Staff

ACI is a local, woman-owned environmental consulting company based in Farmington, New Mexico and Durango, Colorado. ACI has been operating throughout the San Juan Basin in northwestern New Mexico since 2003.

Maria Adkins, Owner/Principal, Environmental Biologist

Founder of Adkins Consulting, Inc. in 2003. Maria has a B.S. in Environmental Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. She started the business in 2003 and has grown since. She successfully leads the ACI team as both owner and program manager. She has particular expertise in NEPA, and ESA compliance. She has managed several thousand environmental projects during her career some of which include overseeing field investigations, coordinating project logistics, facilitating agency and client consultations, and has maintained strong relationships with her original clients throughout the years. On weekends you will find Maria hiking and rafting with her son and dogs all over New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah.

Keri Caraher, Senior Environmental Analyst / Technical Author

Keri’s technological background led her to Adkins Consulting in 2008 as a database and website developer and technical consultant. Since 2008 Keri has received certifications in Wetland Deliniations, NPDES Storm Water Prevention Plans, Section 404 Water Permitting, Mexican Spotted Owl Surveying, and has attended workshops for NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, USFWS Biological Assessments, and other Oil and Gas industry-specific sessions. Keri has an A.A.S. from The Art Institute of Colorado in programming and Visual Communications.  Keri grew up in Colorado and is an avid dog trainer and mountain biker.

Lori Gregory, Wildlife Biologist

Lori has a B.S. Degree from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces NM, majoring in Wildlife Biology with a minor in Research Biology. Lori has traveled and worked extensively throughout the United States including Alaska, New York and the Four Corners Area. She has extensive knowledge of the Colorado Plateau’s avian and big game species and has been a Wildlife Biologist and Research Specialist for Adkins Consulting since 2010. Lori has prior experience in Alaska, Utah, Oregon and New Mexico as a Field Biologist working on various research and monitoring projects. She is also the proud mother of three very active boys who enjoy the outdoors as well.

Matt Zabka, Environmental Specialist / Biologist

Matt has a B.S. from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO, majoring in Environmental Biology with a minor in Chemistry. He has lived in La Plata County since 1998 and currently calls Durango home. Matt is certified in training from the US Fish & Wildlife Service to survey for Southwestern willow flycatcher and Mexican spotted owl, and authorized to survey for Northern goshawk by the US Forest Service. Matt also has extensive knowledge of the Colorado Plateau’s flora and fauna and has been ACI’s Environmental Specialist/Biologist since 2010. He has prior experience in the Four Corners area as an Environmental Field Technician working on various NEPA regulatory and compliance issues, Clean Water Act water quality monitoring, and US Army Corps of Engineers jurisdictional wetland delineations.

Jo Crickenberger, Office Administration

Administrative Assistant for Adkins Consulting since 2011. Graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University, in Teaneck, NJ with a Associate of Arts Degree.  Jo has been working in the Customer Service Industry for the past 15 years, and also is a Licensed Real Estate Agent in Colorado.  Jo has been riding horses for over 20 years, and competes in Team Penning/Cattle Sorting and Reining Cow Horse.

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