Westland Resources, Inc. : WestLand Resources Principals

The senior staff of WestLand Resources, Inc. brings together more than 70 years of combined experience in engineering and environmental consulting and landscape design services. We have a diversity of extensive experience in a broad array of environments, from rural to urban, in both the commercial and public sectors.

JAMES A. TRESS, JR., M.N.S., PRINCIPAL
M.N.S., Ecology, Arizona State University
B.S., Biology-Chemistry, Northern Arizona University

Mr. Tress, one of the founding principals of WestLand, has 24 years experience in environmental issues. He manages interdisciplinary teams responsible for preparation of a variety of environmental documents.

Mr. Tress is and has been the primary permit holder since 1997 for WestLand's Federal Fish & and Wildlife Permit issued by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Scientific Collecting Permit issued by the Arizona Game & Fish Department. He supervises fieldwork and report preparation for the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl (CFPO) and other special-status species surveys in Pima, Gila, and Pinal counties.

Mr. Tress specializes in the technical and procedural requirements necessary for compliance with regulatory programs implemented under the CWA, ESA, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Services provided in support of these regulatory programs include environmental planning, delineation of jurisdictional waters and wetlands, habitat evaluation and endangered species survey and assessment, EIS and EA preparation, Section 404(b)(1) alternative analysis and mitigation planning, and public participation plan development mandated by NEPA. Mr. Tress also has extensive experience in the development and implementation of mitigation and restoration planning for riparian, wetland, desert, and montane habitats.

MARK F. TAYLOR, P.E., PRINCIPAL
M.B.A., University of Arizona
B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Arizona

Mr. Taylor has experience in various aspects of water resource engineering in Arizona and Nevada. His experience covers project design and development of improvement plans for public works, master-planned communities, and commercial and retail centers. He is responsible for developing water master plans; water system development; well, reservoir, and transmission system design; and wastewater infrastructure, treatment, lift station, and force main design; and reclaimed water system, utility plans, and development impact fees for private and municipal clients.

Mr. Taylor brings over 25 years of experience to our team, covering project design and development of improvement plans for public works, master-planned communities, and commercial and retail centers. He has served as Principal-in Charge for several, multi-disciplinary projects, providing design and other technical assistance, while maintaining project budgets and deliverable schedules.

Mr. Taylor's water master plan experience ranges from rural water systems to high-density development, and has been split between rural systems such as Morning Star Ranch (117 forty-acre lots) and Rio Rico Properties, and high-density developments in the Town of Oro Valley, City of Tucson, and Las Vegas Valley Water Systems.

Mr. Taylor produces plans that are accurate, buildable, and the contract documents he produces are known for protection of the owner. Because his plans are systematic and well organized, contractors readily bid on his projects and change orders are minimal.

KATHY G. WHITMAN, PRINCIPAL
B.S., Range and Watershed Science, University of Wyoming
B.I.S., Integrated Studies, Weber State University, magna cum laude
MFA, Writing, Antioch University

Ms. Whitman is the former owner and president of Whitman & Company, a Tucson-based environmental permitting firm. In October 2001, Whitman & Company merged with WestLand Resources, Inc (WestLand). She has 26 years comprehensive environmental experience, specializing in permitting, project management, regulatory affairs, and facility compliance. Her responsibilities include development of project strategies and overall management of permitting processes. Ms. Whitman provides expertise in environmental permitting including NEPA (EIS/EA), CWA (NPDES, 404 Permits, 404(b)(1) alternatives analysis, 401 state water quality certifications, Storm Water, SPCC), industrial facility regulatory compliance (RCRA, EPCRA), APP (Aquifer Protection Permit), and Air Quality. She specializes in the technical and procedural requirements of regulatory programs and agency coordination.

THOMAS A. MARTINEZ, P.E., PRINCIPAL
B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Arizona

Mr. Martinez has 13 years experience in various aspects of engineering in Arizona, including infrastructure planning, permitting, design, and construction administration of water distribution systems, pumping plants, storage facilities, including facilities for potable, reclaimed, and wastewater systems. His experience ranges from rural areas to extensive urban design. Mr. Martinez has designed and facilitated the construction of over 30 pumping facilities and numerous miles of transmission, distribution, collection mains, and several miles of roadways.

Mr. Martinez has developed several studies, reports, and guidance documents that have served as planning benchmarks for clients throughout southern Arizona. His systematic approach to problem solving has earned him a solid reputation in the community, and the majority of his projects come from repeat clients.

Mr. Martinez produces plans that are accurate, buildable, and his contract documents are known for protection of the owner. Because his plans are systematic and well organized, contractors readily bid on his projects and change orders are minimal.

RICK SCHONFELD, A.S.L.A., R.L.A., MANAGER, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
B.S., Landscape Architecture, University of Arizona

Mr. Schonfeld has over 25 years experience as a planner and landscape architect in the desert southwest, responsible for project management and design services on a wide variety of projects, including parks, habitat restoration, athletic fields, hotels, trail systems, picnic facilities, recreation facilities, urban plazas, resorts, housing development, commercial development, military installations, and roadway development. His technical expertise includes environmental and complete site analysis, visual analysis, planting design, irrigation design, hardscape design, graphic design, and development of landscape maintenance guidelines. In addition, Mr. Schonfeld has been involved with numerous master planning and construction projects for city, county, state, and federal agencies.

SHAWN W. REEDER, PRINCIPAL
B.S., Business Management, Arizona State University

Mr. Reeder has over 10 years of experience in managing business operations, budgeting, financial analysis, sales, and marketing. He has substantial hands-on experience in all facets of business management. Mr. Reeder joined WestLand in 2004 as the Chief Operations Officer; as part of his responsibilities, he oversees the efficient management of projects to ensure quality and budget control.

BRIAN S. LINDENLAUB, PRINCIPAL
B.S., Geological Engineering (magna cum laude), University of Missouri – Rolla
B.S., Fisheries & Wildlife (magna cum laude), University of Missouri – Columbia

Mr. Lindenlaub has been providing environmental consulting services, specializing in environmental permitting and compliance, since 1994. His focus since 1997 has been primarily on the Clean Water Act. Mr. Lindenlaub has been the senior project manager on a number of Section 404 permitting efforts (both nationwide and individual permits), and has considerable experience with all aspects of that permitting process: 404(b)(1) alternatives analyses, Section 7 Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation, compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation (both EAs and EISs), development of compensatory mitigation projects, etc. In addition, he is the staff technical lead on issues related to stormwater compliance (NPDES/AZPDES) for construction activities and industrial facilities.

KARA D. FESTA, P.E., PRINCIPAL
M.S., Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona
B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Arizona

Ms. Festa performs civil, sanitary, and environmental engineering. Her experience includes water system and resource planning, infrastructure design including pipelines, wells, reservoirs and booster stations, bidding services, and construction and contract administration.

Ms. Festa has been working in the field of water and wastewater engineering for 15 years. Ms. Festa is the main point of contact for a number of the water company clients for which WestLand performs on-call and as-needed engineering services, including Vail Water Company, Avra Water Co-op, Bella Vista Water Company, Northern and Southern Sunrise Water Companies, Saguaro Water Company, Spanish Trail Water Company, Las Quintas Serenas Water Company, and Ray Water Company. In addition to the day-to-day coordination of engineering issues, plan reviews, and master planning and system integration for water company clients, Ms. Festa manages the design, permitting, bidding, and construction aspects of many types of infrastructure projects for these and other water companies, private developers, public sector clients, and mining clients. Her design and permitting experience includes project management and engineering design and specifications for numerous water distribution systems, booster stations, storage facilities, and wells.

CHERYL L. HALL, DESIGNATED BROKER
B.S., Computer Science, University of Arizona

Ms. Hall has over 16 years of experience as a planner and project manager in the land development and right of way industries. She has managed a wide variety of projects, including residential subdivisions, commercial developments, transportation projects, telecommunications projects and sewer and water utilities projects, ensuring that all project disciplines produced deliverables on time and within budget. Ms. Hall has extensive experience in community outreach and can effectively lead or facilitate public meetings, provide the proper notifications, and create the media to effectively communicate the project’s scope. Ms. Hall is an Arizona licensed Real Estate Broker.