New Orleans Office Hosts Open House

Battelle’s New Orleans office hosted an open house this fall to meet with industry and government representatives from the Gulf of Mexico region. The all-day open house provided Battelle personnel from across the country the opportunity to become familiar with the landscape, problems, resources, and needs of coastal Louisiana, and to meet the stakeholders that are involved in addressing the many issues the region faces. The event was part of a week-long Louisiana excursion by Battelle personnel that included visits to oil and gas production and exploration facilities, the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Port Fourchon, and the Bonnet Carre Spillway.

Coastal expert and Louisiana native Dr. Steve Mathies has led the New Orleans office since it opened last year. With nearly 20 years of environmental management experience and a focus on coastal issues, Mathies will lead expansion of Battelle’s participation in environmental management issues in the Gulf of Mexico. