Get to know Steelman Coastal
Steelman Coastal Consulting may be in its early years, but do not let that fool you. Jessica Steelman (Owner/Founder) is highly educated, and versed in school, life, and professional experience. She strives to not only master the skills she has developed, but to continue learning and growing in the face of ever-changing times. Earning her social science degree – a B.A. in Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell – Jessica has an intimate understanding of proactive and productive communication, goal-oriented time management, and conflict resolution. As life tends to do, Jessica was guided down a path different from her studies; it is at this time in her life she found her professional passion – community planning and project management. to swiftly make critical decisions to support client goals.
During her time in regional government as the Coastal Planner for the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Jessica gained experience and accomplished great milestones managing many local, state, and federal grant programs and projects. In addition to project management, Jessica has participated on state-regulated committees. She has been a member on the Virginia Coastal Resilience Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) (codified by the General Assembly in 2022, under §10.1-659 flood protection programs, providing coordination to assist with developing, updating, and implementing the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan), and the Eastern Shore Groundwater Management Area (ESGWMA) Surficial Groundwater General Permit Regulatory Advisory Panel (resulting in §9VAC-25-910). Additional experience includes participation in various project teams, such as for the Stabilizing Barrier Islands & Enhancing Resilience of Virginia’s Underserved Eastern Shore through Marsh Habitat Construction Project, and the Eastern Shore Climate Equity Project, where Jessica also serves on the Community Advisory Committee.
It is in Jessica’s assertive and yet light-hearted nature to think out of the box, challenge common practices, and work towards efficient, sustainable, and inspirational completion of tasks and projects. In her eagerness to try innovative approaches, she aims to always “take a stab” at new initiatives and projects, seeking insight from experts in any given field to develop the most comprehensive solution possible. Jessica's belief that by continuing to self-teach and learn from other experts, in addition to engaging in relevant workshops and conferences, she will continue to grow with the times and the challenges, even perhaps be a few steps ahead!
In addition to her professional passion for coastal sustainability and resilience, Jessica's family has historical ties to the aquaculture industry's development on the Eastern Shore and the coastal region itself. Her great grandfather, Emory Steelman, owned one of the largest oyster operations out of Cherrystone Creek. During the mid-1930’s, Steelman fought for the quality of our waters here along the Chesapeake Bay, suing G.L. Webster (at the time, the largest canning facility in the U.S. and largest employer on the Eastern Shore) for damages due to pollution from the Cannery. Making it all the way to the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1939, the jury ruled in favor of Steelman for damages to his land, but not his seafood in the water. To this day, Jessica’s family continues to fight for the preservation, sustainability, and resilience of the unique qualities that make the Shore her home.
Jessica will bring unique skills and her quirky, assertive, high-energy demeanor to any team she collaborates with. She will help to further strategic initiatives in resilience, ecotourism, community development, and public engagement in your community, persevering until an equitable and sustainable outcome is reached. Steelman Coastal Consulting steps into your shoes to provide the most accurate, insightful, and efficient solutions to your resilience and sustainability challenges. As a family-owned and operated business, we have the ability to swiftly make critical decisions to support client goals.