Our Director of Operations Niki Desjardin (pictured right) and Director of Business Development & Finance Jimmy Sellers (pictured left) are now the new official owners of Ecological Associates, Inc.!

Our original owners and founders, Bob Ernest and Erik Martin, started EAI 30 years ago examining effects of beach nourishment on sea turtle nesting habitat along Hutchinson Island. They spent the next 20 years creating the benchmark for how to be quintessential consulting scientists, holding hard work, integrity, and love for our natural world above all else.

In 2015, Bob and Erik passed the torch to Stanley DeForest, a freshly minted Cornell MBA from upstate NY. Stan was not the stereotypical, tree-hugging biologist that many of us here at EAI consider ourselves, but instead had finely tuned leadership skills, a generous heart, a razor-sharp mind, and a drive to grow the good work EAI is known for. While Bob and Erik were scientists at heart who made their way through the business world, Stan was a businessman at heart who made his way through the science world. Stan passed away unexpectedly in 2021, and so as new owners, Niki and Jimmy hope to be a good blend of both business and science to advance the services EAI provides.

We look forward to the many opportunities ahead of us and a suite of excellent clients who do good work we are extremely proud to be a part of.

Congratulations Niki and Jimmy and cheers to another incredible era for EAI!