scientist
About Claudia
Claudia Listopad is a cross-disciplinary project manager, water resources ecologist, and certified GIS Professional specializing in the application of modeling, ecological and hydrological field assessments, monitoring program design and implementation, statistical analyses, and remote sensing to complex data sets, particularly those related to natural resources, water resources, and restoration.
She has over 20 years of project management experience, including serving as a Federal Program Manager for key federal clients including the US Army Corps, the US Marine Corps, the US Space Force, and the US Coast Guard. Her project management portfolio includes over 250 projects successfully completed across environmental and planning services.
Dr. Listopad is an SME in the application of the Clean Water Act, particularly water quality standards and compliance, for the US Space Force.
Since founding Applied Ecology in 2009, she has led the growth and expansion of diverse environmental and engineering services lines while building strong partnerships throughout the US.
William "Bill" Paton
Vice President, Senior GIS Modeler, and Software Developer
About Bill
Mr. Paton has nearly 40 years of technical and project management experience in software design, implementation and integration for a multitude of purposes. Prior to joining AEI in 2012, he worked in the Defense Industry for over two decades, where he managed multimillion-dollar projects with several staff engineers. At AEI, Mr. Paton specializes in database design and custom interfaces, both on desktop and web platforms, as well as technical reporting (software documentation, test plans, and data analysis reports). He’s led projects that have ranged from real-time detection and identification of targets using compact 3-D laser radar (LADAR) to custom watershed loading models for TMDL implementation, groundwater modeling, and web application development.
As a lead software engineer with decades of federal project experience, Mr. Paton can customize unique software solutions for complex data management and visual representation.
Our Subject Matter Experts
Leesa Souto, Ph.D.
Director of Non-Federal Programs
About Leesa
Dr. Leesa Souto is a Sr. Project Manager and Principal Scientist at AEI in addition to leading the planned growth of AEI’s non-federal programs. She is an urban ecology researcher who investigates linkages between land-based human actions and downstream water quality. Dr. Souto specializes in water resources policy, program planning and evaluation, landscape and regional planning, integrated socio-environmental research design, social marketing methods, persuasive communications, workshop facilitation, conflict resolution, technical writing, and public engagement. Prior to AEI, Leesa was an Environmental Scientist, Research Professor, and a leader of Nonprofits.
Andrea Bishop
Director of Federal Programs
About Andrea
Andrea Bishop has 30+ years supporting federal programs across DoD with technical, project, and acquisition management experience in all environmental programs to include compliance, pollution prevention, planning, and restoration. She has managed multimillion dollar environmental compliance and restoration projects and programs across the DoD portfolio for multiple military installations (CONUS and overseas) with hands-on control of cost, schedule, and risk. In addition, she has proven aptitude to analyze/mesh environmental requirements with military mission requirements with a strong understanding of how programs are funded, structured and executed.
Chris Bishop, Ph.D.
Director of Business Operations
About Chris
Chris Bishop has 30 years of technical, operational, and leadership in organizational growth and transformation across the public and private sectors. Before joining AEI in 2026, he was an operational leader in the consulting industry. He also served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force as a change leader at all operational levels, directing engineers, scientists, and physicists, served on two major command staffs, and led environmental health and safety operations across multiple Air Force installations across the globe. As an expert in operational leadership and organizational growth, Mr. Bishop drives the successful execution of AEI’s sustainability initiatives and demands of high-quality performance.
John Hussain, CE, PWS
Senior Environmental Scientist
About John
Mr. John Hussain is an environmental scientist and project manager with prior experience in both government and private sector. He brings significant cross-disciplinary experience in wetland and terrestrial ecology, environmental assessments, listed species surveys and determinations, hydrological and water quality data collection, and spatial analyses.
Walker Dawson, PE
Senior Project Manager
About Walker
Walker Dawson, P.E. has more than 20 years of experience spanning governmental leadership, water quality, and coastal and waterfront engineering. Over the course of his career, he has built a strong foundation in project management, successfully leading multidisciplinary teams, consultants, and contractors through complex infrastructure and environmental projects.
Daniel Hammond
Senior Water Resources Scientist
About Daniel
Dan has over 25 years’ experience in water resources with a foundation in water quality protection, habitat restoration, and ecological assessments. He has led numerous projects throughout Florida and nationally, focused on science-based solutions to a wide range of environmental issues, with an emphasis on water quality. At AEI, Dan serves as a senior project manager and Water Resource Sciences Service Line Lead with a passion for advancing the science of restoring ecosystems and protecting marine and freshwater resources.
Rachael Cooper, Ph.D., PE, CFM
Senior Water Resources Engineer
About Rachael
Dr. Rachael Z. Cooper has over 10 years of experience integrating watershed science, stormwater engineering, and applied research to support efforts in ecological engineering. She has performed hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, assessed nutrient pollution, and designed and evaluated nature-based stormwater treatment systems. Her work has included collaboration on grant writing, preparing technical documentation, leading peer-reviewed publications, and applying engineering methods in both research and practice.
Kelsey Mack, AICP
Senior Planner
About Kelsey
Kelsey Mack is an environmental scientist and certified planner with 8 years of experience working throughout the southeastern US. Kelsey specializes in environmental, sustainability, and resilience planning with a strong focus on applying the best available science to guide planning initiatives and policy recommendations. Her experience includes conducting numerous vulnerability assessments, developing sustainability action plans, and leading technical studies and spatial analyses that support informed policy and management decisions.
Geraldine Klarenberg, Ph.D.
Senior Data Analyst
About Geraldine
Dr. Geraldine Klarenberg has 20 years of experience in the water and natural resources sector. She is an experienced applied statistician, data analyst, and QA/QC professional with a passion for data management, programming, and data visualization. Geraldine has intimate knowledge of water quality issues, watershed management, hydrological research, simulation models, and spatial analyses. While working in the public and private sectors, academia and non-profit sectors, she gained experience in leading interdisciplinary teams while addressing Florida’s complex natural resources challenges.
Jonathan Taylor, PE
Senior Water Resources Engineer
About Jonathan
Jonathan is a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and University of Central Florida alumnus with over 19 years of experience in site development and utility design and permitting across Florida. He brings a strong track record of successfully delivering complex projects for public and private clients, providing leadership throughout the entire project lifecycle with a consistent focus on regulatory compliance and quality execution.
