We provide exceptional services by hiring exceptional people.
Abhilash Vijayan PhD, PE
Director of Transportation, Climate, and Community Air Quality Programs / Senior Scientist / Director of Business Strategies
Abhilash joined Sonoma Technology in 2021, and brings extensive experience in air pollution, transportation, and climate change programs, policy, and research. Before joining the company, he worked at the California Air Resources Board for over 12 years, where he most recently served as the Manager of CARB’s Emission and Exposure Research Section. In this position, he oversaw the Agency’s air pollution exposure and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions research portfolio and managed a variety of innovative in-house and extramural research efforts using advanced measurement and analysis systems, including airborne surveys, mobile monitoring, personal monitoring, stationary monitoring networks, satellite and big data analysis, and forward and inverse modeling. </br>
Abhilash is a Global Air Quality Fellow with the U.S. Department of State and has served in various capacities at the Air & Waste Management Association over the years. He earned his Masters and Doctoral degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Toledo, and Bachelor of Technology degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Kerala, India. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Chemical Engineering (California) and Environmental Engineering (Arizona).
Abhilash is a Global Air Quality Fellow with the U.S. Department of State and has served in various capacities at the Air & Waste Management Association over the years. He earned his Masters and Doctoral degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Toledo, and Bachelor of Technology degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Kerala, India. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Chemical Engineering (California) and Environmental Engineering (Arizona).
Alan C. Chan
Vice President of International Programs
Alan joined Sonoma Technology as a meteorologist in 2002. Throughout the last decade, he has enjoyed combining his passion for weather with his knowledge of air quality to produce thousands of air quality forecasts for over a dozen U.S. cities. Alan applies his project management skills and experience to oversee the operations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow program. As a native of Hong Kong, he has been keen to expand the AirNow system beyond North America. Over the past eight years, Alan’s enthusiasm, persistence, technical strategy, and efforts to build a relationship between the Chinese team and its American counterpart were instrumental in developing and launching AirNow-International in Shanghai, China, during the 2010 World Expo. This program continues to be operational today, with additional implementations in Zhejiang Province, China, and parts of Mexico. In recognition of his experience working with the international air quality community, Mr. Chan was invited to join Clean Air Asia’s Cities Clean Air Partnership experts group on air quality governance and assessment. Recently, he has been involved in an environmental education program using small sensors called Kids Making Sense, including several pilots in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Taiwan.
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Alan earned his BA (with distinction and highest honors) in Geography from Boston University and an MS in Meteorology from Cornell University. At Cornell, he was awarded the Cornell Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.
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Alan earned his BA (with distinction and highest honors) in Geography from Boston University and an MS in Meteorology from Cornell University. At Cornell, he was awarded the Cornell Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.
Alejandro M. Valencia PhD
Air Quality Emissions Modeler
Alejandro joined Sonoma Technology’s Atmospheric and Emissions Modeling Group in 2021. His work involves providing photochemical, dispersion, and emissions modeling support to address complex environmental problems. Before joining Sonoma Technology, Alejandro worked on the development, operation, and analysis of photochemical transport and dispersion models to support sound policymaking. He also built applications to aid in the manipulation, visualization, analysis, and interpretation of observed and modeled environmental data.
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Alejandro earned his BS in Chemical Engineering from Florida State University, and his MS in Environmental Engineering and PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Alejandro enjoys many outdoor activities, including rock climbing, mountain biking, trail running, hiking, camping, and photography.
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Alejandro earned his BS in Chemical Engineering from Florida State University, and his MS in Environmental Engineering and PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Alejandro enjoys many outdoor activities, including rock climbing, mountain biking, trail running, hiking, camping, and photography.
Alexander G. Boenig
Instrument Technician/Specialist
Alexander joined Sonoma Technology in 2023. His work includes performing maintenance on open-path monitoring and meteorological instruments at petroleum refineries in northern California. Alexander is also involved with managing warehouse operations to support Sonoma Technology’s team of field technicians, ensuring instruments are in working order prior to deployment, and performing routine maintenance and testing procedures on instruments when they return from various monitoring sites.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, you will find Alexander surrounded by his plants and growing his own food using hydroponics and aquaponics methods. When he is not immersed in greenery, Alexander is gaming with friends, out hiking in nature, and spending quality time with family. Alexander graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BS in Environmental Science and a Minor in Chemistry.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, you will find Alexander surrounded by his plants and growing his own food using hydroponics and aquaponics methods. When he is not immersed in greenery, Alexander is gaming with friends, out hiking in nature, and spending quality time with family. Alexander graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BS in Environmental Science and a Minor in Chemistry.
Alexander Bernal
Group Manager, Air Quality Monitoring
Alex joined Sonoma Technology’s Southern California Field Group in 2020. He maintains the proper operation of state-of-the-science open-path instruments and point-monitoring stations at various refineries and community sites in Southern California. He recently fabricated custom mounts for the installation and implementation of a new system that will allow field technicians to manage the instrument data flow for individual instruments while also performing maintenance.<br>
Mr. Bernal has a BS in Computer Engineering Technology from the University of Houston. Outside of Sonoma Technology, he enjoys making things: he is an experienced wood worker and fabricator. He also enjoys outdoors activities, and is a member of the Rogue Paddling Club, a competitive Dragon Boat team.
Mr. Bernal has a BS in Computer Engineering Technology from the University of Houston. Outside of Sonoma Technology, he enjoys making things: he is an experienced wood worker and fabricator. He also enjoys outdoors activities, and is a member of the Rogue Paddling Club, a competitive Dragon Boat team.
Andrea F. Anderson PhD
Air Quality Data Scientist
Annie is involved in projects that collect and use ambient, satellite, meteorological, and model data to better understand local and regional air pollution levels and sources. She has over 10 years of combined professional and academic experience in the environmental sector with an emphasis in air quality. She has worked on statistical analysis of wildfire impacts on ozone attainment and technical analysis of environmental fates of pesticides and emerging contaminants, and has managed international environmental programs. She brings subject matter experience in atmospheric processes, photochemistry, wildfire impacts, ozone formation, and pesticides. Her technical skills include data processing and visualization in R, statistical analysis, and atmospheric laboratory techniques. She enjoys connecting science to communities to ensure better air quality to historically overburdened people.
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Annie earned a PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry from the University of California, Irvine, and a BS in Chemistry. She is a member of the American Geophysical Union and American Chemical Society. In her spare time, you can find Annie surfing, cooking, and volunteering near her home in Berkeley, CA.
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Annie earned a PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry from the University of California, Irvine, and a BS in Chemistry. She is a member of the American Geophysical Union and American Chemical Society. In her spare time, you can find Annie surfing, cooking, and volunteering near her home in Berkeley, CA.
Andrew S. McKernan
Software Engineer
Andrew joined Sonoma Technology in 2022. He maintains and develops front-end and backend services for numerous projects and Sonoma Technology systems, including the Insight data management system. Andrew’s area of expertise is integrating front-facing applications with complex data systems, and he works to improve UI elements of his projects to create a high-quality user experience within mobile and desktop applications.<br>
On the weekends, Andrew can often be found on a kayak or dinghy in the Pacific Ocean practicing catch-photo-release on a quest to document many of California’s native fish and wildlife. Andrew earned BS in Computer Science and graduated magna cum laude with distinction from Sonoma State University. While at Sonoma State University, Andrew was part of a small team that developed a mobile application to generate music and soundscapes from real-time biometric data derived from smart watches.
On the weekends, Andrew can often be found on a kayak or dinghy in the Pacific Ocean practicing catch-photo-release on a quest to document many of California’s native fish and wildlife. Andrew earned BS in Computer Science and graduated magna cum laude with distinction from Sonoma State University. While at Sonoma State University, Andrew was part of a small team that developed a mobile application to generate music and soundscapes from real-time biometric data derived from smart watches.
Angela L. Ekstrand
Group Manager, Software Development
Since joining Sonoma Technology in August 2012, Angela has worked on a range of projects that involve the analysis of air quality and wildfire data, as well as the use and analysis of geospatial information. With a strong background in satellite data and geospatial analysis, Angela has contributed her GIS, Python, and image analysis skills to forward Sonoma Technology’s goal of providing high-quality, innovative, science-based solutions to air quality and environmental problems. As a Group Manager in the Software Development Department, she manages a team of engineers to develop and provide tools for data ingest and storage, public display of air quality information, automated data alerts, and electronic logging for monitor networks.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Angela is an avid dancer and also likes to cook. She earned a BS in Geology from Beloit College and an MS in Geophysics from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. She’s thrilled to live in relatively sunny northern California.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Angela is an avid dancer and also likes to cook. She earned a BS in Geology from Beloit College and an MS in Geophysics from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. She’s thrilled to live in relatively sunny northern California.
Angela Del Ponte
Executive Assistant
Angela joined the Sonoma Technology team in 2019. She works to optimize and scale operations for Sonoma Technology's leadership team so that they can focus on providing innovative science solutions to Sonoma Technology’s clients and business partners. She has an extensive background in communications, marketing, and risk management. Angela has a passion for connecting people with the information and resources they need and helping support professionals to drive for success.
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A lifelong resident of Marin County, Angela lives in Novato with her husband, daughter, amazing cat, and very social goldfish. She earned a BA in Communications from Chico State, and enjoys bringing people together for adventures with mud runs, mountain biking, paddle boarding, and pool parties. Angela enjoys binging shows on Netflix and cooking like a Top Chef with her husband and daughter.
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A lifelong resident of Marin County, Angela lives in Novato with her husband, daughter, amazing cat, and very social goldfish. She earned a BA in Communications from Chico State, and enjoys bringing people together for adventures with mud runs, mountain biking, paddle boarding, and pool parties. Angela enjoys binging shows on Netflix and cooking like a Top Chef with her husband and daughter.
Anthony M. Cavallaro
Senior Solutions Architect
Since joining Sonoma Technology in 2011, Anthony has applied his knowledge and eye for quality to the design and development of web-based software applications for government agencies. He has contributed to several software projects, such as the development of the Interagency Fuels Treatment Decision Support System (IFTDSS), ensuring that Sonoma Technology’s high-quality standards and client needs are met. He is also one of the primary software developers for the BlueSky Playground project.
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Anthony’s love of programming has driven him to participate in numerous programming-related activities. He has competed in several ACM-ICPC (International Collegiate Programming Contest) events, and led an “Introduction to Programming” workshop for three semesters during his time in college. He earned a BS (cum laude) in Computer Science and graduated with distinction from Sonoma State University.
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Anthony’s love of programming has driven him to participate in numerous programming-related activities. He has competed in several ACM-ICPC (International Collegiate Programming Contest) events, and led an “Introduction to Programming” workshop for three semesters during his time in college. He earned a BS (cum laude) in Computer Science and graduated with distinction from Sonoma State University.
Anurag Jain
Senior Software Engineer
Anurag joined Sonoma Technology in 2022 and designs and develops innovative software and products for air quality measurements and monitoring projects. Since joining the team, Anurag has played a role in developing solutions for a range of projects such as the SoCalGas Aliso Canyon Benzene Monitoring Warning Subscription System. He is also involved with design and development of real-time data ingestion, analysis, and visualization systems. In this role, he leverages Sonoma Technology’s domain expertise along with his core full-stack software design and development experience and skills to create cutting-edge cloud-native solutions for our clients. <br>
As a nature enthusiast, Anurag loves the outdoors and likes to spend time exploring, hiking, and trekking activities with friends and family. He is an avid sports person and enjoys recreational soccer, cycling, badminton, table tennis, tennis, swimming, and more. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering from Bangalore University in India, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas.
As a nature enthusiast, Anurag loves the outdoors and likes to spend time exploring, hiking, and trekking activities with friends and family. He is an avid sports person and enjoys recreational soccer, cycling, badminton, table tennis, tennis, swimming, and more. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering from Bangalore University in India, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Arthur (Sky) Steiner
Technical Project Manager
Sky joined Sonoma Technology in February 2020. His work includes maintaining the proper operation of state-of-the-science open-path instruments and point-monitoring stations at various refineries and community sites in Southern California to meet regulatory requirements. He performs routine maintenance, emergency repairs, and audits of these regulatory monitoring stations. He supports Sonoma Technology’s meteorological monitoring projects by performing audits and maintenance on various atmospheric measuring and sampling equipment.
Bryan M. Penfold
Manager, Data Analysis Group / GIS Coordinator
For more than 10 years, Bryan has managed, maintained, and coordinated activities relating to Geographical Information Systems (GIS). He acts as a primary point of contact for GIS matters and serves as the GIS technical resource for Sonoma Technology staff and clients. Bryan concentrates on geographical data processing, analysis, and display to assess the relationship between spatial patterns in air quality and human health impacts for a variety of epidemiological studies. His enthusiasm for teaching the importance of spatial data quality and accuracy has helped produce an exceptional collection of GIS users at Sonoma Technology.
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Bryan is a member of the Association of American Geographers, Air and Waste Management Association, the ESRI North Bay GIS User Group, and the Golden Key International Honor Society. He earned his BA in Geography from Sonoma State University and his MBA with a concentration in Environmental Management from Ashford University.
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Bryan is a member of the Association of American Geographers, Air and Waste Management Association, the ESRI North Bay GIS User Group, and the Golden Key International Honor Society. He earned his BA in Geography from Sonoma State University and his MBA with a concentration in Environmental Management from Ashford University.
Bryant S. West
Technical Editor / Conference Coordinator
Bryant joined the Sonoma Technology team in 2015 as a technical editor. He assists the Sonoma Technology staff in editing reports, presentations, journal entries, proposals, and other technical documentation for clarity, consistency, and accuracy. He enjoys the challenge of working with and learning from the diverse range of Sonoma Technology’s technical work, and his editing experience has included such topics as wildfire protection, air quality, transportation, and engineering.
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Bryant is an avid sports enthusiast and is a lifelong Sacramento Kings fan. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as planning a growing number of eventual overseas trips. Bryant graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California with a B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, and was the editor-in-chief of the college’s student newspaper. He is a member of the Society for Professional Journalists.
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Bryant is an avid sports enthusiast and is a lifelong Sacramento Kings fan. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as planning a growing number of eventual overseas trips. Bryant graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California with a B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, and was the editor-in-chief of the college’s student newspaper. He is a member of the Society for Professional Journalists.
Cari L. Gostic
Lead Refinery Data Analyst
Cari joined Sonoma Technology’s Data Science Department in 2020. In addition to her analytical experience in catastrophe modeling for the insurance industry, she has extensive experience in data processing and analysis, model development, and effective data visualization. She is currently involved in a variety of projects, including refinery monitoring, exceptional event analyses, and dashboard development.</br>
Cari earned her BS in Atmospheric Science from Cornell University and her MS in Data Science from the University of British Columbia. She is a member of the American Meteorological Society. In her free time, Cari enjoys biking, hiking, gardening, and photography.
Cari earned her BS in Atmospheric Science from Cornell University and her MS in Data Science from the University of British Columbia. She is a member of the American Meteorological Society. In her free time, Cari enjoys biking, hiking, gardening, and photography.
Cathy E. Anthony
Director of Human Resources / Manager, Administration, Facilities, and Health & Safety GroupDirect
Since joining Sonoma Technology in 2007, Cathy has been responsible for the overall management of our human resources functions. Her work focuses on recruiting, resource planning, new hire orientation, employee benefits administration (health insurance, life insurance, and leaves of absence), terminations, 401(k) administration, employee relations, company safety programs, and a variety of special projects. Cathy has a strong human resources background, with over 20 years of experience across a range of specialties, including benefits, compensation, policy development, employee relations, recruitment, and payroll. Cathy enjoys ensuring new employees get settled comfortably in the area and become integrated quickly into the company culture.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Cathy likes to cook, participate in outdoor activities, and spend time with her family and friends. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the California Chamber of Commerce.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Cathy likes to cook, participate in outdoor activities, and spend time with her family and friends. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the California Chamber of Commerce.
Charles A. Callebaut
Senior Accountant
Charles joined Sonoma Technology’s Accounting Group in 2018. He has over 5 years of experience in accounting and financial reporting. He prepares month-end financial memos, analyzes Sonoma Technology's labor productivity, and researches a variety of labor and tax regulations.<br>
Charles graduated from UC Irvine with a BA in Criminology, Law, and Society, and a Minor in Business Management (Accounting). Previously, Charles worked as a Senior Accountant for Equipe Container Services, a company that builds and leases shipping containers for commercial use. He also worked for Robert Half as a contractor and filled accounting roles at multiple Bay Area businesses.<br>
In his free time, Charles takes advantage of the local community college offerings of manufacturing-related courses such as welding and machining. He also enjoys archery, sailing, hiking, and mountain biking.
Charles graduated from UC Irvine with a BA in Criminology, Law, and Society, and a Minor in Business Management (Accounting). Previously, Charles worked as a Senior Accountant for Equipe Container Services, a company that builds and leases shipping containers for commercial use. He also worked for Robert Half as a contractor and filled accounting roles at multiple Bay Area businesses.<br>
In his free time, Charles takes advantage of the local community college offerings of manufacturing-related courses such as welding and machining. He also enjoys archery, sailing, hiking, and mountain biking.
Charles R. Scarborough
Air Quality Data Scientist
Charles joined Sonoma Technology’s Data Science Department in 2020. As an air quality data scientist, he uses geographic information systems and his computer coding skills to conduct analysis related to air pollution exposure, air pollution impacts, and wildland fires. Charles is motivated to continue learning and improving his skills in geospatial analysis to deliver practical and sound scientific solutions to Sonoma Technology’s clients.
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Outside of work, Charles enjoys taking long hikes, outdoor and indoor rock climbing, cooking, and reading. He has a BS in Geography and a BS in Atmospheric Science from the University of Georgia, and an MS in Geography from the University of Delaware.
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Outside of work, Charles enjoys taking long hikes, outdoor and indoor rock climbing, cooking, and reading. He has a BS in Geography and a BS in Atmospheric Science from the University of Georgia, and an MS in Geography from the University of Delaware.
Chelsie Winborg
Environmental Field Technician
Chelsie joined Sonoma Technology in 2018. Her work includes remote monitoring and onsite support for surface meteorological sensors, including wind, temperature, humidity, precipitation, and solar radiation sensors, as well as air pollution monitoring instruments. She maintains site logs, responds to emergency calls, performs data extractions, and manages Sonoma Technology’s instrumentation warehouse. Chelsie is a former United States Marine, and has been trained in engineering mechanics and heavy equipment construction and repair.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Chelsie volunteers with the Special Need Aquatic Program and swims with kids who have a variety of special abilities and needs. She enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her dog, playing video games, and doing art with a variety of mixed media. Chelsie earned her BA in Animation and Video Effects from the Academy of Art University.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Chelsie volunteers with the Special Need Aquatic Program and swims with kids who have a variety of special abilities and needs. She enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her dog, playing video games, and doing art with a variety of mixed media. Chelsie earned her BA in Animation and Video Effects from the Academy of Art University.
Christian T. Havranek
Software Engineer
Christian joined Sonoma Technology in 2018 as a Software Engineer. His work has included integrating new APIs, adding new features, and resolving data interruption issues for Sonoma Technology’s Insight data management system for the Hawaii Electric Company. He regularly provides operational support and ensures proper data flow for both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow program and the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s field site projects. He also assisted in the front-end web development of the Marathon Los Angeles Refinery’s public air quality monitoring website.
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Christian earned his BS in computer science from Sonoma State University. His love for software development led him to a research opportunity at Sonoma State that involved the use of machine learning to classify different lung diseases.
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Christian earned his BS in computer science from Sonoma State University. His love for software development led him to a research opportunity at Sonoma State that involved the use of machine learning to classify different lung diseases.
