COPPERHEAD CONSULTING - Key Persons
Andrew achieved a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from the University of Louisville in 2015. Joining Copperhead in 2021, his career in analytics includes fortune 500s in multiple sectors, encompassing energy, financial, health care, and manufacturing. With capabilities that span 3D modeling to machine learning to full stack web development, Andrew's breadth of experience brings a multifaceted, holistic approach to data and analytics at Copperhead.
Copperhead continues to meet the analytical needs of clients, innovate new conservation techniques, and contribute research to the corpus of biological knowledge. Working directly with project leaders and other stakeholders, Andrew accelerates the company's objectives, expands investigative possibilities, and finds solutions to technical challenges. His statistical knowledge and coding experience facilitates advanced technical analysis.
Andrew is a native of Berea, Kentucky and when not coding at an R or Python terminal, can often be found playing fiddle in multiple bands, flying airplanes, or enjoying his time with his wife and dog.
Memberships:
• Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Chris Leftwich holds a B.S. in Environmental Policy from the University of Tulsa and a M.S. in Biology/Applied Ecology from Eastern Kentucky University. Chris joined Copperhead in 2007 and has worked his way through various leadership roles as he concentrates on delivering outstanding leadership throughout the company and providing excellent services to all of Copperhead's clients. In response to his work, Chris was promoted to the executive team as the COO in 2012.
He is responsible for establishing best practices in managing all operations and implementing companywide organizational development strategies that lead to a growth-oriented, high-performance culture. In addition, Chris provides client liaison activities, support to project managers, and guides our business development.
Chris has extensive experience dealing with Section 7 and 10 of the Endangered Species Act which benefits in delivering exceptional project strategy to accomplish client's goals.
Christopher earned an Associate of Science & Arts in Environmental Science Technology, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, and a Post Baccalaureate Certification in Geographic Information Systems from Eastern Kentucky University. Chris joined the Copperhead family in 2016 as a GIS Analyst.
With extensive experience with the ArcGIS suite of products, Chris has served as our primary GIS lead. From implementing new mobile field data collection programs to spatial analytics, he has a good grasp on the front and back end components needed to stay current with the growing GIS community.
Crystal Birdsall graduated summa cum laude and received her bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from Westfield State University in 2015. Prior to coming to Copperhead, Crystal gained experience working for different state, federal, and private agencies in multiple states and outside the country. She has experience in aquatic ecology, water quality assessments, bacterial source tracking, invertebrate ecology, ecological restoration, wildlife rehabilitation (in New Zealand), butterfly surveys, and avian and bat fatality surveys at wind turbines.
Crystal joined the Copperhead team in 2018 as a bat field technician and has worked her way up to a full-time biologist in 2021. Working for Copperhead has enabled her to see a large number and variety of bat species while working in multiple states throughout the east and central United States. Her main research focus is with bats, as she is very experienced in mist-net surveys, hibernacula trapping, acoustic monitoring, vegetation surveys, guano collection, assessments for White Nose Syndrome, radio telemetry, emergence counts and artificial roost monitoring.
In her spare time, she enjoys anything and everything that gets her outdoors such as hiking, traveling, fishing, camping, photography, rock climbing and kayaking.
Memberships:
• Northeast Bat Working Group
• Kentucky Bat Working Group
• Southeastern Bat Working Group
• The Wildlife Society
Dakota Hunter joined Copperhead in 2022 as a Senior Wetland Scientist. He earned both his M.S. and B.S. in Biology from William and Mary where he focused his studies on botany, invasive species, and aquatic resource management. His research ultimately produced information used to guide invasive species performance standards for Virginia's wetland and stream mitigation sites.
Dakota has led field efforts and permitting processes for wetland delineations, biological monitoring, and wetland and stream restoration monitoring across a variety of industries concentrated in Virginia and North Carolina. His expertise is as a wetland scientist, but he has additional experience as a botanist, herpetologist, ornithologist, and aquatic ecologist.
