About

Our Mission

We support and connect climate adaptation professionals to advance innovation in the field of practice. ASAP is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization.

History

Our History

American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP) began in 2011 with the vision of building a home for people working on climate change adaptation where they could connect with each other, share information, and build on successes while moving away from approaches that aren't working. ASAP was formed as a professional society that could help bridge the geographic and sectoral gaps that naturally develop in any field-and especially in the diverse, dynamic, and emerging field of climate adaptation. No longer would individuals be isolated working on their own to make a difference. No longer would the sectors be so fragmented in their approaches to building resilience. No longer would communities, regions, or states need to start from scratch to build and prioritize their strategies to increase climate resilience.

Our Values & Beliefs

ASAP has adopted the following member created Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics (Code of Ethics) to enhance the benefits of the climate adaptation and related professional fields to humanity and the living systems upon which we all depend, to uphold the dignity and honor of the adaptation profession, and to provide guidance for individual members, organizational members, or for members in association with other professions.

In 2020, the ASAP Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee finalized the ASAP Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement to guide the ASAP Network. The JEDI Committee provides education and support for ASAP members to integrate JEDI into their adaptation work. It also provides accountability and insight to ASAP as an organization as it seeks to model JEDI principles in its management and programs. Read the ASAP Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement here.

In 2021, ASAP released a twenty-year vision for the organization and network with the support of the Strategic Planning Committee. Several subgroups of the Committee met over the course of 2020 and 2021 to develop ASAP's Strategic Plan for 2020-2040.

The following represent the foundational values and beliefs that the members of American Society of Adaptation Professionals hold:

Climate change is a real and serious danger to all sectors and systems. Its root causes must be addressed.

Adaptation and resilience build stronger, more prepared regions, ecosystems, communities, economies, neighborhoods, and households.

Adaptation and resilience must serve the interests and health of the natural world, both because of its intrinsic value and because these interests also serve those of human health, security, and overall well-being.

Adaptive decision-making, creativity, innovation, and transformative problem solving are essential to address new and changing climate conditions.

Individuals and communities on the frontlines of climate change hold expertise and resilience that must be centered in adaptation processes and decisions.

Science is a critical foundation for our climate adaptation knowledge.

Grave injustices of the past, which have been allowed to perpetuate today, have created an unjust and inequitable society. Climate change exacerbates these inequities, as those who are the least responsible for climate change are often the most impacted.

We are proud of the work we have accomplished together as a network. This work is possible because of our network values:

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Reciprocity

Reciprocity is central to networks. The adage “the more you give, the more you get” shines through ASAP programs and activities that depend on member engagement, including your feedback.

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Something for every member

Networks strive to offer something for every member and rely on democratic principles that support collective, equitable decision-making. ASAP instills these values in iterative, inclusive processes that have direct impact on ASAP strategy and direction.

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Open-access

Open access cultures in which information flows freely. ASAP strives to be transparent with network members, and we ask that you take the time to share your feedback on the member survey.

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Trust

A culture of trust is critical to the health of any network and it is at the heart of ASAP’s mission. We hope to cultivate trust by translating your feedback into tangible changes to ASAP member programs and services, as well as our continuous efforts to build relationships with and among all ASAP members.

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Member Driven

Members lead by voting with their feet

As we continue on this path together, we know that our network will be a space where we lift each other up, find ways to serve the field, and deeply connect across difference - no matter what the world throws at us. 

Our People

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Angelina DeBenedet

Program Coordinator

Angelina joins the ASAP team as Program Coordinator with a passion for advancing intersectional climate adaptation solutions. She is a first-generation graduate of Cornell University with a B.S. in Environment & Sustainability. She has worked with several community-based organizations to advance criminal justice reform, equitable access to sustainably-grown local food, and youth climate policy advocacy. She also worked as an analyst with a carbon removal research group where she established a climate justice framework for carbon storage projects, conducted social impact assessments, and co-coordinated a community and Tribal benefits plan. Prior to joining ASAP, she contributed to a literature review on unequal exposures to environmental hazards in the United States. She is thrilled to be supporting ASAP's member groups through program facilitation, capacity-building, and continued engagement. Email Angelina at adebenedet@adaptpros.org.
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Debra Butler

Executive Director

Dr. Debra M. Butler has over 20 years of experience collaborating with communities in developing plans and resources for climate resilience and adaptation. Dr. Butler earned a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Miami, masters’ degrees in both Education (Harvard) and International Business (Brandeis), and a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Her transdisciplinary research collaborations intersect human climatic displacement and migration, Native and Indigenous knowledge systems, and ecological-human-quantum assemblages. This research ranges from projects on eelgrass (Massport-Logan Airport), urban heat islands” (East Boston), mangrove (Cuba), river cane (Mississippi) and fish pond (Hawai’i) restorations through reparative and adaptive praxes. Debra is certified by the Institute for Tribal Professionals (ITEP) in Tribal Hazard Mitigation Training. She is an avid community volunteer, “Master” gardener, and chef. Email Debra at dbutler@adaptpros.org.

