Cathy Abene, P.E.

My family and I live in Lynnhurst. My grandmother attended one of the first classes at Washburn until the Depression hit and her family moved to Chicago which is where I was born. I moved to Minnesota in elementary school, and I have called Minneapolis my home since 1985. Our daughter Harriet (named for the lake!) works for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and our kids attended Minneapolis Public Schools and MPRB’s Rec Plus program.

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I’m a licensed professional engineer, working in water resources for the public sector for most of my career. I am a University of Minnesota graduate and I currently serve as Principal Civil Engineer at the U managing water resources including program management for the campus’s MS4 Stormwater Permit and Wetlands Conservation Act compliance for U lands throughout the state. Responsible public stewardship is very important to me.

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I walk and bike in our parks as much as I can. Having access to nature and preserving our natural resources in the commons, is arguably the best thing about Minneapolis.

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My last name is pronounced: ah-BEN-ne. It’s Italian!