Dakota spends most of his spare time holding a fly rod or a kayak paddle and enjoys kayak and canoe camping whenever possible.
Daniel Carr graduated with a degree in Forestry from the University of Kentucky and completed a minor in Wildlife Biology and Management. He is originally a native of Pulaski County, Kentucky. Daniel likes to wear many hats and has worked previously on urban ecological restoration projects, stormwater infrastructure construction, and as an arborist. When it comes to forestry, he is especially interested in ecological silviculture techniques, early successional habitat restoration, watershed management, and invasive species management.
Outside of work, Daniel enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing guitar, and making (great) cocktails.
Memberships:
• Society of American Foresters
Job Titles:
- Copperhead in 2017 As an Environmental Planner
Drew Vankat joined Copperhead in 2017 as an Environmental Planner. Drew obtained his bachelor's degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from Miami University and Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Planning from University of Michigan. He has 13 years of experience specializing in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and associated permitting and planning. He successfully manages complex and controversial environmental assessments and environmental impact statements for government and commercial clients, with a focus on land use planning, energy development and transmission.
Gregg began his biology career in 2007 as a student at Eastern Kentucky University where he received his B.S. in Wildlife Management. His undergraduate research focused on the winter habitat use and diet of Eastern Bluebirds. He then completed his M.S. in Biology at Bowling Green State University where he utilized acoustics to study bat habitat use and bat perception of owls. During these years of education, he gained experience as a bat field technician and as a summer camp instructor for the Cincinnati Zoo. Gregg joined Copperhead in 2012 and has since conducted mist-net surveys, ground and aerial radio-telemetry, acoustic monitoring/analysis, habitat assessments, and cave surveys for the federally listed Indiana, gray, northern long-eard, Virginia big-eared, and Florida bonneted bat. Additional experience has involved timber stand improvement (TSI), raptor nest surveys, fish and mussel surveys, and water quality sampling. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, camping, biking, (really anything outside), playing board games, and building model airplanes and cars. Memberships: • Ohio Bat Working Group • The Wildlife Society (KY Chapter Secretary) Certifications: • PADI Open Water Diver • TWS Certified Wildlife Biologist®
Hannah earned her B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Science, with a focus on entomology, from the University of Kentucky in 2017. After graduating, she served as an Environmental Education Leadership (EEL) Corps member at The Arboretum in Lexington, then began working with agricultural processing and integrated pest management (IPM) in Northern California. She is interested in biodiversity conversation and finding ways to improve our interactions with and sustainable use of the natural landscape. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and bug hunting.
Ian Burns earned his bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Fisheries and Wildlife from the California University of Pennsylvania. Ian joined copperhead in May 2016 as a Technician and has worked his way up to Biologist. As a Biologist Ian is primarily involved with Threatened and Endangered wildlife surveys, Pollinator surveys, Wetland delineations, and Brandenbark™ installation. However, he enjoys all aspects of biology and loves any sort of work that gets him outside.
In his spare time Ian enjoys spending time with his friends and family, playing with his beloved dog Charli, and cooking spicy new foods.
Memberships:
• Northeast Bat Working Group (NEBWG)
• Midwest Bat Working Group (MWBWG)
• Ohio Bat Working Group
Isaac earned his B.S. in Wildlife Management from Eastern Kentucky University and is currently working on finishing his M.S. in Biology focusing on stream ecology. He has many additional hours dedicated as a volunteer for agencies and non-government organizations and is always seeking ways to maintain the balance of humans and wildlife. Isaac has extensive experience working with stream fishes, birds, plants, and as a land manager. Additionally, he has assisted with amphibian and reptile surveys, small and large mammalian surveys and capture methods, mist-netting for bats, and more. He seeks to further his ecological knowledge and extend his skillsets wherever he can. Outside of wetland ecology and biology he likes to challenge himself with camping and bushcraft, writing music, tinkering with his Jeep, coding, and coffee. Affiliations: • The Wildlife Society • National Wild Turkey Federation • Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Certifications: • Wetland Delineation • TDEC QHP • Type II Wildland Firefighter • CPR/AED
Jacob graduated with a B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Kentucky in 2020. He recently graduated with an M.S. degree in Wildlife Biology from Eastern Kentucky University where his research focused on nest habitat measurements for the Buck Darter. Jacob also has experience in water quality assessments, and invasive plant species removal and joined Copperhead in 2022 as a wetland scientist.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and his corgi named Nugget, going to UK football games, and playing the trumpet.