Jennifer Montgomery - Communications Specialist

Jennifer Montgomery

Communications Specialist

Jennifer has a solid background with years of experience in finance and marketing. While her love for accounting and finance exists, she has dedicated her skills to crafting impacting marketing strategies that drive awareness and action. With her growing knowledge of climate adaptation and resilience, Jennifer collaborates with ASAP’s staff team to execute communications plans to amplify member programs and organizational advancement efforts. Jennifer is passionate about serving underserved communities and using her skills to drive awareness and positive impact. Jennifer holds a B.B.A in Marketing from Eastern Michigan University. Email Jennifer at jmontgomery@adaptpros.org.

 

 

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Kyla Bloyer

Communications Manager

Kyla leads the development, execution, and successful implementation of communication strategies that support the mission and organizational goals of ASAP. She works with the communications team and the ASAP staff team to share program opportunities and accomplishments, lift up member stories, build the ASAP brand, and strengthen the adaptation field by providing impactful and timely communications through proper channels. Kyla is passionate about our environment and utilizes her communications background to make an impact in our communities and adaptation practices. Kyla holds a B.A. in Communications Media and a Master's in Climate Change and Society from North Carolina State University. Email Kyla at kbloyer@adaptpros.org.

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Lolita Lockett

Finance Manager

 

Lolita has over twenty years of experience in business administration, particularly within the non-profit sector, she is an active member of the American of Certified Fraud Examiners and the Government Finance Officers Association. She has built an impressive professional career, progressing from a Senior Clerk to Administrative Assistant to the Campus President at Florida State College at Jacksonville, where she has also achieved numerous academic accolades, including a summa cum laude bachelor's degree and advanced degrees in business administration, accounting, and finance. Outside of her professional achievements, Lolita is also dedicated to fitness as a marathon runner and a certified U.S.A. Track & Field coach. You can reach her at finance@adaptpros.org.

 

Mia Dozier

Maria (Mia) Dozier

Training Specialist

Maria Dozier is a dedicated life-long learner and climate adaptation/justice advocate who uses education and coalition building as a vehicle for social change. Her work at ASAP centers around creating, improving, and delivering ASAP trainings to a variety of audiences including private and public sector partners and ASAP members. Internally, Maria also supports the programs department by designing curriculums and pedagogy for a swath of ASAP projects. Maria holds a B.S. from the University of Florida in Sustainability and the Built Environment in addition to an M.S. from the University of Michigan in Environment and Sustainability with concentrations in Environmental Justice as well as Environmental Policy and Planning. You can contact her at mdozier@adaptpros.org.

The ASAP Board of Directors provides both strategic leadership and management support to achieve ASAP’s mission, vision, and objectives. Board Members bring their enthusiasm and expertise to propel the organization toward a stable and impactful future.

Learn more about ASAP and the Board of Directors’ roles and responsibilities.

Amy Leitch

Amy Leitch

Urban Resilience, Climate Action, and Sustainability Associate at ARUP

Amy Leitch's work at Arup crosses public policy, technical design of major infrastructure systems and urban planning, and thought leadership, innovation, and partnership, with global exposure and local focus. Amy works closely with Arup's thought leadership, innovation, and partnership initiatives, demonstrating value in investment and connecting between business leaders and Arup's skills networks and practitioners. Leitch has developed and delivered work with the world's leading city climate and resilience networks and foundations, including C40, ICLEI, GCoM, 100 Resilient Cities, the Urban Sustainability Director's Network, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Bloomberg Philanthropies to understand challenges to urban resilience and develop guidance and tools to shift towards solutions.

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Emily Wasley

Head of Climate Resilience and Biodiversity at Meta

I serve as Head of Climate Resilience and Biodiversity at Meta. I have almost 20 years of experience working with a variety of organizations on domestic and international climate risk, adaptation, and resilience analysis, strategy, and implementation. Outside of work, I love reading, crocheting, walking with my dog, Buddy, and spending time with family and friends.  

