GEM Environmental is excited to welcome one of our new members to the team! Rena Kolikant is a GIS Analyst!

Rena is from Southern New Mexico and after a brief stint on the East Coast, where she received a B.S. in Mathematics, she returned to the area and land that she loves. Through her experience doing contract project work for the Bureau of Land Management she developed an interest in applying GIS and satellite technology to problem solving land management issues. She believes STEM education can help individuals and organizations reach their potential through teaching an open and curious problem-solving approach that creatively adapts to the technological and other tools at hand. Welcome to the team, Rena!
 
How did you hear about this service opportunity?
I learned of this opportunity from Chris Teske, the Abandoned Mine Lands Coordinator at the Bureau of Land Management’s Las Cruces District Office.
 
Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus.
My work has primarily focused on the application of GIS/remote sensing to renewable resource management. Most recently, using satellite technology to better calibrate hydrological modelling simulation.
 
What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM?
I am interested in database management and hope to create a functional SDE Geodatabase for the specific business needs at GEM. I am interested in using satellite and other aerial technology to create methodology from locating abandoned mines quickly to better characterizing land coverage for land process modelling.
 
What are your career goals?
I would like to continue in GIS and remote sensing and eventually work for or continue to contract with government agencies to develop and/or expand methodologies for various types of land-use analysis.
 
Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn?
Yes, I plan to continue my education by working towards an M.S. in GIS technology and remote sensing.

​GEM Environmental is excited to welcome one of our new members to the team! Patrick Willoughby is our newest Conservation Maintenance Intern!

​Patrick lives in Prescott, AZ with his parents, two brothers, and his big puppy Nate. He is currently a junior at Prescott High School, where he is a starting varsity football player for the Prescott High Badgers. He enjoys sports, riding his dirt bike and many other outdoor activities. After high school, Patrick plans on continuing his education at Yavapai College, working on a degree in Computer Programming and Information Technology. Welcome to the team, Patrick!

GEM Environmental is excited to welcome one of our new members to the team! Jacob Mull is our newest AmeriCorps State Member High School Ambassador through Arizona Serve.
 
Jacob is from Prescott, and he is currently a senior at Prescott High School. Jacob highly values academic integrity and environmental conservation, which he applies to his work and studying. His hobbies and current activities include National Honor Society, Math Club, and Band. Welcome to the team, Jacob!

How did you hear about this service opportunity?
It was presented in a PHS scholarship opportunity email.
 
Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus.
GEM has been by first occupation, but I plan to implement what I have learned here to jobs in the future. During college, I plan to focus on a science related major.
 
What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM?
I wish to grow close to the kids I work with and gain a greater understanding of STEM knowledge.
 
What are your career goals?
I am not sure about my career goals yet, but it will most likely be related to science, specifically chemistry.
 
Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn?
I plan to go to college at Cal Ploy or Colorado School of Mines to earn a Bachelor's Degree.
 
Anything else you'd like to share about your work, yourself, or the STEM fields?
During my time with Academic Honors Club and National Honors Society, I have had a lot of experience with community service and I understand why it is so beneficial. Through GEM I wish to apply my past experiences to make the biggest impact possible.

GEM Environmental is excited to welcome one of our new members to the team! Ellen Snyder is our newest AmeriCorps State member through Arizona Serve.
 
Ellen grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, but after graduating from Monmouth College with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science she lived in several different states. She loves being outdoors, especially hiking and camping (and identifying plants along the way), baking, gardening, and playing board games. Ellen believes ecology, sustainability, and all parts of STEM are essential for the future leaders to appreciate and grow to love. Welcome to the team, Ellen!

Ellen has previously worked as a landscape crew supervisor, laboratory technician at a medical facility, and soil analyst at an agricultural soil testing center. Before graduating college, she worked seasonally in the field performing habitat restoration - removing invasive plant species and reintroducing native plants. She is interested in sustainability, agriculture, and how humans interact with their environment.
 
Ellen hopes to learn how to be a positive influence on students and show them that the STEM fields are interesting and accessible to anyone who wants to pursue them. She also plans to learn more about the southwest region and how she can be a force for change while working with GEM.
 
Ellen's overarching career goal is to join a team that works to help both people and the environment thrive! She would love to become involved with the Forest Service, National Park Service, non-profit that works to address food security, organic agriculture, or alternative medicine.
 
Currently, Ellen is considering earning certifications or attending seminars to learn more about education, agriculture, natural resource management, or another applicable skills that will help move my career forward. She had two internship opportunities while attending college, and both benefited Ellen by connecting her to a large network of professionals within the environmental restoration field. She still uses those coworkers as references for applications and consults them when she has questions concerning field questions along with as general social contacts. Internships gave her confidence and valuable skills in her field of study as well.
 
To learn more about Ellen click here.

GEM Environmental is excited to welcome one of our new members to the team! Jennifer Warren is our new GEM for STEM Human Resources and Accounting Clerk.
 
Jennifer is from Texas, she loves horses, music and dancing.  She values science greatly because it is part of every living thing on this planet. Jennifer’s bachelor’s degree is in Wildlife Management. She also has a great appreciation for technology, as it is fun to learn all the changes that are occurring every day. Welcome to the team, Jennifer!

How did you hear about this service opportunity?
I found out about this opportunity through a friend and client, who knew I was looking for an administrative position.
 
Please provide a brief description highlighting your work/area of focus.
My focus at GEM Environmental is a new position in human relations coordination and accounting clerk. 
 
What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM?
I plan to focus on being a team member assisting with GEM mission, goals, accomplishments and activities.  Definitely, volunteering time to assist with all the new exciting programs within GEM Environmental.
 
What are your career goals?
I hope to have long term goals as a team member with this company learning and growing with this organization.
 
Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn?
My education is continuous if I am learning something new every day. There are no plans for formal education programs at this time as I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management.

GEM Environmental is excited to welcome one of our new members to the team! Emily Petersen is our new Director of Scholarships!
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Emily grew up in Maryland and traded the museums for mountains when she moved to Colorado after earning her Art History Degree. This summer she moved to Arizona after teaching middle school science in Washington State. Before teaching, Emily worked with a variety of environmental education non-profits and explored the forests, rivers, and estuaries of Washington and Colorado. She loves teaching science and connecting students with nature. Emily believes that STEM education can inspire curiosity and unlock countless opportunities for students. Her passion is playing outside and she loves planning hiking trips to backcountry huts, rock climbing during daylight hours, and attempting bike-packing adventures. Welcome to the team, Emily!

How did you hear about this service opportunity?
VolunteerMatch
 
What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM?
As the Director of Scholarships, I hope to increase the accessibility of the scholarship application process for underrepresented science students.
 
Have you had any other internship or service opportunities before this? If so, how do you believe internships have benefited you so far?
I am a three-time former AmeriCorps service member! I gained so much valuable work experience from my AmeriCorps placements and highly recommend it as a way to try out different fields and live in new places.

"What I loved best was the amazing individuals I got to work with daily. It was so easy to show up, be a part of a group who loved to work outside, and turn all the problems we were requested to fix into solved ones. It was such an amazing experience to have learned through my own working hands as well as actually being in the field and being able to problem-solve/implement changes that benefit the environment based on the situation at hand."
​- Mariah McGhee, YCI Participant ​

GEM Environmental is excited to welcome one of our new members to the team! Annie Warner is our newest AmeriCorps State Member through Arizona Serve.
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Annie is originally from New Jersey but spent the last four years living in Florida while attending college. In her free time, she enjoys dance, yoga, hiking, spending time outside, photography, and experimenting in photoshop. Welcome to the team, Annie!

How did you hear about this service opportunity?
I found this opportunity through Arizona Serve. After talking with some people at the office they recommended looking into this position since it fit my interests well.
 
Your work/area of focus.
Most of my experience has been working in youth development, sustainability, refugee resettlement, and immigration policy. I am excited to fuse my passions for equitable education, sustainability, and media while working with GEM.
 
What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM?
I am excited to help GEM expand their work of furthering equitable education opportunities through marketing, outreach, and media.
 
What are your career goals?
Following my term with AmeriCorps I am planning to serve with Peace Corps in Peru as a Youth Development Facilitator. After that, I hope to eventually attend graduate school and continue my career in public service.
 
Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn?
I am looking to earn a Master’s Degree likely in Humanitarian Action and/or International Development.
 
Have you had any other internship or service opportunities before this? If so, how do you believe internships have benefited you so far?
During my time in undergrad, I had the opportunity to complete two internships and volunteer at a variety of nonprofits. These experiences were incredibly beneficial in so many ways. Not only did they allow me to explore my academic interests in a more hands-on way, but also provided valuable professional experience. More specifically, these experiences allowed me to work with diverse communities and gain better insight into successful non-profit management.

To learn more about Annie Warner check out her website:
​https://anrwarner.wixsite.com/mysite

GEM Environmental is excited to welcome one of our new members to the team! Jessica Certain is our newest AmeriCorps State Member through Arizona Serve.
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Jessica grew up in the Prescott area and has loved exploring the local community. She loves to go hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and has grown up with the outdoors being a large part of her life. Jessica is currently in school and wishes to become a Geologist. Along the way, she hopes to inspire young people to be more excited and want to study the sciences. Welcome to the team, Jessica!

How did you hear about this service opportunity?
GEM funded one of my school field trips and I got to meet Eric! We have been emailing back and forth and he thought I would be a good fit for this opportunity, and it turns out he was right!
 
Your work/area of focus.
I currently am creating experiment videos that kids and adults alike can watch online and hopefully learn something, and sometimes safely try at home. I will also be coming up with content and activities for the school year that we can do with the kids at our local Community Nature Center.
 
What do you plan to accomplish during your service term with GEM?
I plan to help spread GEM's influence and inspire kids to want to study the science fields, as well as work alongside the community to offer educational programs for all ages. We will also be working on several service projects throughout the year where we are able to give back to the community.

 What are your career goals?
I am not sure what kind of job I would like to have, but if it's in the geology field I will be happy!
 
Do you plan to continue your education? If so, what programs or school are you looking into and what is the highest degree you plan to earn?
I hope to study geology soon at a university level. I am close to getting my AS Degree, so I will soon be moving to the Bachelor’s level.
 
To check out some of Jessica’s project videos click here.