Our
People

LJA Environmental Services includes seasoned professional leaders in the fields of wildlife ecology, aquatic and terrestrial biology, hydro- and karst-related geology, prehistoric and historic archeology, and historical architecture. Our unique team of professionals are all recognized experts in their respective fields, each with many years of experience conducting objective and reliable scientific and technical studies. Moreover, each member of our professional staff understands how those studies apply toward achievement of your project’s particular environmental permitting and regulatory compliance needs. Whether you need a single resource specialist or an entire team, call one of our team leaders to discuss an environmental permitting and compliance solution that works for you.

With LJA’s wealth of environmental talent and resources, we are one of the largest environmental teams in the state of Texas with over 45 dedicated specialists. We are proud of our team size, but even more so because of the comprehensive array of environmental analysis, permitting, and regulatory compliance services we now offer. You have access to a diverse range of professional environmental engineers, planners, and scientists. Together, we can build—and rebuild—a civilization that matters.

Susan Alford, REM
Susan Alford, REM

Master of Agriculture, Range Ecology & Management, Texas A&M University, College Station
BS, Range Ecology & Management, Texas A&M University, College Station

Susie brings over 21 years of experience in land management and natural resource assessments, specializing in wetland restoration and creation, plant taxonomy, soil morphology, tall grass prairie restoration of disturbed landscapes, range and forest watershed management, and conservation of water resources, and wildlife. As a former Range Conservationist for the U.S.D.A. Natural Resource Conservation Commission (NRCS), she is particularly familiar with environmental and regulatory standards. Susie has developed further expertise through certified training in wetland evaluation and delineation, aquatic resource and wildlife habitat mitigation and restoration, and large ecological systems analysis. She oversees ecological services, including the supervision of field studies and assessments, data gathering and interpretation, coordinating subcontractor specialists, and preparing comprehensive reports of findings. Her 20 years of experience in environmental compliance and regulatory permitting includes with the Environmental Protection Agency- Region 6, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). She has expertise in the USACE Clean Water Act Section 404 wetland permitting, CWA Section 401 Water Quality Certification, and the Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10. She has a diverse background in natural resource assessment, specializing in wetland delineations, wetland permitting, and the creation and mitigation of wetlands and Section 401 water quality plans. Susie has a thorough knowledge of environmental and wetland regulations, particularly the Clean Water Section 404, allowing her to successfully coordinate large-scale, multi-task projects. Susie has conducted over 1500 USACE approved actions and provided evaluation and permitting services for clientele in five (5) USACE Districts, New Orleans, Mobile, Galveston, Ft. Worth, and Albuquerque, the U.S. Coast Guard Eighth District stationed in New Orleans which manages the upper Texas Coast, and the EPA.

C. Lee Sherrod, PWS
C. Lee Sherrod, PWS

MA, Botany/Wetland Ecology, University of Texas at Austin
BS, Forestry/Wildlife Science, Stephen F. Austin University

Lee specializes in terrestrial and wetland ecology, endangered species, regulatory permitting, and NEPA compliance. He has over 40 years of experience in the technical applications of these fields and the regulatory aspects of projectcompliance procedures. He is a recognized expert in wetlands issues and is certified as a “Professional Wetland Scientist - Emeritus” (No. 000155) by the Society of Wetland Scientists Certification Program, Inc. He has directed hundreds of wetland assessment and permitting projects throughout the southern US that have included jurisdictional wetland delineation; aerial photographic interpretation and mapping; habitat creation, enhancement, and reclamation; shoreline stabilization; and mitigation planning. Lee has been qualified as an expert witness in federal court regarding wetlands and endangered species issues and has been regularly invited to give presentations and lectures on these issues at conferences and universities. He has successfully represented public and private applicants in numerous Section 10(a)(1)(B) permits (Endangered Species Act incidental take of endangered species) as well as Section 7 consultations. He has certified training in HEP (USFWS Habitat Evaluation Procedure) and has conducted numerous HEP analyses. He has also conducted numerous Hydrogeomorphic Model (HGM) analyses for wetland impacts and mitigation. He brings an enormous amount of practical experience and expertise to any project to facilitate regulatory permitting, particularly as related to wetlands and endangered species.

