CONSULTANTS
Meet the Team
Our staff includes land use planners who will help you navigate the CEQA, NEPA, and local permitting processes. Our engineers are experienced in air quality (local and Title V, including greenhouse gases), water quality (sewer, storm water, and NPDES), hazardous materials and hazardous wastes. We have a Certified Industrial Hygienist and other safety professionals on staff to help you keep your workforce safe.
We are experienced in a wide variety of industries including construction materials (sand and aggregate mining), manufacturing, oil and gas production, food production, real estate development, and precious metals extraction.
With offices in Ventura, San Diego, and Grants Pass we are well positioned to assist your operations in California and the U.S.
Our key staff average of over two decades of experience in environmental engineering and land use planning. We’re committed, hardworking, and totally focused on delivering results.
John Hecht
PE
Principal Consultant
John Hecht, PE
Principal Consultant
With over 34 years in the petroleum and environmental consulting fields, John’s recent focus has been on land use planning and new facility development projects. He has extensive experience and knowledge of the mining industry, including community and public agency relations for planning and permitting of mining and industrial operations. John’s extensive knowledge of the technical and political aspects associated with the permitting of these industries makes him a key player in oversight of these complex projects.
Education:
Professional Degree, Geophysics, Colorado School of Mines
B.S. Electrical Engineering, Valparaiso University
Registrations:
Professional Mechanical Engineer
Rob Dal Farra
PE
Principal Consultant
Rob Dal Farra, PE
Principal Consultant
Rob has over 34 years of experience covering numerous areas in the environmental consulting field, most recently focused on air quality and GHG emissions, NPDES permitting, water quality issues and environmental compliance, management and auditing.
Education:
BASc Chemical Engineering, University of Windsor
Registrations:
Professional Chemical Engineer
SCAQMD Certified Permitting Professional
Joe King
PE, CPESC, QSD/P, IGP-ToR, QISP
Principal Consultant
Joe King, PE, CPESC, QSD/P, IGP-ToR, QISP
Principal Consultant
With over 30 years of environmental and safety compliance experience, Joe is well versed in these areas and applying them to a wide variety of industries. His specialties include air, water, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, and worker safety. In addition to extensive experience as a consultant, he has also worked on the industry side as the EH&S Manager for a high tech R&D and manufacturing firm.
Education:
Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of California, Los Angeles
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara
Registrations:
Professional Mechanical Engineer
Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control
Industrial General Permit Trainer of Record (IGP-ToR)
Qualified Industrial Storm Water Practitioner (QISP)
Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD)
Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP)
Brian G. Anderson
P.G., R.G., L.H.G.
Principal Geologist
Brian G. Anderson
Principal Geologist
Brian is Principal Geologist for Sespe Consulting, where he leads the firm’s earth sciences practice area. He assists clients with navigating local, state and federal land use entitlement processes, as well as environmental permitting and regulatory compliance.
Prior to joining Sespe Consulting, Brian was Vice President of Permitting and Environment for Vulcan Materials Company, Western and Mountain West Divisions, where he was responsible for procuring operating permits, regulatory reporting and disclosures, mined land reclamation, post-mining property development, legislative negotiation and outreach to local communities through the company’s Partner’s in Education program. Duties included management of a multidisciplinary team, which supported two business units comprising over 60 plant locations.
Brian has a proven track record of successfully resolving complex environmental and land use entitlement matters at both the state and federal levels, with extensive knowledge of CERCLA, RCRA, NEPA/CEQA, as well as the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. His expertise has been applied to a broad array of projects throughout the western U.S., Mexico and Canada involving environmental permitting, aquifer protection, contaminant fate and transport, industrial regulatory compliance, water resources assessment, and mine planning, permitting and reclamation.
In 2014, Brian was appointed to the State Mining and Geology Board by California Governor Brown, where he currently serves the mineral resource conservation, development/utilization specialty.
Additionally, he is presently a member of the editorial board for the scholarly journal, Environmental Forensics. He has been an invited lecturer on a range of topics, including water well siting and assessment courses sponsored by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, and was also guest speaker at a Laws Seminar International course on the business aspects of AB 32 and greenhouse gas cap-and-trade programs.
Education:
M.S. Geological Sciences, University of California, Riverside
B.S. Geological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
Professional Registrations:
Registered Geologist, Oregon
Registered Geologist, Arizona
Professional Geologist, California
Professional Geologist, Idaho
Licensed Hydrogeologist, Washington
Scott D. Cohen
PE, CIH
Principal Engineer
Scott D. Cohen, PE, CIH
Principal Engineer
Scott’s areas of experience include environmental health and safety (EHS), compliance and land use planning / environmental review for industrial and municipal clientele. Technical air quality, greenhouse gases, noise, fugitive dust, health risk assessment, mining, construction, CEQA/NEPA, and industrial hygiene are some of the technical services that Scott can offer.
Education:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara
Registrations:
Professional Mechanical Engineer
Certified Industrial Hygienist
Doug Mason
Managing Consultant, Geology
Doug Mason
Managing Consultant, Geology
Doug is a geologist and land use planning specialist focusing on permitting and technical support for heavy industrial activities including; mining, various aggregate/construction materials related industries, and oil & gas exploration and production. During Doug’s 27 years of professional experience he has worked with local, regional and federal governmental agencies to obtain various permits including Section 404 and 401 permits from the UACOE and RWQCB, Section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreements from the Department of Fish and Game, and complex industrial building permits from local building and safety permitting authorities. He also prepares surface mining and reclamation plans and financial assurance calculations and annual reports as required by the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA).
Education:
B.S. Geology, Southern Utah University
Affiliations:
California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA)
Mike Biedebach
Managing Consultant
Mike Biedebach
Managing Consultant
An environmental consultant for over 26 years, Mike’s areas of expertise include environmental site assessment (Phase I, II, III), asbestos inspections, facility closure plans, stormwater, water quality permitting and reporting, and related services.
Education:
B.A. Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
Pearce Swerdfeger
PE, QSD/P, QISP, IGP-ToR
Managing Consultant
Pearce Swerdfeger, PE, QSD/P, QISP, IGP-ToR
Managing Consultant
Pearce is a professional civil engineer with experience in technical projects related to grading and drainage design, mining and reclamation plans, hydrology and hydraulic analysis. He also has experience with various compliance issues relating to SMARA, construction and industrial storm water, water quality reporting, hazardous materials, indoor air quality, and safety.
Education:
B.S. Environmental Engineering, California Polytechnic State University
Registrations:
Professional Civil Engineer
Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD)
Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP)
Qualified Industrial Storm Water Practitioner (QISP)
Industrial General Permit Trainer of Record (IGP-ToR)
Graham Stephens
Managing Consultant, Land Use
Graham Stephens
Managing Consultant, Land Use
Graham is a land use managing consultant with over 9 years of experience, specializing in permitting and technical support of new facility development projects, with a special focus on CEQA/NEPA technical analysis and document preparation.
Working primarily within the mining and construction materials industry and other industrial, commercial, and agricultural sectors, Graham has successfully helped clients navigate complex local, state, and federal land use entitlement processes in addition to environmental permitting and regulatory compliance throughout the Western United States. He also performs noise and vibration analyses and impact modeling, preparation of surface mining and reclamation plans in accordance with the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA), air quality impact and health risk assessments, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) evaluation, stormwater documentation/compliance, Environmental Site Assessments (Phase I), and related services.
Education:
B.A., Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
Affiliations:
Ventura Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group
Industrial Environmental Association
Christopher Goodson
QISP
Senior Consultant
Christopher Goodson, QISP
Senior Consultant
Christopher has over 16 years of environmental science experience. Prior to Sespe, he has been an academic researcher, agricultural water quality coordinator, stormwater regulator, and environmental consultant. Christopher conducted scientific research on soil and water contaminants, including selenium, fertilizers, and heavy metals, at the University of California, Riverside. He spent five years working with agricultural growers on non-point source pollution management in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. Additionally, Christopher gained experience with stormwater regulations, groundwater quality monitoring, environmental audits, SPCC planning, and geotechnical soil logging and sampling while living in Denver, Colorado.
At Sespe, Christopher provides expertise in environmental regulatory compliance for oil and gas, agriculture, transportation, and commercial development. He specializes in groundwater quality monitoring; environmental site assessment; due diligence audits; contaminated soil sampling; spill prevention, control, and countermeasures planning; environmental incident response; and storm water management design.
Education:
M.S. Soil and Water Sciences, University of California, Riverside
B.S. Environmental Science, University of Rochester
Registrations:
CPR and First Aid
OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER
Oil and Gas Basic Safety Awareness, PEC100273980
Hydrogen Sulfide Safety
Colorado Stormwater Specialist and Erosion Control Supervisor
Qualified Industrial Storm Water Practitioner (QISP)
Publications:
Geraci JB, Amrhein C, Goodson CC (2008). Settlement rate and nutrient composition of barnacles colonizing artificial substrate in the Salton Sea. Hydrobiologia.
Goodson CC, Schwartz G, Amrhein C (2006). Controlling Tailwater Sediment and Phosphorus Concentrations with Polyacrylamide in the Imperial Valley, California. Journal of Environmental Quality. 35: 1072-1077.
