REGulatory director
Justin Bellow
EDUCATION
B.S. in Urban Planning, Arizona State University
Justin is a co-founder and Regulatory/Permits Director for InterAgency. Justin served for 2-years in the Mayor’s Office during the Fenty Administration, followed by 2-years at the Office of Zoning, where he performed drawing review and code analysis. Subsequently, Justin served for 2-years as Director for DCRA’s Permit Center, where he managed a team of 30 review technicians, overseeing the permitting of DC’s most complex and vital building projects. Justin’s relationship with both DCRA directors and permit staff are a key driver in InterAgency’s ability to secure agreements and approvals with the District. Justin understands the development process comprehensively, and guides clients seamlessly through PUD processes, subdivisions and consolidations, Inclusionary Zoning, and By-Right development. Justin’s facility with District regulations is complimented by his personal relationships with District regulators. When large development is proposed in the District, Justin Bellow is the preeminent facilitator of agreements between various AHJs.
Planning director
Justin Donnelly, LEED
EDUCATION
Masters of Architecture, University of Maryland
B.A. in City Planning, Stanford University
Justin is co-founder and Planning Director for InterAgency, where he leads the firm’s water/sewer, road/bridge, and bus/rail projects. Over a 20+ year career, Justin has led ROW, environmental, and permit processes for the region’s largest infrastructure developments, including DC Water’s $2.7B Clean Rivers CSO Tunnel Program, Property Group’s $1B I-395 Air Rights Project, CSX’s $500M Virginia Avenue Tunnel, and a host of different projects for WMATA and the National Parks Service. He has also managed the regulatory and permitting efforts for private developers like Akridge, Brookfield, Hines, JBGS, MRP, and Toll Brothers. Justin has written Environmental Assessments, managed extensive Section 106 and Clean Water Act permitting processes, authored MOUs with DDOT, DOEE, DMPED, and DGS, and coordinated the easements/entitlements for a host of linear infrastructure projects in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
architecture director
John Li, AIA, LEED
EDUCATION
Masters of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania
B.S. in Architecture, University of Maryland
John is a co-founder and Architecture Director for InterAgency. He is a registered architect in Maryland and DC, with more than a decade of experience supporting Government and commercial clients in the Metro Area in the capacity of Lead Architect and Project Manager. John has led diverse projects for Federal agency clients, including the General Services Administration, National Institutes of Health, and National Park Service. His areas of expertise are wide-ranging, and include program of requirements and planning studies, feasibility studies, fast-track design build projects, and work in both historic and occupied buildings. He is well-versed in the Section 106, NCPC, and CFA review processes, and extremely familiar with GSA’s PBS P-100 standards. John currently supports Alexandria Renew Enterprises, where he serves as project architect for the RiverRenew $50M pumping station and the fit out of the Environmental Center.
EnVIRONMENTAL Director
Doug Chapin, CFM, LEED
EDUCATION
M.S. in Natural Resources, Virginia Tech University
B.A. in Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia
Doug manages InterAgency’s environmental practice. He brings 20+ years of natural and cultural resources consulting to bear on major land use development, planning, and wetland/stream mitigation projects. Doug currently serves as Owner’s Advisor to Alexandria Renew Enterprises, managing the environmental and regulatory coordination for the $600M RiverRenew CSO Tunnel Program. In this role, Doug oversees the program’s NEPA compliance process, USACE and VDEQ Clean Water Act permitting, VDOT/FHWA coordination, and the City of Alexandria’s Development Special Use Permit (DSUP) process. Concurrently, Doug serves as the Environmental Manager for the NPS National Capital Seawall project to rehabilitate and repair the seawalls within the Tidal Basin and along West Potomac Park. In this role, Doug oversees the program’s regulatory compliance process including NEPA, §106, §7 and permitting. Doug is particularly strong in Virginia, where he has negotiated easements, entitlements, and approvals with various municipalities and AHJs, including VDOT, VDEQ, and Dominion Power. Prior to joining InterAgency, Doug worked for 13 years at Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc., where he was Principal in charge of Clean Water Act (§404/§401) permitting.
SENIOR NEPA Specialist
Heidi West
EDUCATION
PhD in Environmental Science/Engineering, UCLA
M.S. in Biology/Ecology Cal State Los Angeles
M.A. in Science Communications UC Santa Cruz
B.A. in Biology UCLA
Heidi is the technical lead and subject matter expert for NEPA compliance at InterAgency. In this role, Heidi facilitates scoping and consultation processes, prepares NEPA documents, and guides clients through the execution of EAs, EISs, and Categorical Exclusions. Heidi is skilled in leading diverse stakeholder groups in the beginning stages of NEPA—defining purpose, need, and objectives, potential types and intensity of impacts, NEPA pathway, and alternatives. Prior to joining InterAgency, Heidi founded Total Quality NEPA in 1993, an all-around NEPA consulting firm that offered multi-agency planning, analysis, and technical/public input management. She was primary author of the 1998 National Park Service (NPS) NEPA regulatory handbook and has trained federal agency personnel in NEPA compliance since 1990 when she first joined Shipley Associates. Heidi has facilitated the NPS-led EIS effort for the removal of two major dams on the Elwha River, the Management Plan/EIS for Assateague Island National Seashore’s response to sea level rise, and EISs for Bison Management at Yellowstone and Elk Management at Rocky Mountain Park.
