Many of our recent hires might be familiar to you, as they bring several years of experience in the market sectors we serve. Here is a closer look at a few of our new senior staff members.
In Minneapolis
Matt Danzl | Senior Ecologist
Matt brings 10 years of experience in the management, research, and regulation of wetland, prairie, and urban ecosystems. He is knowledgeable in wetland science and permitting as well as floodplains, stormwater, groundwater, water quality, erosion and sediment control, environmental review, TMDL compliance, NPDES permitting, and watershed planning. Matt has represented cities and townships and worked directly for counties and watershed districts in the implementation of their Wetland Conservation Act and MS4 programs, including conducting regulatory reviews, acting as final decision maker for compliance with the Wetland Conservation Act, and securing permits from state and federal agencies.
Kyong Song | Senior Environmental Engineer
Kyong’s expertise lies at the intersection of environmental compliance, environmental data systems, and data analytics and modeling. His 10 years of experience with EHS and digital transformation at 3M allow him to offer industrial clients firsthand insights into environmental-management information systems, regulatory compliance, environmental and sustainability metrics, and risk management. Kyong uses data applications such as Python, SQL, and Microsoft Power BI and Power Automate to optimize processes, reduce risk, and support integration of systems for managing EHS and other business activities. He is well versed in state and federal regulatory programs governing air quality, stormwater, wastewater, hazardous waste, and worker safety.
In Grand Rapids
Kate Watson, PE | Senior Environmental Engineer
Kate has more than 17 years of experience investigating and analyzing alternatives for remedial action at contaminated sites, as well as implementing strategies for site remediation. Her focus prior to joining Barr was on sediment and groundwater remediation, but she also has experience with vapor intrusion investigation and due diligence work. She has extensive experience working under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) regulatory framework and has also worked on projects subject to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and Michigan Part 201. Kate’s project work has included the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site dredging, where she provided engineering support and was part of the project management team.
In Reno
Evrim Sopaci, PhD | Senior Geotechnical Engineer
Evrim has over two decades of experience managing and conducting: surface and underground geotechnical field investigations; drilling programs; rock and soil characterizations; geohazard studies; and slope-stability analyses for both civil- and mining-related projects. This work has involved geotechnical characterization and engineering analysis for highways, dams, hydropower plants, underground structures, and onshore pipelines. His mining experience includes projects related to open pits, waste rock dumps, heap leaching, and tailings storage facilities. Evrim’s work in slope stability has entailed open-pit inspections, slope-monitoring and ground-control reviews, drilling programs, and rock-slope support designs. His projects have spanned the U.S., Canada, and Turkey.
In Salt Lake City
Taylon Earl | Senior Environmental Consultant
With 15 years of experience in the mining sector, Taylon helps clients identify, scope, and manage integrated environmental and engineering projects, particularly those involving state-agency permitting and the federal NEPA process. Over the years, his work has involved frequent interactions with federal, state, and local regulators, including the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining (DOGM), as well as the Utah divisions of air, water, and environmental quality. Before joining Barr, Taylon filled a series of roles at Utah's Skyline underground coal mine. Most recently, he served as a senior environmental engineer focusing on air-quality and NPDES permitting and compliance.