News & Events

This time for our D|F Benchmark Series we talk with Fleetwood Hassell, PE: Associate, Environmental Engineer at our Charleston branch.

Professional Questions:

1. What is your favorite part of working at our company?

   The people make the company; however, the variety of projects we work on is what makes it fun. It’s not the same repetitive project over and over.

2. What is one thing that surprised you about your current role?

   Expect the unexpected. Similar to the show Pawn Stars where they say, “You never know what’s going to walk through the door”, I never know what kind of email/phone call I’m about to get.

3. What is one thing that you wish people knew about your job?

   There’s more to it than drinking coffee and telling jokes. “Environmental” encompasses an umbrella of subjects, each with its own set of regulations. Engineering requires a significant amount of creativity and problem-solving to ensure the project is in compliance with USACE/EPA/SCDES Regulations. We strive to maintain good relationships between clients and regulators/permit reviewers as both are key to the design process in making ideas and design a reality.

4. What are you most proud of in your career so far?

   I’ve enjoyed checking off several milestones in my career; however, my proudest was obtaining my PE license. The first plan set I stamped and permitted was an elated feeling I’ll never forget. Having it all come full circle—graduating with an engineering degree to passing the FE exam and the PE exam to using my stamp for the first time—was my proudest moment.

5. What’s unique about your team/sector?

   In the professional setting, we all have many tools on our belt when it comes to different services the environmental department offers, but we’re also specialists at individual tasks. We work together and rely on one another to make sure tasks and projects are completed and permitted correctly.

   On a personal setting, we enjoy similar hobbies/activities, and we all genuinely care about the wellbeing of each other and our families.

6. What is the most interesting project you have worked on with D|F?

   Pretty much any asphalt plant or landfill we’ve designed and permitted. It’s rewarding to look back and see how our department collaborated (along with other departments) to design, permit, construct, and close out through the different tasks and services needed to deliver the project. Typically, a start-to-finish project will include a Phase I ESA, wetland delineation, survey, and site plan development followed by design and permitting, air permitting, construction oversight, as-builts and closeout, SPCC, and Industrial SW3P plans. After the project is completed, we also perform environmental compliance monitoring services to keep the client in good graces with SCDES.

   A unique, but personally rewarding project I’ve been involved with is the South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) Cheraw Buyout Project. We helped SCOR secure funding through HUD to purchase 11 parcels (nine of them contained residential structures) from residents of Cheraw. These houses experienced flooding during Hurricane Mathew and Hurricane Florence. During these catastrophic storm events, PCB-impacted sediment migrated in the flood waters from an upgradient Superfund Site into these homes. SCOR is using the funding to purchase these parcels from the residents at a fair market value so they can relocate to new homes. SCOR is in the process of demolishing the structures and turning the spaces into green spaces for perpetuity.

7. What are your goals for the next few months/years?

   Honing leadership skills while continuing to add and improve on the services the environmental department offers. Environmental regulations are constantly evolving, and I’ll continue to strive to stay informed to be a top consultant for our clients.

Personal Questions:

1. What is one thing people do not know about you that they would be surprised to find out?

   For a year after college, I was the first mate on a sportfishing boat traveling up and down the Pacific Coast of Panama targeting marlin. During my tenure, I transited the Panama Canal twice before bringing the boat back to Charleston for a major overhaul and upgrade.

2. What is a personal accomplishment you are proud of?
   Family.
3. What is a piece of advice or lesson that has stuck with you throughout your life?
   An oak tree doesn’t grow overnight.
4. What is one hobby or interest you are passionate about?
   Sportfishing.