Sonny began his utility vegetation management career with ECI's sister company, Western ECI, more than 15 years ago. His extensive field experience began in California, planning line clearance work with property owners along both distribution and transmission circuit rights-of-way. He was also involved in numerous aerial assessments, which included flying over the entire Pacific Gas & Electric 500KV transmission system stretching from Oregon to Mexico.
After California, Sonny's work assignments took him to 17 other states, primarily with ECI. These diverse assignments allowed him to experience firsthand some of the vegetation management challenges and unique solutions implemented by many of ECI's large and small utility clients. Sonny gained expertise in transmission and distribution program assessments, storm emergency restoration assignments, aerial inspections of transmission right-of-way vegetation, aerial video interpretation, distribution line clearance work planning and auditing, professional arborist training and assessments of electric utility system asset installations. His storm emergency assignments included coordination and management of contracted tree crews, working to clear trees following major forest fires, hurricane damage and ice storms.
In addition to having over 15 years of consulting experience in utility vegetation management, Sonny is a graduate forester. He earned a bachelor's degree in forestry from Oklahoma State University and a master's degree in resource conservation (forestry) from the University of Montana, with an emphasis in geographical information systems (GIS).
Sonny is responsible for developing and implementing new business relationships in ECI's South Central Region, which covers 12 states from Indiana to Texas. His office in Tulsa, Oklahoma is centrally located to serve ECI client needs throughout the region.
Sonny may be contacted at 918-835-5545 (office), 918-935-4483 (mobile), or at [email protected].
About ECI
Environmental Consultants Inc. is North America's most experienced utility vegetation management consulting firm with operational headquarters located in Stoughton, Wisconsin. For over 30 years, ECI has been providing superior vegetation management consulting services, research-based solutions, and on-site services of professional foresters and field technicians to electric and gas utilities.