Who We Are
As of November 13, 2023, Blankinship & Associates has officially joined Bowman.
Bowman is a national professional services firm offering multi-disciplinary engineering, planning, surveying, geomatics, construction management, environmental consulting, landscape architecture, and right-of-way acquisition. This change provides a strong foundation for us to merge our comprehensive skillsets while offering the same level of commitment to our clients and employees.
Meet the Team
We are expert at making stuff work… Our staff rely on using their foundation in the physical and nature sciences, and engineering to get things done. Next, we apply our experience to crafting a cost-effective solution to your problem. And last, we derive a ton of satisfaction (and fun) from doing what we do and seeing you meet your goals.
Our staff hold the following credentials and licenses
- Professional Engineer (Civil)
- Pest Control Adviser (PCA)
- Certified Crop Adviser (CCA)
- Qualified Applicator (QAL)
- Industrial General Permit (IGP) Trainer of Record (ToR)
- Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner (QISP)
- Construction Stormwater Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD) and Practitioner (QSP)
- Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Stormwater Inspector (CESSWI)
We Are Members Of
Mike Blankinship
President, PCA, PE
Mike Blankinship
President
Since the time he used a Hach test kit during high school, Mike was hooked on the science of water. His fascination with agriculture during Picnic Day at UC Davis sealed the deal. He’s combined these passions into solutions for his agricultural, municipal, and water and industry clients. When not traveling too far off locations with his wife, Mike remains amazed by gravity and enjoys skiing and mountain biking any chance he gets.
Education
- M.S., Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, UC Davis
- B.A., Chemistry, Saint Michael's College
Registrations and Licenses
- Registered Professional Civil Engineer, California (# C 64112)
- DPR Pest Control Adviser (#75890)
- Stormwater Industrial General Permit (IGP) Trainer of Record (ToR) (#00137)
- Stormwater IGP Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner (QISP) (#00137)
- Construction General Permit Qualified SWPPP Practitioner & Developer (QSP/D)
Stephen Burkholder
Senior Biologist, CCA, PCA, QAL
Stephen Burkholder
Senior Biologist
Stephen is a Senior Biologist, Pest Control Adviser, and Certified Crop Adviser with over 16 years of experience supporting clients with water quality and regulatory needs. From making his first casts into the trout streams of Montana with his family, he has been drawn to study and learn about the ecology and dynamic nature of waterbodies. Stephen uses his experience and knowledge of regulations, and long-standing relationships in the community of his clients to help translate regulatory requirements to on-the-ground actions. He concentrates on implementing practical solutions to issues associated with vegetation management, water resources management, storm and surface water quality, and natural resource protection in and near streams, lakes, water conveyance, and storage facilities. During his time off, Stephen loves going on adventures with his children and cooking.
Education
- B.S., Environmental Biology, UC Davis
Certifications
- Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) (#330116)
- DPR Qualified Applicator License (QAL) (#123500)
- DPR Pest Control Adviser (PCA) (#153644)
Nikki Slade
Senior Scientist, QAL
S. Nikki Slade
Project Scientist
Nikki’s professional experience has focused on human health and ecological risk assessment, including modeling and predicting the environmental fate of a variety of contaminants, review of the scientific literature for suitable toxicological endpoint selection, and drafting transparent deliverables directed towards the public and regulatory agencies. However, one of her favorite aspects of working at Blankinship is the vast array of projects she’s involved with, including identification and evaluation of potentially contaminated sites, development of BMP/IPM and MS4 facility guidance documents, and hosting online and in-person courses on water quality and other environmental topics. She graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a B.S. in Environmental Toxicology and M.S. in Forensic Science. Her thesis focused on investigating the mechanism of action behind the neurobehavioral deficits associated with subchronic organophosphorus pesticide exposure. When she has hypothetical free time, she likes PC gaming, “running”, writing, and participating in the three-color challenge/tinkering on the piano with her whimsical daughter.
Education
- M.S., Forensic Science, UC Davis
- B.S., Environmental Toxicology, UC Davis
Certifications
- DPR Qualified Applicator License (#161893)
- OSHA 24-Hour HAZWOPER Certification
Alyssa Nagai
Senior Scientist, QAL
Alyssa Nagai
Project Scientist
Alyssa’s background touches on a variety of fields pertaining to environmental toxicology including human health and ecological risk assessment, integrated pest management (IPM), water quality, industrial air emissions and monitoring, and hazardous waste management. In her role as a Staff Scientist, she has worked with numerous government and private organizations, cities, counties, and municipalities to find solutions for their daily operations, strategic planning, and regulatory compliance needs. Prior to her time at Blankinship, Alyssa worked for the California Environmental Protection Agency’s (CalEPA) Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), and Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). When out of the office, she can often be found outdoors enjoying nature, cheering on her favorite sports teams, or indulging her sweet tooth.
Education
- B.S., Environmental Toxicology, UC Davis
Certifications
- DPR Qualified Applicator License (#156881)
- OSHA 24-Hour HAZWOPER Certification
Brian Walsh
Senior Scientist, PCA
James Lem
Environmental Scientist III, PCA
James Lem
Staff Environmental Scientist
James’ background in science is centered around agricultural sciences and aquatic toxicology. James has performed many projects as a staff scientist at Blankinship & Associates, with his technical work focused on herbicide monitoring, water quality testing, and performing biological assessments on riparian habitats. Through his previous work as an aquatic toxicologist James is proficient in NPDES methods for both fresh and salt water chronic and acute toxicology testing, along with providing extensive experience in field sampling for ambient water and sediment coring. He enjoys being in the field, and much of his work revolves around sampling and monitoring in outdoor settings. In his spare time, James enjoys hiking, pressing plants, or playing video games with his two young children.
