SynTerra celebrates 25 years of success and safety

By Maris Lawyer (Posted Feb. 12, 2018):

Bill Husk has played key roles in the growth and evolution of SynTerra, but he’s most pleased the core tenets of the company have remained largely unchanged.

When Bill Husk realized that external vendors were not delivering high-quality, applicable Health and Safety (H&S) training, he took matters into his own hands. Starting in 1994, Husk began developing a comprehensive H&S program that would address the specific needs of SynTerra employees and clients.

Today, as Husk and SynTerra mark 25-year anniversaries, he continues to refine the award-winning H&S program at SynTerra. Adaptability and attention to detail drive Husk, a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Environmental Services Group Leader, and Principal at SynTerra. Our Experience Modification Rating (EMR) of .81, which is significantly lower than the industry average, speaks to Husk’s commitment to Health and Safety. SynTerra has won the South Carolina Chamber Commendation of Excellence Safety Award annually since 2006 as a result of our H&S program.

Husk, the first full-time employee hired here, has played a leading role in the growth and technical evolution of SynTerra, but he’s most pleased that the core tenets of the company have remained largely unchanged over the years. Valuing clients and employees, providing quality service, practicing environmental stewardship, and having fun were expressed principles in 1993. Twenty-five years later, SynTerra principles are expressed differently but the sentiment is the same: We own it, Service with heart, and Culture of trust.

Husk lives out those principles in relationships with clients and coworkers. With more than 30 years of environmental consulting experience, he serves as a valuable mentor to younger staff members at SynTerra. He’s equally passionate about consulting. Meeting new people, enjoying variety in the workplace, and finding creative solutions to problems are especially rewarding to Husk.
When asked what sets SynTerra apart, both as a business and a workplace, Husk quickly cites personal relationships. “The depth and breadth of our abilities and experiences grows with each year,” he says. “We have the ability to do pretty much anything a large company can do, but our size allows us to be nimble and provide more personalized attention.”

Kathy Webb, P.G.

Senior Market Leader | Principal

Kathy, a founder of SynTerra (previously The Fletcher Group) in 1992, has completed remedial investigations and regulatory compliance projects associated with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) facilities, state and federal Superfund sites, solid waste landfills, brownfield redevelopment, utility coal combustion residual (CCR) management units, and regulated industrial facilities. She has supported litigation as an expert witness related to chlorinated solvents, metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Kathy is known for her practical assessment strategy with the perspective of the client’s business objectives. She routinely evaluates groundwater corrective action systems for effectiveness and progress toward achieving compliance objectives. She has also co-authored a trade journal paper with case studies of low-impact remedial strategies. Kathy is a licensed Professional Geologist in North and South Carolina.

Mark Taylor, P.G.

Principal

Mark has worked more than 40 years in natural-resource based industries. His expertise includes mine geology and mine engineering, hydrogeologic and geotechnical investigations, solid and hazardous waste management, and regulatory negotiations. He has published peer-reviewed papers about coal geology, ore geochemistry, mineralogy, and solid waste management. He is a leading expert in mining and environmental permitting for litigation support.

Mark is licensed as a Professional Geologist in South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Washington. He serves on the boards of the Upstate Red Cross and Upstate Forever. He served on the South Carolina Board of Registration for Geologists for six years. Mark holds a Master’s degree in Geological Sciences from The University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Science from Harvard University.

Andrea Kehn, P.E.

Vice President of Engineering | Principal

Andrea, leader of our Civil & Environmental Engineering Business Unit, has 28 years of experience in chemical manufacturing and environmental consulting. She leads and supervises staff professionals on multidisciplinary projects for a variety of industrial clients. Andrea’s vast experience and expertise includes: air quality construction and operating permitting; air quality modeling; air permit record-keeping and reporting; Oil Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP); NPDES Permitting; water quality modeling; process safety management; risk management compliance and auditing; and RCRA compliance.

Andrea is registered as a Professional Engineer in South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Ruth Albright, P.E.

Vice President | Principal

Ruth has led projects for major industrial facilities throughout the Southeast and beyond. She built her knowledge of environmental regulations and their application to manufacturing operations while working for the second largest chemical manufacturing company in the United States. At SynTerra, she has expanded both her knowledge and reputation working for chemical manufacturing operations of all sizes. She has also worked extensively with other manufacturing operations, including pulp and paper, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals, food, and automotive parts and assembly. Her experience includes air and wastewater permit compliance, solid and hazardous waste management, solid waste construction permitting, hazardous materials transportation, wastewater treatment systems, air pollution control equipment operations and maintenance, and ambient air monitoring systems.

Ruth is a professional engineer registered in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Michigan, Arkansas, and Kentucky. She is an active member of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Environmental Technical Committee and serves as the chair of the water subcommittee. She has previously served as the program and committee chair for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs committee. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University.