Linn County Welcomes Cara Matteson as New Sustainability Director

Linn County is proud to welcome Cara Matteson as the County's new sustainability director. Matteson's first day with Linn County is April 29, 2024.

As Linn County's sustainability director, Matteson will lead Linn County's sustainability efforts by focusing on environmental health and applying best practices to the areas of water, stormwater management, land use, transportation, and environmental conservation; conduct Linn County's greenhouse gas inventory; research opportunities related to carbon offsets and carbon trading; provide sustainability-focused input into decisions about County facilities and purchasing activities; and apply an equity and economic lens in decision-making.

Matteson's work will be supported through the Linn County Sustainability Council, which is a volunteer council comprised of Linn County residents.

Matteson comes to Linn County with a breadth of experience in environmental and natural resource administration and compliance. She has actively contributed to both the public sector and private consulting, as well as nonprofit organizations. Matteson has experience engaging stakeholders, grant writing, and administering programs, which are critical aspects for successful environmental initiatives. Her regulatory background with the state of California and managing municipal permits equips her with a deep understanding of compliance and governance within the water resources and compliance domain. Most recently, Matteson worked for Stantec as a senior geologist and project manager. Prior to that position, Matteson was the water resources manager for the City of Cedar Rapids.

Matteson graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and Geoscience. She also took environmental engineering coursework at Iowa State University and has a teaching license from Morningside College. She has a passion for addressing the needs of Iowans and continues to keep her finger on the pulse of the industry.

"We look forward to welcoming Cara to Linn County," Linn County Supervisor Chair Kirsten Running-Marquardt said. "She will play a central role in coordinating sustainability initiatives with other County departments and engaging stakeholders throughout Linn County to move our community forward."