Prior to moving to Arizona in 1988, Scott was Principal Planner for Colorado Springs and Project Manager for the area’s largest commercial and industrial land developer. Scott served 12 years as Planning and Zoning Director for Gilbert. It was his idea to transform a waste water treatment site from a simple water recharge facility into a national award-winning project – the Gilbert Riparian Area – that has become one of the most popular visitor destinations in the state. While serving as Director of the Riparian Preserve, he founded the Riparian Institute with a mission to educate the public about the importance of water recharge and riparian habitat. As Director of the Institute, Scott partnered with local organizations and businesses to create the Gilbert Rotary Centennial Observatory, the only dedicated public observatory in the region. The preserve has been studied and copied by communities around the world seeking to be more sustainable.