Seattle-based engineering, science, and consulting company Hart Crowser Inc. has entered the Spokane market with a new office on the second floor of the Fernwell Building, at 505 W. Riverside downtown. 

The Spokane office will be managed by senior associate environmental engineer John Haney. A longtime resident of Spokane, Haney joined Hart Crowser this year, having previously worked as a consultant in the Spokane office of Seattle-based GeoEngineers Inc. 

 Haney holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Montana Tech of the University of Montana and has 16 years of experience in managing environmental investigation and cleanup of contaminated residential, commercial, and industrial properties. 

Haney says his new position here focuses on the areas of site assessment and cleanup, although he also has been tasked with growing the company’s services locally. 

“I’m excited to be helping to start this new office from the ground up,” Haney says. “It’s a great opportunity with new challenges.” 

Although the new office still needs some remodeling work, Haney moved in earlier this month. 

“We’re still finishing the kitchen, adding furniture and furnishings, but so far it’s a really nice space,” he says. 

Haney says he will be the company’s only employee at the new offices for a while, at least until demand for work in the Inland Northwest picks up. 

“We’ll be bringing more people onboard as time goes by,” he says. “In the meantime, we’ll be supported by our offices in Portland and Seattle.”

Susan Kemp, Seattle-based marketing manager with Hart Crowser, says the company was interested in expanding into Spokane and saw Haney’s experience and familiarity with the area as a plus. 

“For us, having John available to start the Spokane office was an excellent opportunity,” she says. 

Hart Crowser is an employee-owned, 110-person company that specializes in geotechnical and environmental engineering, natural resources, environmental remediation, storm water services, and disaster resilience. The Spokane office will be its fourth in Washington. It also has offices in Portland; Anchorage, Alaska; and Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Its Eastern Washington clients include the Washington State Department of Ecology, U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and various private companies.