Clinton P. MacDonald
President / Chief Scientist
Clinton, who has enjoyed working at Sonoma Technology since 1996, serves as our President. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, as Chief Scientist he coordinates and leads complex field studies using highly sophisticated instrumentation to characterize meteorological and chemical properties and processes in challenging environments. His expertise and experience ranges from instrumentation to data validation and data analyses. In addition to publishing his research results in numerous meteorological and air quality journals, Clinton co-authored the U.S. EPA’s guidance document regarding the development of an air quality forecasting program as well as many formal reports on air quality transport and dispersion.
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Clinton serves on the Application Advisory Group for Sonoma Technology’s participation in the CRADA to commercialize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s boundary layer RWP technology. He earned BS and MS degrees in Atmospheric Science from the University of California at Davis.
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Clinton serves on the Application Advisory Group for Sonoma Technology’s participation in the CRADA to commercialize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s boundary layer RWP technology. He earned BS and MS degrees in Atmospheric Science from the University of California at Davis.
Colleen M. Humphreville
Field Technician
Colleen is a field technician with our Refinery Services Department. She works on multiple fenceline monitoring projects in Southern California, and her responsibilities include data acquisition, deployment and maintenance of atmospheric sampling analyzers, and managing unplanned problems with emissions measuring analyzers. Her experience decommissioning offshore oil rigs prior to removal made for a natural transition to monitoring refinery emissions. She appreciates the public information sharing opportunities created by fenceline monitoring. She holds a degree in Geology from Wright State University and finds Sonoma Technology to be an extension of her education, and she interacts daily with scientists across the company. On days off, Colleen can be found exploring new cities or riding her bike along the coast.
Crystal D. McClure PhD
Atmospheric Scientist
Crystal has over 14 years of experience measuring and analyzing of wildfire smoke and other air toxics, including National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) pollutants, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), metals, and particulate matter. She is currently involved in a range of projects, including PAMS monitoring and data analysis, exceptional event analyses, processing and visualization of ambient air pollution monitoring data, creation of satellite-agency coupled wildfire databases, and analysis of wildfires and smoke on health impacts. Before joining Sonoma Technology, Crystal received a Doctorate and Masters in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor's degree in Meteorology from Texas A&M University.
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In her free time, Crystal enjoys gardening, hiking, crocheting, painting, and cooking. She is a member of the American Geophysical Union, International Association of Wildland Fire, and American Meteorological Society.
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In her free time, Crystal enjoys gardening, hiking, crocheting, painting, and cooking. She is a member of the American Geophysical Union, International Association of Wildland Fire, and American Meteorological Society.
Dan C. Ruth
Operations Manager
Dan joined Sonoma Technology in 2022. He currently serves as Operations Manager and leads Sonoma Technology’s partnership with Aerosol Magee Scientific. He has a broad range of experience in consumer intelligence, competitor due diligence, and market research and analysis in the U.S. and China. Dan had previously worked with Sonoma Technology as a Business Development Intern while completing an MS in Business Analytics from Dominican University of California. He received his BA in International Politics and Economics (and Mandarin Chinese) from Middlebury College.
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Dan enjoys traveling to remote destinations and spending time in the outdoors skiing, mountaineering, and scuba diving. He volunteers at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, where he supports harbor seal rehabilitation, and in the past has worked with the World Wildlife Fund on conservation and research projects in Southern Africa.
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Dan enjoys traveling to remote destinations and spending time in the outdoors skiing, mountaineering, and scuba diving. He volunteers at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, where he supports harbor seal rehabilitation, and in the past has worked with the World Wildlife Fund on conservation and research projects in Southern Africa.
Dana L. Coe
Litigation Services Program Lead
Dana currently leads Sonoma Technology’s Litigation Services Program, which delivers expert testimony and advisory services to attorneys who require trusted, unbiased, science-based expertise. She oversees the Program to ensure all litigation support projects clearly communicate complex scientific issues in an easily understood, useful, timely, and ethical manner. Much of her 29-year career has been dedicated to assessments of criteria pollutants, toxic air pollutants, and greenhouse gas emissions that are produced by a diverse array of sources. She has provided technical support and advice to quantify emissions during Clean Air Act enforcement actions and settlement negotiations, such as advising a midstream company in a matter concerning fugitive emissions and producing technical content for U.S. DOJ’s use in matters concerning defeat devices. Outside Sonoma Technology, she has provided consulting services for development of commercial-scale renewable energy projects in California.<br>
Dana enjoys spending time with her family and in the outdoors, especially hiking, biking, or standup paddle boarding all over Marin County. Dana earned her BS in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University, and her MSPH in Environmental Science and Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a member of the Air and Waste Management Association and the American Bar Association.
Dana enjoys spending time with her family and in the outdoors, especially hiking, biking, or standup paddle boarding all over Marin County. Dana earned her BS in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University, and her MSPH in Environmental Science and Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a member of the Air and Waste Management Association and the American Bar Association.
Daniel H. King
Geospatial Data Scientist
Daniel joined Sonoma Technology’s Data Science Department in 2022 and is currently working on projects related to air quality data fusion and monitoring near industrial facilities. Daniel is excited about providing innovative, high-quality, and ethical solutions to pressing environmental issues.<br>
Daniel earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Simon Fraser University and his Master of Data Science degree from the University of British Columbia. In his free time, Daniel enjoys reading, biking, gardening, and playing musical instruments.
Daniel earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Simon Fraser University and his Master of Data Science degree from the University of British Columbia. In his free time, Daniel enjoys reading, biking, gardening, and playing musical instruments.
Douglas S. Eisinger PhD
Senior Vice President / Chief Scientist, Transportation Policy & Planning
Doug joined Sonoma Technology in 1995 after serving as the Mobile Sources Section Chief for U.S. EPA, Region 9. He has worked on air quality issues since 1986. He helps lead Sonoma Technology’s efforts to support community-based air quality projects under California’s landmark 2017 legislation, Assembly Bill 617, and through Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) funded by industry and government settlement agreements. He oversaw Sonoma Technology’s research for the Near-Road Air Quality Transportation Pooled Fund, which was supported by eight federal and state agencies. Resources for the Future (RFF) Press published his book, Smog Check: Science, Federalism, and the Politics of Clean Air, with a Foreword by Mary Nichols, following his appointment as an RFF Fellow in Environmental Regulatory Implementation. For over 12 years, Doug served as Program Manager for the UC Davis-Caltrans Air Quality Project. He is a nationally recognized expert in the transportation-air quality arena, a highly rated professor, and an aficionado of all things Hawaiian. He has held numerous community roles, including chairman of a nonprofit foundation serving public schools and chairman of his town’s Fiscal Advisory Committee; he also helped raise $121 million to rebuild three high schools.
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Doug is the former Chair of the U.S. Transportation Research Board (TRB) Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Committee, under the U.S. National Academies. He is an Affiliate Professor for the University of Washington Master of Sustainable Transportation Program, and has taught about air quality, climate, and public policy for 20 years at the University of Hawaii. He also taught transportation policy at UC Davis. He earned his BA in Government from Cornell University, an MPP in Energy and Environmental Policy from Harvard University, and a PhD in Environmental Policy Analysis from the University of Wales (UK).
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Doug is the former Chair of the U.S. Transportation Research Board (TRB) Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Committee, under the U.S. National Academies. He is an Affiliate Professor for the University of Washington Master of Sustainable Transportation Program, and has taught about air quality, climate, and public policy for 20 years at the University of Hawaii. He also taught transportation policy at UC Davis. He earned his BA in Government from Cornell University, an MPP in Energy and Environmental Policy from Harvard University, and a PhD in Environmental Policy Analysis from the University of Wales (UK).
Eric J. Hoffer
Environmental Field Technician
Eric joined Sonoma Technology in April 2024. His work includes maintaining the proper operation of state-of-the-science open-path instruments and point-monitoring stations at various refineries and community sites in southern California. Eric focuses on collecting high-quality air pollution data, which are posted on our community websites to inform facility operators and members of the public about air quality conditions near these refineries.<br>
Prior to joining the Sonoma Technology team, Eric worked in the commercial swimming pool industry, and he continues to teach certification classes for pool service professionals in his free time. Outside of work, he enjoys sports: especially the Detroit Tigers and Formula1. He also enjoys fishing, beer brewing, and listening to history podcasts.
Prior to joining the Sonoma Technology team, Eric worked in the commercial swimming pool industry, and he continues to teach certification classes for pool service professionals in his free time. Outside of work, he enjoys sports: especially the Detroit Tigers and Formula1. He also enjoys fishing, beer brewing, and listening to history podcasts.
Ethan W. Emerson PhD
Air Quality Scientist
Ethan joined Sonoma Technology in 2024. As an air quality scientist, he supports air quality monitoring and research projects to support industrial, governmental, and community applications. He uses analytical and statistical methods to connect measurements to emissions, and has extensive expertise in conducting causal analysis to determine effective mitigation strategies. Ethan combines industry knowledge and atmospheric science to develop approaches to minimize anthropogenic emissions to the atmosphere.<br>
Outside of work, Ethan enjoys spending time with his family exploring the outdoors across all four seasons and tinkering with design-build projects. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Colorado State University and B.S. in Chemistry and Physics from Bates College.
Outside of work, Ethan enjoys spending time with his family exploring the outdoors across all four seasons and tinkering with design-build projects. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Colorado State University and B.S. in Chemistry and Physics from Bates College.
Frederick W. Lurmann
Manager of Exposure Assessment Studies
Fred joined Sonoma Technology in 1989 and served as President from 1999 to 2006. With more than 35 years of professional air quality experience, he is a nationally recognized expert in air quality and exposure assessment. Fred provides technical direction and program management for projects sponsored by government agencies, universities, and nonprofit organizations. He frequently applies his expertise to determine prospective and retrospective air pollution exposure assignments for subjects participating in epidemiologic studies of air pollution health effects. His research involves measurements, data analysis, and modeling of air pollution exposures and human time-activity. Much of his work in recent years focuses on neighborhood-scale assessments, where proximity to mobile source emissions can have large effects on exposure. Fred is keenly interested in study design, especially the problem of optimally matching exposure data with health outcome data to answer specific questions. He maintains strong interests in regional air quality and emission control strategies. Outside of Sonoma Technology, Fred enjoys the outdoors and is an avid skier and hiker.
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Fred has co-authored 75 peer-reviewed articles and is a member of several state and local air pollution agency advisory committees. Currently, he is a member the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Science, Technical, and Modeling Peer Review Advisory Group. He is a member of numerous professional associations, including the Air and Waste Management Association, American Association for Aerosol Research, American Geophysical Union, American Chemical Society, and International Society of Exposure Analysis. Fred is chairman of the American Lung Association’s Regional Advisory Board for the San Francisco Bay Area. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Mechanical and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
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Fred has co-authored 75 peer-reviewed articles and is a member of several state and local air pollution agency advisory committees. Currently, he is a member the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Science, Technical, and Modeling Peer Review Advisory Group. He is a member of numerous professional associations, including the Air and Waste Management Association, American Association for Aerosol Research, American Geophysical Union, American Chemical Society, and International Society of Exposure Analysis. Fred is chairman of the American Lung Association’s Regional Advisory Board for the San Francisco Bay Area. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Mechanical and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Garnet B. Erdakos PhD
Group Manager, Atmospheric and Emissions Modeling / Senior Scientist
Since joining Sonoma Technology in 2011, Garnet has worked on a wide variety of air quality modeling projects. Her primary focus has been on modeling air quality impacts of roadway transportation projects and providing quantitative PM hot-spot analysis support. She develops technical guidance and training sessions involving the application of the AERMOD dispersion model and software tools to streamline analyses. Her PM hot-spot analysis support also includes evaluation of transportation project characteristics and modeling approaches. Her transportation-related work also covers zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) and the impact of increasing ZEV adoption on air quality. Garnet also performs photochemical grid modeling to evaluate impacts of various types of emissions sources on regional air quality and quantify source contributions. She also does modeling and data analysis work for Sonoma Technology’s litigation support services.
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Garnet enjoys creating data visualizations, writing technical reports, and preparing and giving presentations. She appreciates the practical application of science, collaboration, and being a team leader. Outside of work, Garnet’s favorite activities are running and hiking with her dog. She also likes listening to NPR programs, listening to music, trying to play her guitar, crafting soap and lip balm when her supply runs low, and reading, lately about politics and political history. Garnet earned her BS in physics, with a minor in mathematics, from Illinois State University, and her MS and PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering from Oregon Graduate Institute and Oregon Health and Science University, respectively.
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Garnet enjoys creating data visualizations, writing technical reports, and preparing and giving presentations. She appreciates the practical application of science, collaboration, and being a team leader. Outside of work, Garnet’s favorite activities are running and hiking with her dog. She also likes listening to NPR programs, listening to music, trying to play her guitar, crafting soap and lip balm when her supply runs low, and reading, lately about politics and political history. Garnet earned her BS in physics, with a minor in mathematics, from Illinois State University, and her MS and PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering from Oregon Graduate Institute and Oregon Health and Science University, respectively.
Ghada “Gigi” Alajeely
Business Development Specialist
Gigi joined Sonoma Technology as a business development specialist in 2023. Her role involves supporting our Products and Business Development teams in addition to assisting with office operations in Southern California. Gigi had been a business development intern for 8 months with Sonoma Technology while finishing her MBA. During her internship, she helped configure and implement software platforms to streamline and improve business processes. <br>
Gigi is an avid tennis player, she competed at a collegiate level and now teaches tennis in her free time. Gigi received her BA in Business Administration from Concordia University Irvine and her MBA from Dominican University of CA.
Gigi is an avid tennis player, she competed at a collegiate level and now teaches tennis in her free time. Gigi received her BA in Business Administration from Concordia University Irvine and her MBA from Dominican University of CA.
Gianluca P. Astudillo
Air Quality Data Scientist
Gianluca joined Sonoma Technology’s Data Science Department in 2023. As an air quality data scientist, he integrates his experience in statistical programming and environmental science with geographic information systems to conduct analysis related to refinery monitoring, data processing for atmospheric model training, and data pipeline optimization. Gianluca is excited to use his expertise in R and Python to improve his spatiotemporal analysis skills and provide pragmatic, scientifically sound solutions to clients.<br>
Gianluca earned his BA in Environmental Studies from New York University and his MPS in Aquaculture from the University of Miami. In his free time, Gianluca enjoys biking, gardening, and reading through his backlog of science-fiction novels.
Gianluca earned his BA in Environmental Studies from New York University and his MPS in Aquaculture from the University of Miami. In his free time, Gianluca enjoys biking, gardening, and reading through his backlog of science-fiction novels.
Gonzalo Parajon
Vice President / Department Manager, Software Development
Gonzalo joined Sonoma Technology in 2012 and currently manages the Software Development Department. His primary duties include overseeing the day-to-day operations of his team, as well as working with multi-disciplinary teams to drive technical innovation and high-quality software solutions. He has contributed to the testing and development of several software projects for government agencies and private organizations, such as the performance testing of the Integrated Fuels Treatment Decision Support System. He has also been a key contributor in the incorporation of new software testing and automation tools at Sonoma Technology.
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As a motorcycle enthusiast, Gonzalo loves to explore the back roads of Sonoma County in search of the next best hidden secret. As a proud member of the unofficial Sonoma Technology soccer team, he regards himself as a die-hard soccer fan and enjoys debating game highlights. He earned a BS in Computer Science and graduated with distinction from Sonoma State University.
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As a motorcycle enthusiast, Gonzalo loves to explore the back roads of Sonoma County in search of the next best hidden secret. As a proud member of the unofficial Sonoma Technology soccer team, he regards himself as a die-hard soccer fan and enjoys debating game highlights. He earned a BS in Computer Science and graduated with distinction from Sonoma State University.
Gregory J. Talotta
Software Engineer
Greg joined Sonoma Technology in 2022 as a Software Engineer. His work includes developing and expanding Sonoma Technology’s Insight data management system, which is used by both clients and Sonoma Technology’s data management teams. <br>
While earning his BS in computer science with a minor in mathematics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Greg developed his skills in front-end, back-end, and server management through working with a permafrost research team. Outside of Sonoma Technology, he enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, archery, and LARPing. Earning the rank of Eagle Scout while living in Alaska instilled a love of nature and some second-degree frostbite.
While earning his BS in computer science with a minor in mathematics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Greg developed his skills in front-end, back-end, and server management through working with a permafrost research team. Outside of Sonoma Technology, he enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, archery, and LARPing. Earning the rank of Eagle Scout while living in Alaska instilled a love of nature and some second-degree frostbite.
Hermann A. Kruppa
Field Operations Support Assistant
Hermann joined Sonoma Technology in 2022. He supports Sonoma Technology’s portfolio of air quality measurement projects across California. He works directly in support of clients, project managers, field technicians, information technology, and other subject matter experts to ensure all monitoring, quality, and communications plans are consistently executed. Hermann is a retired United States Marine and served 22 years as a Meteorological and Oceanographic Impacts Analyst.<br>
Outside of Sonoma Technology, Hermann coaches youth baseball and supports youth baseball programs as an umpire. He enjoys spending time with his family, rock climbing, fishing, exercising, playing sports, and enjoying the outdoors with his dog. Hermann is a military certified Instructional Systems Design Manager, Meteorological and Oceanographic Analyst Forecaster, and Weapons and Tactics Instructor. He earned an AAS, Instructor of Technology and Military Science from the Community College of the Air Force.
Outside of Sonoma Technology, Hermann coaches youth baseball and supports youth baseball programs as an umpire. He enjoys spending time with his family, rock climbing, fishing, exercising, playing sports, and enjoying the outdoors with his dog. Hermann is a military certified Instructional Systems Design Manager, Meteorological and Oceanographic Analyst Forecaster, and Weapons and Tactics Instructor. He earned an AAS, Instructor of Technology and Military Science from the Community College of the Air Force.
Hilary R. Hafner
Chief Operating Officer
Hilary, with Sonoma Technology since 1989, has led the development of data validation, data analysis, and monitoring network assessment guidance, building on over three decades of real-world experience with air quality data. She especially enjoys helping state, local, and tribal air quality monitoring agencies measure, understand, and improve their air quality. Her goal is to help clients maximize data usefulness within their available resources. Hilary serves as Sonoma Technology’s Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary. Hilary swims with a local masters team—challenges have included swimming from Alcatraz to San Francisco, national and world competitions, and swims off the coasts of Spain, Croatia, and Sardinia.
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Hilary co-chaired the 2010 Air & Waste Management Association Symposium on Air Quality Measurement Methods and Technology. She earned her BS and MS degrees in Chemical Engineering at Oregon State University and University of California at Los Angeles, respectively.
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Hilary co-chaired the 2010 Air & Waste Management Association Symposium on Air Quality Measurement Methods and Technology. She earned her BS and MS degrees in Chemical Engineering at Oregon State University and University of California at Los Angeles, respectively.
Isaac K. Afreh PhD
Air Quality Modeler
Isaac joined Sonoma Technology’s Atmospheric and Emissions Modeling Group in 2021. His work involves analyzing air quality data and providing dispersion and emissions modeling support for various projects. Prior to joining Sonoma Technology, Isaac applied his skills and knowledge in atmospheric chemistry and box modeling to understand secondary particulate matter (PM) formation from biogenic compounds. <br>
Isaac earned his BS in Chemical Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana; his MS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from The University of Akron, OH; and his PhD in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from University of California, Riverside. Isaac is a member of the American Association for Aerosol Research, the Air & Waste Management Association, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Outside of work, Isaac enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his family.
Isaac earned his BS in Chemical Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana; his MS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from The University of Akron, OH; and his PhD in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from University of California, Riverside. Isaac is a member of the American Association for Aerosol Research, the Air & Waste Management Association, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Outside of work, Isaac enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his family.
