%20%20(1).png)
Welcome
Join us in beautiful downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, for the SCDRP 9th Annual Meeting!
SCDRP Annual Meetings are different. If you’ve attended our Annual Meetings before, you know that SCDRP’s flagship event is not your typical conference. SCDRP Annual Meetings are unique and distinguished convenings marked by the attendance of diverse, multi-sectoral professionals representing the private, academic, non-profit, and public sectors from a broad geographic region stretching across the Southeastern U.S. and Caribbean. Spend two days with us and enjoy close networking with top organizations working to make a difference in the disaster resilience, recovery, and adaptation disciplines.
SCDRP Annual Meetings are intentionally small. During our gatherings, we all share in the entire experience; high-level speakers remain accessible to all, and we have the time and space for collective learning and collaborative development of ideas into future action plans. In order to ensure this, we cap our meetings at 125 attendees. We have sold out for the last 2 years, so be sure to register early!
SCDRP Annual Meetings are relevant by design. Throughout the planning process, we listen to our Partners and create the meeting agenda with them in mind. We incorporate timely issues and pressing topics that are important to our Partners and the organizations and communities that they represent. We cross geographic and political boundaries to bring together the brightest, most innovative leaders in the natural hazard resilience, climate adaptation, and disaster recovery fields in the U.S. Southeast and Caribbean. As we select speakers and topics and design educational field trips and networking events, we incorporate into the planning process a deep commitment to our core values of collaboration, learning, equity, and support. This commitment reveals itself through honest sharing, storytelling, eye-opening insights, laughter, thoughtful questions, cell phones full of new contacts, joyful reunions, high-fives, and hugs!
To learn more about our Annual Meetings, you can view previous years’ meeting reports and recordings on our SCDRP Resources webpage and SCDRP YouTube channel.
I am looking forward to spending time with you in Wilmington!
Thank you for supporting regional resilience,
Heather P. McCarthy, SCDRP Executive Director
Sponsor the 9th Annual Meeting
GOLD
$5,000
-
3 Complimentary Registrations
-
Logos & links on promotional meeting materials & website
-
Acknowledgement on all SCDRP Social Media Accounts
-
Acknowledgment during Opening & Closing Remarks
-
Two pages of marketing in Meeting Program
-
Sponsor a session: 5 minute introduction to one session
-
Gold Sponsor Table in the Meeting Ballroom
SILVER
$2,500
-
2 Complimentary Registrations
-
Logos & links on promotional meeting materials & website
-
Acknowledgement on all SCDRP Social Media Accounts
-
Acknowledgment during Opening & Closing Remarks
-
One page of marketing in Meeting Program
BRONZE
$1,000
-
1 Complimentary Registration
-
Logos & links on promotional meeting materials & website
-
Acknowledgement on all SCDRP Social Media Accounts
-
Acknowledgment during Opening & Closing Remarks
We welcome alternative sponsorship opportunities - Sponsor a Workshop, Field Trip, Speaker or Panelist, Social Event, Nonprofit Attendee or Student! Please reach out to us at scdrp@secoora.org.
