Luke Owen

Luke was born in Colorado. Today, he resides in Georgia, a state that has suffered for hundreds of years from erosion, storm water mismanagement and point source pollution. In the 1970’s, while serving as a United States Marine overseas, Luke witnessed the serious and sometimes lethal health effects of people forced to drink untreated industrial and sewage polluted water. Following his honorable discharge as Sergeant, Luke attended Colorado Mesa University and graduated with honors with a degree in Geology in 1985.

Read Full Bio

Rita Pantels

Rita joined the NPDES Training Institute in 2013. She is the busy bee behind the scenes making sure all the details are attended to properly and implemented from the beginning to the completion of your training. Her number one priority creating a training experience where you can say “Wow! That was a training that helps it all make sense!”

Kim Metcalf

Kim Metcalf is an environmental scientist and double dawg with both BS and MS degree in Environmental Health Science from the University of Georgia. She has had a variety of experiences in her professional career, including working for Georgia Power Company, The Southern Company and Southwire Company. Kim has also worked as an environmental consultant for A.T. Kearny. In 2001, she founded Riverbend Environmental Inc. as a result of regulatory changes impacting the construction industry. Most days, she is in the field evaluating site compliance, obtaining environmental samples and analyzing results or conducting training programs.

Kim holds many environmental certifications including Certified Environmental Auditor, Registered Environmental Manager, Level 1B Certified Erosion and Sedimentation Inspector, Level II Certified Erosion and Sedimentation Plan Designer, Level I & Level II Erosion Trainer with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. She also is a Certified Professional in Erosion & Sediment Control (CPESC) and a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Certified Lead Inspector.

On a personal note, Kim is the mother of four children and is married to her UGA sweetheart. She resides in Watkinsville, Georgia and is an active member and current vice president of the Athens Chapter of the UGA Alumni Association. She is also a UGA Alumni Association Executive Board Member. Kim was named to the UGA Alumni Association “40 Under 40” in 2011 and her business was named to the UGA Alumni Association “100 Fastest Growing Bulldog Businesses” for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Josue De Jesus

Josue De Jesus is a certified GASWCC Level I E&S Certified Trainer and MS4 Compliance and Enforcement Certified Inspector. His prior experience in safety management and eleven years managing the NPDES MS4 Phase II program provides him with a unique perspective on why compliance makes a difference to our environment. He relocated from Puerto Rico in 1993 and quickly became an asset to our team of trainers. He is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish. When he is not in the field or training he is a busy and proud father of 2 daughters. Josue is very familiar with compliance, which is the reason for his passion to educate those working in the field.

Betty Jean Jordan

PE, MS4CECI

Betty Jean is a civil engineering graduate of Georgia Tech (BCE ’93 and MSCE ’94, Hydraulics and Hydrology). Her professional expertise includes stormwater management and erosion and sedimentation (E&S) control. After spending most of her career in private consulting, she currently teaches E&S Control Certification classes with the NPDES Training Institute and serves as the Executive Director of the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers. When she isn’t working, she is usually on her bicycle, often accompanied by her husband, Robert.

David Schmid

CPESC, CISEC

David Schmid is a CPESC and CISEC (Certified Inspector of Sediment and Erosion Control), as well as a certified GASWCC Level I E&S Certified Trainer. He is also an authorized 10 and 30 hour OSHA trainer. David has worked in the residential land development and erosion control industry on both the private and government sides for over 15 years in metro Atlanta. He is also a certified inspector in South Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, and Virginia. He is a native Atlantan (ATLIEN) growing up in Tucker, Ga where he is now employed as the Land Development Inspection Manager for the City of Tucker. David’s extracurricular activities include hiking, fishing, tennis, golf and soccer.