Team
The Sunstone Team
Meet the team, purpose-built for the technical and strategic demands of today’s mining environment.
Leadership
Eric Dougherty, PMP
President
Eric Dougherty, PMP
President
As President of Sunstone, Eric leads a team of environmental consultants specializing in permitting, compliance, and project management for the mining industry. With a background in hydrogeology and a PMP certification and MBA in Project Management, he bridges the technical and business sides of environmental consulting – helping clients navigate complexity without losing momentum.
Over the past decade, Eric has built deep experience in groundwater investigations, environmental baseline assessments, and regulatory compliance across the Western United States. He’s drawn to the problems that don’t have easy answers – the ones where technical expertise, strategic thinking, and strong relationships all have to come together at once.
At Sunstone, we work as an extension of a clients’ team, not just a vendor.
Garrett Forman
Vice President
Garrett Forman
Vice President
Garrett Forman is a seasoned project manager with extensive experience leading mining projects, including drill programs and construction initiatives. With a background on the operator side, he excels in coordinating cross-functional teams, overseeing subcontractors, and driving strategic project execution.
Garrett’s leadership ensures efficient, compliant solutions that enhance operational success for Sunstone’s mining clients across the Western U.S. His ability to align technical and financial goals delivers tailored, high-impact results. Garrett holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Administration
Amber Harmon
Office Manager
Amber Harmon
Office Manager
Amber Harmon is an experienced Office Manager with nearly three decades in the AEC industry. She brings strong expertise in marketing, proposal coordination, brand management, and office operations that keep the team well organized and ensure projects move forward smoothly.
As a key member of Sunstone’s team, Amber builds client relationships, plans events, manages brands and social media, supports proposal writing, and handles daily office administration. Her proactive approach, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities support new business growth and strengthen team culture as we serve our clients.
Amber holds a Bachelor of Science in Urban Land Planning from Arizona State University and an Associate of Arts in General Studies from Truckee Meadows Community College. She is also a Notary Public for the State of Nevada.
Brittany Dougherty, PE
PE | Civil Engineer
Brittany Dougherty, PE
PE | Civil Engineer
Brittany, a licensed Professional Engineer in Nevada and Arizona, brings over a decade of expertise in land development, water resources, site grading, and project management to small and mid-tier mining, residential, and commercial projects across the Western United States. A graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, she delivers tailored, compliant solutions that streamline operations and mitigate environmental risks.
Her deep understanding of project needs, from permitting to water management, ensures regulatory compliance and operational efficiency, minimizing downtime and costs. At Sunstone, Brittany also drives business success by overseeing employee onboarding, marketing, and client relations, fostering strong partnerships and high-value outcomes for our clients.
Jason Dougherty
Project Coordinator
Jason Dougherty
Project Coordinator
Jason supports both the administrative and technical sides of Sunstone’s environmental consulting work. With a strong understanding of the company’s systems and workflows, he contributes to project coordination, field sampling, internal operations, and accounting support. His responsibilities span a variety of tasks including bookkeeping, permit tracking, client coordination, and helping manage project documentation and logistics.
Jason brings a strong sense of organization, adaptability, and a team-first mindset to his role. As he continues to grow within the company, he plays an integral part in ensuring projects run smoothly and efficiently from the ground up.
Project Management
Aarib Huq
Project Controller
Aarib Huq
Project Controller
Aarib Huq is an experienced Project Controller with strong expertise in project cost controls, financial modeling, and data-driven forecasting across complex, multi-million-dollar projects. He has supported portfolios ranging from $4M to over $40M, delivering accurate budgeting, variance analysis, and executive-ready reporting that enables proactive decision-making and stronger project performance.
With a background in project finance and analytics, Aarib excels at identifying cost drivers, assessing risks, conducting root-cause analysis, and translating financial data into actionable insights. His analytical mindset, attention to detail, and collaborative approach will be a valuable addition to the Sunstone team as we support our mining clients throughout the Western United States.
Aarib holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a Concentration in Data Analytics from Purdue University, Daniels School of Business.