Travel & Logistics
Closest Airports (with distances from Aloft Hotel listed): Wilmington International Airport (4 miles) Myrtle Beach International Airport (79 miles) Raleigh-Durham International Airport (146 miles) Regional Airports: Albert J. Ellis Airport (59 miles) Fayetteville Regional Airport (88 miles) Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (98 miles)
Hotel Information: Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center 501 Nutt Street, Wilmington, NC 28401, (910) 377-7600 Check-in: 4:00 pm Check out: 11:00 am On-Site Parking: $20.00 daily Valet $25.00 daily More Info and Photos: https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/listing/aloft-wilmington-at-coastline-center/1831/ https://www.flipsnack.com/PremRealty/aloft-hotel-wilmington_edition-01_flipbook/full-view.html
Local Transportation: Bus Wave Transit offers 14 public bus routes that run throughout Wilmington and surrounding communities, such as Carolina Beach. Visitors can purchase tickets on board any Wave bus, but it's important to note that drivers only take cash and they won't make change: A one-way pass costs $2; an unlimited one-day pass costs $5. You can also buy passes at Forden Station, located at 505 Cando Street, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The buses run Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Take Wave bus service No. 207 to get from the Wilmington airport to downtown Wilmington. https://www.wavetransit.com/ Trolley Wilmington's Wave Transit offers a free trolley service, which makes 10 stops throughout downtown at places ranging from the public library to the city's convention center. It operates every 20 minutes from Monday to Friday, from 7:10 a.m. to 8:50 p.m.; on Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and on Sunday, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. https://www.wavetransit.com/free-downtown-trolley-schedule/ Visitors to Wilmington can also call a cab or order an Uber or Lyft . Taxi: https://wilmingtonblackcar.com/
Local Attractions: 1. Wilmington Riverwalk: Wilmington's Riverwalk stretches 1.75 miles along the bank of the Cape Fear River in historic downtown Wilmington, running from the foot of Nun Street on the south of historic downtown to the Isabel Holmes Bridge on the north. It has been named in the top 10 riverwalks across the country by USA Today over the last decade. 2. Carolina Beach State Park: Located in New Hanover County 12 miles south of Wilmington, Carolina Beach State Park is home to the Venus flytrap, a unique carnivorous plant. The park is known for habitats like Sugarloaf Dune, a 50-foot dune that once served as a navigational marker for river pilots, as well as three limesink ponds that each feature a unique plant community. The park's marina provides access to the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway, making the area popular for boaters and anglers. 3. National Register Historic District: Visit some of the finest examples of historic Victorian-era architecture at the Bellamy Mansion, built on the eve of the Civil War; the Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens, the only structure in Wilmington from the colonial era open to the public; and Latimer House, which transports visitors back to the Victorian era to learn tales of the Latimer family. 4. Carolina Beach, Kure Beach & Wrightsville Beach: Three island beach towns a short drive from downtown Wilmington.
Meeting Schedule (Tentative)
Monday, February 3, 2025
12:00 - 1:00 PM SCDRP Advisory Board Working Lunch
Location: Platform D, Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center, 501 Nutt Street, Wilmington, NC
1:00 - 5:00 PM SCDRP Advisory Board Meeting
Location: Platform D, Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center, 501 Nutt Street, Wilmington, NC
4:00 - 6:00 PM Hotel Check-ins
Location: Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center, 501 Nutt Street, Wilmington, NC
​
6:00 - 7:00 PM Monday Night Mentor/Mentee Meet-Up (for Cohort #1 and Sponsors) Location: Palate Bottle Shop and Garden, 1007 N 4th St, Wilmington, NC 28401
17 minute walk from Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center. Palate Bottle Shop and Garden features indoor and outdoor space; outdoor space includes heaters and fire pits. Palate does not serve food, but you may order from one of the many nearby local restaurants and bring your food to enjoy at Palate with SCDRP friends.
7:00 - 9:00 PM Monday Night Mixer
Location: Palate Bottle Shop and Garden, 1007 N 4th St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
​
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Day 1: SCDRP 9th Annual Meeting (Lunch provided)
Location: Platforms ABCD, Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center, 501 Nutt Street, Wilmington, NC Lunch is provided in the Platforms ABC Ballroom.
Beverages and Snacks provided during breaks between speaker sessions.
