Earthworks Environmental LLC

Cherie Koester

Principal

Cherie Koester is Principal at Earthworks Environmental, LLC.  Koester’s passion and long term goal is to nurture Earthworks into the most prestigious and experienced environmental consulting firm in the United States, specializing in dust control and storm water pollution prevention.

Cherie Koester was previously the Director of Environmental Compliance for a large scale landscape maintenance and landscape construction company.  Where she created and ran the environmental compliance and safety division.

Previous to her Director role Cherie was a Compliance Inspector in the Compliance Division for the Maricopa County Air Quality Department.  Cherie has 5 years of experience working closely with the public by inspecting a wide variety of regulated sites and sources.  She is proficient in leading public education presentations on particulate matter pollution, dust control regulations and the necessities of staying in compliance with federal and local air pollution laws.  Cherie is skillful in ensuring dust compliance and assisting the regulated community with rule interpretation.  She has a specific expertise in identifying field observations then indicating cost effective and accurate job site practices.

Cherie received her Master of Science degree from Arizona State University in International Environmental Technology Management & Sustainability in December of 2011.  She also obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University in May of 2008.  She also holds an Associate Degree from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Business Administration.

Prior to her work with the Air Quality Department Cherie gained experience in the regulated community where she worked as an office manager for Pauley Construction, Inc., a contractor of Salt River Project. Professional bids, job coordination, Bluestake and accounting duties assisted Cherie in learning all aspects of a contracting career. 

Cherie has also previously served as an Assistant Store Manager of a health and nutrition family owned business.  This is where she found her passion for the environment, health and safety. 

Koester is  mother and step-mother to (5) children and enjoys the balance between business and family.

Dawn Steil is not one to shy away from a challenge. Operations Manager at Earthworks, Dawn is also a successful personal business owner and State Board Certified Aesthetician and licensed with the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency as a laser technician.

A native of Mesa, Ariz., Dawn says joining Earthworks was “a leap of faith into an unfamiliar field.” It has paid off handsomely, helping expand her role and responsibilities as Operations Manager. Her passion is customer service. Dawn excels at patience and consistency, is extremely adaptable, and understands that every customer is important.

Dawn is a highly skilled communicator with a strong work ethic. Dawn utilizes her calming presence in everything she does. She is goal oriented and excels at time management. She is no stranger to the real estate industry in the Valley. She has years of experience working at Southeast Valley Regional Association of Realtors (SEVRAR). Dawn is active with industry groups including Valley Partnership and the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA).

Away from the office, Dawn enjoys spending time with her children. She enjoys the theater and cinema, but you will also find her in the outdoors observing wildlife. Sometimes you might find at home cheering on her favorite UFC fighter, Brock Lesnar. She adds she likes to unwind with a glass of single malt Scotch.

The personal accomplishment of which she is most proud: “Achieving my personal independence.” A challenge she faced and triumphed over, she proudly says.

Throughout his career, Mark Hubbard has had a keen interest in environmental issues. Besides earning a Master of Science degree in environmental management from the Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University, Mark published an article in the Journal of Environmental Health on the effects of ozone on hospital visits for asthma.

Mark brings that expertise to Earthworks Environmental as Lead Compliance Manager for the newlycreated Florida office. His responsibilities include Storm Water Pollution Prevention (SWPP) manual preparation, notice of intent/notice of termination filing, SWPP program management, site inspections, permit compliance assistance, construction general permit (GCP) applications, street sweeping, and site clean-up. He will provide National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/SWPP consulting services in Florida for commercial and residential development. It is one of the services Earthworks Environmental offers in Arizona.

A native of Warwick, R.I., Mark now calls Mesa home. Prior to joining Earthworks Environmental, Mark was Business Assistance Coordinator for the Maricopa County Air Quality Department. Besides his M.S. degree from ASU, Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Biola University in La Mirada, Calif.

When he’s off the clock, Mark enjoys watching movies and playing with his granddaughters and restoring a 1966 Corvette with his father.

Mark says the best business advice he’s been given is: “Always finish what you start.” The best advice he has shared: “The most respected leaders are the ones that can identify and remove the roadblocks that keep others from achieving their potential.”

The Florida office will service the Orlando/Tampa/Jackson area.

As a former athlete, Travis Fern brings a competitive edge to his position as Compliance Manager at Earthworks. Travis was born and raised in the historic Arizona city of Wickenburg, where he attended the local high school. Upon graduation, Travis attending Doane College in Crete, Neb., on academic and athletic scholarships. He studied criminology and was a member of the Tigers football team. He moved back to Arizona in 2004 and transferred to Arizona State University, continuing his studies in criminal justice. He graduated in 2006 with a BS in criminal justice.

While finishing his studies, Travis joined his father’s construction company in Wickenburg, building custom homes. In 2005 he joined GTI, a geotechnical, environmental and construction materials testing engineering firm as an engineering technician. During his first year at GTI he conducted concrete, asphalt, and soils inspections for residential and commercial projects. In 2006 he became a project manager for GTI and spent the majority of the next five years conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II Site Characterization Studies, Phase III Site Remediation Services, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Studies, and geotechnical subsurface explorations.

While at GTI, Travis held the following certifications: American Concrete Institute (ACI) Concrete Field Testing Technician – Grade I, and Arizona Technical Testing Institute (ATTI) Field Testing Technician – Level I.

In 2012, Travis went to work for Freeport McMoRan’s Bagdad, Ariz., copper mine as engineering technician for the Mine Technical Department. Travis was then promoted to mine surveyor six months later. After four years in Bagdad, Travis decided it was time to move back to Phoenix in early 2016 to pursue a career in the environmental field once again.

With more than five years of wide-ranging environmental compliance experience, Travis is the West Phoenix Compliance Manager for Earthworks Environmental. He has created and implemented Earthworks’ first electronic reporting system for records retention and client compliance.

When he’s not in the field, Travis enjoys spending time with his family. He also enjoys hunting, fishing, and camping.

The best business advice he’s been given: “It doesn’t matter how small or big the task is, if you can do it just a little better than expected, you will be noticed and rewarded.

It’s pretty accurate to say that the accounting administration of Earthworks Environmental is in good hands: accurate being the key word. With more than 25 years of business management and banking experience, Accounting Specialist Bernadette Goodine is entrusted with balancing the books at Earthworks. This includes banking matters, money management, accounting, payroll, accounts payable, budgeting, and taxes.

Bernadette started her professional career in the banking and mortgage field then worked her way through the underwriting and banking management circuit. A native of Green Bay, Wisc., she raised four daughters then achieved a personal goal of becoming a business owner, starting a health and nutrition center.

Besides expertise in accounting, Bernadette holds a bachelor’s degree in natural health care studies and is a doctor of naturopathy. She is also a certified clinical microscopist. Although she considers herself “semi-retired in Arizona,” Bernadette still owns her company, Down to Earth. She is a part-time employee at Earthworks.

When her head isn’t in the ledger books, Bernadette enjoys travelling, dining, entertaining friends and family, boating, and hiking. She admits to being a little shy, but adds she considers herself a leader and a teacher and is always willing to share those skills when needed. Best Bernadette quote: “Accounting is like a crossword puzzle to me; it’s relaxing.”

The best business advice she shares: “Do your best each day without harming or hurting others and you will be successful and be able to sleep well at night.”

You can’t find a more accurate statement than that.