Jack T. Dimmock
Environmental Scientist
Jack supports a broad scope of regulatory air quality projects at Sonoma Technology, with a primary focus on industrial fenceline monitoring. He coordinates interdepartmental efforts in support of Sonoma Technology’s Refinery Monitoring Program and assists with the development of quality assurance procedures.
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Prior to his role as an Environmental Scientist, Jack interned with Sonoma Technology and supported emissions modeling and litigation-related projects. His work included reviewing scientific literature, data analysis, and reporting of roadside trash disintegration from solar radiation and the resulting potential greenhouse gas emissions.
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Jack enjoys exploring the food scene on California’s central coast, riding his bicycle around San Luis Obispo, and going to concerts. He earned his BS in Environmental Science with a minor in Spatial Studies from the University of Redlands in Redlands, CA, and his MS in Environmental Sciences and Management from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA.
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Prior to his role as an Environmental Scientist, Jack interned with Sonoma Technology and supported emissions modeling and litigation-related projects. His work included reviewing scientific literature, data analysis, and reporting of roadside trash disintegration from solar radiation and the resulting potential greenhouse gas emissions.
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Jack enjoys exploring the food scene on California’s central coast, riding his bicycle around San Luis Obispo, and going to concerts. He earned his BS in Environmental Science with a minor in Spatial Studies from the University of Redlands in Redlands, CA, and his MS in Environmental Sciences and Management from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA.
James A. Cooper
Systems Engineer
James joined Sonoma Technology in 2016. He is responsible for the administration, management, and day-to-day support of all software, hardware, network, and security components at all Sonoma Technology sites. Prior to working at Sonoma Technology, James worked as a network administrator and a consultant in the North Bay Area.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, James is an avid skier, backpacker, and explorer of the outdoors. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Sonoma State University with a minor in Biology. He received a Network Specialist degree from Empire College, graduated from Santa Rosa Junior College’s Cisco Network Academy, and is CompTIA A+ certified.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, James is an avid skier, backpacker, and explorer of the outdoors. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Sonoma State University with a minor in Biology. He received a Network Specialist degree from Empire College, graduated from Santa Rosa Junior College’s Cisco Network Academy, and is CompTIA A+ certified.
Jana L. Schwartz
Director of Corporate Support
Jana joined Sonoma Technology in 1997 and manages many of Sonoma Technology’s operational functions, including technical editing/publications, user experience/design, business development activities, revenue forecasting, and administration. She has over 30 years of technical communications and management experience and serves on Sonoma Technology's Senior Management Committee. Jana takes pride in ensuring that Sonoma Technology’s documents, websites, presentations, and work products are accurate, objective, relevant, concise, organized, clear, well-written, grammatically correct, and visually interesting. Jana enjoys providing technical communication and other relevant instruction to staff. She also implements new tools and technologies to increase efficiency and happiness at work and produce better-looking, cost-effective, and more versatile products. She directs the creation and use of corporate templates and branding to ensure consistency across work products and oversees the corporate website and intranet.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Jana enjoys having adventures with her family, playing soccer, gardening, and living like a local in far-away cities throughout the home exchange community. She studied abroad in Oxford, England, and earned a BA in Business Economics with honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Jana enjoys having adventures with her family, playing soccer, gardening, and living like a local in far-away cities throughout the home exchange community. She studied abroad in Oxford, England, and earned a BA in Business Economics with honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Jane M. Harre
Vice President / Manager, Finance, Accounting, and Contracts Group / Controller
Jane joined Sonoma Technology in 2016. She has more than 30 years of broad experience in financial analysis, accounting, operations, and performance management. Jane is a member of Sonoma Technology’s Senior Management Committee and is responsible for managing Sonoma Technology’s Finance, Accounting, and Contracts Group.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Jane enjoys hiking, yoga, and traveling. She earned her MBA from the University of California, Irvine.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Jane enjoys hiking, yoga, and traveling. She earned her MBA from the University of California, Irvine.
Jeff A. Houk
Transportation / Air Quality Analyst and Emissions Modeler
Jeff uses his extensive experience with the U.S. EPA’s MOVES emissions model to support Sonoma Technology’s emissions modeling work. He is a nationally recognized expert on transportation-related air quality with over 30 years of experience assisting federal, state, and local partners. Prior to joining Sonoma Technology, Jeff spent 17 years as an air quality specialist with the U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Resource Center Air Quality Team, and 16 years with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 8 office and Office of Transportation and Air Quality. His work covers on- and off-road criteria pollutant and air toxics emissions modeling; transportation conformity assessments; climate change programs and greenhouse gas (GHG) assessments; State Implementation Plan (SIP) support; transportation controls; and interagency consultation. Jeff has helped many agency partners assess the air quality impacts of highway projects, explain impacts to the public, and respond to litigation on highway project approvals.<br>
Outside of Sonoma Technology, he enjoys skiing, rafting, cooking, and photography. Jeff earned his BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University.
Outside of Sonoma Technology, he enjoys skiing, rafting, cooking, and photography. Jeff earned his BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University.
Jeff J. Beamish
Meteorologist
Jeff joined Sonoma Technology as a Meteorologist in 2019. He is responsible for delivering air quality forecasts for a variety of pollutants in several cities across the United States. Along with his forecast duties, he works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow program to ensure monitoring sites around the world are producing high-quality, uninterrupted data.
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Prior to working at Sonoma Technology, Jeff was a broadcast meteorologist in Tucson, Arizona, for over a decade. His expertise has been featured on The Weather Channel, MSNBC, The Washington Post, and New York Times. Jeff is a proud graduate of Saint Cloud State University, where he earned his BS in Earth & Atmospheric Science. He is an active member of the American Meteorological Society. Jeff and his family enjoy cooking, photography, sports, and exploring all the wonders California has to offer.
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Prior to working at Sonoma Technology, Jeff was a broadcast meteorologist in Tucson, Arizona, for over a decade. His expertise has been featured on The Weather Channel, MSNBC, The Washington Post, and New York Times. Jeff is a proud graduate of Saint Cloud State University, where he earned his BS in Earth & Atmospheric Science. He is an active member of the American Meteorological Society. Jeff and his family enjoy cooking, photography, sports, and exploring all the wonders California has to offer.
Jennifer L. DeWinter
Vice President, Product Management / ExactAQ Product Manager / Atmospheric Scientist
As Vice President of Product Management, Jennifer leads interdisciplinary teams to develop products and advance technology initiatives. Since joining Sonoma Technology as an Atmospheric Scientist in 2008, Jennifer has spent much of her career working at the confluence of science and software engineering, developing tools and applications for federal, state, and local air agencies, as well as commercial clients. She currently leads the development of ExactAQ, an advanced, hyperlocal-forecasting model that provides community-scale information about current and forecast air quality to empower organizations and the public to make decisions that reduce exposure to air pollution. Since its launch in 2015, Jennifer has also managed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Data Analysis and Reporting Tool (DART), a data validation application that is routinely used to support the Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS) and Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) air monitoring programs.
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Prior to Sonoma Technology, Jennifer used remote sensing to analyze air pollution trends while interning at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Langley Research Center. She received a BS in Earth Science <i>(magna cum laude)</i> and a BA in English from California Polytechnic State University. At Cal Poly, Jennifer was awarded the Environmental Sustainability Award. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys sailing, traveling, and exploring California’s central coast with her family.
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Prior to Sonoma Technology, Jennifer used remote sensing to analyze air pollution trends while interning at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Langley Research Center. She received a BS in Earth Science <i>(magna cum laude)</i> and a BA in English from California Polytechnic State University. At Cal Poly, Jennifer was awarded the Environmental Sustainability Award. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys sailing, traveling, and exploring California’s central coast with her family.
Jessica G. Klobas PhD
Air Quality Data Scientist
Jessie joined Sonoma Technology in 2024, and brings extensive experience in short-lived climate programs, inventory development, policy and regulatory development, and economics. Before joining the company, she spent nearly a decade working at the California Air Resources Board (CARB). In that role, she worked on California’s greenhouse gas inventory, Short Lived Climate Pollutant Plan, and Technology Clearinghouse system. She also managed CARB’s economic unit, overseeing economic impact analysis for all regulations. Jessie previously worked at Sonoma Technology in 2006-2008 and is delighted to return.<br>
Outside of work, Jessie enjoys activities with her two young children, volleyball, and embroidery. She received a BS in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego, and a PhD in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry from the University of California, Davis.
Outside of work, Jessie enjoys activities with her two young children, volleyball, and embroidery. She received a BS in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego, and a PhD in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry from the University of California, Davis.
Josette E. Marrero PhD
Group Manager, Southern California Field Group / Lead Air Quality Measurement Specialist
Josette is an Air Quality Scientist, Group Leader, and Project Manager in Sonoma Technology's Meteorological and Air Quality Measurements Group. She has extensive experience in conducting measurements of atmospheric constituents that play a role in air quality at the local and regional scales, and analyzing how they affect human health. She is excited to learn more about emerging small-sensor technology, as well as data visualization techniques to make data more accessible to the public.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Josette enjoys yoga, traveling to and hiking in U.S. National Parks, reading, memorizing song lyrics, and attending basketball and baseball games. Josette is a member of the American Geophysical Union. She earned her BS in Chemistry from The College of New Jersey, and her MS and PhD in Chemistry from the University of California at Irvine.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Josette enjoys yoga, traveling to and hiking in U.S. National Parks, reading, memorizing song lyrics, and attending basketball and baseball games. Josette is a member of the American Geophysical Union. She earned her BS in Chemistry from The College of New Jersey, and her MS and PhD in Chemistry from the University of California at Irvine.
Kenneth J. Craig
Manager, Atmospheric and Emissions Modeling Group / Principal Scientist
Since joining Sonoma Technology in 2005, Ken has applied his knowledge of atmospheric processes and numerical modeling to address environmental issues such as urban heat islands; near-roadway pollution; local and regional pollutant formation, transport, and removal processes; and global black carbon transport. He also studies smoke impacts from wildland fires and integrates meteorological and air quality models into real-time smoke prediction and decision support systems. Ken enjoys scientific computing, and develops innovative solutions for processing, analyzing, and visualizing large environmental data sets for clients.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, he enjoys the ocean, camping, hiking, road trips, and photography. A member of the American Meteorological Society, Ken earned BS (summa cum laude) and MS degrees in Meteorology from San Jose State University.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, he enjoys the ocean, camping, hiking, road trips, and photography. A member of the American Meteorological Society, Ken earned BS (summa cum laude) and MS degrees in Meteorology from San Jose State University.
Kevin M. Smith
Senior Air Quality Field Technician / Project Manager
With Sonoma Technology since 2008, Kevin installs, troubleshoots, and maintains surface meteorological and air quality instruments, radar wind profilers, radio acoustic sounding systems, and sodar acoustic systems in southern California for Sonoma Technology's clients including the South Coast Air Quality Management District and both the City and County of Los Angeles. Kevin's work on previous projects includes field work for Caltrans, the Apex Landfill in Nevada, and Geysers Hydroelectric operations in Geyserville, California.
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When Kevin is not on a field project, he is an avid golfer and enjoys boating and fishing. Kevin earned a BA in Commercial Illustration and Color Technology from Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California.
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When Kevin is not on a field project, he is an avid golfer and enjoys boating and fishing. Kevin earned a BA in Commercial Illustration and Color Technology from Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California.
Lyle R. Chinkin
Chief Scientist / Chief Executive Officer
Lyle joined Sonoma Technology in 1992. With more than 40 years of professional air quality experience, he is a nationally recognized expert in air quality and meteorological analyses as well as emissions inventory preparation and assessment. He oversees projects for federal, state, and local government agencies; universities; public and private research consortiums; and corporations. He applies his expertise to objective evaluations of emissions inventories and air quality impact assessments through the use of air quality models to determine compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, as well as expert litigation testimony and public presentations. He is passionate about achieving excellence and driving ethical practices in all areas of business. Lyle is also an avid storm-chaser, a passion that blends his enthusiasm for scientific discovery and accuracy with the awe-inspiring processes of the natural world.
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Lyle was appointed to the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Changes in New Source Review Programs for Stationary Sources of Air Pollution as well as a panel to review the 2005 NARSTO Assessment, “Improving Emission Inventories for Effective Air Quality Management Across North America.” He earned his BS (with highest honors) and MS degrees in Atmospheric Science from the University of California at Davis.
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Lyle was appointed to the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Changes in New Source Review Programs for Stationary Sources of Air Pollution as well as a panel to review the 2005 NARSTO Assessment, “Improving Emission Inventories for Effective Air Quality Management Across North America.” He earned his BS (with highest honors) and MS degrees in Atmospheric Science from the University of California at Davis.
Lynn M. Alley
Atmospheric Scientist
Lynn specializes in air dispersion and meteorological modeling to assess air pollution impacts from a diverse range of emission sources. She develops emissions inventories and analyzes and visualizes model outputs and other environmental data sets. Her background includes supporting air quality permitting projects and managing large air dispersion modeling analyses to help facilities understand and comply with ambient air quality standards and health risk thresholds.
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Lynn especially enjoys the challenge of solving complex scientific problems and explaining technical results in a clear and useful way. Her favorite hobbies outside of Sonoma Technology include running, practicing yoga, playing the flute and piano, and reading. Lynn is a member of the Air and Waste Management Association and the American Meteorological Society. She has a BS in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma.
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Lynn especially enjoys the challenge of solving complex scientific problems and explaining technical results in a clear and useful way. Her favorite hobbies outside of Sonoma Technology include running, practicing yoga, playing the flute and piano, and reading. Lynn is a member of the Air and Waste Management Association and the American Meteorological Society. She has a BS in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma.
Megan K. Schill
Technical Writer
Megan joined Sonoma Technology in 2021 and writes content for proposals, authors thought leadership articles, and creates other technical content. As a part of the Publications Group, she edits and formats technical documents, scientific articles, and scientific reports to ensure that all documents Sonoma Technology delivers are easy to understand, meet high grammar and organizational standards, and are accessible to all potential readers.
Melissa R. Chaveste
Atmospheric Scientist
Melissa joined Sonoma Technology’s Data Science Department in 2018. Since joining Sonoma Technology, she has worked on data analysis projects to assess near-road air pollution and population health exposure, as well as air quality data processing, pollutant monitoring, and community risk assessments. This work includes using R Studio, Microsoft Access, and ArcGIS to complete these analyses. Her work also includes performing quality checks and validating pollutant data for the U.S. EPA’s AirNow program. She is a key team member for Sonoma Technology’s Kids Making Sense education program that teaches middle- and high-school students about air quality using small sensor technology.
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In her free time, Melissa enjoys hiking, skiing, snorkeling, traveling, and exploring new places. She also enjoys playing team sports and cheering on her alma matter, the Wisconsin Badgers. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a B.S. in Environmental Science.
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In her free time, Melissa enjoys hiking, skiing, snorkeling, traveling, and exploring new places. She also enjoys playing team sports and cheering on her alma matter, the Wisconsin Badgers. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a B.S. in Environmental Science.
Nathan R. Pavlovic
Lead Geospatial Data Scientist / R Resource Coordinator
Nathan, who joined Sonoma Technology in 2015, specializes in geographic information systems (GIS), data analysis, and fire science. He conducts analyses related to air pollution impact assessments and wildland fires. Nathan’s background lies in geospatial analysis of environmental challenges, and he is excited to use his GIS and remote sensing skills to contribute to innovative, ethical, science-based solutions at Sonoma Technology.
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Nathan is a life-long nature lover, and outside of Sonoma Technology, he enjoys hiking, camping, swimming, cooking, and building things. Nathan is also a member of the American Geophysical Union. He received his BA in Biology from Grinnell College in Iowa and his MS in Geography and Geographic Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Nathan is a life-long nature lover, and outside of Sonoma Technology, he enjoys hiking, camping, swimming, cooking, and building things. Nathan is also a member of the American Geophysical Union. He received his BA in Biology from Grinnell College in Iowa and his MS in Geography and Geographic Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Nathan C. Benson
Senior Fire Ecology and Fuels Specialist
Nate joined the Sonoma Technology team in 2022 to support the company’s work in wildland fire and smoke sciences. His focus is on pre-fire planning, prescribed fire and fuels management support, using data to support decision-making processes, and the development of wildland fire software applications.</br>
In 2021, Nate retired after a 34-year career with the National Park Service (NPS), where he served as the Lead for Wildland Fire Science and Ecology at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. He is excited to share his experience in fire ecology, fire effects monitoring, fire research, fire application development, prescribed and wildfire management, fuels management, and strategic planning with Sonoma Technology clients. </br>
Nate was one of the pioneers of the NPS Wildland Fire Module Program, and helped develop and grow the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) Program and FEAT-FIREMON Integrated (FFI) fire effects monitoring software application. He also served as the Chair of the Joint Fire Science Program Governing Board for 9 years.</br>
Nate graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Institute for Environmental Studies with a Master of Science in Land Resources. In his free time, he enjoys his family, cross-country skiing, biking, and gardening.
In 2021, Nate retired after a 34-year career with the National Park Service (NPS), where he served as the Lead for Wildland Fire Science and Ecology at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. He is excited to share his experience in fire ecology, fire effects monitoring, fire research, fire application development, prescribed and wildfire management, fuels management, and strategic planning with Sonoma Technology clients. </br>
Nate was one of the pioneers of the NPS Wildland Fire Module Program, and helped develop and grow the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) Program and FEAT-FIREMON Integrated (FFI) fire effects monitoring software application. He also served as the Chair of the Joint Fire Science Program Governing Board for 9 years.</br>
Nate graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Institute for Environmental Studies with a Master of Science in Land Resources. In his free time, he enjoys his family, cross-country skiing, biking, and gardening.
Olivia S. Ryder PhD
Atmospheric Scientist / Kids Making Sense Program Manager
Olivia joined Sonoma Technology in 2019. She has over a decade of experience in atmospheric chemistry research and analysis. Her current projects include analyzing ambient data for toxic metals as part of community air monitoring efforts, conducting source apportionment assessments, and supporting geographic information system (GIS) work. She has a strong interest in communicating environmental issues across scientific disciplines and to the public through outreach efforts. Olivia has been an Air Quality Fellow for the U.S. State Department–U.S. EPA Global Air Quality Fellowship program since 2020. In this role, she continues to support the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina with their air quality measurements and improvement strategies.
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Olivia has a strong interest in communicating environmental information across scientific disciplines and to the public through outreach efforts. In her role as Program Manager of Kids Making Sense, she coordinates projects with teachers, schools, and community groups. She leads business development, program implementation, social media efforts, curriculum development, and teacher trainings, and works with tribes and community groups to develop specifically tailored learning modules.
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Outside of work, Olivia enjoys traveling, art, yoga, and making cake toppers for wedding cakes. Olivia is a member of the American Geophysical Union and the American Chemical Society. She earned her BS in Chemistry (magna cum laude) from the University of California, Irvine, and her MS and PhD from the University of California, San Diego. She also has a mini-MBA certification from the Rady School of Management.
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Olivia has a strong interest in communicating environmental information across scientific disciplines and to the public through outreach efforts. In her role as Program Manager of Kids Making Sense, she coordinates projects with teachers, schools, and community groups. She leads business development, program implementation, social media efforts, curriculum development, and teacher trainings, and works with tribes and community groups to develop specifically tailored learning modules.
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Outside of work, Olivia enjoys traveling, art, yoga, and making cake toppers for wedding cakes. Olivia is a member of the American Geophysical Union and the American Chemical Society. She earned her BS in Chemistry (magna cum laude) from the University of California, Irvine, and her MS and PhD from the University of California, San Diego. She also has a mini-MBA certification from the Rady School of Management.