 
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Julia Kim, Secretary

Program Director

Julia Kim has served on the ASAP Board of Directors since 2019 and brings over a decade of experience working in California to advance equitable climate resilience priorities locally, regionally, statewide, and beyond. Most recently, as CivicWell's Climate Change & Energy Program Director, she focused on building the capacity, partnerships, and projects needed to accelerate on-the-ground resilience efforts while working to create an enabling policy and funding environment for sustained climate action into the future. She's a masterful facilitator, convener, coalition builder, and cat herder. Julia is based in California's Santa Cruz Mountains and (depending on the season) spends her free time surfing, snowboarding, backpacking, dancing, and (attempting) to cook extravagant meals for her family and friends.
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Maya Buchanan

Maya Buchanan, President

Project Director, Climate, Resilience, and Sustainability at WSP

Maya Buchanan currently leads business development efforts and has worked closely with donors and won generous grants from private and public foundations (such as the Doris Duke Foundation, JPB Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Water Research Foundation, and the California Strategic Growth Council) to operationalize climate risk information and ultimately benefit underserved communities Maya has served on climate assessments for all levels of government (e.g., as a contributing author and chapter scientist for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere, as a liaison of the White House Subcommittee on Global Change Research for the U.S. National Climate Assessment, and as a contributing author and reviewer for the New York Panel on Climate Change Assessments and Oregon Climate Assessments).

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Nuin-Tara Key

Nuin-Tara Key

Director, North America Public Sector Lead, Climate and Resilience Hub (CRH), WTW

Nuin-Tara Key works in a current senior leadership position at WTW – a global strategic consulting, financial services, and risk and broking company. Nuin-Tara leads the Climate and Resilience Hub's North America Public Sector practice and works with public agencies across North America to operationalize climate risk and resilience into planning and investment decisions with a specific focus on opportunities to leverage public and market-based solutions to scale equitable resilience solutions and equip governments to manage climate as a material financial risk. Key served as a Gubernatorial appointee to California Governors Brown and Newsom and built the state's first dedicated integrated climate adaptation program in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR).

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Shameika Hanson

The Nature Conservancy, Community Protection Specialist

Shameika has over a decade of experience in the environmental field focusing on interpersonal communications, sustainable development, climate change, and the intersection of these and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion issues. A wide network of people working in the field at various levels from govt and education, to on-the-ground organizers working in communities. A process-oriented mindset with strong facilitation and organizing skills.

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Susy Torriente, Treasurer

Global Principal for City Resilience at Jacobs

Susy Torriente is Global Principal for City Resilience at Jacobs. She is an accomplished organizational strategist with 33 years of local government policy and management experience in South Florida as assistant county /city manager, Miami-Dade County’s first sustainability director and Miami Beach’s first Chief Resilience Officer, participating in the Rockefeller 100 Resilient Cities Network.  Susy is a founding member of the SE Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, now celebrating its 15th year.

Project highlights since joining Jacobs in 2020 include creating a Miami-Dade Resilience Hub prototype, network, and guidebook through the Arsht-Rock Foundation; conducting a Military Installation Resilience Review in South Florida, Emerald Coast Fl and East Central FL; developing the City of Key West Sea level rise policy and post disaster recovering plan; coordinating stakeholder engagement for the Port Canaveral Vulnerability Assessment & Adaptation Plan; and supporting stakeholder engagement and funding pursuits for coastal resilience at Tyndall Air Force Base. She is supports other projects as a resilience subject matter expert including Oklahoma City Utilities emergency response plan development, FEMA hurricane recovery planning efforts in Florida, and Miami-Dade County downtown redevelopment planning.

She is based in Orlando, Florida and is Chair of the Orange County Sustainability and Resilience Advisory Board and Treasurer at ASAP – American Society of Adaptation Professionals. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Miami.

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Past Board Members:

  • Eric Mielbrecht, EcoAdapt
  • James Murley, Miami-Dade County
  • Jacqueline Patterson, Chisholm Legacy Project
  • Jennifer Jurado, Broward County Government
  • Jessica Grannis, National Audubon Society
  • John R. Nordgren, Climate Resilience Fund
  • Josh Foster, Maryland Department of Transportation
  • Joyce Coffee, Climate Resilience Consulting
  • Missy Stults, City of Ann Arbor
  • Steve Adams, Institute for Sustainable Communities
  • Susanne Moser, Susanne Moser Consulting

Interested in joining the ASAP Team?

See Our Careers

Organizational Members

Organizational members are change-makers, they accelerate impact and they are leading the field of adaptation.

ASAP's organizational members gain climate adaptation credibility and visibility through advertising opportunities. Members also receive special event and conference discounts, communication promotion opportunities, and connection to the network. Membership provides professional opportunities for staff such as sector or issue-based interest groups and regional leadership.

Increase your impact with an organizational membership, explore member benefits here.