The Company. Our core Values. Our People.

18 Years In Business

Earth Tech Environmental, LLC and its trusted sub-contractors have been providing ‘turn-key’ ecological and sustainable solutions for our clients’ environmental needs since 2006.

Comprehensive Services

From day one, ETE has established the ideology of providing our clients with a comprehensive approach to solving their environmental needs. This ideology focuses on simple, effective and economical tools that provide straightforward and concise results. Implementing this approach towards ecosystem restoration has not only saved our clients money, but also results in long-term ecological benefits.

Certified Experience

Earth Tech Environmental, LLC has a staff of trained and licensed personnel that are qualified to perform environmental consulting and ecosystem restoration at any scale. All field supervisors are licensed through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as commercial applicators for natural areas, aquatics, right-of-ways, and/or forest pest.

Tech Savvy

Our staff utilizes the latest software and technology, including ArcGIS, drones, and remote cameras.

Do it Right

We believe in doing a job right the first time.  This core belief and action saves our clients time and money.

Local Expertise

We know Southwest Florida – the environment, the people, and the regulations.

OWNERSHIP

Partners

Donn Brown

Founder / Senior Project Manager

Mr. Brown founded Earth Tech Environmental, LLC in 2006 and has been an acting partner since. He has been in the ecosystem restoration industry since 2001, and has been involved in ecosystem restoration projects throughout Florida and the US Virgin Islands. Receiving a double-major in Environmental Studies & Environmental History from Florida Gulf Coast University (cum laude) has given Donn valuable training and knowledge of local plant communities and experience in current environmental management techniques. He has successfully managed both small and large-scale restoration, mitigation, and land development projects with responsibilities for project planning, coordination, cost estimates, allocation of resources and material, scheduling, procurement, QA/QC, and contractor/vendor relationships. He is commercially licensed in Collier County as a Landscape – Restricted Contractor, and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for herbicide applications within natural areas, right-of-ways, forests pest control, and aquatic areas. In addition, Donn has been certified as a project management professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute, FDEP – Florida Green Industries BMP’s, FDACS – Feral Swine Dealer, and FDEP certified as a stormwater management inspector.

FDACS Commercial Applicator #CM15838.

Jeremy Sterk, CEP

Partner / Principal Environmental Consultant

Mr. Sterk joined Earth Tech Environmental, LLC in 2013. He has been an Environmental Consultant in Southwest Florida since 1994 and has worked on projects throughout Collier, Lee, Hendry, DeSoto, Glades, and Charlotte counties. His varied experience spans marine, upland, and estuarine habitats and includes extensive work with a wide variety of listed species. He currently holds a State of Florida Real Estate License, is a FWC authorized gopher tortoise agent, a FWC authorized burrowing owl Agent, a FWC approved shorebird monitor, a USFWS approved bald eagle monitor, and a Certified Environmental Professional. In addition to authoring dozens of habitat and species management plans, in 2007, Jeremy co-authored the first habitat conservation plan (HCP) in the nation to address incidental take issues for both red-cockaded woodpeckers and Florida panther on the same property. In 1998, he wrote an ecological assessment computer model for the South Florida Water Management District as part of the South Lee County Watershed Study. He has served on various committees appointed by the Collier County Board of County Commissioners, including Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee, Development Services Advisory Committee (DSAC), and the FWC Local Rule Review Committee (Manatee Protection Speed Zones).

FWC Gopher Tortoise Agent 09-00192, FWC Burrowing Owl Agent RAG-18-00080

ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION STAFF

Exotic Removal & Mitigation Activities

Jim Blalock

Senior Project Foreman

Mr. Blalock has been with Earth Tech Environmental, LLC since 2011 and holds the position of Senior Project Foreman. His duties consist of herbicide application, crew supervision and equipment operations. Jim also oversees subcontractors, bush hog mowing operations, mechanical mowing and fence installation for Earth Tech Environmental. His past experiences include being a Project Manager with Forestry Resources Vegetation Management and he has dealt with large scale mechanical and manual vegetation removal. Since 1994, Jim has provided vegetation management services throughout Florida. He is also OSHA approved and MOT qualified.

FDACS Commercial Applicators License #CM22866

Dean Fella

Project Foreman

Mr. Fella has been with Earth Tech Environmental, LLC since October 2011 and holds the position of Project Foreman. As a Project Foreman, he specializes in a wide variety of disciplines, including exotic species removal, supplemental plantings, vegetation monitoring, preserve maintenance, managing large crews of up to 10-30 members,  trained dozens of field technicians to work effectively and efficiently and furthering their knowledge of invasive and exotic species and the best treatment methods for them, and years of experience in brush mowing and fence installation and repairs. Dean also has experience working with GIS, where he creates day-to-day tracking exhibits. He is actively pursuing his arborist certification.

