Our Staff

Dan McShane has worked as a geologist and engineering geologist at Stratum Group since 1997. Dan routinely conducts geology hazard assessments throughout western Washington. Geology hazard projects include evaluation of shoreline bluffs, shoreline processes, river and stream channel migration, alluvial fan hazards, and steep slope/landslide areas as well as seismic risk assessment and mine hazards.

Dan has also worked as the geology technical lead on dam licensing projects, forest practice application prescriptions and county, city and tribal best available science and regulations for geology hazards. Dan regularly provides mining and mineral assessments for clients including market assessments and mineral remoteness assessments.

Dan is also an important part of Stratum Group's environmental team and has completed hundreds of Phase I environmental site assessments and transaction screens. Dan has extensive subsurface soil and ground water investigation and cleanup experience ranging from small-scale projects to multi-million-dollar Superfund sites. Dan has completed over 25 environmental cleanups on contaminated sites that resulted in No Further Action letters from the Department of Ecology.

In addition to his scientific and technical background, Mr. McShane has extensive public policy background. He served for eight years on the Whatcom County Council as well as serving on the Puget Sound Action Team, the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Resource Advisory Committee, Lake Whatcom Landscape Planning Committee, Whatcom County Flood District Advisory Committee, Whatcom County Surface Mining Advisory Committee and Whatcom County Critical Areas Technical Committee.

Kim Ninnemann has worked at Stratum Group since 2001 and has been an owner of the company since 2005. Kim is the environmental lead for the company and oversees the company's environmental due diligence and cleanup projects. Kim specializes in advising potential purchasers and banks on the processes for cleanup, regulatory oversight, and the liability associated with current and/or historical releases.

Kim's love of the outdoors and inquisitive nature regarding why the landscape looks as it does led her to a bachelor's degree in geology from Western Washington University. Kim is a licensed geologist with the State of Washington.

Kim's environmental work over the last 20+ years has provided insight into the processes that take place across a wide spectrum of manufacturing and commercial businesses, what chemicals are used by various industries, the myriad ways that chemicals can be released and migrate into and through the subsurface, and the satisfaction of finding solutions for clients so that their properties can be remediated and the burden of contamination lifted.

Geoff Malick is a Licensed Engineering Geologist with over 10 years of experience in identification, characterization, and mitigation of geologic hazards in Washington State. While his experience spans diverse sectors, his core expertise lies in evaluating complex landslide mechanics. Geoff also has extensive experience completing engineering geology assessments to inform structural and geotechnical engineering, forest practices, and stormwater management.

Geoff has written geologic hazard code language for critical areas ordinances, produced geologic hazard maps for municipalities, and advised on geologic hazard policy. Geoff's master's studies completed in 2017 focused on geomorphology and engineering geology as related to landslides and slope stability. His thesis was on the geologic development and ongoing activity of a large bedrock landslide complex in Whatcom County.

Geoff also has an academic background and long-term interest in glacial geology, which is highly valuable in completing geologic assessments in the post glacial landscapes of the Puget lowlands, San Juan Islands, and Olympic Peninsula. Geoff became a partner at Stratum Group in 2021.

Ben Carlson is a Licensed Geologist at Stratum Group specializing in environmental investigation and cleanup projects. Ben became a partner at Stratum Group in 2021. Ben's academic background included studies of historical landslide activity, improving understanding of mountain building and tectonic processes, and a master's degree focused on improving our understanding of earthquake hazards facing the eastern Cascade Range in Washington.

Ben went on to work at a leading national geotechnical and engineering consulting firm, conducting dozens of geotechnical and environmental investigations for large-scale infrastructure projects across Washington State. Since joining Stratum Group in 2019, Ben has completed several hundred due diligence environmental site assessments throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Ben has designed and conducted dozens of soil, groundwater, soil vapor, and indoor air sampling projects and worked with a variety of stakeholder groups to characterize environmental concerns, clean up their sites, and achieve redevelopment goals. Ben has experience guiding several sites through the regulatory review and closure process with the Washington State Department of Ecology and the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency.

Kristin Wilmes is a Geologist-in-Training at Stratum Group. Kristin's expertise includes environmental investigations, coordinating cleanup projects, NEPA Environmental Assessment reviews, and assisting with permit applications. Kristin has been with Stratum Group since 2021.

Kristin received a bachelor's degree in Geology from Oregon State University and a master's degree in environmental science from Evergreen State College, with graduate research studying water quality parameters of the White River on Mount Rainier. Following college, Kristin worked as a science and math tutor and Geology professor at the Northwest Indian College on the Nisqually Indian Reservation.

During Kristin's time at Stratum Group, she has completed hundreds of Phase I environmental site assessments and Phase II environmental investigations in Washington State. Phase II project work has included soil, groundwater, and indoor air sampling. Kristin has worked with property owners towards regulatory compliance of their site by receiving NFA determinations through the Department of Ecology and the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency.

Emma Mickelson is an environmental scientist and geologist-in-training at Stratum Group specializing in environmental investigation projects. Since joining Stratum Group in 2025, Emma has performed historical property research, permit history evaluations, and site inspections for dozens of Phase I environmental site assessments and transaction screens for private individuals and public agencies throughout Northwest Washington.

Emma supports Phase II sampling investigations including collection of soil, groundwater, indoor air, and sub slab vapor samples, analyzes laboratory data, and prepares succinct technical reports to document these activities. Emma's academic background focuses on geomorphology and glacial geology. Her master's research explored changes in environmental responses mostly associated with climate shifts from the Last Glacial Maximum (~20,000 years ago) through the Holocene in southeastern Australia.

Emma also has experience in conducting geomorphic, hydraulic, and scour evaluations, as well as performing GIS analyses to assess environmental conditions and associated risks.

Colin Glaze is an environmental scientist and geologist in training at Stratum Group specializing in environmental assessments and wetland projects. Colin attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington where he received a Bachelor of Science in Geology that included original research focused on municipal lakes impacted by hazardous algal blooms.

Colin joined Stratum Group in 2025 as part of the environmental team. In this role Colin has performed dozens of Phase I ESAs and participated in sampling work plan design and implementation for several Phase II ESA projects. Colin is also in training as a wetland scientist and has performed wetland delineations and habitat conservation area assessments in conformance with county, state, and federal regulations.