Alicia Lanier
Alicia Lanier is a seasoned stormwater and water resources professional currently serving as Stormwater Project Manager – Special Projects for the City of Fayetteville, North Carolina. In this role, she oversees program and project management for water-related infrastructure and resilience initiatives, coordinating consultants, tracking multiple studies, managing budgets and schedules, preparing council presentations, and reviewing technical deliverables. Her approach combines Agile and adaptive management principles with Human Systems Dynamics, allowing her to navigate complex, adaptive systems while prioritizing effective collaboration and understanding stakeholder perspectives.
With over 25 years of experience in the field, Alicia began her career as an engineer at a large consulting firm, where she spent more than 13 years working on water and wastewater projects. She later ran her own consulting practice, providing embedded project management services for a variety of clients, including municipal governments and interdisciplinary research teams. Alicia has also facilitated complex, multi-day workshops for national research projects, helping teams bridge disciplinary differences and develop integrated, innovative solutions to water sustainability and stormwater management challenges.
Alicia holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering with a minor in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University, graduating cum laude. She is a Certified Floodplain Manager and active in professional organizations including the American Public Works Association and the Association of State Floodplain Managers. Throughout her career, she has emphasized iterative problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, and creative solutions to advance flood resiliency and sustainable water management in communities.
• Human Systems Dynamics Professional
• Certified Water Rights Examiner
• Project Management
• Certified Floodplain Manager
• PE
• North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC- B.S.
• North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC- M.S.
• Cum Laude
• US Region Volunteer IAF
• Blue Heron BES City of Portland
• James Lee Witt Award for Local Excellence in Floodplain Management
• Tau Beta Pi
• American Public Works Association
• Association of State Floodplain Managers
• International Association of Facilitators
• NC Association of Floodplain Managers
• Professional Engineers in North Carolina
• Project Management Institute
• South Central Chapter of the Professional Engineers in North Carolina
• Willowbrook Arts Camp, Tualatin Oregon
• Agile Open Northwest
• SOLV
• Consultants Retreat & Network
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the strong work ethic and sense of teamwork I learned growing up on our small family farm, where we had to adapt and work together no matter the circumstances. I also credit my Human Systems Dynamics certification, the persistence it took to work full-time while completing my degrees, my hands-on experience, and my focus on developing practical, adaptive approaches to program and project management.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Get the job first without overthinking your qualifications (or lack thereof).
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this field is to set clear boundaries—don’t tolerate unwanted attention and make it known when something is inappropriate. Also, don’t fall into the trap of becoming someone’s secretary, caretaker, or go-to note-taker; focus on your expertise and your role as a professional.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest personal challenges I face is ageism—being an older woman in a male-dominated field isn’t always fully accepted. Professionally, the field demands staying current with technology, planning for future uncertainties like climate impacts, and balancing the need to adapt approaches to secure funding while maintaining project integrity.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are understanding people and patterns, fostering collaboration across disciplines, and maintaining the integrity of my projects even when external pressures call for compromise.