The following officers have been elected by section members for the current fiscal year. Please write them if you have any questions about membership qualifications, or to apply for sponsorship, or to participate in any of our ongoing projects, field trips, or meetings.
Officers and Contacts | |
![]() | Chair: Jonathan Gerst, 828-817-5209, email Jonathan Gerst grew up in Upstate SC, he received a B.A. in Geology from Appalachian State University ('05), and obtained a M.S. in Hydrogeology from Virginia Tech ('10). During his 18-year professional career, Jonathan has worked for both global and boutique consulting firms to serve public and private sector clients throughout the Southeast, Pacific Northwest, and abroad (Peace Corps in Morocco and gold AMD mining in Suriname). Since Jonathan established his own environmental and water resources consulting practice, Peak Hydrogeologic, PLLC (Est. 2016), he has served commercial, industrial, mining, and residential clients throughout the Carolinas. Jonathan resides in Tryon, NC with his wife (Alex), two sons (Theis and Karst), and two wild heeler mutts (Delta and Opal). Besides family, Jonathan’s passions include critical zone hydrogeology, white-water paddling, rock-climbing, community service, and riddles. |
![]() | Vice-Chair: Laura Elliott, email Laura Elliott is a licensed geologist in North Carolina and Virginia. Laura earned a bachelor's degree in Geology from The College of William & Mary in Virginia, and a master's degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Vanderbilt University. Her professional experience has included environmental consulting in the NC Triangle and Triad, and as a hydrogeologist for NCDEQ's Division of Water Resources. Laura spends most of her time in commercial due diligence work, Brownfields projects, and solid/hazardous waste investigations. Currently, she is the environmental department manager with Terracon in Greensboro, NC. |
![]() | Treasurer: Walt Plekan, email Walt is a licensed geologist in North and South Carolina. His primary area of expertise is the assessment and cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater and associated risk mitigation. He is a 1994 graduate of SUNY Fredonia with a bachelor’s degree in Geology. He currently works as a Senior Project Manager for with AECOM Technical Services in Morrisville, NC. |
![]() | Secretary: Erin Greene, email Erin Greene is a project geologist with Terracon Consulting, and has made her home in Charlotte, NC since 2014. Born and reared in North Carolina by transplanted parents, she pursued a B.S. in Geology from Western Carolina University ('03). With 15 years of environmental consulting in the southeast (NC, SC, GA, VA) her professional experiences include commercial due diligence, UST assessments, environmental compliance in the scrap metal industry, and NCDEQ Pre-Regulatory Landfill facilities. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, camping, and telling her family and friend more information than they need to know about surrounding flora and geological features. |
![]() | Past Chair: Jennifer B. Thomas, email Jen graduated from Mary Washington University in 2000 with a degree in geology. She started as an environmental field technician and worked for several environmental and engineering consulting firms over the years performing soil and groundwater investigations, remediation, and monitoring primarily for underground storage tank and chlorinated solvents sites. She performed Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) as well. Jen earned her geology license in 2006. After that, she expanded her knowledge to geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing. In 2012, she started JennTec, LLC in 2012, primarily writing Phase I ESAs with some sampling for asbestos, radon, and/or lead-based paint. |
Membership Chair: Meredith Ambrose, email |
|
Field Trip Chair: Rick Kolb, email | |
Newsletter Co-Editors: Meredith Ambrose, email; Colleen Ranieri, email | |
Regional Director: Hawkins Gagnon, email | |
Social Media Chair: Adam Phillips, email | |
Social Committee Chair: Adam Phillips, 919-451-3370, email | |
Sponsorship Chair: Colleen Ranieri, email | |
Student Liaison: Vacant | |
Advisor: Jennifer Bauer, 828-296-4500, email | |
Advisor: Gary Rogers, email | |
Webmaster: Brad Isles, email | |
Chapter Website: www.aegcarolinas.org | |
AEG National Website: www.aegweb.org |