Amy Brook
Amy Brook

MS, Geological Oceanography, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
BS, Marine Sciences, Texas A&M University at Galveston

Amy has over 24 years of experience in environmental documents and analyses in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines on transportation related projects including rail, roadways, waterlines, hike and bike trails, and bridge replacement projects. Ms. Brook’s technical experience includes performing environmental studies and writing Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Categorical Exclusions (CEs) compliant with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and has completed over 120 such documents. She has also performed environmental studies for various local and state agency review, such as the City of Houston, Harris County Engineering Department, Fort Bend County Engineering, City of Galveston, Galveston County, City of Pearland, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Water Development Board, and Texas General Land Office (GLO). Her technical experience includes biological resource surveys, wetland delineations and determinations, habitat analysis, community cohesion, socioeconomic and environmental justice evaluations, hazardous materials analyses, and indirect and cumulative impact analyses.

Russell K. Brownlow, RPA
Russell K. Brownlow, RPA

MA, Anthropology, University of Houston
BA, Anthropology/Archeology, University of Texas at Austin

Russ is a professional archeologist with more than 25 years of cultural resources management experience that ranges from basic archeological field work through comprehensive analysis and report writing for data-recovery projects. Having served 2 years as a research associate at the University of Texas’ Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) and 18 years as Horizon’s cultural resources director, he has amassed an in-depth knowledge of state and federal laws governing the protection of cultural resources, including the Antiquities Code of Texas, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and the Archeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA). While Russ recognizes the need to protect significant cultural resources, he also strives to balance the requirements of state and federal agencies and Native American tribes with those of his clients. In doing so, he has developed close working relationships with permitting agencies and tribal preservation officers that allow for a smoother, more integrated permitting process that is free of unexpected delays. Russ has always placed an emphasis on the need for clients to address cultural resources early in the planning stages of a project in order to facilitate a strategic plan in the event that significant cultural resources are encountered or mitigation is required for unavoidable impacts. He has conducted archeological investigations in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, and much of his experience has involved survey, testing, and mitigation projects on mining ventures, pipeline and transmission corridors, highway rights-of-way, well pads, and National Guard training sites.

Scott B. Flesher
Scott B. Flesher

BS, Environmental Science, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi

Scott is a graduate of Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, where he studied Environmental Science. He has 14 years of experience in the field of wildlife biology, project management, permitting, and consulting. He is skilled and experienced in on-site investigations, including habitat assessments, wetland determinations and delineations, and Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, as well as recognition of karst characteristics, recharge features, and suitable endangered species habitats. Scott has also prepared numerous applications for Section 404/10 nationwide and individual permits for the US Army Corps of Engineers, which included conducting Hydrogeomorphic Model (HGM) and Texas Rapid Assessment Method (TXRAM) analyses for wetland impacts and mitigation. He has experience utilizing Trimble Geo HX (sub-foot accurate handlheld GPS unit) for various field applications. He has participated in presence/absence surveys for various threatened or endangered species and is permitted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to survey for golden-cheeked warbler and red-cockaded woodpecker. Scott contributes to GIS mapping services, preparing presentation graphics for technical reports and permitting packages for a variety of project types and phases.

Jay Gardner
Jay Gardner

BS, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi

Jay has extensive background and experience with USACE permitting (Sec’s 404 and 10), environmental assessments and regulatory compliance, wetland delineation, beach and dune permitting, restoration, mitigation, NEPA compliance, and a variety of other environmental monitoring and reporting. Projects and clients have ranged from private individuals to cities, counties, the federal government, and other entities. Projects have included permitting for infrastructure, private/commercial development, boat ramps, mitigation, shoreline protection, bulkheads, roads, and many other projects. Jay has close working relationships with a variety County Commissioners, City Councils, the TGLO, USACE, USFWS, private homeowner associations, landowners, and NGO’s. He also serves as an alternative engineer for the City of Port Aransas, where his main duties are to review dune permits and beachfront construction certificates. He has been involved with shoreline protection, seagrass and shoreline vegetation protection, enhancement, and plantings for 14 years. He has experience with shoreline erosion response and protection through both engineered solutions and living shorelines.

