Founders
Founded on Principle
Sunstone is a client-focused, solution-driven consulting team based in Northern Nevada built to support mining companies through every stage of project development. We believe one size fits nobody, offering consulting that’s agile, responsive, and individually tailored. Our approach combines deep technical knowledge with practical solutions that actually fit your project, timeline, and goals. We anticipate risks, manage stakeholder expectations, and help move your project forward with precision and integrity. Sunstone is your full-service project team. Our leadership team brings decades of combined experience in environmental management, hydrogeology, permitting, project management, and mining and industrial operations. We understand the technical and strategic demands of today’s mining environment, and we’re built to meet them. From exploration to reclamation, we integrate environmental, permitting, and project management services across every stage of development, keeping your technical programs, consultants, schedules, and budgets aligned with your project objectives and funding milestones.
We help mining companies navigate complexity so they can stay focused on what they do best.
Our Founders | The Original Sunstone Team
Sunstone was founded in 2021 by Eric Dougherty, Sierra Dierksen, Lindsay Dunlap, and Joseph Martini.
The four original owners previously worked together as the internal environmental department for one of Nevada’s largest landholders, delivering comprehensive services across the Western United States. With their former employer’s support, they spun off to launch Sunstone to offer consulting services to the industry as a whole.
Eric Dougherty, PMP
President
Eric Dougherty, PMP
President
Eric leads Sunstone’s strategic vision and daily operations. With over a decade of experience in hydrogeology and an MBA in Project Management, he brings technical expertise and strong business acumen to financial strategy, contracts, and project delivery across the Western U.S.
Sierra Dierksen, CEM
Compliance Manager
Sierra Dierksen, CEM
Compliance Manager
Sierra is an environmental professional specializing in compliance, monitoring, and permitting for mining projects. As a Certified Environmental Manager (CEM) she manages a team to perform groundwater sampling, site inspections, regulatory reporting, and stakeholder communications.
Lindsay Dunlap
Permitting GIS Consultant
Lindsay Dunlap
Permitting GIS Consultant
Lindsay is an experienced geologist, environmental permit writer, and GIS specialist. She holds degrees in Geology and Hydrogeology and delivers GIS mapping, geospatial analysis, field data collection, baseline data review, and land acquisition support.
Joseph Martini
President 2021-2025
Joseph Martini
President 2021-2025
Joseph provided visionary leadership as Sunstone’s first President, guiding the company through its formative years with over 25 years of experience in environmental permitting, land use decisions, and compliance for the mineral extraction and industrial sectors. We honor his foundational contributions as a co-founder.