OUR STAFF
Our staff has a broad range of experience and come from diverse scientific backgrounds.
Their educational backgrounds include environmental science, chemistry, geology, geochemistry, environmental engineering, industrial engineering, biology, physical science, and natural resources management. The ESI staff includes three professionals with Ph.D.s (a geochemist, a chemist, and a biotechnologist), two Professional Geologists, a master-level Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, and a Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence.
Management Staff
Scott E. Simmons, CHMM
President
Mr. Simmons is the President and Owner of ESI (effective January 1, 2023). He is also the Federal Program Manager. He has over 34 years of professional experience in Hawaiʻi, and has extensive project management and field experience working with federal and private sector clients throughout the Pacific. He has been at ESI since 2006...
Robert A. Chong
Vice President
Mr. Chong is the Vice President of ESI. He is also the Program Manager for commercial projects at ESI, and he has over 21 years of professional experience in Hawaiʻi. He has been at ESI since 2002. He has extensive project management and field experience working with a wide variety of federal, state, local, and private sector clients. Managing a diverse project portfolio, Mr. Chong has worked closely with both the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health [DOH] and the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]...
Stephanie J. Davis
Operations Manager /
Project Manager
Ms. Davis is the Operations Manager of ESI. She is also a Project Manager and has extensive experience working on federal agency and private industry projects. She has over 22 years of industry experience and has served on projects in a multitude of capacities, including project manager, environmental scientist, fisheries technician, environmental laboratory technician, field biologist, and technical reviewer. Ms. Davis has managed and conducted numerous environmental investigations throughout the State of Hawaiʻi...
Stacey L. Acma
Office Manager
Ms. Acma is the Office Manager at ESI and has over 36 years of administrative, management, and executive experience. She is responsible for managing the company’s administrative, financial, and human resources programs. Her areas of responsibility include accounting, payroll, human resources, policy development, project support, and many other operational functions...
Project Managers and Technical Advisors
Traci Y. Sylva, Ph.D. , CMQ/OE
Senior Chemist /
Project Manager
Dr. Sylva is the Senior Chemist at ESI and also serves as a Project Manager. A former faculty member in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, she has over 27 years of professional experience in Hawaiʻi and has been at ESI since 2004. Dr. Sylva has extensive experience in preparing and reviewing project planning documents, the collection of environmental samples, data quality evaluation, coordination and communication with analytical laboratories and regulatory agencies, preparing data usability assessments, and preparing technical reports for government and commercial clients...
Peter E. Morris
Project Manager
Mr. Morris is a Project Manager at ESI, primarily for commercial projects and State of Hawaii Department of Transportation Airports Division projects. He has experience working on projects for other government agencies and has extensive experience working on residential, commercial, and industrial projects. He has over 23 years of industry experience conducting environmental site assessments, site investigations, and remediation projects...
J. Douglas Heard
Project Manager
Mr. Heard is a Professional Geologist and Project Manager at ESI with 34 years of experience in environmental consulting. He has worked extensively as a client liaison with regulatory agencies and has strong technical and project management skills in working with both public and private sector clients, including municipal, industrial, agricultural, public utility, and commercial clients...
Tod D. Deery, PMP
Project Manger
Mr. Deery has 25 years of experience specializing in engineering, design, and construction management for entities including the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit (HART), San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Port of Oakland (CA), Maritime Services Corporation and private engineering firms. His role at ESI includes estimating, budget and schedule development, constructability review, value engineering, contract bid and award activities, construction administration, design interface, operations coordination, and close out...
William (Bill) M. Hagopian
Project Manager
Mr. Hagopian joined ESI in late 2023 as a project manager. In this capacity, he supports a multi-disciplinary approach across a variety of projects, drawing upon his robust analytical and data sciences background. Prior to joining ESI, Mr. Hagopian served as a Research Laboratory Manager and Senior Engineer, where he was responsible for setting up and managing a university facility dedicated to stable isotope analysis of biological and geological samples...
Chris Garcia
Project Manager
Mr. Garcia is a Project Manager at ESI with over 20 years of professional experience in several industries including construction project management, analytical laboratory technician, microbiology for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, and operations management and project management for environmental compliance. Currently, Mr. Garcia is acting as the Hazardous Materials Manager for the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation – Airports division. Mr. Garcia is...
Toru Kumagai, P.E., ENV SP
Sr. Environmental Engineer
Mr. Kumagai is a Sr. Environmental Engineer at ESI and has over 12 years of experience specializing in civil and environmental engineering. Mr. Kumagai started his career with the US Army and has since held the positions of project manager and director of engineering, managing numerous site development projects (residential subdivisions, commercial developments, and school redevelopments) and various wastewater projects (WWTP and IWS design/permitting)...
Howard B. West, Ph.D.
Senior Technical Advisor
Dr. West is the Senior Technical Advisor at ESI and has over 34 years of professional experience in Hawaiʻi. Formerly, he was the President of ESI and is one of the founding members. He also is a former faculty member at the School of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Dr. West stepped down as ESI President on December 31, 2022, but will continue to support our staff with his wealth of technical and managerial knowledge...