Each month, EnviroForensics nominates their colleagues for employee of the month. In August, two of our Senior Project Managers Wayne Fassbender and Matt Bono were recognized as our employee of the month. Get to know Wayne and Matt inside and outside of EnviroForensics.
Wayne Fassbender, Senior Project Manager in Wisconsin
Question: What’s your background and career path?
Answer: I spent four years out of high school in the Air Force as a medical technician assigned to a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) unit in the Philippines towards the end of the Vietnam war. After that, I followed in my father’s shoes, went to school and was a skilled machinist for 7 years reading blueprints and making one of a kind parts out of lumps of steel for various industrial applications. I finally went back to school as petroleum geology interested me, but pursued a groundwater major since the petroleum industry in the U.S. dried up in the mid-1980s. I started my new career in 1989 and did well enough to become an owning partner in a 350 person engineering firm and manager of a 15-person environmental group. I ran my own business called Midwest Environmental Group for a few years then joined EnviroForensics after my business partner retired. My passion is project management.
Q: How do you feel about being named Employee of the Month?
A: I think it is great to hear from time to time that you are appreciated for the work that you do. However, there are many moving parts that lead to success and my appreciation goes out to my teammates both in Wisconsin and Indianapolis for their contributions.
Q: What do you enjoy about working at EnviroForensics?
A: I enjoy my companions in the Wisconsin office and everyone I have had the pleasure to know and work with in Indianapolis. I also enjoy the low-stress working environment that EnviroForensics creates, but most importantly, I enjoy the challenging projects that I have been able to manage.
Q: What is one of your most exciting projects at EnviroForensics?
A: Certainly the one I was nominated as employee of the month for, a complex hexavalent chromium cleanup using multiple remedial methods. However, a close second is a dry cleaner site with a mile-long tetrachloroethylene (PCE) plume residing in two different bedrock units, as well as, unconsolidated valley fill.
Q: What is your life like outside of EnviroForensics?
A: Pretty boring. Why do you think I like to work so much! Just kidding. I enjoy the outdoors, especially bobbing on the water and fishing—so relaxing. I enjoy gardening and cooking, especially outdoor cooking on charcoal, gas, and pellet grills. I am also a bit of a marksman and practice at the range, both pistol and bow. I enjoy traveling to distant lands and do that when funds exist. My next trip is to Egypt this fall.
Matt Bono, Senior Project Manager in Indiana
Q: What’s your background and career path?
A: I was lucky enough to earn my Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science in 2009 just as the economy was hitting rock bottom so I went directly to graduate school and earned a Master of Public Affairs in Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management as well as a Master of Science in Environmental Chemistry, Toxicology, and Risk Assessment. I began working as an environmental consultant in January 2012 and I’m continuing to learn more each and every day.
Q: How do you feel about being named Employee of the Month?
A: It seems like a cliché but it really is an honor. You don’t have to look hard to find people working at their full potential every day at this company. From field professionals to the executive management team, everyone does their part to keep the machine going.
Q: What do you enjoy about working at EnviroForensics?
A: I appreciate the fact that this company recognizes talented individuals and actively seeks to get everyone to reach their potential. It may not seem like it from day to day, but each of us is in a position to get better at what we do. Everyone here works as a team.
Q: What is one of your most exciting projects at EnviroForensics?
A: I’m currently assisting a client who plans to redevelop a property in Indianapolis into a school. It’s been a challenge as they’re looking to get a lot done in a short period of time. The client is relying on us to have all of the answers figured out before they come up, so we’re always a few steps ahead. This is one of the few instances where we get to be the subcontractor who helps save the day.
Q: What is your life like outside of EnviroForensics?
A: I enjoy working out, spending time outdoors, and visiting with my family when I’m able to. I have two brothers and four nephews (plus one more on the way) and it’s always a good time when the Bono boys get together.