Caroline Evans, AICP, founded Blue Cypress Consulting in 2014 with a vision of improving the community. Caroline has more than eighteen years of experience in community planning, including expertise in land use analysis, authoring planning documents, leveraging GIS, and conducting stakeholder and community outreach. She has significant experience with business process design and implementation to optimize operating procedures and a detailed understanding of utility infrastructure, such as water distribution, wastewater collection, electric and gas utilities, and transportation and the long-term effects planning decisions have on these systems. Prior to founding Blue Cypress, Caroline was employed by a large Architecture/Engineering firm, where she was responsible for developing and managing a large team dispersed throughout the United States. She utilizes the skills and knowledge gained during that time to make a difference in the communities in which we serve.
Caroline holds a Master of City Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a Minor in Urban Studies and Geographic Information Systems from Florida State University. She is a member of the American Planning Association and is actively involved in the Georgia Chapter. She is registered with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

John Evans, PE, has twenty-one years of experience in utility management, operational optimization, regulatory compliance and information management. He has supported more than 50 public utilities nationwide, including Clayton County, GA, Jefferson County, AL, Charlotte, Raleigh, Winston-Salem, San Diego, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Seattle, San Antonio, Las Vegas and many smaller cities and counties. John joined Blue Cypress in 2015 to form the company’s Utility Management Services group after a highly successful career at a large Architecture/Engineering firm.

John holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with honors from Georgia Institute of Technology and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of California. He is actively involved with the Georgia Association of Water Professionals, the National Association of Clean Water Utilities and the Water Environment Federation.

Sarah Beddington has more than fourteen years of GIS experience in a variety of fields including public health, community planning, and environmental sciences. Prior to joining Blue Cypress, Sarah worked at Georgia State University’s School of Public Health and Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness’ Environmental Health. She brings a diverse set of skills including GIS techniques, database technologies and management, and social science research methods and technologies.

Sarah holds both a Master of Geoscience and of Public Health as well as Graduate Certificates in GIS and Disaster Management from Georgia State University (GSU). She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Georgia State University. Sarah is an active member of the Georgia chapter of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association.

Alyssa Combs, PMP, is an Atlanta native who has over a decade of experience working with multi-level partnerships on various city planning and utility issues in the context of environmental justice, operational efficiency, youth engagement, STEM-based education and community development. With technical expertise in GIS and analytics, she has been instrumental in using technologies to highlight community concerns through research and creation of effective data inventories and has collaborated with project teams to develop web-mapping applications with the capabilities to collect community input, streamline inventory of community concerns, and foster the process of neighborhood advocacy.

Alyssa is a PhD candidate at the University of Georgia, where she is studying Environmental Design and Planning. Alyssa received a master’s degree in Geoscience and a bachelor’s degree in Geography from Georgia State University. In addition, she received Associates degrees in Mathematics and General Studies from Georgia Perimeter College. Alyssa currently serves as the youngest board member for the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, an environmental justice advocacy and education group, and is a member of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals.

Eric Freedman has more than ten years of engineering and consulting experience including commercial building design, utility management, and performance assessment. He has worked with a variety of clients in the private and public sectors including state and local governments and public utilities. Eric’s prior experience in green building and design is an example of his fierce commitment to the environment, which he has brought to the work he does at Blue Cypress.

Eric holds a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship with a secondary major in Environmental Studies from Tulane University. He is an active member of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals as well as a member of the Ocmulgee River Basin Advisory Council.

David Gordon has over eight years of experience in asset management and economic analysis. He has partnered with clients from small regional utilities to the World Bank. David is committed to helping clients meet and exceed strategic objectives by providing excellent management consulting, economic decision support, and financial analysis.  Having served as both a researcher and a consultant during his career, David combines business acumen with a curiosity that hones on creative solutions.

David holds a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University and Bachelor of Business Administration from The College of William and Mary. He is actively involved with the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association and is currently chair of the Utility Management Committee.

Amanda Hatton, AICP, is a seasoned community planner with 12 years of experience managing and contributing to a variety of planning projects. Her expertise lies in carrying out successful planning initiatives that engage communities and build political support while placing an emphasis on implementation. Amanda values bringing innovative, holistic solutions to projects that exceed clients’ expectations and are tailored to each community’s unique context. She brings a depth of experience in socioeconomic analysis, land use planning, and economic development strategy as well as a track record of developing and implementing creative and effective stakeholder engagement programs. Amanda’s decision to join Blue Cypress was prompted by the firm’s strategic leadership, enriching work environment, and dedication to providing innovative, top-notch solutions to its partners and clients.

Amanda holds a Master of Science in Urban Policy Studies with a focus on policy analysis and planning and economic development from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration and Spanish from Elon University. She is a member of American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association, and Georgia Planning Association.

Chris Jayko has four years of engineering and consulting experience including water and wastewater operations as well as experience utilizing GIS tools in these fields. Chris is an Engineer in Training (EIT) and LEED Green Associate with a passion for sustainable sources and strives to integrate sustainability in all his projects at Blue Cypress.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. He is an active member of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals and is currently serving as the Vice President of the Young Professionals Committee.

Tiairra Parker has over five years of experience working with small business and nonprofit agencies to secure federal, foundational and commercial funding. She has a passion for using creative communication strategies to help businesses reach their target audience.

Tiairra graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Multimedia Journalism from Troy University.

Tiffany Stone joined Blue Cypress Consulting in 2018 as an Administrative Assistant. Tiffany has more than seventeen years of experience developing client relationships, planning community events, and providing operational support. Her experience owning and managing small businesses is a tremendous asset to Blue Cypress Consulting. She manages  our small business certifications, social media, and recruiting efforts.

Tiffany graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from Shorter College.