Permitting/Compliance
Kenneth Bansah, PhD, PE
Director of Permitting
Kenneth Bansah, PhD, PE
Director of Permitting
Kenneth Bansah, PhD, PE, leads Sunstone’s permitting practice as Director of Permitting. He brings more than 15 years of environmental engineering and compliance leadership in mining and heavy industry, with particular strength in complex permitting strategy, reclamation and closure planning, and regulatory navigation. At Sunstone, Kenneth directs permitting efforts, supports clients through NDEP, BLM, and other agency processes, and helps develop practical compliance strategies aligned with operational goals. His experience as Environmental Supervisor, leading Reclamation & Closure at one of Nevada’s largest gold mining operations, where he oversaw multimillion-dollar environmental programs and multidisciplinary teams, combined with his prior roles advancing environmental compliance at other major mining operations, enables him to provide both high-level strategic guidance and hands-on support to Sunstone clients.
Kenneth holds a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering specializing in Environmental & Engineering Geophysics from Missouri University of Science and Technology, additional master’s degrees in Technical Communication and Geological Engineering, and is a licensed Professional Engineer. His strategic expertise in permitting, regulatory navigation, and building strong compliance programs directly strengthens Sunstone’s ability to deliver high-quality support for clients.
Robert Sevon
Federal Permitting Manager
Robert Sevon
Federal Permitting Manager
Robert Sevon is a seasoned project manager with extensive experience in federal land management, NEPA compliance, and coordinating complex mining and resource projects. With a strong background in operational leadership, he excels in stakeholder engagement, interdisciplinary team coordination, and navigating regulatory hurdles.
Robert’s expertise ensures efficient, compliant project execution that supports responsible resource development for Sunstone’s mining clients across Nevada and the Western U.S. His proven ability to manage budgets, timelines, risks, and multi-agency partnerships delivers streamlined approvals and high-impact outcomes.
Alexandra Covault
Environmental Consultant
Alexandra Covault
Environmental Consultant
Alexandra Covault is an Environmental Consultant at Sunstone who supports clients with permitting, compliance, and field programs, drawing on her strong background in hydrology, water resources, and regulatory work from both the mining operator and federal agency sides. At Sunstone she contributes to NDEP permitting efforts, environmental sampling and monitoring plans, stormwater management, and technical reporting. Her experience managing compliance programs as Senior Environmental Coordinator at a Nevada silver mine and overseeing NEPA documentation and multi-agency coordination as a Supervisory Natural Resources Specialist with the Bureau of Land Management, combined with her EPA emergency response and Superfund work at Tetra Tech—where she led field teams conducting extensive environmental sampling and monitoring across multiple Midwest sites— allows her to deliver practical, compliant solutions for mining projects in Nevada and the Western U.S.
Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences with Research Distinction from The Ohio State University, with minors in Environmental Science and Russian. She is a certified MSHA Surface Miner and has completed OSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour training along with Rosgen certifications in fluvial geomorphology. Her combination of regulatory knowledge, field experience, and technical skills positions her well to support Sunstone clients in achieving compliant and sustainable outcomes.
Jakob Christensen
Air Quality Practice Lead
Jakob Christensen
Air Quality Practice Lead
Jakob Christensen serves as Sunstone’s Air Quality Practice Lead, where he oversees the firm’s air permitting and compliance services. He brings experience from both the regulatory and consulting sides of the industry, allowing him to deliver practical solutions for mining and industrial clients.
Prior to joining Sunstone, Jakob worked in environmental consulting, managing air quality permitting projects, air dispersion modeling, and compliance deliverables across the Western U.S. He previously served as Staff Associate Engineer II at the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), where he evaluated compliance at over 100 facilities, including many of Nevada’s active mines. Jakob leads Sunstone’s air quality practice, supporting clients with permit applications, modifications, modeling, emission inventories, and ongoing compliance. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Sierra Dierksen, CEM
Compliance Manager
Sierra Dierksen, CEM
Compliance Manager
Sierra is an environmental professional with 5 years of environmental compliance, monitoring, and permitting experience in the mining industry. She has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Nevada, Reno. She manages environmental compliance for several properties including, groundwater sampling, site inspections, and submitting regulatory compliance reports.
Sierra excels at working with environmental regulators and key stakeholders due to her strong communication, planning, and analytical skills. Her background in water conservation, sampling, and investigations is key for supporting and planning for any mining project.
Steven Evers
Environmental Consultant
Steven Evers
Environmental Consultant
Steven Evers is an Environmental Consultant and Certified Water Operator with seven years of hands-on experience in environmental compliance, field sampling, and water treatment operations for mining and remediation projects.
As an integral member of Sunstone’s compliance team, Steven provides field monitoring, compliance reporting, and operations support that helps mining clients maintain full environmental compliance across Nevada and the Western United States. His practical expertise, initiative, and collaborative approach strengthen our team and deliver reliable solutions from the ground up.