​
8:00 am - 9:00 am Check-In, Sponsorship Table Set-up, Poster Set-up, and Light Bites
​
9:00 am - 10:00 am Welcome and Day 1 Keynote Kick-off Address
Heather McCarthy, Executive Director, SCDRP
Craig Harris, City of Wilmington, NC
Dr. Amanda Martin, Chief Resilience Officer, State of North Carolina
​
10:00 am - 11:15 am Session 1: Resilience Updates from the States and Territories
Moderator: Katharine Egan, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Alexander Butler, South Carolina Office of Resilience
Brian Byfield, North Carolina Office of Recovery & Resiliency
Hilary Lohmann, USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources
Kait Morano, Coastal Equity and Resilience (CEAR) Hub, Georgia Institute of Technology
Manuel Laboy, Formerly Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction, and Resiliency of Puerto Rico
​
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Session 2: Creating Innovative Collaborations and Funding Strategies
Moderator: Josiah 'Jazz' Watts, Vulnerable Communities Initiative, Inc. and Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
Anita Collins, Urbana Park Neighborhood Assembly
Frank Alexander, Vulnerable Communities Initiative
​
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm Express Lunch Provided
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Session 3: Co-Benefits/Permitting of Living Shorelines, Nature-Based Solutions, and Nearshore Coastal Armoring
Introduction: Anne Cabrera, SWCA Environmental Consultants
Moderator: Dr. Sofía Pérez-Guzmán, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Busch, North Carolina Coastal Federation
Hollie Schmidt, Jacobs
​
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Super Collider Poster Session
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm Field Trip: Battleship Experience
Bus transportation provided to 1 Battleship Rd NE, Wilmington, NC 28401
Program Overview: This 2-hour field trip will provide an engaging, interactive experience on Eagle Island’s historical, ecological, and forward-looking significance. Participants will rotate through four themed stations in small groups, allowing for direct interaction with experts and fostering a more personalized learning experience. Each station will highlight a unique aspect of Eagle Island, the Cape Fear River, or the Living with Water Project, from historical conservation to environmental monitoring and sustainable engineering, aligning with our commitment to advancing understanding of the ecological importance and community role.
​
Station 1: Historic Overview
Dr. Jay Martin, Executive Director, Battleship North Carolina
Mikaila Reynolds, USACE Wilmington District
John Policarpo, USACE Wilmington District
Mitch Hall, USACE Wilmington District
​
Station 2: Living Laboratory
Dr. Martin H. Posey, Benthic Ecology Lab, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Troy Alphin, Benthic Ecology Lab, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Alli Lapinsky, Benthic Ecology Lab, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Dr. Devon Eulie, Coastal & Estuarine Studies Lab, Center for Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington
​
Station 3: Living with Water – Engineering and Restoration
Dawn York, Moffat & Nichol
Chris Vargo, Battleship North Carolina
​
Station 4: Present and Future – Vision for Eagle Island
Terry DeMeo, Battleship North Carolina
Roger D. Shew, University of North Carolina Wilmington
​​
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Tuesday Night Rendezvous ​
Location: Tequila’s Waterfront , 14 Harnett St. Wilmington, NC 28401
10 minute walk from the Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center. Located on the Cape Fear River, Tequila’s Waterfront has views of the Riverfront Marina and is located next to Riverfront Park. Dinner/drinks are not provided by SCDRP.
​
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Day 2: SCDRP 9th Annual Meeting (Lunch provided)
Location: Platforms ABCD, Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center, 501 Nutt Street, Wilmington, NC Lunch is provided in the Platforms ABC Ballroom.
Beverages and Snacks provided during breaks between speaker sessions.
