Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks utilizes the skills of several skilled consultants for its work on the Green Vision Project, including:
Melanie Schlotterbeck, CMP
Green Vision Project Coordinator
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Melanie was first approached by Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks (FHBP) to assist with the Green Vision Project. Since 2004, she has grown the Coalition to more than 80 conservation and community groups. The Green Vision Map has become a well utilized tool for non-profits, planners, and resource agencies.
In 2006, Ms. Schlotterbeck assisted with negotiations for the Orange County Transportation Authority’s Renewed Measure M’s comprehensive mitigation program and she coordinated wide-ranging support for the measure. Since 2008, she has represented the 30+ member Environmental Coalition and sits as Vice Chair on the Authority’s Environmental Oversight Committee. This Committee oversees the expenditure of $243.5 million in acquisition, restoration, and management funds.
Through FHBP, she has advanced conservation policies (locally, regionally, and statewide) and written numerous toolkits assisting planners improve sustainability features for developments and park planning. Melanie also works as a consultant with numerous conservation non-profits in Southern California and across the state.
Claire Schlotterbeck
Strategic Consultant
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After 10 years away from her beloved California, Claire Schlotterbeck became involved in 1978 in a fledgling effort to establish a state park in northern Orange County. Nearly four decades and 14,100+ protected acres later, Chino Hills State Park is nearly complete.
Claire currently serves as Executive Director of Hills For Everyone, the non-profit citizen’s group that has created this State Park, a park that lies at the juncture of four of California’s most rapidly growing and urbanized counties. She continues to lead the cooperative citizen and governmental effort to protect the backbone and backdrop of open space known as the Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor.
Because of her experience in building coalitions, Claire joined FHBP’s Green Vision Project Team to identify and secure funding for parkland acquisition. Ms. Schlotterbeck has also served as a consultant to the California State Parks Foundation, Laguna Canyon Foundation, and Laguna Greenbelt, Inc.
Amy White
Policy Consultant
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Amy L. White moved to California from her home state of Louisiana in 2005. After arriving, she started her master’s studies at the Leon Panetta Institute of Public Policy located at California State University at Monterey Bay. She was lucky to receive direction instruction from Secretary Panetta. While earning her MPP, she began her almost two decade-long career working in land use policy analysis, policy advocacy, and regulatory compliance.
As Executive Director of LandWatch, Amy managed the 501c3 for a decade including all fundraising activities, community outreach and engagement, Board-directed policy implementation via direct and indirect lobbying, public relations, developing and maintaining relationships with elected officials, multi-agency negotiations, and problem solving, especially with resolving policy disputes between diverse populations.
After working in the cannabis industry, Amy returned to her favorite professional endeavors of working with 501c3’s to support and enhance California’s beauty, equity, and natural spaces. She has worked with Friends of Harbors, Beaches, and Parks since 2022.
Terry Watt, AICP
Planning Consultant
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Since 1989, Terrell Watt, AICP, has owned Terrell Watt Planning Consultants. Ms. Watt’s firm specializes in planning and implementation efforts focused on regionally-significant projects that promote resource conservation and sustainable development patterns.
Prior to forming her own consulting group, she was the staff planning expert with the environmental and land use law firm Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger. She is an expert in general and specific planning, open space, and agricultural land conservation, and environmental compliance. Her skills also include facilitation, public outreach, and negotiation.
Terrell works with a wide variety of clients throughout California including non-profit organizations, government agencies, and foundations. In 2005, on behalf of Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks and its environmental coalition she negotiated $243.5 million in an Orange County transportation measure to comprehensively mitigate for habitat impacts due to freeway projects.