Rapid growth continues as SynTerra marks 25 years in business

Press Release (Posted Feb. 19, 2018): SynTerra executives were caught off-guard by their own anniversary. Multiple projects had the company busy and in hiring mode. Finally, commemoration is underway.

Immersed in new projects, the science and engineering consulting firm almost forgot its own anniversary
FEBRUARY 19, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SynTerra, a science and engineering consulting firm with offices in Greenville, SC, and Charlotte, NC, is celebrating its 25-year anniversary — as time permits.
New projects and initiatives have kept SynTerra busy and in hiring mode. The employee-owned company has grown to 96 employees; it had 51 employees in early 2016 and 65 at the beginning of 2017. SynTerra has added engineers, geologists, scientists, marketing professionals, and administrative personnel. SynTerra opened the Charlotte office this past June. Also during the summer, SynTerra acquired more space and tore down walls to expand its headquarters at the INNOVATE building in downtown Greenville.

SynTerra executives were caught off-guard by their own anniversary, admits President Mark Taylor. “It’s great to be busy helping clients succeed; that’s what we do. But the other day, someone in a meeting said, ‘Hey, what are we doing to celebrate our 25th anniversary?’ ” Taylor recounts. “We laughed about the sudden realization, but then we became serious. This is an important milestone.”
Commemoration is underway. A special logo will be used throughout 2018 in print and digital material, and SynTerra will host several celebrations.
Festivities will be kept in perspective, Taylor emphasizes. Still, it’s hard not to reflect — and be proud, he says. A few highlights include:
• Founding of the company in 1993
• Moving into INNOVATE in 2002 after performing Phase I environmental work at the former textile mill
• Transition of ownership and a name change — from Fletcher Group to SynTerra — in 2006
• SynTerra innovations with large diameter geotextile tubes and beneficial reuse of industrial process residuals
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in 2016 that solidified SynTerra as an employee-owned business
SynTerra serves a variety of clients throughout the Southeast in the governmental, industrial, and commercial sectors. The company has an expressed goal of meeting clients’ objectives in cost-effective ways while achieving compliance with laws, rules, and regulations. SynTerra services cover: hydrogeology, biology, and toxicology; environmental permitting and due diligence; and civil, geotechnical, and process engineering.

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.