November 18, 2003

Senior Coastal Engineer at Applied Technology & Management, Inc. Selected to Head DEP's Bureau of Beaches and Wetland Resources

Gainesville, Florida - Mike Barnett, P.E., vice president and team leader of coastal engineering at Applied Technology & Management, Inc. (ATM), has been selected by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to head the state’s Bureau of Beaches and Wetland Resources. In this capacity, Mr. Barnett will be responsible for administering the state's beach management program for protecting and restoring the state's beaches and coastal systems. Sam Phlegar, P.E., senior vice president and director of ATM’s coastal and marina division, will continue overseeing the coastal team after Barnett’s departure.

“Mr. Barnett’s tremendous quality work, leadership and national reputation precedes him,” said Tom Schanze, P.E., president and CEO of ATM. Schanze says the announcement of Mr. Barnett’s appointment was received with great pride. “We can’t help but be delighted that he has earned such an acknowledgement for his contributions to the field of coastal engineering,” Schanze said. “[Mr. Barnett] will be a genuine asset for the DEP, as well as the entire state of Florida.”

Barnett, who joined ATM in 1994, is a registered professional engineer in Florida and has more than fifteen years of experience in beach and inlet management studies, long-range beach erosion control budget planning, and shore protection projects. Barnett is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association (FSBPA), and has served on the Organizing Committee for the National Conference on Beach Preservation Technology since its inception in 1987.

Phlegar says the DEP’s selection of Barnett for Chief of the state’s Bureau of Beaches is a reflection of Mike’s experience and expertise, as well as the superior work done by ATM’s coastal team. “We have a strong core of well-trained and experienced coastal engineers that contribute to the success of our projects,” said Phlegar, who added that 15 of the 30-plus members on ATM’s coastal team have either a master’s or doctoral degree in coastal engineering. This experience, Phlegar said, “assures our clients they will continue to receive the outstanding services that have made ATM the leader in coastal engineering and beach nourishment projects throughout the Southeast.”

Phlegar, a principal engineer and member of ATM’s staff since 1989, is a registered professional engineer with more than 20 years of experience in coastal engineering, coastal processes, beach nourishment and design management, and environmental permitting.

Applied Technology & Management, Inc. (www.appliedtm.com) is an environmental, coastal and water resources engineering firm that specializes in coastal engineering, environmental permitting, and beach restoration and design management. Founded in 1984, ATM is dedicated to solving water resources problems through innovative planning, engineering and management solutions. ATM is headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, and has additional offices in Jacksonville, Cocoa Beach, West Palm Beach, Hilton Head, Savannah, Charleston, and Newport (Rhode Island).