Kelsie Eshler received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Earth Science with a co-major in Sustainability from Miami University of Ohio in 2015. Her undergraduate research was focused on marine ecology on the island of San Salvador, Bahamas. She joined Copperhead in 2017, bringing in consulting experience in Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessments, environmental hygiene assessments, and various ecological surveys. Her duties at Copperhead include primarily threatened and endangered species surveys for bats in the Eastern United States, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental documentation, and ArcGIS mapping and analysis. When not working, Kelsie enjoys making pierogis, exploring new places, and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys caring for Evgeni, her bearded dragon, and her various houseplants. Memberships: • Ohio Bat Working Group • Western Bat Working Group Certifications: • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Permit for Indiana Bats • OSHA 10-Hour • OSHA 30-Hour • CPR, AED, and First Aid
Les Meade earned a B.S. in 1995 and a M.S. in biology in 2000 from Morehead State University. After working seasonally on bat projects for Copperhead since 2012, Les joined our full-time staff of biologists in 2021. He brings over 20 years of experience in biological surveys and environmental consulting to the team.
Les has extensive experience working with bats, amphibians, and reptiles. In addition, he has surveyed for freshwater mussels, other small mammals, plants, fish, land snails, and macro-invertebrates. Les also has experience in stream restoration, marine mammal monitoring, and native vegetation restoration projects.
He is a board member of Herpetology Weekend, LLC, a non-profit that holds annual Herpetology Weekend events every spring. Les is also a wildlife photographer, with some experience in portrait photography.
In his free time, he enjoys traveling, hiking, adding to his collection of bat and bigfoot items, and spending quality time with his wife and two dogs.
Memberships:
• Kentucky Bat Working Group
• Western Bat Working Group
Malachia Evans earned her A.A.S. in Natural Resources & Wildlife Technology from Garrett College as well as her B.S. in Wildlife & Fisheries Science from West Virginia University all while participating in multiple research projects throughout undergrad. Malachia joined Copperhead in March 2021 bringing years of previous experience in environmental consulting to the team.
Malachia's primary focus throughout her career has consisted threatened and endangered bat surveys including habitat assessments, mist-netting, harp-trapping, acoustic monitoring, portal, hibernacula, radio telemetry, and artificial roost monitoring. In addition to bat related surveys, she is trained in GIS, wetland/stream delineation, forestry practices, environmental permitting, herbicide application, macroinvertebrate, fish, and water sampling, and artificial roost construction and installation.
In her free time, she enjoys a multitude of outdoor activities such as backpacking, photography, and kayaking and as well as spending time with her six pets (a horse, dog, and 4 reptiles). She is also on the leadership board of an exotic reptile rescue.
Memberships:
• Northeast Bat Working Group (NEBWG)
• Southeast Bat Diversity Network (SBDN)
• The Wildlife Society
Mark earned a bachelor's degree in wildlife Management in 1996 and a master's degree in Biology in 2001 from Eastern Kentucky University. In 2004 he formed Copperhead on a foundation of ethical biology and sound scientific methods, working mostly with endangered species. As Copperhead Consulting's founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mark is responsible for developing and strengthening the firm's position in the environmental consulting industry. Allowing his passion for conservation, biological curiosity, and out of the box thinking to guide the company's direction.
