Commission welcomes AmeriCorps member for upcoming year

2015-2016 Cape Cod AmeriCorps member Ben Howard, who will be working with the Commission this year.

Starting this fall, AmeriCorps member Ben Howard will be working part-time with the Cape Cod Commission as part of his year of service on the Cape.

Tell us a little about your background. 

I am from Central Ohio and grew up in a family that hosted many exchange students. When I went to college at The Ohio State University I had the chance to go to study in Brazil. I speak Portuguese and love Brazilian culture.

What was your path toward AmeriCorps like?

I have an interest in working in local government and wanted to take a break from grad school to get some experience. I also have an interest in exploring water resource management to help me develop a research topic for my last semester of school. AmeriCorps Cape Cod offers opportunities to do both, so it is a perfect fit.

What kinds of projects will you be working on while at the Commission?

I will be working on developing case studies of pond restoration projects on the cape for a webpage. I will help manage water-quality monitoring data. I will also help develop recommendations for towns to fulfill their statutory responsibilities under the Municipal Separate Storm Water System as well as develop and distribute educational materials on storm water.

Are there any particular skills or experiences you’d like to gain in your year of service with AmeriCorps?

I’d like to learn practical skills related to water resource management, something that can lead me to take action and do something entrepreneurial. I think learning about wells and septic tanks would be exciting while learning about the natural resource management side of water.

What are your long term career goals?

I am a big picture person that enjoys being involved in the implementation phase of projects and initiatives. I have long-term goals of working in local government management and have an interest in water resource management. I hope to become a city manager someday.

Is there anything that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I tried to walk-on to the Ohio State University football team. Unsurprisingly, I did not make it on the team.