Client Spotlight: Gary Weinreb, Principal and Sr. Project Manager for Patriot Engineering & Environmental, Inc.

As both a Principal and Sr. Project Manager for Patriot Engineering & Environmental, Inc., a leading Midwest-based  environmental and geotechnical consulting firm and valued REGENESIS® client, Gary Weinreb wears two different “hats” in his day-to-day role, and both seem to fit quite well. As one of the firm’s Principals, he provides seasoned management and leadership expertise to the entire company and provides input to the Company’s Board of Managers regarding financial decisions and new business initiatives.  In his project management role he oversees an array of technical responsibilities, and also enjoys mentoring and managing younger staff. To be sure, his responsibilities have their challenges, but he wouldn’t want it any other way. He begins, “I really enjoy blending the technical and scientific aspects of my Senior Project Management responsibilities with my business and financial management advisory role as a company Principal. On the management side, it’s rewarding to help and see younger staff mature, progress and advance in this field. I also derive a great deal of satisfaction by assisting our clients on the technical side of the business and exceeding their expectations.” In addition to project management with Patriot’s Environmental Group, Weinreb focuses on technical review and preparation of reports, client communication, development, and satisfaction, team management, and new business development, as well as developing internal policies and procedures. Prior to joining Patriot in 2003, he worked as a field environmental geologist and project manager for various environmental firms. While at Patriot, he has advanced from a Senior Project Manager to a Principal and a company stock owner.

To prepare for a career in environmental remediation, Weinreb earned his BS in Geology from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton, and subsequently earned his Master of Science in Geology & Hydrogeology from Purdue University. He says a career in earth sciences appealed to him early on during his university studies. He shares, “I was hooked on geology and earth science after taking my first intro to geology class at SUNY Binghamton as a freshman.  I was attracted to the science aspect of the course.  I selected Purdue to pursue my Master of Science degree because at the time I was interested in engineering geology, and was attracted to Purdue’s engineering and geology programs.  While at Purdue, I was offered a Master’s thesis involving an investigation in environmental hydrogeology, which I completed, and the rest as they say, is history.  I’ve enjoyed solving environmental geology problems ever since.” To stay abreast of current industry and regulatory trends and emerging technology, Weinreb attends webinars on a variety of technical topics, as well as MSECA seminars, and he appreciates Patriot’s technical expertise and  approach to client-focused service. He continues, “Our future goals continue to be  providing excellent technical and customer service to our clients, while offering our employees a great place to work and pursue a career.”

When it comes to working with REGENESIS, Weinreb appreciates the company’s commitment to customer service and support. He shares, “There are many remediation products offered throughout the industry, however, I choose to work with REGENESIS because they set themselves apart with their customer service and technical expertise. As an example, on a recent project we did not obtain the type of remediation results we expected in a particular area of the project site.  REGENESIS provided on-site personnel and helped us develop a more refined understanding of the site conditions.  This led to a supplemental and more refined remediation plan that was executed, which ultimately resulted in achieving our cleanup objectives.” With regard to REGENESIS products, he says Patriot has had success with a number of remedial amendments, including ORC®-Advanced, PetroFix®, 3-D® Microemulsion, CRS®, PlumeStop®, Aqua ZVI, HRC®, and Bio-Dechlor INOCULUM® PLUS, depending on the site conditions and the contaminants.

Based in Indianapolis, where he works out of Patriot’s headquarters, Weinreb and his wife enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as playing tennis, bicycle riding, and gardening. “I also like listening to music and reading a good book, and at times am somewhat addicted to watching sports of all kinds on TV, but I balance that with some DIY projects at home.” He also finds time to be Captain of the Patriot company team that participates in raising money for cancer survivors through the 24 Foundation during their 24-hour bicycling event.  “When I retire,” he says,  “I plan to devote more time to assisting Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels.” When asked how he’s seen the industry change through the years, he points to both industry growth and new technology. He continues, “When I first came to Indianapolis in 1990 there were about four or five environmental consulting companies in town and now there are 30-40 in the area.  I have also seen some remarkable changes in the types of equipment we use for site investigation work, as well as a significant shift away from mechanical site remediation systems to the injection of chemicals and reagents to perform in-situ remediation methods.  I have also witnessed the birth and explosion of vapor intrusion assessment and mitigation as an entirely new sub-set of site investigation and remediation.  And of course PFAS is next.” And how would he encourage others to join in his field of study? He concludes, “Talk to me! I recently had the pleasure of talking with a high school senior interested in pursuing environmental consulting who wanted to know what she could do.  I encouraged her to research company websites and to talk to people who work in our industry.  Those with an interest in this field should become aware of the many facets you can pursue within our industry and understand how you advance and progress, and what skills are most important.  If possible, become a summer intern at a company in our industry and get a feel for what the work is like.  Lastly, don’t be afraid to approach someone in our industry to ask questions.  Most of us are very happy to help.”

REGENESIS is proud to have Gary Weinreb, Principal and Sr. Project Manager for Patriot Engineering & Environmental, Inc., as a valued client and partner in environmental remediation, and they appreciate his expertise and dedication in providing successful remediation outcomes for REGENESIS and its clients.