Ozarks Profile: Gary Pendergrass, PE

Tell us about your company.

Pendergrass Associates is a full-service environmental and geo-technical consulting firm. We handle environmental issues ranging from simple property transaction screens to major hazardous-waste site cleanups, and geotechnical issues ranging from residential foundation stabilization to design and construction of landfills, dams and settling ponds. A significant portion of our work involves expert testimony and litigation support. Our primary clients are utilities, governmental bodies, corporations and law firms.

What is your job?

I oversee all of the work our office performs, serve as principal engineer, and market our services as time permits.

What is the biggest challenge for environmental services?

The biggest challenge on major environmental projects is to find technically sound, cost-effective solutions that are acceptable to all stakeholders: companies, individuals, regulatory agencies and community groups. Successfully overcoming this challenge also provides the greatest personal satisfaction on these projects.

What attracted you to the environmental services industry?

A deep, abiding love for the environment and a belief that solutions exist for all problems.

Tell us about your educational/career background.

I hold a bachelor's degree in environmental geology from (Southwest Missouri State University), and bachelor's and master's degrees in geological engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla, and am a registered professional engineer in Missouri and Arkansas. I was associated with City Utilities for about 10 years; handling waste disposal, coal supply and water-quality issues.

In 1984, I was hired by Syntex, and managed major engineering and environmental projects for the corporation for 15 years. The final project I managed for Syntex involved cleanup and restoration of 29 dioxin-contaminated sites in the St. Louis area. One of the sites, Times Beach, was restored to become our newest Missouri park: Route 66 State Park. Following my retirement from Syntex, I founded Pendergrass Associates, bringing together a group of experienced, successful professionals from previous associations.

What can you tell us about your family?

My wife of 22 years, Anita, is a graduate of SMSU and teaches math and Spanish at Reed Middle School. We have two sons. Ben is 20 and Matt is 18. Ben will be a junior at Drury University, where he plays basketball and is majoring in pre-engineering. Matt recently graduated from Kickapoo High School and will be a freshman at Drury majoring in architecture.

What hobbies and/or community volunteer work do you pursue?

My main hobby has been my sons' sports: Ben's basketball games and Matt's soccer matches. I enjoy hiking and camping, and love to play golf, although I am not very good at it. I also enjoy community service and have served on the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks and the Springfield-Greene County Environmental Advisory Board. I am currently serving on the Valley Water Mill Task Force and am active in the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers and Sunrise Rotary Club.

If you could choose another career, what would it be?

If I had to choose another career, I would probably gravitate toward law or architecture two professions for which I have a great deal of respect. I also enjoyed teaching as a graduate assistant at UMR and believe that teaching at the high school or college level would be very rewarding.