Patrick H. Zahn
Forecasting Program Lead / Project Manager
With Sonoma Technology since 2007, Patrick manages the Air Quality Forecasting Program. He oversees daily air quality forecast operations for over a dozen cities and regions across the country, conducts meteorological and air quality analyses for high-pollution episodes, and coordinates with air quality agencies and media when high-pollution events are forecast. Patrick and the other members of the forecasting team also conduct air quality forecasting training workshops, which they have presented at conferences and to air quality agencies. They also produce air quality videos and podcasts, analyzing unusual air quality events and discussing the challenges of air quality forecasting.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Patrick is a competitive cyclist, participating regularly in regional races with his Sonoma County-based team. He earned a BSE (magna cum laude) in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Princeton University and an MS in Atmospheric Science from the University of Washington, where his research focused on regional climate modeling in the Pacific Northwest.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, Patrick is a competitive cyclist, participating regularly in regional races with his Sonoma County-based team. He earned a BSE (magna cum laude) in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Princeton University and an MS in Atmospheric Science from the University of Washington, where his research focused on regional climate modeling in the Pacific Northwest.
Paul E. Benson PE
Senior Air Quality Scientist, Transportation Policy and Planning
Paul’s expertise is in microscale air quality modeling near transportation facilities with particular emphasis on the CALINE3 and 4 models he developed during his 40-year career with the California Department of Transportation. He joined the Sonoma Technology team in 2010 as a part-time employee and has contributed to task orders related to near-roadway particulate matter and NO2 concentrations. Most recently, he developed a materials quantity estimator for use as input to a construction emissions modeling tool. He is excited to be able to complement his retirement years with ongoing challenges in these longtime areas of professional involvement.
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A former chair and current emeritus member of the Transportation Research Board Committee on Transportation and Air Quality, Paul is also a registered Civil Engineer in California and holds BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Davis. In his spare time, he cycles (road and mountain), hikes, canoes, and sails. He began playing the acoustic guitar in the early 60s and, while not as good as he should be after all that practice, still enjoys picking it up every night.
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A former chair and current emeritus member of the Transportation Research Board Committee on Transportation and Air Quality, Paul is also a registered Civil Engineer in California and holds BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Davis. In his spare time, he cycles (road and mountain), hikes, canoes, and sails. He began playing the acoustic guitar in the early 60s and, while not as good as he should be after all that practice, still enjoys picking it up every night.
R. Scott McEwan
Senior Measurements Specialist
Scott joined Sonoma Technology in 2021. He has over 15 years of experience in air quality field measurement work and is an expert in instrumenting regulatory-grade open-path fenceline monitoring systems (FLMS), regional ambient air monitoring networks, and process control systems. Scott has trained numerous staff in measurement equipment deployment, calibration, and on-site troubleshooting. Scott has spent over 10 years deploying Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ultra-Violet Differential Optical Absorbance Spectroscopy (UV-DOAS) systems for monitoring gases; this included technology application engineering and sales management for point and open-path UV-DOAS and FTIR technologies. Scott is also an expert at running flow control systems for accurate sample collection in particulate monitoring. His work has been funded by a variety of organizations, including the U.S. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy, industrial clients, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Scott’s work has often included instrument and systems design. He has initiated the development of new FTIR systems and developed Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and traceable instrument calibration methods. He also collaborated in the design, fabrication, and deployment of modular hardware upgrades for EPA’s Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET) program and worked in quality assurance project plans (QAPPs), such as those for the EPA’s Mountain Acid Deposition (MADPro) Clingman’s Dome site and CASTNET programs. Scott enjoys Sonoma Technology’s comprehensive analytic instrument and data management approach to fenceline monitoring, and he has a keen interest in optical absorbance spectroscopy and emerging FLMS technologies.<br>
Scott earned his B.S. in Physics from the University of West Georgia.
Scott earned his B.S. in Physics from the University of West Georgia.
Rick F. Sustek
Group Manager/IT & Software Operations
Rick joined Sonoma Technology in 2019. He is responsible for providing the infrastructure needed by Sonoma Technology’s development staff, from early project phases up through public release. He also monitors and tunes all running systems to ensure constant system availability to end users. He continuously evaluates the evolving technological landscape, and uses these insights to make internal system improvements to increase efficiencies and project scales while lowering production costs.
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Rick’s expertise is in computer networks, operating systems, software development, and digital arts production. When not busy wrangling computers, he enjoys creating music and video projects, motorcycle and mountain bike riding, hiking, restoring automobiles, gardening, cooking, and hanging out with family, friends, and cats.
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Rick’s expertise is in computer networks, operating systems, software development, and digital arts production. When not busy wrangling computers, he enjoys creating music and video projects, motorcycle and mountain bike riding, hiking, restoring automobiles, gardening, cooking, and hanging out with family, friends, and cats.
Ross M. Mohs
Environmental Field Technician
Ross joined Sonoma Technology’s Data Services Department in 2021. His work includes operating, performing maintenance on, and collecting measurements from open-path monitoring instruments used at petroleum refineries in the California Bay Area. Ross’s work focuses on collecting high-quality air pollution data that are posted on our community websites to inform facility operators and members of the public about air quality near these refineries.<br>
Outside of Sonoma Technology, Ross enjoys camping, fishing, and exploring new areas. When not in nature, you will find him continually trying to increase the performance of his PC and debating Science Fiction lore with friends. Ross graduated from Sonoma State University with a BS in Chemistry and a Minor in Environmental Studies and Planning.
Outside of Sonoma Technology, Ross enjoys camping, fishing, and exploring new areas. When not in nature, you will find him continually trying to increase the performance of his PC and debating Science Fiction lore with friends. Ross graduated from Sonoma State University with a BS in Chemistry and a Minor in Environmental Studies and Planning.
Ruth Waltrip
Administrative Specialist
Ruth joined Sonoma Technology's Corporate Operations Department in 2017. She is our first point of contact for clients and vendors, and enjoys providing the very best customer service to all business partners. Ruth has a background in varied administrative roles, which include financial and project support.
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Ruth earned a BA in Political Science from Kansas University. When she’s not at Sonoma Technology, Ruth enjoys gardening, bicycling, and cooking with family and friends.
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Ruth earned a BA in Political Science from Kansas University. When she’s not at Sonoma Technology, Ruth enjoys gardening, bicycling, and cooking with family and friends.
Ryan C. Moffet PhD
Department Manager, Advanced Air Measurements
Ryan joined Sonoma Technology in 2017, and is the Manager of the Advanced Air Measurements Department. Ryan is an expert in atmospheric aerosols and has extensive experience conducting field measurements designed to address atmospheric science questions. Much of Ryan’s work has focused on determining the chemical and physical properties of individual aerosol particles using advanced instrumental methods. Ryan has been working on projects involving fenceline monitoring of petroleum operations using open-path measurements, and applying low-cost sensors to measure fugitive methane emissions. Ryan is also involved with air quality field study design, instrument selection, quality assurance documentation, and field operations.
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Ryan is excited to learn about new developments in instrumentation and automation and how they can be applied to aid humanity and the environment. Ryan loves the outdoors, and his hobbies include spending time with his family, backpacking, disc golf, electronics, and climbing. Ryan earned his BS in Chemistry from San Francisco State University, and his MS and PhD in Chemistry from the University of California at San Diego.
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Ryan is excited to learn about new developments in instrumentation and automation and how they can be applied to aid humanity and the environment. Ryan loves the outdoors, and his hobbies include spending time with his family, backpacking, disc golf, electronics, and climbing. Ryan earned his BS in Chemistry from San Francisco State University, and his MS and PhD in Chemistry from the University of California at San Diego.
Samantha J. Kramer PhD
Air Quality Data Scientist / Project Manager
Samantha joined Sonoma Technology in 2020 and is currently supporting a variety of technical air quality research and analysis projects covering industrial monitoring, exposure assessments, and litigation support. She has used her analytical and statistical skills to connect small-scale air quality measurements to large-scale atmospheric features and identify predictable patterns. Samantha combines creativity and science to understand the environment and communicate complex topics to a range of audiences. <br>
Beyond work, Samantha enjoys hiking with her dog, attending live music and sporting events, and cooking. Samantha is a member of the American Meteorological Society. She earned her BS in Atmospheric Science and Mathematics and her PhD in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography from the University of Miami.
Beyond work, Samantha enjoys hiking with her dog, attending live music and sporting events, and cooking. Samantha is a member of the American Meteorological Society. She earned her BS in Atmospheric Science and Mathematics and her PhD in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography from the University of Miami.
Shih Ying (Changsy) Chang PhD
Air Quality Scientist / Project Manager
Shih Ying ”Changsy” Chang joined Sonoma Technology’s Atmospheric and Emissions Modeling Group in 2016. At Sonoma Technology, Changsy uses his scientific programming skills to prepare emissions data, conduct air quality simulations, and analyze air quality data for various projects, with a focus on near-road air quality applications. Before joining Sonoma Technology, Changsy used air quality models to support exposure assessments, risk assessments, and epidemiological studies, and specialized in fine-resolution modeling for traffic-related air pollution. He also has several years of experience with locating and estimating emissions from fugitive emissions sources using open-path optical remote sensing techniques.<br>
Changsy is a member of the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) and the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES). Outside of Sonoma Technology, Changsy enjoys playing guitar and piano, and singing. He was a resident singer in four theme restaurants in Taiwan for 3 years. Changsy has a BS in Public Health and an MS in Environmental Health from National Taiwan University, and a PhD in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Changsy is a member of the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) and the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES). Outside of Sonoma Technology, Changsy enjoys playing guitar and piano, and singing. He was a resident singer in four theme restaurants in Taiwan for 3 years. Changsy has a BS in Public Health and an MS in Environmental Health from National Taiwan University, and a PhD in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
ShihMing Huang
Manager, Wildland Fire and Smoke Program / Senior Air Quality Scientist
In 2008, ShihMing began his career at Sonoma Technology to investigate air pollution exposures and the impact of wildland fires on air quality. His work involves investigating the spatiotemporal trends, characteristics, and variations of wildland fire activities, smoke emissions and transport from fires, and ambient air pollution. He synthesizes ground-based, remotely sensed, and modeled data sets to answer complex wildland fire, smoke, and air quality questions. In addition, he integrates the latest science and technology in software projects to develop smoke modeling and research tools.
