Farallon's 10th Anniversary

                                                                   

The year 2008 marked the 10th anniversary of the founding of Farallon Consulting, L.L.C. The company looks considerably different today than its two-person start-up in 1998. Peter Jewett and Clifford Schmitt, colleagues at an environmental consulting firm, had discussed the idea of forming their own company. In December 1998, they converted their vision into reality. The new company debuted as Raging River LLC, but soon affiliated with Trihydro, an existing environmental and engineering consulting firm in Laramie, Wyoming. After operating for 6 months under that arrangement, Peter and Cliff parted company with Trihydro and renamed the firm Farallon Consulting, L.L.C.

From the outset, high-quality, service-oriented environmental consulting was established as the company’s foundation. The Farallon approach is to maintain a long-term client perspective, partnering with clients to understand their business needs and integrate them with environmental requirements, while remaining flexible and reactive to evolving issues. Values that immediately became part of Farallon corporate culture included earning client trust and respect, consistently providing high quality work products, and delivering exceptional customer service—values integrated from the Members to the Field Staff. Commitment to employee fulfillment also was a priority, demonstrated by the provision of opportunities to continue professional development and advance within the firm, and a “work hard, play hard” mind-set.

Riley Conkin joined Farallon as a consultant in 1999 and became the third Member in 2002.  By the end of the first year, the firm employed eight technical and support personnel. Professional services expanded to engineering with the hiring of Professional Engineer Richard McManus in 2002; Rich has since become a Member. In 2003, Environmental Engineer Gerald Portele, who previously worked with Peter and Cliff, joined the firm and assumed Operations Manager responsibilities. Jerry also has become a Farallon Member.

In 2001, the firm added a second location with the hiring of Paul Grabau, who established and continues to manage Farallon’s Bellingham office. With over 30 employees by 2006, the firm had outgrown its original Issaquah facility and moved to its current location. In 2008, Jeff Kaspar and Amy Essig Desai became Farallon Members.

Although the name and location, number of employees, and professional services offered have changed over the past 10 years, two constants that continue are Farallon’s commitment to the highest quality environmental work and provision of outstanding customer service. Farallon looks forward to serving its growing base of clients for years to come.