In 2013, Carmen began her WEST career at the headquarters in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She started in the Project Tracking and Data Team which supported WEST’s research on the interactions of wind energy and wildlife populations. Carmen is proud of her time managing the Team and she appreciated the Team’s cohesiveness, dedication, reliability and efficiency that supported project managers in providing WEST quality deliverables. Carmen was also excited about working with the Team and WEST’s other expert internal technical teams to build new data collection, management and project tracking systems. Watching the growth of the Team was inspiring!
Carmen transitioned into providing compliance support to clients working with the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act for the Lesser Prairie-chicken (LEPC). Carmen feels it is very rewarding to provide client support that can incorporate the big picture. For example, conducting on the ground lesser prairie-chicken (LEPC) habitat impact assessments, analyses, providing LEPC Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) compliance and LEPC HCP administration support. Carmen also feels blessed to have all the WEST technical expertise for support. And as many biologists do, she enjoys getting out in the field when she can!