This approach has built the reputation that Copperhead has today, and these core beliefs have driven the growth and expansion of additional services. By working closely with the executive team, he promotes the company's long-term vision, strategy, and directs how to best allocate the company's resources for sustainable growth. Under his direction, the company has seen steady growth and now employs nearly 40 employees.
He is a fixed wing pilot and has pioneered a method of tracking bats as they migrate, helped develop an artificial roost for endangered bats and has co-authored numerous scientific papers. In his free time Mark likes spending time with his wife and son, homebrewing craft beer and restoring historical buildings.
Affiliations:
• Southeastern Bat Diversity Network
• Kentucky Natural History Society
• Kentucky Academy of Science
• The Wildlife Society
• NASBR
Job Titles:
- Senior Environmental Planner
Marty Marchaterre is an attorney with a law degree from the College of William and Mary and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Political Science from Williams College. Marty joined Copperhead in December 2017 as a Senior Environmental Planner/NEPA Specialist. He has over 30 years of energy, environmental, and permitting experience and has overseen development of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation and supporting studies. He has overseen or contributed to more than 100 Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), and Categorical Exclusions.
His expertise includes solar, wind, and transportation surveys, ecological surveys, biological assessments, mitigation, air quality, noise analyses, watershed planning, trail and park development studies, and community impact assessments. He has extensive understanding of agency consultation and public involvement.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Environmental Services
Matt holds a doctoral degree in Environmental Toxicology from Clemson University and M.S. and B.S. degrees from Eastern Kentucky University. Matt brings over 25 years of consulting, regulatory, and academic experience to Copperhead. As Vice President of Environmental Services, Matt supports Copperhead's project managers to help deliver exceptional consulting services. He serves as a mentor and provides expertise in ecotoxicology and water resources.
Matt has led and contributed to complex national projects, including Ecological Risk Assessments and Natural Resource Damage Assessments. He has provided expert testimony in environmental toxicology, authored journal articles and technical reports. Matt routinely presents project and research results at regional, national, and international professional conferences.
A native of Kentucky, Matt works to conserve and preserve the Commonwealth's natural and historic places. In his spare time, you will find him spending time with his family, playing music with friends, and exploring the backcountry, probably with a fly rod.
Affiliations:
• Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
• Kentucky Academy of Science
• Aquatic Plant Management Society
Meg Herod graduated from the University of North Texas with a B.S. degree in Ecology for Environmental science in 2019. While completing her undergraduate degree, she worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, assisting in invasive species management and wetland restoration. She completed her M.S. in Aquatic Resources from Texas State University, studying invasive wetland vegetation. During her time at Texas State, Meg taught labs in wetland plant ecology and botany. She has experience in aquatic ecology, botany, ecosystem restoration, and wetland science.
Meg enjoys cooking, knitting, and taking care of her house plants in her free time.
Mike earned a M.S. in Forestry and Natural Resources from University of Georgia and a B.S. in Zoology from Tennessee Technological University. Mike brings over 23 years of experience on bat behavior and ecology and has spent the last 15 years working on bats and wind energy issues. Mike has led and managed research projects on bat ecology and has extensive experience with methodology to study and understand bats in a variety of habitats. He assisted with early research designed to sample and identify bats using acoustic detectors. He has experience with a variety of capture and survey methods including hibernacula counts, radio-telemetry, roost tree surveys and exit counts, acoustic surveys, and behavioral studies using infrared videography. For the last 15+ years, Mike has led and managed field-based research projects at operating wind energy facilities designed to understand, estimate, minimize, and mitigate the impact of wind energy on bats. He led field operations on the first U.S.-based curtailment study and the first study to test acoustic deterrents as minimization strategies. Mike has experience working on a variety of wind facilities, turbine models, and bat and bird species, and has worked with several stakeholders to find practical solutions to complex problems. He has co-authored several papers and publications on bats and wind energy issues and given numerous presentations on related topics. Mike resided in Denver, Colorado and in his spare time enjoys spending time with his son, exploring and staying active in the Rockies, and playing semi-competitive tennis.