FDACS License Number – CM22736 – which includes Natural Areas Weed Management, Aquatic Pest Control, Right-of-Way Pest Control, & Forest Pest Control.

Jason Miller

Project Foreman

Mr. Miller joined Earth Tech Environmental, LLC in early 2014 and holds the position of Project Foreman. Jason has more than 22 years of private and public sector experience in handling and caring for native and exotic wildlife and vegetation. Jason has extensive experience working with Florida wildlife and native/exotic vegetation since 1992 when he started his career as a Curator & Zookeeper for the Everglades Wonder Gardens. He is experienced in responding to nuisance and injured wildlife calls while handling, moving, preparing diet, feeding, administering vaccines & medication, rehabilitation, tranquilization and immobilization of animals. Jason has also worked for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission where he set and monitored bear traps, transported and delivered captured animals to Commission staff for release and disposal, and hazed bears involved in human-bear conflicts. Since joining ETE, Jason has gained experience in a broad range of ecological restoration and consulting work. This experience includes exotic species removal, littoral shelf planting, native vegetation restoration planting, vegetation and habitat mapping, protected species surveys, vegetation monitoring surveys, monitoring well installation/maintenance, and water monitoring events.

FDACS Commercial Applicator #CM23692

FWC Gopher Tortoise Agent 19-00100

Gayk Mekenyan

Project Foreman

Mr. Mekenyan joined Earth Tech Environmental, LLC in early 2014 and and holds the position of Project Foreman. Gayk graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2017 with an Environmental Studies degree. He specializes in species surveys, exotic species removal, supplemental plantings, vegetation monitoring, and preserve maintenance. Over the years Mr. Mekenyan has expanded his capabilities to include Trimble GPS usage, turbidity monitoring, Gopher Tortoise relocation, mangrove trimming and crew management. He also has extensive nursery experience.

FDACS Commercial Applicator #CM25154

FWC Gopher Tortoise Agent 19-00099

Spencer Blalock

Project Foreman

Mr. Blalock has been with Earth Tech Environmental, LLC since 2011 and holds the position of Project Foreman. As a Project Foreman, he specializes in a wide variety of disciplines, including exotic species removal, supplemental plantings, vegetation monitoring, preserve maintenance, managing large crews of up to 10-40 members,  trained dozens of field technicians to work effectively and efficiently and furthering their knowledge of invasive and exotic species and the best treatment methods for them, and years of experience in brush mowing and fence installation and repairs. He is actively pursuing his Vegetation Competency Card for the City of Sanibel.

Being a Florida native, Spencer has a wide range of knowledge of the environment and wildlife. While also having extensive knowledge on rescuing and helping aid wildlife that may be injured. (This has happened on several jobsites he has worked on, whether it be an injured birds, squirrels, deer, turtles/tortoises being hit by cars, or any other wildlife that we have come across that has been injured.) He also volunteers a lot of his time over the past 8 years to aiding his fiancée who works at CROW on Sanibel, which is where he have gained a lot of this knowledge.

FDACS License Number – CM22652

NUSERY STAFF

Plant Propagation, Maintenance, & Installation

Matt McGee

Nursery Operations Manager

Mr. McGee joined Earth Tech Environmental, LLC in 2018. Matt is a Florida native and Marine Corps Veteran. After spending 25 years in the Culinary field, Matthew had his sights set on a new career when he met the wonderful staff at ETE. He joined the staff to help in the brand new native plant nursery that he now manages. He is involved in the propagation, cultivation, harvesting and maintenance of all the native Florida plant species that ETE uses in projects for wetland conservation and protected preserve areas. The Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association (FNGLA) Certified Horticulture Professional (FCHP) – H119272

CONSULTING STAFF

Environmental Permitting, Monitoring, & Assessments

Andrew McAuley

Senior Environmental Consultant & Consulting Manager

Mr. McAuley joined Earth Tech Environmental, LLC in 2017, bringing with him nearly 10 years of experience working as a Hydrogeologist II and Environmental Consultant in New York State. He graduated from Hofstra University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. His extensive background includes Phase I ESA reporting, Phase II and Phase III sampling and oversight, Groundwater/Soil/Indoor Air Quality sampling and reporting. Drew has overseen various projects in New York including several Brownfield sites, a Landfill Gas Extraction System, monitoring well installations, and a variety of mold/lead/asbestos abatement projects.  He fulfills duties in Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, soil sampling, protected species surveys, mangrove monitoring, turbidity sampling, GIS mapping, and environmental resource permitting. Drew is also an FWC Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent.

