Kati Grigsby, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) Hampton Roads Restoration Coordinator, was named as a Top 40 Under 40 professional by Inside Business this week.
This prestigious award by Inside Business recognizes exceptional young professionals in the Hampton Roads region for their leadership, innovation, and dedication to their communities.
As the Hampton Roads restoration coordinator, Grigsby plays a crucial role in CBF’s efforts to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay. Her work involves identifying, designing, permitting, and implementing projects such as living shorelines, vegetated buffers, and rain gardens. These efforts protect homes and communities from erosion, storms, flooding and sea level rise.
“I am incredibly grateful to be recognized by Top 40 Under 40,” said Grigsby. “It is an honor to be among such a talented group of individuals who are making a positive impact on our community. I am passionate about my work at CBF and am committed to continuing to restore the Chesapeake Bay for future generations.”
In 2022, Grigsby managed the installation of a 718-foot living shoreline of oyster reefs and marsh vegetation at a waterfront home in Portsmouth, Virginia. Just this past year, she’s overseen the installation of more living shorelines from the Eastern Shore to Hampton.
Rather than hard barriers like bulkheads or riprap, living shorelines use natural systems to make waterfront property more resilient to erosion and sea level rise. Living shorelines also reduce pollution, beautify the waterway, and create habitat for wildlife.
“Kati is a valuable member of CBF and our community,” said Ann Jurczyk, CBF’s Virginia Manager of Urban Restoration. “Her passion for environmental restoration and her commitment to making a difference are inspiring. We are proud to have her as part of our team and excited she received this well-deserved honor.”
Grigsby’s dedication to her work is evident in her professional goals. In the next five years, she aims to restore 3,000 linear feet of the Hampton River shoreline, including the installation of acres of intertidal oyster reefs and thousands of wetland plants. She also hopes to continue to support the restoration of Mattanock, the Nansemond Indian Nation’s land on the Nansemond River.
Learn more about Kati Grigsby and her work at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Virginia Communications & Media Relations Manager, CBF
[email protected]
804-258-1567