​
8:00 am - 9:00 am Check-In, Sponsorship Table Set-up, Poster Set-up, and Light Bites
​
9:00 am - 9:15 am Welcome and Overview of Day 2 Events
Heather McCarthy, Executive Director, SCDRP
​
9:15 am - 9:45 am Day 2 Keynote Kick-off Address
Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown, Stetson University
9:45 am-10:45 am Session 4: Communicating and Connecting with Underserved Communities to Build Resilience
Moderator: Henry Saxon, Center for Sustainable Communities
Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown, Stetson University
Dr. Jennifer Hirsch, Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Gavin Smith, NC State University
Garry Harris, Center for Sustainable Communities
​
10:45 am-11:00 am: Break
​
11:00 am - 12:00 pm Session 5: Resilient Futures – Advances in Disaster Recovery
Moderator: Randall Mathews, Chatham Emergency Management Agency
​Maggie Steenburg, Miami-Dade County Department of Emergency Management
Dr. Meredith Hovis, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Jeanine Neipert, IEM
​
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm Express Lunch Provided
​
12:45 pm-1:45 pm Session 6: Truth in the Storm: Effective Strategies for Climate and Disaster Communication
Dr. Ian Weaver, University of North Carolina Wilmington
​
1:45 pm-2:30 pm Special Session: SCDRP Regional Initiatives
Heather McCarthy, SCDRP Executive Director
Moderator: Claire McGrath, SCDRP Program Coordinator
​Stephanie Kelly, Earth Matters Planning & Design
​Katharine Egan, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Patrick Howell, Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS)
Adelaide Bates, The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University
2:30 pm-3:00 pm Super Collider Poster Session and Prospective Mentor/Mentee Huddle
​
3:00 pm-3:30 pm Special Session: Atlas 15: Building Resilience to the Impacts of Extreme Precipitation
Sharon Mesick, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Joelle Godwin, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
​
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Session 7: Innovative Government Collaborations and Funding Strategies
Moderator: Patrick Howell, Institute for Building Technology and Safety
​Commissioner Frank Williams, Brunswick County, NC
Karina Castillo, Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience
​Yanel de Angel, ResilientSEE, Perkins&Will
​​​​
4:30 pm - 4:45 pm Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks
Heather McCarthy, SCDRP Executive Director
​
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM Feedback Surveys & Casual Socializing until 5:00 PM
​
Extra Night and Morning for Invite-Only Duke Roundtable Participants
Topic: “Revisiting the Stafford Act: Data, Climate Change, and the Stafford Act in an Era of Data Modernization” Hosted by Duke Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability.
Thursday, February 6, 2025
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Invite-Only Post-meeting Duke Roundtable Discussion
Location: Disclosed to participants.
​
Optional 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Invite-only Boxed Lunch provided by Duke Nicholas Institute
Location: Disclosed to participants.
Stay for a social lunch or take lunch to-go if travel requires.
FAQ
Who will attend the SCDRP 9th Annual Meeting?
The SCDRP Annual Meetings are marked by a unique diversity of individuals representative of SCDRP’s multi-sectoral and broad regional status. Professionally, attendees represent approximately equal quarters from the Academic sector (working or studying at a college or university), Non-profit sector (representing a non-governmental organization), Governmental sector (working at Federal, state/territory, or local levels of government), and Private sector (working for a company, business, or industry). Geographically, the profile of SCDRP Annual Meeting attendees represents the entire footprint of the SCDRP region including the southeastern states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and the U.S. Caribbean territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A smaller number of attendees travel from more distant locations throughout the U.S. and Wider Caribbean.
How much does registration cost?
An Individual Registration to the SCDRP 9th Annual Meeting 2025 in Wilmington is $525 per attendee. We are pleased to offer a special discounted Student Registration at $175 each (please email a photo of your current student ID to scdrp@secoora.org) to take advantage of the discounted rate.
Discounts are available for some Annual Meeting attendees. If you fall into one of the below categories, email us at scdrp@secoora.org to receive your discount code:
SCDRP Dues-Paying Member: $100 off registration
2025 Steering Committee Member: $200 off registration
Bronze Sponsor: 100% off one registration
Silver Sponsor: 100% off two registrations
Gold Sponsor: 100% off three registrations
Session Speaker/Panelist/Moderator: 100% off registration
What does my registration include?
Registration includes admission to all Annual Meeting sessions on February 4th and 5th. Registration includes lunch on February 4th and 5th. Field trips may incur additional fees.
When is the deadline to register?
The deadline to register is Monday, January 13, 2025, but registration will close when we reach capacity at 125 attendees. Deadline to book your hotel room at Aloft is January 13, 2025.
When is the deadline to submit a sponsorship?
The deadline for submitting a sponsorship and providing marketing materials will be January 13, 2025, to provide time for the printing of the marketing materials in the Annual Meeting Program.
What is the refund policy?
No refunds will be issued after the registration deadline. Eventbrite fees are non-refundable.
Are there carpool options from nearby airports?
If you would like to carpool to the Annual Meeting, please email scdrp@secoora.org to gain access to an attendee carpool spreadsheet. On the spreadsheet, you will have the opportunity to input your contact information, departure/arrival information, and indicate whether you are seeking or offering a ride.
Is there financial assistance available?
Thanks to generous sponsors, we have 10 scholarships available to cover the registration fees for the SCDRP 9th Annual Meeting. Scholarship awards do not cover transportation or lodging. Scholarships are open to SCDRP Members in Good Standing. Applications will be accepted until December 18, 2024. Applications will be reviewed by SCDRP staff, and award recipients will be selected based on need and essay responses. Scholarship recipients may be requested to volunteer up to 2 hours during the Annual Meeting. Click here to apply.
Meet the Steering Committee
Brian Byfield
Resilient Communities Program Manager North Carolina Office of Recovery & Resiliency (NCORR)
Raleigh, NC
Amber O’Quinn
Office Manager
Homewatch CareGivers
St. Pete, Florida
Allyssa Zebrowski
SE Regional Preparedness Coordinator, NOAA Disaster Preparedness Program | Genwest North Charleston, SC
Christine M. Crespo Valentín
Landscape Architect
Jacobs
Tampa, FL
David Johnston
Founder & CEO
Hamilton Advisors, LLC
Charleston, SC
Dr. Meredith Hovis
Assistant Professor
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Donya Frank-Gilchrist,
Research Oceanographer
US Geological Survey,
St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg, FL
Duane De Freese, Ph.D.
Executive Director
The Indian River Lagoon NEP
Florida
Garry Harris
President/CEO
Sustainability Solutions Group and Institute,
Hampton Roads VA/Atlanta GA
Geno Olmi,
Retired, formerly with NOAA for 27 years
Johns Island, SC
Jason Fleming, Ph.D.
Principal Consultant
Seahorse Consulting
Morehead City, NC
Dr. Jeremy Stalker
Associate Professor of Marine Science
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville, FL
Josiah 'Jazz' Watts
Vulnerable Communities Initiative, Inc. and Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
Sapelo Island, GA
Kait Morano
Resilience Planning Director & Research Scientist II
Coastal Equity and Resilience Hub, Georgia Tech, Savannah, GA
Kasen Wally
Coastal Resiliency Specialist
NC Division of Coastal Management Morehead City, NC
Kim Leonard
Development & Outreach Coordinator
Savannah Riverkeeper
Savannah, GA
Luke Roberson
Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator
Institute for Water and Health at Georgia Southern University; Savannah, GA
Knellee Bisram
Founder & CEO
AHAM Education Inc.
Miami, FL
Mackenzie Todd
Coastal Resiliency Coordinator
North Carolina Division of Coastal Management
Morehead City, NC
Maggie Steenburg
Assistant Director
Miami-Dade County Department
of Emergency Management
Doral, FL
Mariko Polk
Coastal Processes Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
Wilmington, NC
Megan Shaw
Office and Events Manager
SECOORA
Cincinnati, OH
Ren Martin
Eco-Justice Program Coordinator North Carolina Council of Churches
Raleigh, NC
Sharon Mesick
Director
NOAA Southern Regional Climate Services
Gulfport Mississippi
Stephanie Kelly
Professional Landscape Architect
Earth Matters Planning & Design, PLLC
Wilmington, NC
Susannah Tuttle
Southeast Climate & Energy Network SCEN
Raleigh, NC
Trinity Johnson
Doctoral Student
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA
Victoria Olivia
Meteorologist
NOAA National Weather Service Wilmington, NC
Vamsi Krishna Sridharan, PhD, M.ASCE
Water Resources Innovation Manager
Tetra Tech
Fairfax, VA
Anne Cabrera
Vice President
SWCA Environmental Consultants
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Here's what attendees are saying about SCDRP Annual Meetings....
"I heard numerous people here for first time comment on how great of a community this is; how great of an event; and that this was genuinely thought-provoking and different. Excellent work!"
​
Anonymous from the SCDRP 8th Annual Meeting Exit Survey
Thank You to our 2025 SCDRP 9th Annual Meeting Sponsors!
Gold Sponsors
.png)
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Plus Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
.png)