Team | BLE

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Thomas Lammons, P.G., CHMM

CEO

Mr. Lammons is a founding Principal and CEO of the firm with over three decades of professional experience in Hydrogeology,...

Environmental Regulatory Consulting, and Petroleum Geology. His professional experience includes leadership of technical, science and engineering teams at the project, regional and corporate levels. He has performed environmental site assessments, due diligence consulting, Brownfield redevelopment consulting, UST and contaminant source closures, groundwater and soil remediation, solid waste facility (Subtitle D) siting studies, stormwater and SPCC Plan preparation, regulatory consultation for hazardous waste compliance, fugitive air emission inventories and Title V Permitting.

He holds a B.A. in Geology from Furman University, an M.S. in Geology from the University of Mississippi and post-graduate studies in Hydrogeology and Environmental Compliance from Oklahoma State University. Mr. Lammons is a registered Professional Geologist in SC, NC, GA, VA, TN, AL and FL and a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).

Tom lives in Greenville, SC with his wife, Debbie, of 40 years. They spend time traveling, visiting with their sons, grandchildren, families, and friends, serving in ministries, cycling, skiing, and hiking.

Jeff Helvey, P.E.

Principal Engineer & COO

Mr. Helvey is a Principal Engineer and COO of the firm with over 25 years of professional geotechnical and solid waste engineering...

experience as well as holding leadership positions within the firm throughout his career. Prior to being named COO, Mr. Helvey served as Director of one of BLE’s three Divisions (Solid Waste Services). He has been involved in directing professional services for siting, design and construction of facilities throughout the eastern United States. He has coordinated services for owners, contractors, and subcontractors including field exploration, laboratory testing, and engineering analyses. Mr. Helvey has been involved in various stages of the siting, geotechnical analysis, and construction quality assurance monitoring of for hundreds of successful projects including municipal, industrial, CCR and construction-demolition landfills, as well as other environmental containment facilities and supporting infrastructure.

Mr. Helvey holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering (minor in Environmental Science and Policy) from Clemson University and is a licensed professional engineer in 18 states. He is the former president of the South Carolina Upstate Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Mr. Helvey is a veteran of the United States Army where he served as Squad Leader for Stinger Missile teams. He enjoys playing soccer (now in Over-50 tournaments and leagues), spending time at his family’s farm in southeastern West Virginia, watching his boys play high school football, and eating too much ice cream. He lives in Greenville with his wife and two boys.

Daniel Bunnell, P.E.

Senior Vice President, Senior Consultant & Chairman of the Board of Directors

Mr. Bunnell co-founded BLE with Mr. Tom Lammons in 1996 and seved as a Principal and President until January of 2023.

After a 44-year full-time career in consulting engineering, Mr. Bunnell is now serving BLE in a part-time position as Sr. Vice President, Sr. Consultant and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Mr. Bunnell began his career in Florida as a geotechnical and construction materials engineer for a national engineering firm involved in a variety of large commercial, industrial, ports, and Defense Department Projects. His responsibilities over the years grew to include management of a geotechnical laboratory and construction engineering department, and eventually the Principal Engineer and Manager of the Greenville, SC branch office of the firm.

Since the establishment of BLE in 1996, Mr. Bunnell has continued to provide geotechnical engineering consulting services on a variety of projects, with a concentration on long-time clients within the solid waste industry. He has been involved in various stages of the siting, geotechnical analysis, and construction quality assurance monitoring of municipal, industrial, and construction-demolition landfills for several hundred successful solid waste landfill projects. Mr. Bunnell continues to consult with the senior staff of BLE’s geotechnical, construction materials engineering and testing, and solid waste engineering staff.

Mr. Bunnell received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Engineering, with a concentration in Geotechnical Engineering, from the University of Florida. Mr. Bunnell is a licensed professional engineer in numerous states. He lives in Greenville, SC with his wife of 44 years. He is active in church and community and enjoys spending time at beautiful Lake Keowee, traveling, hiking the back country and mountains of the Carolinas, golfing, hanging out with family and friends, and most of all, spending time with his wife, children, their spouses, and the grandkids.

DEPARTMENT MANAGERS

Trevor Benton, P.G.

Environmental Services

Mr. Benton is a Department Manager for Environmental Services at BLE with over 20 years of professional environmental...

consulting experience. He has extensive experience managing a variety of environmental projects including: assessment and remediation at leaking underground storage tank (LUST) sites, subsurface geological and hydrogeological investigations, pre-purchase risk assessments for portfolios of petroleum retail facilities, Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessments, Brownfields, commercial and industrial facilities, and solid waste landfills throughout the Southeast. He works closely with clients and state regulators to ensure projects meet both timeline and budgetary considerations.

Mr. Benton holds a B.S. in Environmental Geology from Clemson University and is a registered Professional Geologist in SC, NC, and GA.

Mr. Benton enjoys golfing, disc golf, hiking, snow skiing, and rooting for the Clemson Tigers. He lives in Greenville with his wife and two children.

Andrew Colby

Branch Manager, Columbia
ELL & CQC

Mr. Colby is a Senior Engineering Associate serving as Branch Manager of the Columbia, South Carolina...

office location. He also leads the Electrical Leak Location (ELL) and Construction Quality Control (CQC) services. He has over 20 years of experience in coordinating services for clients including field exploration, laboratory testing, and engineering analyses.

Mr. Colby has been involved with inspection, testing, and reporting for geotechnical explorations, erosion and sediment controls, and construction consulting. He has provided information, analysis, and evaluation of subsurface data including settlements, slope stability, excavation, and bearing capacity. Mr. Colby has experience in various stages of landfill construction including geomembranes, geosynthetic clay liner, low permeability soil liner installation, final closure construction, and piping for leachate and gas systems. He also has over 50 million square feet of experience with Electrical Leak Location (ELL) technology for various types of containment systems.

Mr. Colby holds an A.A. in Construction Engineering Technology and an A.A. in Architectural Engineering Technology from Greenville Technical College.

Mr. Colby enjoys exercise, hunting, and traveling during his time away from work. He lives in Columbia, SC with his wife and children.

Robert "Ty" Hawkins, CHMM

Environmental Services

Mr. Hawkins is a Department Manager for Environmental Services for BLE. He has over 20 years of professional experience...

as a project manager and risk management consultant in the field of environmental consulting and engineering. Mr. Hawkins leads a team of professionals including environmental engineers, geologists, environmental scientists, industrial hygienists, wetlands specialists, and safety professionals. In this role, he serves a variety of clients including construction, industrial manufacturers, national oil distributors, attorneys, real estate developers, healthcare, higher education, and State and local municipalities on projects across the U.S.

Mr. Hawkins’ technical experience includes Environmental Site Assessments, Property Condition Assessments, Brownfield redevelopment, environmental regulatory compliance, industrial hygiene, facility decommissioning, contaminant assessment and remediation, mold/asbestos, and vapor intrusion assessments. Mr. Hawkins also supports the firm’s growth by serving in a Business Development role and represents the firm in various State and local associations.

Mr. Hawkins received his B.S. in Environmental Science from Lander University in 2001. He is a father of three boys and has been in the Upstate of SC his entire life. In his spare time, he enjoys being outdoors and playing sports with his family. Some of his favorite sports include basketball, baseball, and golf.

W. Bryan Howard, P.E.

Geotechnical & Construction Services, Columbia

Mr. Howard is the Geotechnical and Construction Services Group Lead for BLE's Columbia, SC office. With more than two decades of experience,...

he provides senior management for BLE's geotechnical and construction-related projects within the Columbia office. He is responsible for technical oversight and quality control of BLE-Columbia's project engineers and inspectors. His project experience ranges from residential infrastructure development to educational, commercial, and industrial developments.

Mr. Howard previously served as the firm’s Asheville, North Carolina Branch Office Manager from 2005 to 2011, where he was responsible for project quality assurance, marketing, and overall office management. He also served as the Branch Manager for the firm's Columbia, South Carolina office from 2020 to 2023.

Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Clemson University and is a registered Professional Engineer in SC and NC.

Bryan enjoys golf, softball, canoeing, and Clemson football. He was born and raised in Greenville, SC where he still lives with his wife, two daughters, and two Golden Retrievers.

Jesse Jacobson, P.E.

Director of Technical Services

Mr. Jacobson joined BLE in 2011 and serves as the Director of Technical Services. He has extensive experience in the subjects of retaining walls,...

slope stability analysis, shallow foundations, deep foundations, geotechnical laboratory testing, and geotechnical field-testing. He has worked in the public, private and academic sectors and has managed engineering teams, budgets, and served as the primary client contact for small to very large multi-faceted projects. Mr. Jacobson has served as the geotechnical engineering and construction testing services manager for some of the largest recent construction projects in Western North Carolina, including the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino expansions, the Sierra Nevada Brewery, the WCU STEM building, the Southridge Shopping Center, and the Cherokee Indian Hospital. He has also published several technical papers from his regional experience.

Mr. Jacobson holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University, a M.S. in Geotechnical Engineering from Virginia Tech, and is a registered Professional Engineer in NC with over 22 years of experience.

David Loftis, P.E.

Branch Manager, Asheville

Mr. Loftis is a Senior Engineer and the Branch Manager for BLE’s Asheville, North Carolina office. He offers over 20 years of experience...

with environmental site assessments, receptor surveys, remediation system design, site monitoring, remediation system operations and maintenance, hydrogeologic studies, fate & transport groundwater modeling, stormwater monitoring, OSHA site specific health and safety plans, and stormwater pollution prevention plans. He has extensive experience in Brownsfields redevelopment including preparation of assessment work plans, quality assurance project plans, soil and groundwater remediation, and Brownsfields agreement negotiations.

Mr. Loftis has a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and is a registered Professional Engineer in NC and SC.

Mr. Loftis resides in Mills River, North Carolina with his wife, daughter, and son. He enjoys target shooting, playing guitar, fishing, swimming, and grilling.

Tyler Moody, P.E.

Solid Waste Services

Mr. Moody joined BLE in 2010 and has over 15 years of experience in geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing.

Since joining BLE, Tyler has worked on geotechnical evaluations of solid waste landfills including slope stability evaluations, settlement estimates, drainage layer and filtration calculations, seismic considerations, and forensic analyses. Tyler has assisted in the design for geogrid reinforced slopes and performed numerous stability analyses for mechanically stabilized earth walls and gravity retaining walls.

Tyler graduated from Clemson University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. In 2016, Tyler obtained a Masters of Engineering from North Carolina State University with a specialization in geotechnical engineering. His engineering interests include soil mechanics, reinforced slopes, geosynthetics, finite element load/deflection analysis, and slope stability. Tyler is a licensed professional engineer in SC, NC, GA, AL, MS, FL, VA, TN, OH, KY, and LA.

When he is not at BLE, Tyler enjoys swimming with his kids, grilling, bicycling with his wife, and serving at his church in Greenville.

Darren Nease, P.E.

Construction Services

Mr. Nease is the Construction Services Manager for BLE. He has been with BLE since 2002 following graduation from Clemson University...

with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. Mr. Nease manages and leads the CMT/IBC Chapter 17 Inspections and Geotechnical service lines. Other duties involve managing, reviewing and performing geotechnical evaluations, pavement assessments and design, and construction materials/special inspection testing services. Mr. Nease has worked on numerous projects throughout the Upstate of South Carolina, Northern Georgia, Western North Carolina, and within the Charlotte area of North Carolina. Some of these projects have included manufacturing/industrial buildings with sizes ranging from 25,000 to 1,000,000 square-feet, new retail developments, residential developments, and new roadway/bridge construction. Mr. Nease is a registered Professional Engineer in SC, NC, and GA.

Mr. Nease grew up in Greenville, where he still resides with his wife and two daughters. Mr. Nease enjoys fly fishing, hiking, golfing, target shooting, and of course, cheering for the Tigers.

Chad Rowland, P.E.

Construction Quality Assurance

Mr. Rowland joined BLE in 2021 and serves as the Department Manager for the Construction Quality Assurance Department.

His primary area of practice is geotechnical engineering and CQA services for Subtitle D Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. He is a Senior Engineer with experience in Construction Project Management, testing and reporting, inspection, and construction consulting. He has been involved in the design and construction of facilities and has coordinated services for owners, contractors, and subcontractors including field exploration, laboratory testing, and engineering analyses. Mr. Rowland has been involved in the analysis and evaluation of subsurface data for landfills and has experience in landfill geomembrane, geosynthetic clay liner, low permeability soil liner installation, and final closure construction.

He has served as the CQA Project Engineer or CQA Senior Engineer for landfill construction projects in Alabama, the Bahamas, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Projects have included compacted clay liner construction, geosynthetic clay liner installation, and geomembrane deployment. He has monitored leachate collection system installation and testing, as well as monitored and served as Senior CQA engineer on final closure construction projects, including landfill gas collection system installations.

Mr. Rowland is a registered Professional Engineer and licensed general contractor in SC with a Bachelor of Science in Biosystems Engineering and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Clemson University.

Project Managers

Andrew Alexander, P.G.

Consultant Hydrogeologist

Mr. Alexander has over 30 years of experience as a professional hydrogeologist providing consulting services for broad spectrum of...

clients.

Mr. Alexander’s specialty services include environmental monitoring, assessment and remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater, waste profiling and waste management, water resource investigation, stormwater and spill prevention plans, environmental permitting, water quality monitoring plans, landfill gas monitoring plans, and geotechnical support services.

Mr. Alexander has served in various managerial and technical capacities over the history of the company.

Mr. Alexander holds a B.S. in Geology from the University of South Carolina and is a licensed professional geologist in LA, MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC, TN, and IN. Mr. Alexander is also a Registered Site Manager in the state of North Carolina.

Mr. Alexander lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina with his wife of over 30 years. They have two grown children. Mr. Alexander coached youth sports and was a Boy Scout leader for more than a decade. When not at work, Mr. Alexander can be found on the golf course, where he served on the board of directors as the Director of Planning and Projects at Fox Run Country Club for 6 years and provided project management and consulting for more than a decade.

James Belgeri, P.E.

Senior Consultant

Mr. Belgeri joined BLE in 2018 as Senior Consultant in the Asheville office. He has extensive geotechnical, geological, and...

geophysical experience throughout the Southeast US, as well as experience with drilling, well installation, construction materials testing, and inspections.

He holds a B.S. in Geological Engineering from University of Missouri-Rolla and was previously a Fellow at Teach Tennessee Institute and a member of the Virginia Tech Center for Geotechnical Practice and Research (CGPR). He is a registered Professional Engineer in NC, TN, and VA.

In the early and mid-70’s, Mr. Belgeri was a geological specialist on several major nuclear studies in the Southeast. These included a five-site review for Exxon Nuclear (disposal sites), TVA (Phipps Bend Nuclear Station), and the DOE’s Clinch River Breeder Reactor, which included participation in the PSAR, SAR, and site instrumentation work during site work and commissioning. The site was eventually decommissioned.

With the passing of the nuclear industry, regional landfills and other environmental-related projects became paramount in the industry. Belgeri was instrumental in developing practices and protocols for his employer’s entry into the environmental drilling profession and under his leadership, his firm was the first in East Tennessee to drill into a CERCLA Superfund Site under OSHA regulations.

From early in his career, Belgeri’s expertise has been sought on significant transportation projects including two major landslide events occurring on Tennessee’s I-40 corridor in East Tennessee and one on Tennessee’s I-75 corridor. Additionally, Belgeri served as Senior Geotechnical Consultant on Slope Studies for the I-26 mountain corridor between Johnson City, Tennessee and Sam’s Gap on the I-26 route to Asheville, North Carolina.

Mr. Belgeri’s career includes multiple projects and organizational management positions including Regional Management and service on the Board of Directors of a large regional engineering practice. His areas of particular interest in the geotechnical field include sinkhole and Karst studies, rock slope engineering, and expansive geotechnical materials. Mr. Belgeri is also published in all these disciplines.

During a brief departure from his professional pursuits, he sought public office and was elected to public service as the Sullivan County, Tennessee Commissioner of Highways. He served one four-year term and was responsible for many local innovations learned in the private sector and blended into the public sector.

Mr. Belgeri is married to his wife, Patty, and they have three daughters, eight grandchildren and two great granddaughters. His hobbies include golfing with his grandsons, working on his tractor, and teaching Sunday School.

Rex Brown, P.E.

Senior Engineer

Mr. Brown is a senior project leader and client manager with over 29 years of professional geotechnical and construction materials...

consulting experience. He has been involved in pre-purchase due diligence services, geotechnical explorations, and construction for a variety of projects including: Commercial/Retail mixed use developments, Industrial Facilities, Roadways and Infrastructure projects primarily in the Southeast U.S. Mr. Brown has worked in various stages of the development and construction process for over 500 successful projects. Since moving to Greenville in the mid 1990’s, Mr. Brown has been involved with many of the major projects in Downtown Greenville that have made it a USA Today Top 10 Best Emerging Destination. Mr. Brown works closely with clients to provide value-added solutions and evaluations to ensure the projects stay on schedule and meet budget requirements.

Mr. Brown holds a Bachelor in Civil Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and is a registered Professional Engineer in SC, NC, and GA.

Mr. Brown enjoys golf, DIY projects, and spending time with his kids, their spouses, and grandkids. He can be seen many nights and weekends in gyms attending basketball games of sons playing at the Pro, NCAA D1, High School and Middle School levels. He lives on a small farm in Travelers Rest near Greenville with his wife of 28 years.

Matt Christie, P.E.

Senior Engineer

Mr. Christie is a Senior Engineer with BLE’s Construction Services department. With more than 20 years of experience, he has worked...

as a Construction Services engineer on large industrial, commercial, and residential projects across the country. He is responsible for the management of construction materials testing and special inspections projects, including coordinating the engineering technicians and managing all project data. Throughout his career, Mr. Christie has been involved with large DOT projects, many industrial projects, and multiple 1,000,000+ square feet regional distribution centers. In addition to various projects regional to the BLE headquarters in Greenville, SC, Mr. Christie serves as the primary project manager for a national client with the projects in 42 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Mr. Christie holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Clemson University and is a registered Professional Engineer in SC. Mr. Christie is a native of the Greenville area where he currently resides with his wife, son, and dog. He and his wife enjoy spending time watching their son play baseball and football and they spend most summer weekends at the lake or ball field. As a graduate of Clemson University, Matt is all in for the Tigers and enjoys cheering them on year-round!

T.J. Daniel, P.G.

Project Hydrogeologist

Mr. Daniel serves as Project Hydrogeologist for BLE with over 5 years of experience in geologic consulting. His work experience includes...

groundwater monitoring, well installations, groundwater and soil sampling, and statistical analysis, with his specialty being hydrogeologic assessments for solid waste facilities and hard rock quarries. He has aided and coordinated 15+ large scale hydrogeologic assessments with tasks related to geologic mapping, piezometer installation, hydraulic testing, dye tracing, and soil and rock classification.

Mr. Daniel holds his B.S. in Environmental Studies from University of North Carolina Asheville and his M.S. in Hydrogeology from Clemson University. He is a licensed Professional Geologist in AL, GA, MO, NC, SC, TN, and VA.

Mr. Daniel is an Eagle Scout and enjoys an active lifestyle including mountain biking, road biking, weightlifting, disc golf, and walks with his wife and dog, Eli. He also considers himself a big sports fanatic, cheering on the Green Bay Packers and Clemson Tigers.

Reid Doherty, P.G.

Project Geologist

Mr. Doherty serves as a Project Geologist at BLE. During his decade of professional experience, he has served as a technical...

consultant on various environmental projects, including, but not limited to, Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) sites, Solid Waste Landfill sites, Geotechnical Subsurface Exploration projects, Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, Brownfields, and Storm Water Management Plans.

Mr. Doherty holds a B.S. in Geology from University of South Carolina and is a licensed Professional Geologist in SC.

Outside of work, Mr. Doherty is an avid outdoorsman and conservationist who enjoys camping, hunting, fishing, and numerous other outdoor activities with his wife, son, and dog.

Tyler Fletcher

Tank Compliance and Testing

Mr. Fletcher manages BLE's Tank Compliance and Testing Services group. His primary responsibilities include scheduling and...

managing field staff, maintaining client relationships, ensuring that existing clients stay current with all regulatory requirements, and managing monthly, annual, and tri-annual compliance and testing responsibilities for over 400 Underground Storage Tank (UST) facilities.

Mr. Fletcher was an intern with BLE for 6 months while completing his B.A. in Communications from USC Upstate. He has been employed full time since graduating in 2015.

Tyler is an active member in the South Carolina Convenience Store and Petroleum Marketers Association (SCCPMA), the Asian American Store Owners Association of South Carolina (AASOA of SC), and the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI).

Tyler enjoys watching Ohio State football and spending time with his wife and three kids. He loves grilling, golfing, and staying active in their local church.

Anna Franklin, P.E.

Senior Environmental Engineer

Mrs. Franklin is a senior project manager with over 18 years of regulatory and environmental consulting experience. She specializes in air...

quality permitting and compliance for industrial and municipal clients. Her primary expertise includes air construction permit applications, air dispersion modeling analyses, emission inventory preparation and reporting, and compliance assistance with State and Federal air regulations.

Mrs. Franklin also coordinates with clients to prepare environmental plans including Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC), Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans, Slug Control Plans, and Best Management Practices (BMP) Plans. She also assists clients with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, wastewater permitting and compliance, and conducts environmental compliance audits.

Mrs. Franklin received her B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences from University of North Carolina at Asheville and M.S. in Environmental Engineering and Science from Clemson University. She is a registered Professional Engineer in SC.

Mrs. Franklin lives in Greenville, SC with her husband and two children. She spends time with family enjoying Clemson football or hanging out at the pool, lake, or beach.

Sam Interlicchia

Field Services Program Manager

Mr. Interlicchia joined BLE in 2003 as a Project Manager in the Asheville, NC office and has over 25 years of geotechnical and...

construction materials engineering experience in the Western North Carolina area. He has extensive experience in the testing and analysis of construction materials including soils, concrete and asphaltic concrete. His technical responsibilities involve management and review of quality control and quality assurance activities on construction projects. He has been involved in the inspection of shallow foundation systems, drilled piers, excavation, fill control, subgrade preparation, dewatering of construction sites and pavement placement. Projects have included commercial and office buildings, school sites, parking decks, water filtration, and wastewater processing plants. He has also worked on several multi-story projects in the Western North Carolina area that incorporated both deep and shallow foundation systems. His deep foundation experience includes design and construction of displacement and non-displacement driven piles, auger cast piles, micro-piles, and drilled shafts.

Mr. Interlicchia holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering Technology from Asheville/Buncombe Technical College.

Jimmy Ladd

Chief Building Inspector

Mr. Ladd is a Chief Building Inspector and Technician with over 19 years of experience in building code inspection, construction quality...

assurance inspection, testing, and reporting, of geotechnical explorations, erosion and sediment controls, and construction consulting. Mr. Ladd primarily provides building inspection services for the Construction Materials Department. Mr. Ladd is approved by the SCLLR as a continuing education provider for building code officials and special inspectors in South Carolina. Mr. Ladd is an OSHA Authorized instructor and provides safety training for industry construction personnel.

Mr. Ladd holds licenses and/or certifications from SCLLR, ICC, NICET, ACI, SCDOT, and AWCI.

Mr. Ladd enjoys football, and spending time with his family.

William Mathews, P.E.

Chief Engineer

Mr. Mathews is a Chief Engineer with more than four decades of professional engineering experience. He is responsible for...

professional development and technical review/oversight of junior engineers at BLE and for implementing/maintaining AASHTO accreditation of the laboratory for our Greenville, SC office. Mr. Mathews has directed and/or performed the drilling operations, laboratory testing and engineering analysis for numerous geotechnical related construction projects in a variety of geologic settings. He has extensive geotechnical engineering and construction materials engineering and testing experience on industrial, governmental, institutional, transportation, commercial and water/wastewater projects.

Mr. Mathews taught geotechnical engineering review classes through the Clemson University Office of Continuing Engineering Education for candidates preparing to take the professional engineering exam. Mr. Mathews holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Civil Engineering (Geotechnical) from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is a registered professional engineer in SC, NC, GA and AL.

Bill and his wife have three grown children and enjoy spending time at the lake and listening to live music. He enjoys riding motorcycles in the mountains and on the track whenever he can.

Dan Matz, P.E.

Senior Environmental Engineer

Mr. Matz is a Senior Environmental Engineer with over 10 years of experience. His technical practice has included managing...

Environmental Due Diligence Services including Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments, Brownfield Assessments, asbestos surveys and abatements, remediation/corrective action, Spill Prevention Plans, Stormwater Plans, and vapor intrusion design and mitigation. He provides consulting advice to developers as well as corporate, financial, and legal clients, providing solutions to meet their goals.

Mr. Matz holds a B.S. in Physics of the Environment from Furman University, a M.S. in Environmental Engineering and Earth Science from Clemson University, and is a registered Professional Engineer in SC, NC, GA, TX, MO, MI, and FL.

Mr. Matz enjoys running, cycling, triathlon, coaching youth sports, and Clemson Football. He lives in Greer with his wife and three children.

Dan Osbourne P.G.

