Employees

Katharina Shoemaker – is the current and proud owner of Tropical Environmental Consultants . After graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University with a B.S. in Biology in 2012, she was involved in environmental education and preservation efforts through the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center in Punta Gorda Florida.

Pursuing her passion in environmental policies, she started with Tropical Environmental Consultants in 2017, and has since gathered an extensive knowledge of wetland regulation, wetland permitting, the wetland delineation process for State and Federal criteria, and listed species identification and protection. 

She is also a State authorized gopher tortoise agent and works in permitting and relocation activities for the State threatened gopher tortoise.

Her goal as that of TEC is to work with the public in developing a balance between human use and the environment.

 Isabella Steiner is a Biological Consultant specializing in geographical information systems and environmental resource permitting. She is a graduate from the University of South Florida with a degree in Biological Sciences and is working towards a Master’s degree in Environmental Chemistry with a concentration in Wetland Sciences. She is committed to working closely with each client to deliver on client needs while also providing resource security for future generations. 

 Asher Williams – Primary focus at Tropical Environmental Consultants is in wetlands delineation. Prior to working for TEC, he worked in academia as a coastal wetland and estuarine ecologist on projects examining the structure and function of coastal ecosystems with a heavy emphasis on macronutrients cycling. Mr. Williams education includes a B.S at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and an M.S. at the University of North Florida. 

 Robert (Schuyler) Houfek –  Born and raised in South and South West Florida with an innate  love for the outdoors and nature. He attended Florida Gulf Coast University, graduated with a Marine Science degree with a minors in Biology and Geology. After graduation he obtained a job with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) where he gained a wealth of knowledge about wetland delineation and identification. 

 Robert (Bob) Clarke – Bob attended Florida Gulf Coast University for undergraduate studies and worked as a teaching assistant for general chemistry courses while earning a bachelor’s degree in legal studies. He earned a master’s degree in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law and Graduate School concentrating on conservation, ecology, and water quality. Bob is an avid hiker who enjoys nature observation and has found great peace in the restorative qualities of the outdoors. His primary focus at Tropical Environmental Consultants is listed species surveys and geographic information systems. Bob is a State authorized gopher tortoise agent and authorized to conduct burrowing owl surveys and activities, working on permitting and relocation for both species.