FHB Consulting Services Inc.

Fred Brown

Fred is a registered Professional Geoscientist, a FAA-licensed Remote Pilot with sUAS rating and a certified Wilderness First Responder.  He is proficient in drone-based 2D and 3D mapping and aerial photography, volumetric analysis, lidar analysis and photogrammetry. Fred provides GIS-based analytical services for a range of clients, including general map production as well as the spatial analysis of development planning scenarios, land cover and land use models. For the mining industry, Fred provides technical reporting of mineral resources to required regulatory standards; development and maintenance of geological maps and 3D models in support of mining and exploration activities; QA/QC of spatial, geological and economic databases; spatial analysis of geochemical results; orebody modeling and estimation of mineral resources; evaluation of mine-based activities and exploration projects; due diligence reviews, M&A audits and staff training on numerous projects world-wide; GIS support for mining and exploration projects, including management and conversion of legacy data in a variety of formats and projections, as well as general cartographic support.  Fred has extensive experience across multiple software platforms, including ArcGIS, QGIS, Minitab, Gemcom GEMS, Vulcan, Supervisor, Leapfrog, GSlib, and MapInfo.

CONTACT: fred@fhb3.com

Heather MacKay Brown

Heather grew up on a commercial farm in Zimbabwe and completed her university education in South Africa.   Her career has been mostly in the public sector: she served for several years as Senior Specialist Scientist in the South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry working on water policy and water allocation issues, and then as a research manager at the Water Research Commission of South Africa, where she managed national portfolios related to water policy, water law and institutional development.  She chaired the Scientific and Technical Review Panel of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands from 2005 to 2012, and was a member of the Panel’s international working group on water resources for several years, helping to prepare technical guidance on river basin management and environmental water requirements (instream flows). Heather is a specialist in water and environmental policy, with over 20 years of experience in design and management of multi-disciplinary scientific and technical projects in support of public policy implementation, at various levels from local to international. She has been working with local organizations, farmers and Whatcom County planning staff for several years, helping to develop integrated land and water management plans. In this work, her focus has been on conducting technical studies related to protecting working farmlands and strengthening Whatcom County’s agricultural industry while also enhancing and restoring critical watershed functions and ecological processes.

CONTACT: heather@fhb3.com

Cheryl Lovato Niles

Cheryl has had the good fortune to live in some of the most beautiful and culturally rich areas of the US:  Massachusetts, Colorado, California, and now, Washington State where she and her family have made their home since 2003. Cheryl has managed to indulge her interests in natural resource science, communication, and community education with her professional and personal pursuits.  She finds the intersection between natural and human systems a particularly fascinating area of study and work. Cheryl received her Master of Science degree from the University of California at Berkeley in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, and her Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University in English and American Literature. Cheryl’s experience includes the following.

• Technical writing and project management support for Whatcom County’s Agriculture-Watershed Pilot Project (the Ag-Watershed Project).
• Principal researcher and lead author for the Ag-Watershed Project report on options for recognizing the values of voluntary easements on working resource lands that provide both agricultural and watershed benefits.
• Preparing newsletters, press releases, and outreach materials for WSU Whatcom County Extension’s Beach Watchers and Shore Stewards programs.
• Developing online outreach and public education content including ESRI Story Maps, and managing webpages for FHB Consulting and WSU Extension using a variety of website building tools.
• Educating diverse audiences on natural resource issues. Cheryl has developed curricula and educational activities, and led classes, workshops and field trips for adult and youth audiences for WSU Whatcom County Extension’s Beach Watchers, Shore Stewards, and 4H programs.

CONTACT: cheryl@fhb3.com