October 1, 2019 (Gainesville, FL) – ECT announced that its board of directors unanimously voted Bobbi S. Westerby to the position of president & chief executive officer effective immediately. Joining the firm in 2018 as vice president & national director of the natural resources service line, Ms. Westerby’s first year has been a phenomenal success. She has already led the natural resources team to a 30-percent increase in total revenues, made numerous key strategic hires, and expanded ECT’s client base and geographic footprint. Adding to her responsibilities, she served as the interim president for the past six months after the departure of the firm’s previous president.
“I am truly honored to have this opportunity and humbled to step into the role of CEO,” said ECT President & CEO Bobbi S. Westerby, PWS. “The energy of this company is infectious – it did not take long before I knew this was the place for me. We have a dedicated team as we obviously love our work. In addition, as an employee-owned company, the management cares deeply for our employees.”
“Bobbi was the natural choice for the future of ECT based on her technical strengths and consensus-building, leadership approach,” said ECT Chairman Jack Doolittle, one of ECT’s founders who is stepping down from the chief executive officer role after 30 successful years leading the organization. “We knew this moment in time afforded us the opportunity to connect the responsibilities of the presidency and chief executive officer under one strong leader and one shared vision.”
Ms. Westerby has more than 20 years of experience in the natural resource arena, focusing on strategy and management, and working across energy sectors such as renewable, transmission, oil and gas and utilities. She also has deep expertise in land development and commercial real estate. Prior to joining ECT, she spent 14 years building her environmental consulting portfolio with positions of increasing responsibility that ranged from environmental specialist to the national director of environmental services. For the last decade, Ms. Westerby has been leading large-scale teams and projects for some of the world’s leading energy and development organizations. She is a professional wetland scientist with a master’s degree in environmental science from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Central Michigan University.
In addition, Ms. Westerby spent two years working as a natural resource extension agent for the U.S. Peace Corps in Malawi, Africa. This seminal experience provided a strong foundation for her leadership style. She learned how to build consensus in the face of communication and cultural differences to solve environmental challenges with limited resources. Two years in Malawi taught Bobbi how to be comfortable while being uncomfortable, taught her humility as well as gave her ability to appreciate and leverage differing opinions, and grounded her with an invaluable international perspective.
“ECT’s award-winning team inspires me each day. Our dedication to clients, focus on the environment, and opportunistic growth mindset are all attributes I hold in high regard. This is also an exciting time to take part in the environmental consulting field. In the coming years we will draw upon our foundation as industry leaders to chart new paths, forge new areas of growth, and build new relationships. I am ready for this challenge to lead ECT to be the employer of choice and attract diverse talent that continues to bring innovative thought and solutions to our clients,” said Westerby.
