BATON ROUGE, La. (April 23, 2025) – Neel-Schaffer is pleased to announce that Kara Moree, CFM, and Maria Bernard Reid have joined the firm’s Baton Rouge Office, adding a combined 45 years of experience to our Environmental Services team.

Kara brings 20 years of experience to the newly created role of Regional Environmental Coordinator. She is tasked with growing the environmental services we offer to clients in Louisiana and across the firm’s nine-state footprint. Kara is a Certified Floodplain Manager with an extensive background in environmental planning and project management, with concentrations on NEPA compliance, environmental documentation, and floodplain management.

Maria has 25 years of experience in natural resources management and serves as a Project Manager, providing Transportation Planning and NEPA Compliance services.

“We would like to welcome Kara and Maria to the team,” said Nick Ferlito, PE, PTOE, Executive Vice President for Louisiana at Neel-Schaffer. “The depth of experience and specialized expertise will expand the range of services we can provide and help us tackle the increasingly complex environmental needs of our clients.

“Kara’s leadership and forward-thinking approach will be key as we grow and continue delivering high-quality, innovative solutions. With Kara and Maria on board, we are even better equipped to support sustainable practices and meet the evolving opportunities across the region.”

Kara holds a BS in Biology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Maria holds two degrees from Louisiana State University: A BS in Forest Management and Wildlife, and an MS in Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics-Natural Resources Policy, with a minor in Environmental Management and Planning.