Start with the project
The work may come from a client, an environmental firm or a public solicitation. We begin with the actual scope, location and schedule to understand which specialties are needed.
About the network
Why EPN exists
Environmental work rarely stays within one specialty. A site assessment can lead to drilling, permitting, remediation or long-term monitoring, and the firm that started the project may not offer all of those services. EPN is being developed to help independent environmental professionals work together when a client needs more than one firm.
A familiar problem for environmental firms
A firm knows its client, understands the site and has already done the early work. Then the project grows beyond its specialty. The next step might call for a driller, a hydrogeologist, an environmental engineer or an experienced field crew. Without those relationships in place, the firm may have to refer the work away or leave the client to coordinate the next phase.
EPN's approach is to make those connections part of the project, rather than an afterthought. Independent firms can look at a larger scope together, work out their roles before committing and keep the client informed about who is doing what. It can also give clients a more practical way to manage work that crosses several disciplines.
How we put the network to work
Find the right specialists
Firms with relevant experience can review the work and decide whether they have the qualifications and capacity to take part. The technical decisions remain with the professionals responsible for their scopes.
Agree on how the work will be handled
Before a team commits, the participants need to know who contracts with the client, who is responsible for each deliverable, and how pricing, communication and the originating relationship will be handled.
Leadership
The people behind EPN
Dr. Wayne Dorband, Co-Founder
Wayne's background includes environmental consulting, environmental insurance and brownfield redevelopment. He helped develop the original EPN concept and has been involved in exploring how independent firms can work together on larger projects.
John Nillen, Co-Founder
John has worked in environmental business development and redevelopment alongside Wayne. His experience includes developing client relationships, finding project opportunities and connecting the work with firms that have the right expertise.
Where Summit fits in
Summit Environmental is an operating environmental firm involved in the initial development of EPN's project-delivery approach. Summit may serve as a contractor or perform work where its qualifications and the project requirements are a good match. Other arrangements will depend on the firms and scope involved.
Independent firms, defined responsibilities
EPN is intended to connect businesses, not absorb them. Each participating firm remains responsible for the professional work it agrees to perform. Contracting roles, pricing and the treatment of an originating client relationship are worked out for the project. Any relevant owner-affiliated relationships should also be disclosed.
Get in touch
Let's talk about what you're working on.
If you have an environmental project that needs additional expertise, or you're an independent firm interested in the network, we'd like to hear about it.