Mason LB, Amrhein C, Goodson CC, Matsumoto MR, Anderson MA (2005). Reducing sediment and phosphorus in agricultural drainage water with alum and polyacrylamide. Journal of Environmental Quality 34: 1998-2004.
Goodson CC, Parker DR, Amrhein C, Zhang Y (2003). Soil selenium uptake and root system development differing in Se-accumulating capability. New Phytologist 159: 991-401
Fenn ME, Castro-Servin J, Hernandez-Tejeda T, Krage N, Goodson C, Meixner T (2002). Heavy Metals in Forest Soils, Vegetation and Drainage Waters in the Basin of Mexico. In: Fenn ME, de Bauer LI, Hernandez-Tejeda T, eds. Urban Air Pollution and Forests: Resources at Risk in the Mexico City Air Basin. New York, USA: Springer-Verlag, 194-221.
Helen Eloyan
Senior Consultant
Helen Eloyan
Senior Consultant
Helen graduated from California State University Channel Islands with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Resource Management. During her time at Channel Islands, Helen primarily focused on conducting geospatial analyses and land use management. She became well acquainted with various Ventura County agencies and organizations by leading a research project (in partnership with a local conservancy) to identify areas of suitability for both conservation and development. Prior to Sespe, Helen worked in the oil and gas industry and gained experience in environmental permitting and land use planning for highly controversial projects. At Sespe, Helen provides land use planning support for various industrial and commercial projects.
Education:
M.P.PA., Master of Public Policy and Administration, California Lutheran University
B.S. Environmental Science and Resource Management, California State University Channel Islands
Affiliations:
American Planning Association – Central Coast Section (APA)
Ventura County Chamber of Commerce – Young Professionals Group (YPG)
Lori Bryan
Senior Consultant, Geology
Lori Bryan
Senior Consultant, Geology
Lori is a Project Manager with twenty years of experience specializing in geology and data analytics. Prior to joining Sespe, she focused her expertise on the U.S. oil and gas industry, working on a variety of exploration and production optimization projects.
Ms. Bryan has a broad background in subsurface site investigation, well design and construction, basin model development, geochemistry, and data management. During her 16-year tenure as an exploration geologist, she gained extensive experience with subsurface investigatory methods, including three-dimensional seismic surveys, downhole geophysical logging, petrophysical analysis, and directional drilling. She assists clients with environmental permitting and regulatory compliance, remedial investigation/feasibility studies, development of site-specific geological and hydrogeologic models, water quality sample and analysis, groundwater supply assessment, and mineral resource evaluations.
Education:
M.S., Geoscience, Texas A & M University, College Station TX
B.S., Geology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Affiliations:
California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA)
Geological Society of America (GSA)
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Professional Petroleum Data Management Association (PPDM)
Presentations:
Bryan, Lori, “Geologists Aren’t Data Managers Until They Are,” presented at Professional Petroleum Data Management Association, April 2021.
Andre Almeida
PE
Senior Consultant
Andre Almeida
Senior Consultant
Andre is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Andre has worked in several multidisciplinary engineering roles, including energy management systems optimization for UCSD facilities, thermodynamics consulting at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and project management for The Alliance to Save Energy. Andre’s experience in these fields was tied together by a focus on computational modeling – a technique he now specializes in for air quality assessment and emissions-based calculations.
Education:
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of California, San Diego
Registrations:
Professional Chemical Engineer
Amanda Beaudoin
Senior Consultant, Geology
Amanda Beaudoin
Senior Consultant, Geology
Amanda is a Senior Consultant for the firm's earth sciences practice area, with over a decade in metal mining, specializing in production geology, permitting, and regulatory affairs.
Working primarily within the mining and construction materials industry and other industrial, commercial, and agricultural sectors, Amanda has successfully supported site expansion and current operations while maintaining compliance with state and federal standards, ensured current claim status, rights-of-way, special use permits, and provided training to mine employees to ensure a thorough understanding of regulatory standards. Additionally, Amanda is proficient in ore-related sampling, mine-to-mill grade reconciliation, stockpile management, mineral resource/mineral reserve audits, and executing mine-exploration drill programs.
Education:
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Grand Canyon University, Arizona
B.S. Geosciences, University of Arizona
Affiliations:
Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
Arizona Rock Products Association
Arizona Mining Association
Drew Taylor
Consultant
Drew Taylor
Consultant
Drew graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Environmental Management & Protection and a concentration in Hydrology and Watershed Management. During his time at California Polytechnic, Drew largely studied hydrologic, edaphic, and geologic processes, environmental documentation, and California Flora identification. He became well versed in the effects of land use management on water and biological resources by conducting research for the City of San Luis Obispo on an endangered thistle, endemic to serpentine wetlands and watercourses. At Sespe, Drew has experience with CEQA analysis, document preparation, stormwater compliance, and land use planning support for industrial and commercial projects.