Education
- B.S., Aquatic Animal Science, UC Davis
Certifications
- DPR Pest Control Adviser (PCA) (#166599)
Collin McVey
Environmental Scientist III, QAL, Remote Pilot (4736373)
Collin McVey
Assistant Environmental Scientist
Collin has a background in riparian habitat restoration, aquatic invasive species prevention, orchard health monitoring, groundwater monitoring, and herbicide monitoring. Before joining Blankinship & Associates in 2022, Collin worked at the University of California Cooperative Extension – Lake County and Solano County Water Agency. Now at Blankinship & Associates, his work falls under APAP, NPDES, and remote pilot surveying tasks. In his free time, Collin enjoys spending time with his family, reading books about history, playing guitar, and throwing frisbee with his dog, Nymeria.
Education
- B.S., Environmental Studies, CSU Sacramento
Certifications
- Remote Pilot (#4736373)
- DPR Qualified Applicator License (QAL) (#166137)
Katie Simpson-Johnson
Environmental Scientist III
Katie Simpson-Johnson
Staff Scientist
Katie graduated from UC - Davis with an M.S. in Soil Science. Their thesis focused on the use of mycorrhizal inoculants in processing tomatoes across a gradient of soil management practices. Upon joining Blankinship & Associates in 2024, they pivoted from soil management practices to irrigation efficiency. In their role as a Staff Scientist, Katie serves as the grant coordinator for the Solano County Farm Bureau's SWEEP grant and works with the farm bureau, the CDFA, and growers to implement projects that improve irrigation efficiency and enhance irrigation infrastructure. When not in the office, Katie enjoys skiing, backpacking, writing, table top RPGs, and striking up conversations with passersby.
Education
-
M.S., Soil Science, University of California - Davis B.S., Environmental Biology and Ecology, Western Colorado University
Roi Faroud
Environmental Scientist II
Roi Faroud Lopez
Staff Environmental Scientist
Roi’s background is in human health and ecological risk assessment, water and air quality, and analyzing data with R and ArcGIS. As a Staff Scientist, he works on a variety of projects including developing risk assessments for State Agencies. In his free time, he enjoys watching documentaries and spending time with his family.
Education
- Master of Environmental Management (MEM), Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health, Duke University
- B.S., Business Administration, University of South Carolina
Stephen Chang
Environmental Scientist II
Stephen Chang
Professional Profile
Stephen is currently finishing a Master's degree in Horticulture and Agronomy at the University of California, Davis. His research, which focused on the effects of endothall on various California crops, ignited his passion to pursue a career in environmental science and agricultural sustainability. In his current position as an Environmental Scientist, Stephen is dedicated to tackling environmental challenges and developing strategies to address each unique system with a keen focus on environmental impact assessments and resource management.
Outside of the office, Stephen enjoys playing video games and beatboxing as well as cheering on his favorite team (Light the Beam!).
Education
- B.S., Agricultural Science, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2022)
- B.S., Agricultural and Environmental Plant Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2022)
- M.S., Horticulture and Agronomy, University of California, Davis (anticipated completion June 2025)
Cat Archer
Senior Scientist
Cat Archer
Professional Profile
Ms. Archer has approximately 10 years of professional environmental consulting experience, specializing in environmental due diligence, regulatory compliance, and site investigations. With broad experience in project management for multi-national clients, she has managed and performed Phase I Environmental Site Assessments and other environmental reviews in support of financial transactions, identifying and quantifying impact and compliance-related liabilities associated with commercial and industrial properties.
Ms. Archer is familiar with General Stormwater NPDES Permit for Industrial Activity requirements and managed a 90-site portfolio of distribution facilities in Illinois. She was responsible for coordinating sampling events, monitoring permit requirements, interpreting analytical data, and guiding clients on best management practices.
Off the clock, you’ll find Ms. Archer baking award-winning cookies, trail hiking, or scuba diving.
Education
- M.B.A., University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business (in progress)
- B.A., Environmental Science, University of Colorado, Boulder
Emma Sharpe
Environmental Scientist III
Emma Sharpe
Professional Profile
Ms. Sharpe is an Environmental Scientist with professional experience in the field of environmental toxicology and risk assessment. She has presented and/or published nearly a dozen journal articles or conference papers and specializes in presenting complex scientific processes to a diverse audience, including stakeholders and the public.
Before joining Blankinship and Associates, Ms. Sharpe focused on ecological risk assessment of anthropogenic contaminants introduced into the San Francisco Bay. She has successfully collaborated with several regulatory agencies and organizations across California, including the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), Delta Stewardship Council, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, San Francisco Estuary Institute, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and State Water Contractors.
Off the clock, you’ll find Emma taking walks looking for animals, swimming in cold Washington water, stopping at a tea shop on the way to the farmers market, or reading.
Education
- M.S., Environmental Science, Environmental Sciences Program, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington
- B.A., Biology, Biology Department, Willamette University, Salem, Oregon
Beck Hoda
Environmental Scientist I
Beck Hoda
Professional Profile
Beck graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management with a focus on ecology, biodiversity, and conservation. Before joining Blankinship & Associates in 2024, Beck worked in a plant pathology lab at UC Davis researching Phytophthora species and their impact on native chaparral plants and ecosystems. Beck now works on a variety of projects in the office including aquatic molluscicide research, APAP sampling, and database design and management for SWEEP block grants.
Outside of work, Beck can be found tending to their houseplants, maintaining an aquarium of freshwater shrimp, and spending quality time with friends.
Education
- B.S., Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Davis (Ecology, Biodiversity, and Conservation Track)
Who We Support
Blankinship & Associates, Inc. proudly supports the following causes. Click an image below to learn more about each organization.
