International Erosion Control Association Announces 2011 Board of Directors

Beth Chesson, president of the IECA Southeast Chapter's Board of Directors from 2004 to 2010, is a newly elected member of the IECA Board of Director.

Denver, Colo.-The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) membership voted to re-elect Julie Etra and Tom Williams to the 2011 board of directors. Joining Etra and Williams on the board is Beth Chesson, who will begin her term in February alongside fellow board members Julie Etra, Philip Handley, Lee Johnson, Sandy Mathews, Rick Morse, Brock Peters, Charles Riling Jr. and Tom Williams.

Julie Etra

Julie Etra, principal of Western Botanical Services, Inc., a consulting firm founded in 1993, has more than 25 years experience in the fields of erosion control, revegetation, restoration, botanical surveys, environmental documents, monitoring and wetlands. She has had extensive teaching experience, has produced more than 14 publications and received numerous awards for design work. Etra has been an active member of IECA since 1988 and currently serves on the board as vice president of international development.

Tom Williams

Tom Williams, director of environmental affairs for Midway Gold Corp. has over 30 years experience in the project management and preparation of reclamation plans, baseline data collection projects and environmental impact assessments. The majority of the projects he has participated in have been mining, renewable energy, power, transmission and pipeline related. Williams is a reclamation ecologist and certified erosion control specialist with specific expertise in the reclamation and revegetation of disturbed lands, wetlands remediation, statistical analysis of vegetation and erosion and sediment control. He has conducted workshops on vegetation establishment, revegetation, erosion control and environmental impact assessment for over 15 years. Tom currently serves on the board as vice president of marketing and is the chair of the SOIL Fund and Technology Section 3 (vegetation establishment) committee.

The IECA Board of Directors comprises nine members, each serving a three-year term. Board positions will be decided at IECA's annual conference and expo, February 20-23, 2011, in Orlando.