Education:
B.S. Environmental Management and Protection, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Simon Marks
Consultant
Simon Marks
Consultant
Simon graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2021 with an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Management. His graduate research focused on the hydrologic response of mountain meadows following conifer removal restoration. He also performed research on the water quality impacts of forest roads. At Sespe, Simon has experience with construction/ industrial stormwater compliance, hydrologic modeling, air quality compliance, and dispersion modeling.
Education:
M.S., Environmental Sciences and Management, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
B.S., Environmental Management, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Publications:
Surfleet, C. G., & Marks, S. J. (2021). Hydrologic and suspended sediment effects of forest roads using field and DHSVM modelling studies. Forest Ecology and Management, 499, 119632.
Camille Preece
Consultant
Camille Preece
Consultant
Camille is a geologist within the firm’s earth sciences practice area. She provides technical support for heavy industrial activities including aggregate/construction-related production materials and mineral exploration and production. She also has experience preparing surface mining and reclamation plans, performing regulatory compliance analyses, due diligence audits, and assisting with environmental site assessments (Phase I, Phase II).
Prior to joining Sespe, Camille was the project geologist for a gold exploration and development stage company where she conducted geologic mapping and sampling fieldwork, delineated drill targets utilizing new exploration strategies, and designed a resource definition drill program. Camille also created geologic maps, modeled the primary ore deposit, and executed data analyses using ArcGIS, Leapfrog Geo, and geophysical datasets.
Education:
B.S., Earth Science, Geology Emphasis, University of California, Santa Barbara
Affiliations:
Geological Society of America (GSA)
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Registrations:
OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER
Mackenzie Lewis
Consultant
Mackenzie Lewis
Consultant
Mackenzie graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Environmental Management and Protection and a minor in Land Rehabilitation and Restoration. Prior to Sespe, she did a variety of current planning and environmental documentation tasks as an intern at the County of Placer Community Development and Resource Agency and the California Department of Transportation. At Sespe, Mackenzie has experience with CEQA/NEPA analysis and document preparation, permit processing, land use planning support, and related services.
Education:
B.S., Environmental Management and Protection, Minor in Land Rehabilitation and Restoration, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Melanie Lewison
Associate Consultant
Melanie Lewison
Associate Consultant
Melanie graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management. While at Cal Poly Humboldt, Melanie focused on environmental restoration and resource management as well as environmental planning and policy. At Sespe, Melanie has experience with land use planning support for industrial and commercial projects, CEQA analysis, document preparation, permit processing, and related services.
Education:
B.S., Environmental Science and Management, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Patrick Chesnutt
Associate Consultant
Patrick Chesnutt
Associate Consultant
Patrick graduated from California Polytechnic State University in 2023 with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering. During his time at Cal Poly, Patrick supplemented his environmentally focused coursework with internship experiences in water/groundwater planning and residential/commercial land development. At Sespe, Patrick has experience with construction and industrial stormwater compliance, SMARA documentation, hazardous waste, and water quality reporting.
Education:
B.S. Environmental Engineering, California Polytechnic State University
Registrations:
Engineer-in-Training (EIT)
Stacy Long
Associate Consultant
Stacy Long
Associate Consultant
Stacy graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of California, Davis. She has worked in process engineering as well as research and development roles for various industries. At Sespe, Stacy has experience with air permit applications, noise and odor monitoring, and supporting CEQA/NEPA analysis.
Education:
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis
Kaylin Jebaili
Associate Consultant
Kaylin Jebaili
Associate Consultant
Kaylin graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management with a concentration in Planning and Policy. Prior to Sespe, she did environmental compliance work for the US Army where she primarily helped prepare annual environmental compliance plans and GIS layers. She also has experience with hazardous waste, stormwater compliance, and air quality. At Sespe, Kaylin has experience with CEQA/NEPA analysis, permit processing, document preparation, and other related technical evaluations.
Education:
B.S. Environmental Science and Management, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Guillaume Camus
Drafter
Guillaume Camus
Drafter
Guillaume is responsible for creating and maintaining maps and exhibits in AutoCAD Civil 3D and ArcGIS. This include floodplain mapping studies, grading plans, LiDAR processing and contours, visualizations, and renderings. His other skills include creation of geo-referenced maps, data analysis, modification and classification.
Prior to joining Sespe, Guillaume worked for over 14 years as a 3D graphic artist specializing in environmental modeling.
Education:
B. A., Hammersmith College
Civil 3D Basic Certification, Kelar Corporation
GIS Certification, Ventura College