Client Spotlight: Kent Campbell, Director of Site Assessment, Monitoring & Compliance for HP Environmental, Inc.

As a Certified Professional Geologist, Kent Campbell, Director of Site Assessment, Monitoring & Compliance for HP Environmental, Inc., appreciates his hands-on role, knowing he is uniquely positioned to offer clients a combination of consistent technical input and on-site field support. He begins, “I have always worked for smaller firms because I enjoy the daily interaction with clients, while still being able to offer ‘boots on the ground’ work and project support.  Working at a smaller firm, such as HPE, allows me to be more responsive and nimble when it comes to project needs and demands.” Currently responsible for management and performance of environmental services ranging from Phase I & II Environmental Site Assessments to large scale-soil and groundwater remediation, Campbell honed his client relation and multi-tasking skills by starting his own environmental engineering firm, BlueRidge Environmental, Inc., which he owned and managed for 12 years. The experience of running his own environmental consulting firm, coupled with 7 years as a Program Manager at another leading environmental services firm, provided a broad range of client-focused experience. He continues, “I greatly appreciate the lessons learned in prior firms, and how it prepared me for my current role at HPE. Now, as Director of Site Assessment, I am able to directly handle the challenges brought by changing regulatory conditions, which dictate our approach to meeting client needs for residential, commercial and industrial projects.”

Campbell became interested in the environmental remediation industry shortly after earning his BS in Geology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. He shares, “Looking back, I was quite fortunate in that I had been working with a couple of close friends in the geotechnical industry. When a few openings occurred at an environmental consulting company, we all made the jump into the environmental industry together. I have remained in the environmental field since I enjoyed the combination of ever-changing client needs and problem-solving required for each individual site. As anyone in this field knows, no two projects are exactly alike, and that variation staved off the boredom and staleness which sometimes plagues other careers.”

To remain current on new technologies and emerging environmental trends, Campbell regularly attends webinars, on-line conferences and in-person technical conferences, which he looks forward to post-COVID.  “Conferences are important for our staff to see actual equipment and review the latest field solutions through presentations and technical sessions.” Ongoing training and continued education also assist HP Environmental in achieving its long-term goals, which include leading from the front.  “HPE wants to remain at the forefront in technical site assessment and remediation technology. This means staying current on both emerging contaminants with future potential regulatory oversight (PFAS) and emerging field-scale remediation technologies which may become standard practice in the future for niche applications. The industrial hygiene division of HPE is focused on bringing new and improved industrial hygiene monitoring technologies to bear on every day healthy building issues, and to assisting our clients in the process of returning personnel to offices post-COVID.”

When it comes to working with REGENESIS, Campbell says he appreciates two key benefits in particular. “Technical skills and responsiveness stand out for me. REGENESIS is  nimble, responsive firm. Their technical and field contacts are always responsive to our requests for support and information. They have a wealth of applicable experience that HPE can call on when planning and designing remediation alternatives. For example, on a recent PRB project, the local geology and its variability proved to be a challenge for product delivery. However, through regular communication, including open and receptive brainstorming sessions, REGENESIS and HPE were able to solve the geologic puzzle and complete the project. Initial post-inject monitoring data looks promising, so look for a paper on this coming to a conference near you!” With regard to specific REGENESIS products and solutions, Campbell says PlumeStop®, S-Micro ZVI™,  and BDI® PLUS continue to be used with much success. He notes that, “We have teamed with REGENESIS on several projects but have lately focused on applications for chlorinated solvent remediation. We love the flexibility this technology provides with both short and long-term treatments. It is also helpful that most regulators are comfortable with using REGENESIS products, so we no longer have to ‘sell’ the regulator on the technology, just the field implementation of the technology.”

Residing and working from Herndon, VA, Campbell enjoys hiking, travel, and live music. He shares, “Hiking at elevation above the tree line is always enjoyable, despite the weather extremes!” When asked what he likes most about his work, he points to the gratification that comes from seeing projects come to fruition. He continues, “When all parties, from the client to the regulators, are satisfied, then I’m satisfied too. Also, filling a need for our clients with targeted approaches, without the overhead of a nationwide firm, allows us to be flexible, productive, and profitable and has led to a year over year increase in new clients from word-of-mouth. Another rewarding aspect is providing training and experience to the next generation of consultants. Watching the light come on and the pachyderms dance, and seeing rapid professional growth is rewarding. I have been very fortunate to have had a number of talented scientists and engineers work with me in the past, and if they are reading this profile, I thank them all.”  And the most challenging aspect of his work? “Working at a smaller-sized firm with the near constant project demands on my time, as well as client expectations for contact and communication, presents challenges on a daily basis. Also, finding a good work-life balance can be challenging while striving to be ‘always on and available’.” And how would he encourage others who may be interested in a career in environmental remediation?   “This industry is continuing to evolve and grow, so if you want a challenging career, where continuous learning is a must, and you have the opportunity to advance professionally at your own pace, then get with the right environmental firm and enjoy the ride.”

REGENESIS is proud to have Kent Campbell, Director of Site  Assessment, Monitoring & Compliance for HP 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.