Client Spotlight: Matthew Eckmair, Project Manager, Antea Group

While there are many aspects of Matthew Eckmair’s work he enjoys, the opportunity to combine various technologies with an array of science-based approaches stands out in particular. He begins, “What I enjoy most about my role as a project manager is having the opportunity to help our clients achieve successful solutions to their complex problems by utilizing industry-leading technologies and science-driven approaches.” Eckmair, a Project Manager for Antea Group, joined the company 8 years ago, first as a Staff Professional, before advancing to Project Professional, and then to his current position as Project Manager. In his role, he assists in proposal drafting and cost estimating, project implementation and oversight, stakeholder engagement (which includes regulatory, client, and 3rd party), business risk valuation, project lifecycle valuation and tracking, and engaging resources to execute project assignments. “I have the privilege of working with a variety of project teams with expansive backgrounds and experiences to call upon,” he says, “And then I get to see the project goals achieved.” He joined Antea Group upon graduating from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where he received his BS in Environmental Science. He continues, “I chose a career in environmental remediation because it offers a unique opportunity where you can bring together problem-solving and leading-edge science while implementing real-world environmental solutions and achieving resultant change.”

When it comes to working with REGENESIS® Eckmair appreciates the staff’s level of expertise and commitment to their work. He shares, “I’ve enjoyed working with REGENESIS over the years because their teams are truly experts in their field and have an incredible passion for their work. A project site in Cornelius, North Carolina offered my first exposure to REGENESIS and their PlumeStop® technology. Members of their project team came out to the site and directly assisted us with the injection scope and implementation while providing invaluable education to myself and other field staff. PlumeStop and PetroFix™ are technologies I have personally been involved with.”

To stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends, Eckmair attends several webinars each year, including REGENESIS, ITRC, Land Science®, and Microbial Insights. With the growing concern for emerging contaminants, he foresees a future in the industry where these contaminant classes will represent an increasing need to be addressed. He continues, “Emerging contaminants, such as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and 1,4-dioxane, in addition to others that have not risen to that level of awareness, will keep this field relevant well into the future. These ‘rediscovered’ compounds and their associated risk will drive further assessment and remediation projects, even for sites that were previously closed.” Currently, Antea Group is committed to serving global and national clients by applying their Better Business, Better World® philosophy to every client engagement, and by deploying talented resources, expert knowledge, and demonstrated industry leadership. “In essence, our company provides the highest quality environmental liability management, health & safety, EHS auditing & compliance, environmental mergers & acquisition, and sustainability support to our client’s ever-evolving needs and shifting marketplace demands.”

When prompted about what he enjoys most in his work, Eckmair quickly responds by describing his solutions-based approach. He shares, “The best part of my job is helping a client find an appropriate and effective solution to their environmental problem, no matter how big or small. And the most rewarding part of my job is engaging with my colleagues and providing mentoring and leadership to the younger staff.” And the most demanding aspect of his work? “The most demanding or challenging part is maintaining the drive and persistence to provide our clients with the highest quality service and experience in the industry.” And while he admits he has been in the industry for a relatively short time, he has noticed positive changes coming. He shares, “I’ve seen great strides in varying parts of the remediation industry, including laboratory capabilities, data visualization, and targeted assessment and remediation technologies that will help drive sites to closure faster and with less financial investment.”

Eckmair lives in Charlotte, NC, where he works out of Antea Group’s regional office. He appreciates that he has had an opportunity to travel all over the country, including Florida, Minnesota, New York, and “everything in-between.” In his free time, he enjoys CrossFit training and outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, sailing, traveling, fishing, and rock climbing. He continues, “My favorite destinations for camping include Adirondack State Park in upstate New York, Grayson Highlands State Park in the Appalachian Mountains (it was one of the first places I went camping in the winter and got to see the wild Highland ponies), and the Trans Catalina Trailhead on Santa Catalina Island. While sailing on the west coast near Catalina, I got to sail within 100 yards of a Blue whale running through the San Pedro Channel.” He also participates in several volunteer events with local colleagues from the Antea Group’s Charlotte office. These include Operation Christmas Child and assisting the Catawba Lands Conservancy/Carolina Thread Trail with invasive species and trash removal. And how would he encourage others to join is field of study? He concludes, “If you have a passion for problem solving and enjoy getting to work on a variety of projects across an expansive client base in different market areas, then environmental consulting may be just the thing for you.”

REGENESIS is proud to have Matthew Eckmair, Project Manager for Antea Group, as a valued client and partner in environmental remediation, and they appreciate his expertise and leadership in providing successful remediation outcomes for REGENESIS and its clients.