Morgan Clemons earned her Associates of Applied Science degree in Office Systems Technology, as well as a variety of certificates, at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, Kentucky. She has also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. Morgan brings with her extensive knowledge and experience working with local government, small businesses, and non-profit organizations.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her family, reading, watching movies, and shopping at thrift/antique stores.
Newlin earned his bachelor's degree for natural resources at The University of the South in 2022. Following his graduation, he joined the team at Copperhead as a forester. He is interested in watershed management, forest restoration, and the White Oak Initiative. He is eager to help make a difference in this growing industry. Outside of work he enjoys hiking, backpacking, and powerlifting.
Piper Roby, Ph.D., received her B.A. at Hanover College and M.S. in Biology at the University of Louisville, both conducting amphibian surveys with an emphasis on egg and larval stages. She joined Copperhead Environmental Consulting, Inc. in 2005 as a technician and joined the full-time staff the following year. At Copperhead, Piper manages large non-regulatory bat projects, primarily for spring and fall migration and for several military bases. She is heavily involved in the design, execution, data analysis, and reporting of research projects, several with intent of publication in scientific journals.
Her work experience includes all field work related to surveying and monitoring bats in the eastern United States in habitats used in all four seasons of the year, as well as surveying for other Threatened and Endangered species. However, Piper's passion is researching migrating bats which she parlayed into a doctorate degree at the University of Kentucky.
In her spare time, Piper likes to hang out with her husband and cats, spend time with friends, read, hike, and travel.
Price Sewell obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Science from Rollins College in 1997 and joined Copperhead in February 2006 as a wildlife biologist. Since that time, he has worked professionally as a wildlife biologist primarily focusing on threatened and endangered (T&E) species. Currently, Price is Copperhead's Aquatics Division lead and Dive Safety Coordinator. Additionally, his experience includes all phases of work from project development and agency coordination through permitting and NEPA compliance. He also has extensive survey expertise in freshwater mussels and fish, bats, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
He is an accomplished wildlife photographer and uses wildlife images to promote stewardship and conservation of the diverse fauna of the eastern United States.
Price enjoys photography and spending his free time with his family.
Memberships:
• Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society (FMCS)
• American Malacological Society (AMS)
• Southeastern Bat Diversity Network (SBDN)
• Kentucky Bat Working Group (KYBWG)
Shea Davis attended the University of Kentucky where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Science. During her undergraduate career, her emphasis areas were water resources, wildlife, and field/laboratory analysis. Presently she is an aspiring aquatic biologist with a specific interest in freshwater mussels as well as cross-training as a wetland scientist.
In her free time she enjoys rock climbing, learning mandolin, looking for insects, and thrifting.
