Client Spotlight: Chris Poulsen, Principal Engineer for Farallon Consulting

When Chris Poulsen, Principal Engineer for Farallon Consulting, a leading environmental consulting firm and valued REGENESIS® client, looks to the future of environmental remediation, he sees a two-sided coin of sorts- one side showing job security due to the high demand for environmental services, and the other reflecting how far we still need to go to treat the multitude of contaminated sites.  He begins, “During my first job in consulting a longtime family friend and manager at Union Pacific Railroad told me all of the environmental cleanup would be finished by the turn of the century- before the year 2000.  This was when the industry was focusing on petroleum and early chlorinated sites.  However, once dioxins/PCBs and other PBTs kicked in, the flood gates were open. Today there is no shortage of work, just a shortage of money to clean it up, and with emerging contaminants such as PFAS/PFOAs, we are going to need more engineers in the foreseeable future.” Poulsen joined Farallon as a Principal three years ago, having spent his entire career as a consultant for environmental firms, predominantly in the western US. He earned his BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nebraska, and is a licensed PE.  He adds, “After working for a few years, I realized my work was really civil engineering, so I took the PE in civil rather than environmental or chemical and am now, thanks to multiple relocations, licensed in nine states.”

While a favorite aspect of his work involves ”being a hands-on engineer,” he also enjoys the diverse nature of his day-to-day role. He continues, “I wear a few hats to be sure. First and foremost, I manage a book of business and foster client relationships on a wide range of projects, including site remediation, stormwater management, wastewater treatment and some in-water remediation and upland source control.  I also work closely with our compliance group to provide engineering solutions to our industrial clients  facing regulatory compliance drivers such as wastewater and stormwater treatment system design/upgrades in response to discharge permit changes or additions.  Additionally, I manage a group of five engineers in our Portland, OR office and provide senior level technical review of projects for Farallon’s offices in Washington, Oregon, and California.” In working with REGENESIS®, Poulsen has come to appreciate their ongoing commitment to teamwork, customer service, and expertise. He continues, “I’ve been working with REGENESIS since the HRC®/ORC® days and I have always enjoyed how they approach their work as a team to complete a project.  I have never felt like REGENESIS was just a product supplier.  Every single project has something unique, whether it’s the contaminant make-up, delivery methodology, or geology that has some particular feature that needs to be addressed, and REGENESIS is always there with a solution.” In terms of product usage, S-MicroZVI® and PlumeStop® see significant use. “I believe oxidants probably represent our highest volume, since we have a lot of small petroleum and chlorinated sites. We also just completed a fairly large project with an S-MicroZVI and PlumeStop injection program.”

When asked what he enjoys most about is work, Poulsen responds quickly. “It’s the people… clients of course. Nothing is more rewarding than getting to know a client and their organization. Being able to understand what they can and can’t do, and then being able to provide them with the right solution is gratifying. I also need to include the people I work with.  I have worked for a few firms and there is a way that we do things at Farallon that sets the firm apart.  It’s hard to define in a few paragraphs, but the culture and collaboration here is unparalleled. It is what allows us to build client relationships that are so rewarding.” Throughout his career, Poulsen has observed an evolving industry, although he feels some aspects have remained essentially unchanged. He shares, “The people are different, the clients change, the contaminants change, and regulations change, etc.  But inherently, the way we get things done is still the same. Today there are many more tools available to get the job done, but the job is still the job.”

Residing in Portland, OR with his wife of 25 years, Poulsen finds time away from work to enjoy several hobbies and activities, including woodworking, golf, and hunting, and also teaches a cross-fit class periodically.  His woodworking skills are time-consuming, but he likes that they help address some of the never-ending remodel projects that come with owning a mid-century modern home. “I also recently started “turning” wood, and really enjoy finding interesting pieces of wood to make bowls and plates out of.  Golf and hunting are fairly complementary; golf when warm, duck hunting when cold.  For golf I have a foursome that plays pretty much every Wednesday morning before work.  It was the only way that we all made it through the warmer months of the pandemic.” He also finds time to volunteer at local soup kitchens and food banks on occasion. When asked how he would encourage others to join his field of work, he emphasizes that the “playing field” is wide open. He concludes, “I guess I would say that I have seen a place in the environmental field for everyone, not just engineers and geologists.  These days we need just about everyone- of course scientists, but also accountants, economists, marketers, public relations, etc. If the environment interests you, which it should, there’s a place for just about anyone.”

REGENESIS is proud to have Chris Poulsen, Principal Engineer for Farallon Consulting, as a valued client and partner in environmental remediation, and appreciates his expertise and dedication in providing successful remediation outcomes for REGENESIS and its clients.