ESA is pleased to welcome Lauren Abom as Northern California Regional Director. With more than 23 years of environmental planning experience, including leading multidisciplinary teams, Abom will guide operations and strategic growth for the firm’s largest region of more than 250 employee-owners. She steps into this role as Brian Boxer, who has held the position for the past eight years, transitions to become ESA’s Community Development Market Leader.
Abom most recently served as Senior Environmental Planner and Project Director at Jacobs, overseeing its Northern California Environmental Planning and Resources Team. In addition to managing projects, staff development, training, and mentorship, Abom’s technical work has encompassed providing lead reviews of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for complex infrastructure and large-scale construction projects. With projects spanning light rail extensions, highway bypasses and relocations, grade separations for highways and rail corridors, and more, she is adept at working on behalf of transportation and transit agencies; federal, state, and local governments; and water/wastewater agencies.
“Lauren’s proven leadership capabilities in team management and development, paired with her invaluable knowledge and experience serving the transportation market on a local and state level, make her a natural fit to lead ESA’s Northern California region,” said ESA President and CEO Leslie Moulton-Post. “The region has seen growth in both staff and technical capabilities throughout Brian’s tenure, and we are excited to continue on that trajectory with Lauren—advancing our legacy in this dynamic marketplace that spans over a half-century.”
At ESA, Abom will continue to work with key clients she has built relationships with throughout her career, including the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). She will also collaborate closely with senior leadership to advance the firm’s Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) initiatives.
“Having worked closely with a number of ESA staff throughout my career, I have always been impressed with the firm’s ability to retain such a highly engaged—and always personable—team,” said Abom. “And, even as the firm has grown, I can see that ESA remains nimble in the interest of finding solutions that address some of our region’s most pressing challenges, from transportation and energy to housing and environmental justice. I am thrilled to now be a part of it all.”
Abom earned her M.S. in Environmental Education from California State University, Hayward, and her B.S. in Environmental and Resource Sciences with a Minor in Geographic Information Systems from the University of California, Davis. She is a member of the Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS) and the Association of Environmental Professionals.