Job Titles:
- Biologist / Project Manager
Steve received both a B.A. and M.S. in biology from Middle Tennessee State University. His undergraduate work focused on amphibian and reptile research and his master's thesis involved bat acoustic monitoring and habitat use. Steve has conducted biological field research throughout the United States since 1998, focusing mainly on herps, birds, and bats. His extensive work with cave and forest bat species has given him the opportunity to handle and identify thousands of individuals including all the Federally endangered species in the Continental United States. Steve is proficient in the use of mist-nets, harp traps, radio-telemetry, acoustic lures, and bat counts using various techniques such as thermal video recording, near infrared video recording, guano measurements, and direct counts. He has participated in hundreds of cave surveys throughout the Southeast and Midwest United States. Steve joined Copperhead Environmental Consulting Inc., in 2011 where he serves as a Sr. Biologist and Project Manager with an emphasis on both acoustic and mist-net bat surveys for regulatory compliance. He is Copperhead's acoustic survey lead and has manually vetted tens of thousands of bat calls over his career. Steve has also been active in the research community for many years, authoring or coauthoring scientific research articles and serving as president of the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network and Chair of the Tennessee Bat Working Group. He frequently attends and presents research at various state and national bat working groups. Additionally, Steve holds a commercial pilot certification with over 1400 hours of flight time. He has participated in over 30 aerial telemetry projects focusing on bats and has conducted aerial American Bald Eagle nest surveys from both fixed-wing aircrafts and helicopters.. Memberships: • Southeastern Bat Diversity Network (SBDN) • State bat working groups (KYBWG, TNBWG, ALBWG, NCBWG) • North American Society for Bat Research Member (NASBR) Certifications: • Commercial Pilot License • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Permit for Indiana Bats
Taylor Culbertson received his B.S. degree in Wildlife Management from Eastern Kentucky University in 2012. He originally joined the Copperhead team in 2013 as a seasonal technician and became a full-time employee in 2016. Taylor has extensive experience leading crews for surveys related to bats of the eastern U.S., forestry, aquatic biology, pollinator identification and habitat. He also has extensive experience in spatial analytics using ESRI's ArcPro 3.X and ESRI's suite of mobile collection applications, Trimble hardware and software, and regularly designs, creates, customizes, and publishes mapping figures organization wide. In 2019, Taylor took a fisheries position with KDFWR, where he gained valuable experience that he has now brought back to Copperhead in 2022.
Outside of work, Taylor enjoys spending time with his family, camping, riding motorcycles, and exploring nature.
Memberships:
• Kentucky Association of Mapping Professionals
Vicky West Abrams obtained her degree at Berea College, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Accounting. Vicky joined Copperhead in 2010. Bringing over 28 years of accounting and financing experience to the team, she has been an integral part of Copperhead's growth.
She volunteers at and serves as treasurer for the Little Ones' Consignment Sale in Richmond, KY, the proceeds of which help both women and children ministries.
Vicky, in her free time, likes to cruise the village on her bike, and make breakfast for guests at the Denny House Bed and Breakfast in Paint Lick, KY. Most importantly she enjoys spending time with her two children.
Born and raised in Northern Kentucky, Will Seiter joined Copperhead in the summer of 2014 after his freshman year of college and has moved up from a seasonal technician to full time biologist. Mr. Seiter received his B.S. in Wildlife Management at Eastern Kentucky University and is currently working towards his commercial pilot's license. As one of our permitted biologists he has assisted with or conducted a multitude of mist-net surveys across the central and eastern U.S. He has worked extensively at Ft. Knox, KY monitoring the Endangered Indiana Bat maternity colonies that reside there, both from the ground and as a navigator during aerial radio telemetry surveys. In addition to bat work he is a certified Advanced SCUBA diver and has aided in several freshwater mussel surveys and an underwater mapping project. Aside from biological surveys, Mr. Seiter is one of our in-house photographers and videographers. He also is our lead in vertical access surveys. In his free time Mr. Seiter enjoys rock climbing, caving, camping, and photography. Memberships: • Kentucky Bat Working Group • Northeast Bat Working Group • Southeastern Bat Working Certifications: • PADI Advanced Open Water
Zachary (Zack) Baer is a wildlife biologist with more than 10 years of experience. Zack obtained his A.S. degree in Wildlife Technology, as well as his B.S. degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from The Pennsylvania State University. He first joined Copperhead as a seasonal technician in 2012 and became a full-time employee in 2015. Zack has led hundreds of mist-net surveys and has worked extensively with Indiana, gray, Virginia big-eared, northern long-eared, and little brown bats throughout the eastern United States. Zack is experienced in all bat survey techniques, including radio-telemetry, mist-netting, harp-trapping, acoustic monitoring, and habitat assessments.
He has managed many large-scale, multifaceted, threatened, and endangered species surveys and serves as the primary point of contact for BrandenBarkTM, Copperhead's artificial bark mitigation and habitat enhancement tool.