Chief Scientist

Mr. Osbourne is a Chief Scientist at BLE with over 20 years of environmental consulting experience. Mr. Osbourne is responsible for...

professional development and technical review/oversight of junior environmental engineers and geologists at BLE. He specializes in the characterization of site hydrogeology and determination of groundwater quality, aquifer characteristics, groundwater migration patterns, contaminant plume dimensions, and potential contaminant impacts on the environment. Mr. Osbourne has demonstrated experience in planning, developing, managing and implementing a broad spectrum of environmental services. Some of his experience has included CERCLA Superfund remedial investigations, RCRA groundwater investigations at federal facilities, Brownfields redevelopment sites, remedial investigations / feasibility studies and remedial actions, soil and groundwater remediation projects for the DOD and DOE, Environmental Site Assessments (Phase I, II, and III), and investigations associated with underground storage tank (UST) sites throughout the Southeast.

Mr. Osbourne holds a B.S. in Geology and a M.S. in Hydrogeology, both from Clemson University. Mr. Osbourne is a registered Professional Geologist in SC, NC, GA, TN, and AL, as well as a Registered Site Manager (RSM) for Inactive Hazardous Sites in NC.

Mr. Osbourne is an avid motorcyclist and can frequently be found riding nearby mountain roads. A husband and father of two sons, he also enjoys camping with his family.

Larry Simonson, P.E.

Senior Engineer

Mr. Simonson is a Senior Engineer with over 11 years of professional geotechnical and solid waste engineering consulting experience. He...

has had field and engineering experience with the design and construction of landfill, mining, and industrial facilities across the eastern half of the United States. He has coordinated and performed tasks related to quality assurance during construction, field exploration, laboratory testing, and geotechnical analysis for the design and operation of municipal and construction-demolition landfills and their associated components. Mr. Simonson has performed slope stability analyses for reinforced slopes, the design of new landfills, and for the forensic investigations of distressed and unstable landfill slopes.

Mr. Simonson holds a M.S. and B.S. in Civil Engineering from Clemson University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in GA, SC, NC, VA, TN, LA, AL, and OH. He is a member of the South Carolina Upstate Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the International Geosynthetics Society.

Mr. Simonson is an active member of Greenville’s Alchemy Comedy Theater, where he regularly performs and coaches comedy improvisation. He and his wife regularly travel from their home in Greenville, where they live as avid gardeners and self-proclaimed foodies.

Gwen Sollenberger, P.E.

Senior Engineer

Mrs. Sollenberger is a Senior Engineer with over 10 years of experience in managing and performing traditional geotechnical projects...

and multidisciplinary projects with civil design and construction management. She has been involved in coordinating services for owners, contractors, and subcontractors including field exploration, laboratory testing, engineering analyses, and special inspections. Mrs. Sollenberger has experience in analysis and evaluation of subsurface data for shallow and deep foundations, ground improvement, pavement design, retaining walls, seismic design parameters, and liquefaction potential. She has worked on projects in 16 different states across varied geologic formations. Mrs. Sollenberger joined BLE in October 2017 after working over 6 years in Dallas, Texas and a short period in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Mrs. Sollenberger holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from The University of Central Florida. She is a registered Professional Engineer in GA, NC, SC, and TX.

Mrs. Sollenberger enjoys baseball/softball, hiking, backpacking, scuba diving, and traveling. She lives in Greer with her husband, son and two dogs.

Jonathan Usher, P.E.

Senior Engineer

Mr. Usher is a Senior Engineer and Project Manager with more than 25 years of construction project management and...

geotechnical engineering experience. His construction project management and geotechnical engineering experience includes storm water management, grading, asphalt pavement, bridge, cellular communication tower sites, and landfill projects. Mr. Usher’s primary area of practice is geotechnical engineering and CQA services for Subtitle D Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. He has experience in construction quality assurance inspection, testing and reporting, geotechnical explorations, and construction consulting for landfill facilities. He has coordinated services for landfill facility owners, contractors, and subcontractors including field exploration, laboratory testing, and engineering analyses. He also has experience in landfill geomembrane, geosynthetic clay liner, low permeability soil liner installation, and final closure construction.

Mr. Usher has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Clemson University and is a Professional Engineer licensed in AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MD, MO, NC, SC, TN, and VA. He also has a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute.

Mr. Usher enjoys exercising, listening to music, and watching Clemson football and baseball. He lives on Johns Island, SC with his wife and three children.

Gary Weekly, P.E.

Senior Engineer

Mr. Weekly has served as a Senior Engineer with BLE since the company's inception. He has been involved in siting, design, and construction...

of landfill facilities in the southeastern United States, including in NC, SC, GA, and AL. He is experienced in Coastal Plain, Piedmont, Blue Ridge and Valley and Ridge geologic provinces and has coordinated services for owners, contractors, and subcontractors including field exploration, laboratory testing, and engineering analysis. Mr. Weekly is experienced in the analysis and evaluation of subsurface data for landfills, structures, dams, lagoons, and earth embankments including settlements, slope stability, excavation, dewatering, grouting, and bearing capacity.