Keith Morgan
Keith Morgan

BS, Agronomy, Texas A&M University

Keith is a Project Manager with 14 years of experience with a diverse background in natural resource assessment, specializing in wetland delineations, wetland permitting, and the creation and mitigation of wetlands. He has extensive experience with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act permitting including both Nationwide Permits and Individual Permits. Keith has experience with running several aquatic resource function models including, but not limited to, the interim Riverine Forested Hydrogeomorphic Model, the interim Riverine Scrub-shrub/Herbaceous Hydrogeomorphic Model, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District Stream Assessment Tool. He also has worked closely with the Interagency Review Team in developing wetland mitigation banks within the USACE Galveston District.

Jesse Owens, MA, RPA
Jesse Owens, MA, RPA

MA, Anthropology, New York University, New York
BA, Anthropology, New York University, New York

Jesse is an accomplished cultural resources professional with more than 25 years of experience in archeological fieldwork, research and analysis, and cultural resources management. He is an adept principal investigator and project manager, proficient at managing suites of turnkey, fast-turnaround projects as well as multidisciplinary, long-term research projects. He is fully versed in historic and environmental preservation laws, assessing the National Register eligibility of cultural resources, and developing management plans for historic properties. Jesse has planned, implemented, and successfully completed cultural resources survey, testing, and data recovery projects in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas. He has completed hundreds of projects for a broad range of clients in the public and private sectors, including oil and gas exploration, development, and transportation; coastal and inland residential, commercial, and industrial land development; solid waste landfills; municipal planning; reservoir development; coastal port and channel improvements; transportation infrastructure; water and wastewater transportation and treatment; electricity generation and transportation; and university research. His project management style incorporates innovative leadership skills, resourcefulness, versatility, swift adaptability, and attention to the bottom line. His success is due in part to his thorough familiarity with federal, state, and local historic preservation laws and long-standing relationships with regulatory agency reviewers.

Benjamin Price, PG
Benjamin Price, PG

MS, Geology, Texas A&M University
BS, Geology, Florida Atlantic University

Ben, with over 25 years of experience, is a Professional Geoscientist with diverse experience in both business and technical aspects of the environmental industry. Utilizing his extensive background in geological and biological disciplines, he has developed expertise in environmental regulations, property assessments, hazardous waste testing and evaluation, wetland evaluation, endangered species audits, health and safety issues, and silviculture activities. Ben specializes in site investigations relating to hazardous material and petroleum product contamination. His experience with the petroleum industry and contaminated site remediation allows him to effectively consult on cost efficient solutions to environmental impairment concerns. Ben is involved with problem solving related to environmental and ecological issues, especially those that may hinder property transfer, land development activities, or oil and gas activities. He has developed a unique working relationship with many federal and state resource agencies responsible for project permitting and approval.

David Sherrill
David Sherrill

Master of Applied Geography Resource and Environmental Studies, Southwest Texas State University
BS, Resource and Environmental Studies, Southwest Texas State University

David has 25 years experience in wetland and land use management. He has expertise in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Clean Water Act Section 404 wetland permitting, CWA Section 401 Water Quality Certification, and the Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10. He has a diverse background in natural resource assessment, specializing in wetland delineations, wetland permitting, and the creation and mitigation of wetlands and Section 401 water quality plans. David has a thorough knowledge of environmental and wetland regulations, particularly the Clean Water Section 404, allowing him to successfully coordinate large-scale, multi-task projects. He also has expertise with coastal permitting issues and has consulted and coordinated over 50 projects located within the coastal zone or within submerged land owned by the Texas General Land Office (TGLO). In addition to USACE permit approval, the coastal projects involved the coordination of approved TGLO coastal land use permits, Beach Construction Certificates, and/or dune mitigation plans. David has coordinated over 450 wetland delineations which were verified by the USACE, coordinated permit approval for over 100 Individual Permits and 250 Nationwide Permits including NW 7, 12, 13, 14, 26, 29, 33, 39, 42, 18. He has also completed over 20 Section 10 dredge and fill permits.