FWC Gopher Tortoise Agent 19-00093

Conor Goulding

Environmental Consultant

Mr. Goulding joined Earth Tech Environmental LLC in 2019 and holds the position of Environmental Consultant. Conor graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Conservation in 2014. His duties and responsibilities include GIS mapping, drone operations / aerial photography, FLUCCS mapping, wetland determinations / delineations, protected species surveys, Florida bonneted bat cavity surveys, crested caracara surveys, bald eagle monitoring, gopher tortoise surveys and permitting, native tree surveys, vegetation monitoring, and pre-clearing surveys. His familiarity with southwest Florida ecosystems encompasses estuarine and marine ecosystems, which allows him to do duties including seagrass monitoring, submerged resource surveys, benthic surveys, artificial reef fish monitoring, Goliath grouper surveys, and pre-/post artificial reef deployment surveys.

UAS Remote Pilot Certificate Number 4386571

FWC Gopher Tortoise Agent 22-00058

Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) Captain’s License

Jessica Miller

Environmental Consultant

Mrs. Miller joined Earth Tech Environmental, LLC in 2024 and holds the position of Environmental Consultant. Jessica graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Marine Science with a minor in Geology. Her extensive background working in the environmental field in southwest Florida includes fish and wildlife research and monitoring, water quality/groundwater/soil sampling and reporting, exotic plant and animal removal, water use permitting, and a wide variety of ecological surveys. Her local knowledge of southwest Florida ecosystems were gained from working in many environments including marine, estuarine, coastal, rivers, wetlands, and inland communities. Since joining ETE, Jessica has gained experience in a range of environmental consulting work. This experience includes turbidity monitoring, shorebird monitoring, protected species surveys, wetland delineations, seagrass surveys, benthic surveys, Florida bonneted bat tree cavity surveys, gopher tortoise surveys, FLUCCS mapping, and environmental permitting.

 

Chris Romanchak

Environmental Consultant

Mr. Romanchak joined Earth Tech Environmental, LLC in September 2024 and holds the position of Environmental Consultant. He graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies. Chris’s familiarity with southwest Florida ecosystems encompasses ecology and environmental assessment of both terrestrial, aquatic, and marine communities. Chris’ prior experience with the permitting process as well as invasive species management has allowed him to better navigate his role as a consultant.  Since joining ETE, Chris has gained valuable experience in a variety of fields including protected species surveys (bonneted bat and gopher tortoise surveys), ecological assessments, wetland determinations, vegetation monitoring, environmental resource permitting, submerged resource surveys, and map creation on GIS. Chris plans on pursuing his FWC Gopher Tortoise Agent certification in the future and is excited to grow in his role!

 

Rachel Tablada

Environmental Consultant

Ms. Tablada joined Earth Tech Environmental LLC (ETE) in September 2024 as an Environmental Consultant. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Sustainability and the Environment from Florida International University. Her varied experience spans upland, wetland, and estuarine ecosystems in south and central Florida. Since joining ETE, Rachel has gained experience in environmental consulting work. This includes wetland delineations, protected species surveys, and GIS mapping.

 

Leah Reidenbach

Environmental Consultant

Ms. Reidenbach joined Earth Tech Environmental, LLC as an Environmental Consultant in 2024. She holds a master’s degree in biology from California State University, Northridge and brings 11 years of experience in marine biology, ecological research, and ecology, with a focus on the effects of climate change, land use change, and coastal eutrophication. As a Florida native and marine biologist by training, her familiarity with Florida’s natural habitats allows her to apply her knowledge across a broad range of ecosystems, including coastal and wetland environments. She is also a certified drone pilot and utilizes her skills to enhance data collection and analysis for environmental projects. Leah has worked extensively with local and regional environmental groups dedicated to protecting Southwest Florida’s coastal resources. Through this work, she actively engaged with Florida’s environmental laws and regulations, particularly those related to land development and conservation. This experience has provided her with a strong foundation for her role at Earth Tech Environmental.

In her role at Earth Tech Environmental, she will be responsible for completing listed species surveys, conducting wetland delineations, report writing, and managing environmental permit projects. She is excited to contribute to the company’s mission of providing environmental solutions. Outside of work, Leah enjoys hiking, trail running, cooking, and photography.

 

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