Partners

Associates

Clark Hull

Associate Wetlands Ecologist
M.S. Biology, M.B.A

Clark Hull is the principal of Clark Hull and Associates, a multi-disciplinary professional association of scientists and engineers serving private and public-sector clients in various aspects of environmental management and permitting. Mr. Hull has more than 30 years experience in the field of environmental permitting. Prior to founding the firm, Mr. Hull served as the Director of the Environmental Resource Permitting Program at the Southwest Florida Water Management District. In that capacity, he gained considerable experience in various aspects of environmental permitting, particularly in relation to wetlands and mitigation banking. Mr. Hull has a proven record of creative problem solving on challenging environmental permits and has extensive litigation experience related to Environmental Resource Permitting and Water Use Permitting. His strong technical skills and lengthy regulatory experience make him highly effective as a client representative and advocate.

Brian G. Ormiston

Associate Research Ecologist
Ph.D. Ecology

Dr. Brian Ormiston has over 35 years of experience in ecology, including 20+ years of field and remote sensing experience throughout Florida. Dr. Ormiston is a recognized expert in wetland ecology and wetland hydrology, environmental monitoring, statistical modeling, environmental impacts of water withdrawals from groundwater and surface water systems, and environmental management. He has testified as an expert witness in ecology, remote sensing, and statistical analysis at several Administrative Hearings in Florida. As an as-needed consultant for Tampa Bay Water he has assisted with development of their current remote sensing program, wetland minimum levels for wetlands and lakes, revisions to the Environmental Monitoring Program, and refinements to the Optimized Regional Operations Program (OROP) used by Tampa Bay Water to minimize hydrologic impacts to wetlands. He has also conducted remote sensing projects including vegetation inventory, classification and change analyses, and hyperspectral mapping of exotic species for environmental management. He has provided support to numerous environmental agencies and organizations including SWFWMD, SJRWMD, the Florida Natural Areas Inventory, the Florida Division of Aquaculture, NASA, West Coast Inland Navigation District, FDOT, USGS, and numerous environmental firms and organizations.

Scott Emery

Associate Research Ecologist
Ph.D. Ecology M.S.; Ph.D.

Scott Emery has 39 years of professional experience in both the public and private sectors. Primary areas of technical expertise are in: Florida ecology; listed species; habitat restoration; professional facilitation for issues involving Total Maximum Daily Loads, natural resource and water resource issues; Ecological Risk Assessments; water quality sampling, analysis, treatment and testing; groundwater withdrawal effects on lakes/wetlands; resource management; and water supply development. Previous positions include: Principal, Environment and Health, Integrated (1993 to 2013). Board member, Institute for Environmental Studies at University of South Florida (1993 to present). Visiting Assistant Research Professor, University of South Florida (2004 to 2011). Director, Wetlands Division, HCEPC (2011 to 2015). Scott is the author/co-author of 8 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and  over 100 technical reports. He has 14 years of administrative and management experience, plus outside coursework in management, budgeting, and accounting, and is experienced in public speaking, intergovernmental coordination and expert witness testimony. While in government service, he was responsible for a $20 million annual budget, and $150 million worth of total assets and infrastructure.

Beth Davidson

Associate Restoration Ecologist
B.S. Zoology

Beth Davidson possesses over 25 years of experience designing, developing, implementing, and monitoring restoration and reclamation sites, both wetland and upland. She has years of permitting experience with local and federal agencies for mining, agricultural practices, and residential and commercial developments. Beth has completed successful, large-scale restoration projects with CF Industries, The Nature Conservancy, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Sam Van Hook

Associate Land Manager
B.S. Wildlife Ecology

Sam Van Hook has over 40 years of land management and forestry experience in central Florida. Sam has conducted prescribed burns, tree plantings, timber inventories and sales, herbicide applications, wildfire suppression, native seed harvesting, and restoration projects. Sam worked for 30 years as a forester at the Avon Park Air Force Range and is the founder/owner of Kissimmee Valley Foresters.

Chuck Burnite

Associate Land Manager
B.S. Environmental Science and Policy

Chuck Burnite has over 20 years of experience in environmental consulting, land management, project management and permitting, habitat restoration, exotic plant management, wetland delineation and mitigation, and environmental assessments. Chuck is extremely effective at managing both Category I and II nuisance/exotic species listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council on a variety of habitats.