Title: Project Manager
Company: MSA
Email: mamundson@msa-ps.com
Bio: Marie Amundson is a Water Resources Engineer with 15 years of experience helping communities develop resilient, sustainable, and cost-effective water infrastructure solutions. She specializes in stormwater engineering and water resources, with expertise in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, floodplain analysis and mapping, stormwater management, watershed planning, and sewer system design and analysis.

Marie has extensive experience supporting projects through all phases of planning, design, permitting, and implementation. Her technical background includes GIS data management and analysis, stream restoration, sedimentation analysis, 2D flow modeling, culvert and bridge analysis, and floodplain permitting. She works closely with regulatory agencies at the local, county, state, and federal levels and has successfully coordinated complex permitting efforts, including CLOMR and LOMR submittals.

Known for her attention to detail and collaborative approach, Marie focuses on delivering practical solutions that balance regulatory requirements, environmental stewardship, and community needs. Her work helps clients improve infrastructure resilience, manage flood risks, protect water quality, and enhance long-term system performance.

Title: Senior Community Development Administrator
Company: MSA
Email: twalters@msa-ps.com
Bio: Tara Walters is a Senior Community Development Administrator with MSA Professional Services and has extensive experience in community development, regional planning, and grant funding. Tara focuses on helping Illinois and Iowa communities identify, pursue, and secure state, federal, and local funding opportunities for transportation, infrastructure, economic development, and quality-of-life initiatives. Prior to joining MSA, she served as a Regional Planner with Blackhawk Hills Regional Council and a Senior Planner with the Bi-State Regional Commission, where she provided planning, grant development, and project implementation assistance to communities throughout the Quad Cities region and surrounding areas.

She holds a bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Augustana College and a Master of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Iowa. Her expertise includes land use and environmental planning, geographic information systems (GIS), grant writing, planning document development, and program management. Tara's experience in regional planning and community development provides a practical perspective on aligning local priorities with funding opportunities and successfully implementing community projects.

Title: Community Development Specialist
Company: MSA
Email: ltruong@msa-ps.com
Bio: Lisa Truong joined MSA in 2024 after earning her degree from the University of Iowa, where she pursued graduate studies in Public Affairs and developed a strong foundation in local government, public policy, and community engagement. Through her academic and professional experiences, Lisa gained valuable insight into the unique challenges and opportunities facing municipalities, utilities, and local organizations. She also brings a background in major gift fundraising and nonprofit program management, providing her with a well-rounded perspective on resource development, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning.

As a Community Development Specialist, Lisa works with communities throughout Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin to secure funding and successfully implement infrastructure and community development projects. She is experienced in the administration and compliance requirements of federal and state funding programs, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), State Revolving Fund (SRF), and FEMA-funded initiatives. Her expertise includes grant writing, grant administration, environmental review coordination, Davis-Bacon and wage rate monitoring, procurement compliance, project management, regulatory reporting, and stakeholder coordination.