Steven holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Ecological Restoration and Conservation from the University of Nevada, Reno. He maintains Nevada Treatment 1 Full Certification, California Water Treatment Operator Grade T2 Certification, 40-Hour HAZWOPER Certification, and MSHA New Miner Safety Training.
Lauren Desrosiers
Environmental Consultant
Lauren Desrosiers
Environmental Consultant
Lauren Desrosiers is a skilled environmental scientist with hands-on experience in water quality monitoring, field sampling, and regulatory compliance for natural resource projects. With a strong background in bioassessments and data collection from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and U.S. Forest Service, she excels in field sampling, stormwater impact evaluations, and interdisciplinary coordination.
Lauren brings fresh expertise in field assessments, sample collection, and technical reporting to deliver accurate environmental data and effective support for our clients. Her attention to detail and collaborative approach help streamline compliance and mitigate risks from the ground up. Lauren holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and Technology from Colorado Mesa University.
Vincent Oliveras
Environmental Consultant
Vincent Oliveras
Environmental Consultant
Vincent Oliveras is an Environmental Consultant with specialized expertise in field biology, protocol-level biological surveys, ecological research, and environmental compliance monitoring. His hands-on experience conducting work in active construction and remote field environments across the Western U.S. makes him well-suited to Sunstone’s fieldwork and permitting support needs. Vincent has conducted nesting bird surveys, desert tortoise surveys and habitat assessments, predator surveys, and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan monitoring with best management practice inspections on active construction sites. He served as a liaison between construction and environmental teams and operated safely in challenging conditions and extreme weather.
Vincent holds two Master of Science degrees; an M.S. in Ecology from The Ohio State University and an M.S. in Entomology from North Dakota State University, along with a B.S. in Wildlife Resource Management from the University of Idaho. His graduate research included coordinating complex field expeditions, providing regulatory and permitting compliance support, and performing statistical analyses in R Studio. With additional experience teaching GIS and GPS, he combines rigorous scientific training with practical consulting skills that position him to contribute strongly to Sunstone’s projects.
Lindsay Dunlap
Permitting GIS Consultant
Lindsay Dunlap
Permitting GIS Consultant
Lindsay is an experienced geologist, environmental permit writer, and GIS specialist with 6 years of experience in the mining & metals industry holding degrees in Geology and Hydrogeology. Lindsay provides a range of services including, GIS mapping, geospatial analysis, field data collection, data management systems, baseline data review, and land acquisitions support and research.
Lindsay’s active mine experience offers a unique perspective on the operational and permitting requirements of a successful mining operation. She is practiced in writing state and federal permit applications and operational plans including Plan of Operations (PoO), Reclamation Plans, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), state permit renewals, and Notices of Intent (NOI).
Lance Reinsel
Senior GIS Consultant
Lance Reinsel
Senior GIS Consultant
Lance has 10 years of professional experience in GIS, geology, land, permitting, and renewable energy in the Western United States. Lance has earned a master’s certificate in GIS, a bachelor’s degree in Geology, and a Professional Land Management (PLM) certificate.
Lance’s skills blend his geographic expertise with permitting, land, and mining to diligently portray a wide range of essential components related to the industry. Leveraging GIS to the fullest, he accurately assists in Reclamation, Bonding, Land/Site Analysis, Claim Staking, Due Diligence, Geographic Analysis, and Permitting. Let him map your way to a brighter future.
Rachel Micander
Senior GIS Consultant
Rachel Micander
Senior GIS Consultant
Rachel Micander is a Senior GIS Consultant at Sunstone who supports clients with spatial analysis, geologic data management, mapping, and GIS solutions for permitting and environmental projects. At Sunstone she leads enterprise-scale geospatial work, develops and maintains geodatabases, performs advanced spatial analyses, and helps translate complex geologic and environmental data into clear, usable information for clients and agencies. Her extensive experience as Geologic Information Specialist at the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, where she managed large geospatial systems and contributed to major federal initiatives such as the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, gives her a strong foundation for delivering high-quality GIS support on mining and natural resources projects in Nevada and the West.
She holds a Master of Science in Geology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Rachel is actively involved in geoscience education and community outreach and has long volunteered with the Nevada Mining Association’s Minerals Education Workshops. In addition to teaching at workshops, she regularly leads STEM events and community geology talks to inspire the next generation in geology, mining, and environmental sciences. Her rare combination of geospatial data, deep geologic knowledge of Nevada, and ability to communicate complex information clearly makes her an outstanding addition to Sunstone’s team.