Gerald Duszynski

Lafayette – Kam Movassaghi, Ph.D., P.E., President of Fenstermaker, recently announced the appointment of Gerald Duszynski to the position of Director of Coastal Activities. Mr. Duszynski has twenty-nine years of service with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). During his tenure with the DNR, Mr. Duszynski served as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Coastal Restoration and Management. In that capacity, he managed all aspects of the state's coastal restoration planning, scientific monitoring, design, and construction projects.

Mr. Duszynski's experience as Project Manager for all DNR coastal activities authorized by the Louisiana legislature gives him a unique understanding of the state's coastal project approval and development process. As Assistant Secretary, Mr. Duszynski worked with the Louisiana legislature to create legislation with the aim of improving the restoration program. This position also involved overseeing all aspects of the planning, funding, engineering design, and construction of numerous projects throughout coastal Louisiana, including the development of the 300 million dollar, federally-funded Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP). Over twenty years, Mr. Duszynski moved this program forward by taking a small staff of five with a five million dollar a year budget and developing a Division with over 200 million dollars a year at its disposal and 155 staff members.

As Supervisor for the coastal use permit program, his insight into Louisiana coastal zone regulation activity programs and permitting issues within the Corp of Engineers section 404 permitting authority will facilitate his ability to manage balanced programs for Fenstermaker clients. His proficiency in the direction of the conversion of Louisiana's coastal use permitting program from a paper intensive process to a computer-assisted, paperless, electronic program allowed processing time for permit applications to be reduced by 30 percent, developing an electronic system that is considered one of the most technologically-advanced in the United States. This expertise will allow Mr. Duszynski to assist Fenstermaker clients in the expeditious processing and completion of their own permitting program requirements.

In his new position with Fenstermaker, Mr. Duszynski will ensure the delivery of comprehensive services to Fenstermaker clients for all coastal projects, studies, and environmental assessments. He will also serve as a liaison to federal, state, and local governmental agencies, as well as private firms. His objective in this role will be the management and delivery of project requirements directly to the clients.

According to R.J. Boutte, Jr., Senior Vice President of Fenstermaker, "Our Company has been involved in coastal restoration activities for many years. We are excited about the addition of Mr. Duszynski since his extensive experience and knowledge in this area will allow us to offer a heightened level of service to our clients during the upcoming period of accelerated coastal activity."

Fenstermaker is a regional company providing engineering, surveying and mapping, and environmental services to federal, state and local governments, the oil and gas industry and private enterprise. Fenstermaker's offices are located in Lafayette, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport, Louisiana and Houston, Texas.