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TEAM

Our Team

Kristen Risch

Kristen Risch

Principal Owner, Hydrogeologist

Ms. Risch is a senior scientist with over 28 years of experience in project management, ecosystem restoration, stormwater management/green infrastructure design, environmental permitting and grant writing. She has helped secure and manage nearly $40 Million in grant funding for ecosystem restoration projects since 2006. Her experience includes over 40 miles of stream restoration and 160 acres of wetland restoration in Ohio and other states.
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Member, Society of Wetland Scientists (www.sws.org)
Member, National Groundwater Association (www.ngwa.org)
Wildland Hydrology/Stream Restoration Training (Level I-Level IV) (www.wildlandhydrology.com)

John Shady, PWS

John Shady, PWS

Senior Biologist

Mr. Shady is a senior biologist and Professional Wetland Scientist with over 23 years of experience in environmental assessment, restoration, and permitting. He has delineated and assessed hundreds of wetlands and streams, and has extensive training through the Ohio EPA, including the Ohio Rapid Assessment Method (ORAM), Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), and Primary Headwater Habitat Evaluation Index (HHEI). John specializes in flora and fauna evaluations, including endangered species surveys.
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Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) (www.wetlandcert.org)
Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) (www.csinet.org/cdt)
Member, Society of Wetland Scientists (www.sws.org/)
NCSRI Level 1 and Level 2 Stream Restoration Courses (www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/wqg/srp/)

Sue Farley

Sue Farley

Senior Scientist, Accountant

Ms. Farley is a senior scientist with experience in geology and environmental science from working with State and local government agencies in the field of mining and reclamation. Her background includes 11 years of permitting and inspection of coal and industrial mineral mines for the State of Ohio, 30 years of environmental consulting with Farleigh’s Hold Consulting, and 5 years teaching in the GIS/Surveying program at Hocking College. In addition to project work, Sue manages Coldwater’s accounting and human resources.
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Mitch Farley

Mitch Farley

Senior Scientist

Mr. Farley has over 40 years of experience in environmental project development and program management. His specialties include environmental investigations and permitting, wetland and stream delineation, threatened and endangered species evaluations, land rights acquisition, project design, grant funding, construction management, and environmental monitoring.
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Past President, Ohio Mineland Partnership
Committee Member, Rural Action, Inc.

Eric Onderak, PE

Eric Onderak, PE

Senior Engineer

Mr. Onderak is a professional engineer with over 17 years of experience specializing in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, system planning, capacity analyses, green infrastructure, and sanitary and stormwater infrastructure design. His background includes serving as the project and task manager on system modeling, planning, capacity analysis, rehabilitation, and design projects. He has worked on the development of solutions to address sanitary, storm, and watershed challenges for utilities of all sizes in Ohio and across the Midwest.
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Registered Professional Engineer in Ohio (73160)
Member, Ohio Water Environment Association

Russ Gibson

Russ Gibson

Senior Scientist & Grants Manager

Mr. Gibson is a senior grants manager with more than 40 years of experience in the environmental and natural resources fields. His most recent experience is with the Ohio EPA, where he served as the Nonpoint Source, Inland Lakes and Lake Erie Program Manager. His experience includes involvement with $58 million in grant funded projects in 108 watersheds throughout Ohio, giving him an unrivaled understanding of the diverse challenges faced by local government leaders in today’s complex regulatory climate.
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Chip Wendt, PWS, CERP, CPESC, CESSWI

Chip Wendt, PWS, CERP, CPESC, CESSWI

Water Resources Specialist

Mr. Wendt is a water resources specialist with over a decade of experience in natural resources management. He is an experienced naturalist, knowledgeable of Ohio’s flora, fauna, and environmental history. Chip is a project manager and leads field assessments and provides construction oversight and monitoring for projects in northern Ohio.

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Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) (www.wetlandcert.org)
Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) (www.ser.org)
Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC)
Certified Erosion, Sediment, and Stormwater Inspector (CESSWI)
Licensed Ohio Commercial Pesticide Applicator: Categories 3A (Aquatic) & CORE
Commercial Remote (Drone) Pilot Certificate
NCSRI Level 1 and Level 2 Stream Restoration Courses
(www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/wqg/srp/)

Christina Silea

Christina Silea

Water Resources Specialist

Ms. Silea is an environmental project manager with a background in stormwater management. Christina’s experience includes the planning, design, and implementation of large-scale stormwater projects including flood mitigation, stream restoration, and pipeline replacement, mostly while working for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. She also has specialized training in stream mechanics, stormwater management, and environmental assessment techniques.
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Michelle Fyffe, PE, GIP

Michelle Fyffe, PE, GIP

Project Engineer

Ms. Fyffe is a project engineer specializing in hydraulic modeling, planning, and design support for water resource projects involving green infrastructure, stream restoration, and wetland restoration. Her project experience includes preparation of CAD design drawings for stream and wetland restoration projects, hydraulic modeling for stream restoration design support, and GIS-based planning of green infrastructure projects.
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Registered Professional Engineer in Ohio (88373)
Green Infrastructure Practitioner (GIP)
National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP)
Member, Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
NCSRI Level 1 and Level 2 Stream Restoration Courses
(www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/wqg/srp/)

James Cramer

James Cramer

CAD/GIS Specialist

Mr. Cramer is a CAD/GIS technician with over 20 years of experience in geospatial technology and CAD services. He is skilled in the creation of engineering plans and design drawings using CAD and GIS software. His experience includes producing engineering plans for stream restoration, wetland restoration, and development projects. Additional experience includes the management of GPS data and use of spatial analysis and mapping tools.
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Commercial Remote (Drone) Pilot Certificate

Denise Marmer, CPESC

Denise Marmer, CPESC

Senior Scientist

Ms. Marmer is a regulatory specialist with 30 years of experience in natural resource management and environmental regulation. Denise has over a decade of previous experience working as a Regulatory Specialist and Regulatory Project Manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Huntington District, out of the Cincinnati Field Office. She offers unparalleled expertise in the USACE permitting process and has managed hundreds of jurisdictional determinations and permit applications for activities in waters of the U.S.
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Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC)

Amber Ray

Amber Ray

Office Manager

Ms. Ray is Coldwater’s office manager and assistant bookkeeper. She joined Coldwater in 2024 in our Galena Office, bringing over 12 years of experience. She is the primary contact for our external offices and employees. In addition to her office management and bookkeeping duties, she is a skilled editor and logistics coordinator.
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Craig Claar, CESSWI

Craig Claar, CESSWI

Construction Manager

Mr. Claar has over 23 years of experience in construction and 10 years of experience as a project manager. His expertise includes project management, administration, and inspection services on new building construction and underground utility projects. He excels in analyzing plans and specifications to ensure constructability, quality, and schedule adherence. He has conducted on-site inspections to monitor progress and ensure compliance with design plans. He is also skilled in scheduling and conflict resolution.
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John Brett

John Brett

Environmental Scientist

Mr. Brett is an environmental scientist with a background in wildlife and conservation biology. He obtained his M.S. in Environment and Natural Resources from The Ohio State University in 2023 and joined Coldwater in 2024. His focus is assistance with various phases of Columbus Blueprint green infrastructure projects, ecological restoration projects, and biological assessments.
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Lauren Corrigan

Lauren Corrigan

Environmental Scientist

Ms. Corrigan is an environmental scientist with a background in environmental biology and GIS. She received her M.S. in Biology from the University of Dayton in May 2024 and joined Coldwater shortly after. Her responsibilities include assistance with implementation of ecological restoration projects in the northern portion of Ohio and biological assessments throughout the state.
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