Jess has nearly a decade of government experience implementing, enforcing, and formulating environmental regulations and policy. Before joining Womble, Jess was an attorney with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and provided counsel on matters under the Clean Air Act, Toxic Substances and Control Act, and American Innovation and Manufacturing Act.

Jess has worked on a range of enforcement and compliance matters affecting the oil and natural gas industry in the Mountain West and nationally, focusing on air quality regulations. Her government experience also included work with companies involved in power generation, oilfield servicing, fuel and chemical manufacturing, construction and homebuilding, and the importation of hydrofluorocarbons.

Throughout her career at EPA, Jess led over 30 enforcement actions and compliance investigations. Most recently, she managed the national program to ensure compliance with fuel quality and renewable fuel requirements under the Clean Air Act.

During her early legal career, Jess served as a law clerk for Justice Beth Robinson at the Vermont Supreme Court (now with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit).