Vernadero is a Veteran-Owned Small Business founded in 1999 by Dr. Michael Collins to provide public works program support to DoD installations throughout the Southwest. Today we support DoD installations, facilities and Commands across the country through installation-specific contracts as well as U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Environmental Center and General Services Administration contract vehicles.

As an exclusive DoD contractor, our organizational structure and range of services are tailored to provide direct support to DoD installation public works directorates and divisions. Senior Program Managers who report directly to Dr. Collins are responsible for staff and project management in five program areas: Conservation, Compliance, Environmental Health & Safety, Planning (includes energy and water), and Engineering and Construction Services.

LEADERSHIP

Michael Collins, Ph.D. is President and CEO of Vernadero, a Navy veteran and 17 year DoD public works support service contractor. Dr. Collins has extensive experience managing DoD installation engineering and environmental performance-based IDIQ service contracts where he consistently delivers exceptional CPARs ratings and performance reviews. He is personally committed to the leadership of Vernadero and ensuring that all products and services are cost-effective, high-quality, and provided with excellent customer service. Dr. Collins has spent his entire career working with DoD installations to evaluate, manage and mitigate potential environmental impacts from various and diverse military testing and training activities.

 

Christine Howard, AICP is Vice President and COO. In her role as Company Contracts Manager, Ms. Howard has been overseeing the execution of DoD contracts through multiple U.S. Army Reserve contracting offices, FedSource, General Services Administration (GSA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Districts, and U.S. Army Garrison contracting offices. She is also responsible for executing and managing subconsultant agreements.

Ms. Howard is a certified planner with a background in environmental planning and impact assessment of DoD testing, training and development activities. Ms. Howard has been with Vernadero since 2003.

 

Chuck Burt is the Senior Scientist of Vernadero. He has more than 30 years of experience in the DoD installation environmental impact assessment field including working with special status species, conducting biological surveys, and preparing numerous NEPA documents, biological assessments, wetlands assessments, and ecological risk assessments. Dr. Collins selected Mr. Burt as senior scientist because of his education and extensive experience in natural resource management at the DoD installation level. Mr. Burt has been an employee of Vernadero since 2002. He and Dr. Collins have over fifteen years experience working together providing rigorous scientific evaluation and resource management without over-analyzing or jeopardizing military training or testing missions.

 

Sara Jackson, REM, REPA, CEA is the Conservation and Planning Program Manager of Vernadero. She has more than 12 years of project management experience in the Army Environmental Program at the Installation, Regional Support Command, and Headquarters levels. She provides support to various DoD programs including Public Works, Base Closure and Realignment, Master Planning, Real Property Exchange, Real Estate, and Military Construction. Ms. Jackson’s support to these programs includes participating in the site selection process, coordinating with subject matter experts and regulators, development of documents required to support the project, conducting meetings, and coordinating with the USACE to develop environmental requirements and restrictions for the property.

 

Dean Alford, PG is the Compliance and Engineering Program Manager of Vernadero. He has more than 40 publications and 24 years of experience in the environmental field. Mr. Alford has received RCRA 40 Hour Hazardous Waste Management and OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER/Contractor Supervisor training. He has conducted ASTM Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II ESAs, Phase III Remedial Actions & due diligence reports. Mr. Alford has completed training in a variety of areas including lead-based paint, asbestos, indoor air quality, and Risk Based Closure Assessment. Mr. Alford specializes in environmental management, groundwater hydrology, water resource development, basin analysis, aquifer storage and recovery, wellhead protection, well drilling, and testing activities.

 

Mike Smith, REM is the Environmental Health and Safety Program Manager of Vernadero. Following a career as a U.S. Army Engineering Officer, he has more than 17 years as an environmental trainer and project manager in AR, AZ, NM, OK and TX. He specializes in RCRA, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, HAZMAT, Hazardous Waste, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, CERCLA, DOT, Safety, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and Toxic Substances Control Act. Mr. Smith teaches a 40-hour HAZWOPER course along with an 8-hour refresher course and conducts spill response training for high-risk DoD facilities. He also conducts HAZMAT and HAZWASTE and biological risk training for deploying units.

 

Hayes Martin is the Construction Services Program Manager for Vernadero. He has more than 18 years of design, construction, estimating, value-engineering and construction management and operations experience in the industry. Mr. Martin has owned and operated design-build construction companies. Mr. Martin has played an integral role in all aspects of the company’s projects; from conceptual-to-final design development, construction document preparation, budget cost analysis, thru all construction activities and final approvals. Since joining the Vernadero team in 2012, he has demonstrated proficiency in multidisciplinary technical staff management and coordination, project budgets, deliverable schedules, agency coordination, contract management, project coordination and organization, quality assurance and control, and customer service oversight.

 

This leadership team provides over 40 experienced in-house program managers, project managers, and professional staff supported by over 1500 small and large business teaming partner professionals for executing contract environmental, natural resource, cultural resource, planning, and engineering and design project work on DoD installations nationwide.

VERNADERO ADVANTAGES

With a focus on DoD environmental and engineering programs, our reputation is based on the ability to bring the right resources to the project and get the job done on time and on budget. We understand our unique role supporting DoD installation and Command engineering and environmental requirements. Our advantages include:

• An understanding of DoD mission requirements, operations, facilities, and activities;
• Experience working with DoD installations to evaluate, manage and mitigate potential environmental impacts from various and diverse military testing and training activities.
• Expertise across all disciplines involved in conservation, compliance, environmental health and safety, planning, and engineering design;
• Nationwide project implementation experience for geographically diverse or multiple-location projects;
• Wide range of installation-specific contracts and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Army Environmental Center performance-based contract vehicles;
• General Contracting license and experience providing design/build services under OMA and SRM funding and USACE MILCON program; and
• A twelve year history of satisfied DoD installation, Regional Command and Headquarters customers and Exceptional CPARS Ratings.

Our headquarters office in Phoenix provides the majority of business functions and quality control. All products undergo extensive, formalized quality assurance and production through the Phoenix office. To better support our regional clients, we have Regional Support Locations in Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Nebraska, Virginia, and Southern Arizona that provide quick mobilization and prompt on-site support.