Title: 1) President; 2) Principal
Company: 1) Porter Scientific Inc.; 2) PSCI Engineers PLLC
Location: Pembroke, North Carolina, United States
Freda M. Porter, President at Porter Scientific Inc. and Principal at PSCI Engineers PLLC, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Engineers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Environmental Science.
Dr. Porter has become recognized for her expertise in environmental science, having served as the president of Porter Scientific Inc. in Pembroke, North Carolina, since 1995. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated expertise in water solutions, water quality challenges and remediation strategies, Brownfield program implementation, and environmental cleanup through Brownfield initiatives.
Under Dr. Porter’s leadership, Porter Scientific’s mission has closely aligned with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s objectives, and the company has managed several collaborative programs, including the EPA Brownfield Program. Her team has overseen numerous Brownfield initiatives in Pembroke, as well as in Hoke and Robeson Counties, including the identification and remediation of a contaminated site that became the site of a new wastewater treatment plant. This project played a pivotal role in supporting rapid growth in Hoke County by providing essential infrastructure for Fort Bragg’s housing needs, benefiting both the local community and military personnel.
In her capacity as president, Dr. Porter collaborates closely with her team to coordinate schedules, outline project orders and capture the needs of clients, such as cities, municipalities, county governments and military installations. She adapts methodologies to each project’s unique requirements and manages projects across several states, including New York, Arizona and Florida. Dr. Porter’s commitment to problem-solving is evident in her approach to addressing environmental challenges for individuals and organizations alike.
Since 2011, Dr. Porter has also served as the principal at PSCI Engineers PLLC, an engineering firm established to enhance Porter Scientific’s capabilities across various projects. The firm provides Business consulting, renewables and environmental services.
Among other notable opportunities, Dr. Porter excelled as the president of Lumbee Tribe Enterprises LLC, a tribally owned and operated government services provider and subsidiary of Lumbee Tribe Holdings Inc. There, she focused on construction and information technology to represent the community’s interests and foster economic growth within the tribe.
Leveraging her earlier expertise as the tribal administrator for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina from 2016 to 2020, Dr. Porter balanced executive-level guidance for tribal operations with her responsibilities at Porter Scientific. She led significant restoration efforts in hurricane-damaged areas and spearheaded fundraising and coordination to restore a lake cherished by the Lumbee community.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Porter contributed to research at NASA’s Langley Research Center from 1994 to 1995. Before that, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1991 to 1994. Dr. Porter began her academic career as an assistant professor of mathematics and computer science at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke between 1991 and 1994.
Active in her professional community for many years, Dr. Porter is currently affiliated with the American Water Works Association, the Association for Women in Mathematics, the Society of American Military Engineers, the North Carolina Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Since 1991, she has also served as a Sequoyah fellow of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. Additionally, since 2021, Dr. Porter has been active on the strategic advisory council for Cape Fear Ocean Labs. Meanwhile, her civic engagement includes volunteering on the finance committee at her local church and actively supporting public schools within Robeson County by assisting children with their needs.
Dr. Porter’s academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and computer science from the University of North Carolina, Pembroke, completed in 1978. She earned a Master of Science in applied mathematics and computer science from North Carolina State University in Raleigh in 1981 and a Doctor of Philosophy in applied mathematics with a focus on numerical modeling from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, in 1991. Dr. Porter’s professional development is further supported by certifications, such as generative artificial intelligence for business leaders from LinkedIn and certification from the North Carolina Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission, administered through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality at North Carolina State University.
Early in her tenure, Dr. Porter was included in a PBS documentary that aired in 1996. The feature was titled “BreakThrough: The Changing Face of Science in America.” Throughout her career, Dr. Porter has exemplified dedication to environmental stewardship, community advancement and professional excellence, qualities that have defined her impact across scientific, civic and tribal spheres.
Dr. Porter remains committed to advancing ocean-related initiatives, such as offshore wind projects, by participating in councils, including the Ocean Council in Wilmington. She also intends to continue supporting tribal business growth, believing that strengthening business capabilities will benefit all members of the Lumbee Tribe.
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