Environmental Scientist
Lauren Conner, PWS, PWD
EDUCATION
M.N.R in Natural Resources, Virginia Tech University
B.S. in Biology, University of Mary Washington
Lauren is the technical lead for Clean Water Act permitting at InterAgency, where she brings over 10 years of environmental planning, permitting and field work to the team. Lauren is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) and a licensed Professional Wetland Delineator (PWD). She has extensive experience conducting surveys and developing monitoring programs for several endangered and threatened species with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, focusing particularly on American bats and bald eagles. At InterAgency, Lauren is currently managing the Watts Branch and Hickey Branch stream restoration projects, and supporting efforts on the National Capital Seawall IDIQ, the RiverRenew Tunnel Program, and the City of Richmond’s CSO Remediation Program. Prior to joining InterAgency, Lauren worked at Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., where she was a Senior Associate Regulatory Specialist responsible for Clean Water Act permitting and natural resource studies.
Senior PROJECT MANAGER
Monling Lee
EDUCATION
Masters of Architecture, Washington U in St. Louis
B.S. in Architecture, University of Maryland
Monling has 14-years experience in architectural design, urban design, interior architecture, and permit consulting in the D.C. metro area. At InterAgency, Monling brings her architectural expertise to bear, providing peer reviews of architectural permit submissions associated with large-scale development projects for clients like MRP, Foulger-Pratt, and Akridge. Monling is a detail-oriented manager who brings a sure-hand to cost-estimating and permit scheduling activities. Prior to joining InterAgency, Monling Lee was a project manager at Hunt Laudi Studio, where she led the efforts of multiple critically acclaimed design projects including Dupont Underground, Legacy Memorial Park, and the winning entry for the Washington Memorial Grounds Competition.
Senior PROJECT MANAGER
Khara James, RA
EDUCATION
Masters of Architecture, University of Maryland
B.S. in Architecture, University of Maryland
Khara has 10-years experience in architectural design, urban design, interior architecture, and permit consulting in the D.C. metro area. Khara is a licensed architect in Washington D.C. and has worked at a variety of building scales. She was previously a project architect and associate at Perkins Eastman Architects specializing in K-12 school projects. She has practiced independently in residential and commercial design. She has also served as an assistant professor of architecture at Montgomery College. Khara is pre-construction and regulatory consultant on some of InterAgency’s largest mixed-use and affordable housing developments in Washington, DC, including JBG’s Union Market development and EYA’s McMillan development. Her passion for community-based design and sustainable placemaking has served as the foundation for her work throughout her career.
Project Manager
Mandy Leung
EDUCATION
M.S. Psychology, ChengKung University, Taiwan
B.S. in Psychology, ChengKung University, Taiwan
Mandy has 2-year experience facilitating construction management, utility coordination, and permit expediting in the D.C. Metro Area. Over the course of her tenure with InterAgency, Mandy has worked on a variety of building project types, ranging from commercial retail to office space and multifamily residential. Mandy has experience navigating regulatory compliance protocols in numerous jurisdictions such as in DC, Montgomery, Arlington, and Fairfax County. She currently manages InterAgency’s commercial projects for tenant layouts and interior alterations.
HR & Operations Manager
Maryanne Valleau, SHRM-CP
EDUCATION
B.A. in Psychology, Stockton University
Maryanne brings over two decades of professional experiences in leadership, education, and human resources, to her role as HR Manager and Office Operations Manager. Maryanne is responsible for ensuring company compliance, administering a comprehensive HR program, developing strategic operational processes, overseeing daily administrative operations, and fostering positive workplace culture. She is currently pursuing her M.B.A. in Project Management to support InterAgency’s business development strategies. A seasoned HR professional, Maryanne is a member of the National Society of Human Resource Management and the D.C. SHRM chapter.
Senior Accountant
Mia Jones
EDUCATION
B.S. in Finance, Bowie State University
With over 7 years’ experience working in operations and accounting, Mia serves on our administrative team to oversee InterAgency’s bookkeeping, accounts receivable, and account payable functions. Mia teams with our project management team to ensure accuracy of financial statements, manages project budgets, and delivers forecasting reports. She is well-versed in corporate and non-profit accounting, making her an expert liaison to our clients. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bowie State University.
PERMIT COORDINATOR
Soumia Chetouane
EDUCATION
B.S. in Community Health, George Mason University
Soumia is a new addition to InterAgency, where she manages permit submissions to DDOT, DOEE, DOB, and DC Water. Currently, Soumia facilitates the success of DC Water’s environmental justice initiative, Lead-Free DC, by coordinating all permit submissions to DOEE and DDOT. Soumia interfaces between DC Water, sister agencies, and private property owners—making sure that regulatory approvals do not delay critical construction activities. Soumia also supports community outreach initiatives for this historic public health program. After-hours, Soumia is completing certification programs in Microsoft Access and Power BI.