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ShihMing is a member of the International Association of Wildland Fire and the American Geophysical Union. He holds a BS in Biological Sciences from San Jose State University and an MS in Environmental Science from California State University, Chico.
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ShihMing is a member of the International Association of Wildland Fire and the American Geophysical Union. He holds a BS in Biological Sciences from San Jose State University and an MS in Environmental Science from California State University, Chico.
Steve G. Brown PhD
Vice President / Manager, Data Science Department / Senior Atmospheric Scientist
With Sonoma Technology since 2001, Steve’s work focuses on analyzing the composition and sources of air pollution in both the near-field and regional scales. He has led the development and delivery of numerous training sessions on data analysis, data validation, and receptor modeling, including the development of the U.S. EPA’s freely available receptor modeling tool, Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). He coordinates projects applying receptor models to PM<sub>2.5</sub>, volatile organic compounds, air toxics, and continuous instrument data including high resolution aerosol mass spectrometer data. Steve uses his knowledge of atmospheric chemistry and aerosols in a broad range of contexts, from the near-roadway environment to the transport of aerosols to the Arctic. He is an avid traveler, often exploring unfamiliar cultures and hiking in mountains around the world. Steve and his family enjoy gardening, learning new cooking techniques, and developing original recipes using fresh herbs and produce from their garden.
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Steve is a member of the American Association for Aerosol Research and the American Geophysical Union, and has served on peer-review panels for EPA STAR grants. He earned a BS in Chemistry from UC San Diego, an MS in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University, and a PhD from Colorado State University.
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Steve is a member of the American Association for Aerosol Research and the American Geophysical Union, and has served on peer-review panels for EPA STAR grants. He earned a BS in Chemistry from UC San Diego, an MS in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University, and a PhD from Colorado State University.
Steve T. Irwin
Meteorologist
Steve joined Sonoma Technology as a Meteorologist in 2020. He is responsible for issuing air quality forecasts for a variety of pollutants in several cities across the United States, and he produces monthly and yearly air quality summaries for select locations. Steve is also skilled in building and updating air quality forecasting tools using machine learning and creative data visualizations.<br>
Steve has been forecasting air quality since 2010. While working at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Steve was the lead software developer for Minnesota’s award-winning statewide air quality forecasting system. He earned his BS in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of the American Meteorological Society. Born and raised in California, Steve enjoys spending time with his family in the outdoors, skiing, fly-fishing, hiking, and body boarding.
Steve has been forecasting air quality since 2010. While working at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Steve was the lead software developer for Minnesota’s award-winning statewide air quality forecasting system. He earned his BS in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of the American Meteorological Society. Born and raised in California, Steve enjoys spending time with his family in the outdoors, skiing, fly-fishing, hiking, and body boarding.
Steven R. Schill PhD
Department Manager, Refinery Services / Corporate Quality Assurance Manager
Steve has more than 15 years of experience with laboratory and field measurements of atmospheric species. At Sonoma Technology, he supports a broad scope of regulatory monitoring and litigation measurement projects, and leads the refinery fenceline monitoring program. Steve manages Sonoma Technology’s Insight© Data Management System and AQ360© Source-Receptor Modeling platforms, and is a leading technical expert for our business development efforts.
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Outside of work, Steve enjoys traveling and baking. He earned his BS in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics (University Honors and Cum Laude) from California State University, Fullerton, and his MS and PhD from the University of California, San Diego. Steve currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Air and Waste Management Association (A&WMA), Golden West Section.
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Outside of work, Steve enjoys traveling and baking. He earned his BS in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics (University Honors and Cum Laude) from California State University, Fullerton, and his MS and PhD from the University of California, San Diego. Steve currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Air and Waste Management Association (A&WMA), Golden West Section.
Tami L. Lavezzo
Vice President / Senior Scientist / Senior Project Manager
Tami joined Sonoma Technology in 1996. Her primary duties involve managing litigation service projects, including data analysis, emissions assessments, and air quality modeling. She also uses technology- and web-based tools to display, develop, and analyze environmental data. Tami has worked on projects that require the development of software systems to support environmental data analysis, including the design and implementation of the first-generation Interagency Fuels Treatment Decision Support System (IFTDSS) for the Joint Fire Science Program, and the Data Management System (DMS) currently used by several air quality agencies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to manage air monitoring data. Tami also contributes to projects that combine and analyze data to support environmental decision-makers, including regional and national air monitoring network assessments and emissions inventory studies.
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Tami is a member of the Air and Waste Management Association and the International Association of Wildland Fire. In 1994, she was the recipient of the National Science Foundation’s Research Fellowship at the University of New Mexico. She earned a BS in Chemistry from Sonoma State University and an MBA in Finance and Economics from Saint Mary’s College.
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Tami is a member of the Air and Waste Management Association and the International Association of Wildland Fire. In 1994, she was the recipient of the National Science Foundation’s Research Fellowship at the University of New Mexico. She earned a BS in Chemistry from Sonoma State University and an MBA in Finance and Economics from Saint Mary’s College.
Taylor J. Jones
Environmental Field Technician
Taylor joined Sonoma Technology’s Meteorological and Air Quality Measurements Group in 2018. His work includes maintenance, operation, sample collection, and data review for meteorological and air quality systems. This includes testing and maintaining meteorological equipment such as temperature, humidity, and wind and air quality sensors.
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Taylor has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Sonoma State University, where he developed systems for gathering and analyzing environmental data. In his spare time, Taylor tinkers with electronics, plays tabletop games with friends, and enjoys hiking.
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Taylor has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Sonoma State University, where he developed systems for gathering and analyzing environmental data. In his spare time, Taylor tinkers with electronics, plays tabletop games with friends, and enjoys hiking.
Tim E. Doughty
Software Engineer
Tim joined Sonoma Technology in 2018. He has applied his knowledge and experience in software development to the U.S. EPA’s Smoke Sense mobile app, which helps users across the United States monitor wildfire smoke in their communities. He has also worked on the development of EPA’s AirNow.gov website and Sonoma Technology’s eSIMS Electronic Logbook system.
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Tim is a diehard San Jose Sharks fan and will be dyeing his hair teal when they win the Stanley Cup. Earning his Eagle Scout rank helped instill in him a love of the outdoors that he nurtures whenever he gets the chance. He also loves creating characters for tabletop games, only to have fellow players ignore or otherwise bypass them. He earned his BS in Computer Science and graduated with distinction from Sonoma State University.
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Tim is a diehard San Jose Sharks fan and will be dyeing his hair teal when they win the Stanley Cup. Earning his Eagle Scout rank helped instill in him a love of the outdoors that he nurtures whenever he gets the chance. He also loves creating characters for tabletop games, only to have fellow players ignore or otherwise bypass them. He earned his BS in Computer Science and graduated with distinction from Sonoma State University.
Tyler R. Laverty
Environmental Field Technician
Tyler joined Sonoma Technology in 2023. His work includes performing maintenance on open-path analyzers and meteorological sensors at refineries across the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California. Tyler has extensive experience in the brewing and wine industries, and deep familiarity with a range of analytical instrumentation and equipment.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, you will find Tyler exploring Sonoma County, training for triathlons, and backpacking above tree line in the Sierras. When at home, Tyler is usually cooking, gardening, or spending time with his family. Tyler earned a BA double major in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Colorado.
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Outside of Sonoma Technology, you will find Tyler exploring Sonoma County, training for triathlons, and backpacking above tree line in the Sierras. When at home, Tyler is usually cooking, gardening, or spending time with his family. Tyler earned a BA double major in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Colorado.
Tyler M. Fenske
Air Quality Data Scientist
Tyler joined Sonoma Technology in 2023. He uses his knowledge of atmospheric sciences and climate change, along with his Python programming and data analysis and visualization skills, to contribute to fire weather forecasting and air pollution exposure projects. He is currently working on an array of air quality research and analysis projects such as quality assurance for low-cost sensors, assessment of climate data to support wildfire activity forecasting, and fenceline monitoring programs for industrial facilities.<br>
Outside of work, Tyler enjoys spending time with his two dogs, playing and watching ice hockey, riding roller coasters, and completing puzzles. Tyler is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union. He earned his BS in Meteorology from Texas A&M University and his MS in Atmospheric Science from the University of Miami.
Outside of work, Tyler enjoys spending time with his two dogs, playing and watching ice hockey, riding roller coasters, and completing puzzles. Tyler is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union. He earned his BS in Meteorology from Texas A&M University and his MS in Atmospheric Science from the University of Miami.
Alan C. Chan Chinese Contact
國際項目副總裁
Alan joined Sonoma Technology as a meteorologist in 2002. Throughout the last decade, he has enjoyed combining his passion for weather with his knowledge of air quality to produce thousands of air quality forecasts for over a dozen U.S. cities. Alan applies his project management skills and experience to oversee the operations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow program. As a native of Hong Kong, he has been keen to expand the AirNow system beyond North America. Over the past eight years, Alan’s enthusiasm, persistence, technical strategy, and efforts to build a relationship between the Chinese team and its American counterpart were instrumental in developing and launching AirNow-International in Shanghai, China, during the 2010 World Expo. This program continues to be operational today, with additional implementations in Zhejiang Province, China, and parts of Mexico. In recognition of his experience working with the international air quality community, Mr. Chan was invited to join Clean Air Asia’s Cities Clean Air Partnership experts group on air quality governance and assessment. Recently, he has been involved in an environmental education program using small sensors called Kids Making Sense, including several pilots in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Taiwan.
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Alan earned his BA (with distinction and highest honors) in Geography from Boston University and an MS in Meteorology from Cornell University. At Cornell, he was awarded the Cornell Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.
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Alan earned his BA (with distinction and highest honors) in Geography from Boston University and an MS in Meteorology from Cornell University. At Cornell, he was awarded the Cornell Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.