Mr. Weekly holds a B.A. in Civil Engineering from West Virginia Institute of Technology and a M.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in GA, NC, and SC.

Corporate Administrative Office

Shelly Faulkenberry

Corporate Office Manager

As the Corporate Office Manager, Mrs. Faulkenberry ensures the daily operations run smoothly and efficiently. In addition to overseeing the Administrative staff and operations, she is involved with payroll, event planning, accounts payable, purchasing, and vendor contracts. Mrs. Faulkenberry also provides administrative support to the Controller and Principals. She has over 8 years of experience with Bunnell Lammons Engineering.

Mrs. Faulkenberry has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina.

Mrs. Faulkenberry lives in Simpsonville, SC with her husband, daughter, and two dogs, Layla and Lilly. She enjoys traveling, fitness and nutrition, and cheering on the Gamecocks.

Lauren Fitzgerald

Human Resources Manager

Mrs. Fitzgerald is a Human Resources Professional with over 10 years of HR experience. She provides advice and counsel to managers regarding personnel practices, policy, and employment laws as well as compensation, employee performance, and career development. She also administers all corporate health and welfare benefits, retirement, paid time off, and leaves of absence plans. With a team of over 100 employees at BLE, striving for effective communication and a strong company culture are priorities for Lauren as she leads the HR function.

Mrs. Fitzgerald holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University and has been a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) since 2009 and a SHRM Certified Professional since 2016. She is also an active member of Greenville’s Society for Human Resource Management.

Mrs. Fitzgerald enjoys home improvement projects, being with family, and running. She lives in Greenville, SC with her husband, two kids and German Shepherd dog.

Richard Hall

Controller

Stephen Dowd

Assistant Controller

Mr. Dowd joined BLE as Assistant Controller in 2022. He is responsible for BLE's financial reporting and manages the accounting functions of the company. He is a graduate of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado with a B.S. in Corporate Finance. He has over 10 years' experience in financial reporting, process improvement, and financial management in the automotive industry.

Stephen lives in Greer, South Carolina with his wife Emilie, their three boys, and their big, black poodle named Charlie. He enjoys coaching his son's sports teams, volunteering with the youth program at his church, and relaxing outside with his wife and a cup of coffee.

Business Development Representatives

Prescott May

Upstate South Carolina

Mr. May Joined BLE in 2016 as a Business Development Representative, working with BLE's Construction Materials Testing (CMT) and Geotechnical departments. His primary responsibility is developing business relationships and managing client relations.

Mr. May holds a B.S. in Business Administration (Marketing) and an MBA (Finance) from Winthrop University. He is actively engaged in the community as a member of multiple organizations, including the Urban Land Institute (ULI), and Rebuild UPSTATE.

A native of Greenville, SC, Mr. May enjoys spending time with friends and family and being outdoors, especially water skiing and golfing.

Garrett Pittman

North Carolina

Mr. Pittman is a Business Development Representative, working with BLE's Geotechnical and Environmental departments. His primary responsibility is developing business relationships and managing client relations.

Mr. Pittman holds a B.S. in Technology Education and a M.A. in Industrial Technology. He is actively engaged in the community as a member of multiple organizations.

A native and lifelong resident of Western NC, Mr. Pittman enjoys spending time with his wife, Johanna, two children, family, and friends. He also enjoys his time at church, hiking, fishing, football, and cheering on the NC State Wolfpack and Appalachian State Mountaineers.

Zack Smith

Midlands South Carolina

Mr. Smith joined BLE in 2022 as a Business Development Representative, working with BLE's Construction Materials Testing (CMT) and Geotechnical departments. His primary responsibilities are developing business relationships and managing client relations.

Zack graduated Magna Cum Laude and holds a B.S. in Business Administration (Marketing) from Strayer University. He is actively engaged in the community as a member of multiple organizations, including the Urban Land Institute (ULI), South Carolina Economic Developers Association (SCEDA), and Central SC Alliance.

A native of Columbia, SC, Mr. Smith enjoys spending time with his wife, Callie, family and friends, and being outdoors fishing, watching football, and cheering on the Gamecocks, along with coaching youth football.