VHB welcomes Ryan DeSimone, GTAA, as Senior Environmental Scientist. In this role, Ryan will mentor staff and help grow the environmental services market for VHB’s Tampa and Sarasota offices, balancing development and infrastructure needs with stewardship of the environment.
Ryan brings more than eight years of field experience serving as project manager and lead staff scientist on environmental assessments, species surveys, vegetation monitoring, and wetland delineations. Prior to joining VHB, Ryan helped Pinellas County implement mitigation and environmental restoration projects through wetland evaluations, design, monitoring and contractor oversight.
As a lead staff scientist, he has helped both public and private organizations survey, monitor, or relocate threatened and endangered species like gopher tortoises and crested caracaras in advance of development and land clearings. His knowledge of environmental permit applications and technology-enabled mobility data collection through GIS dashboards and databases helps move critical projects forward.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ryan to our team and enhance the ways VHB is helping Tampa Bay clients monitor wetlands, water resources, and wildlife habitat to be more resilient,” said Gary Serviss, Southeast Regional Environmental Services Leader. “His leadership and hands-on experience will help VHB clients better monitor and manage our state’s natural resources.”
Ryan graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and Policy and a Bachelor of Science in Geography. He received his Masters of Science degrees from the University of Florida in Soil and Water Science as well as Forest Resources and Conservation. He is also a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent.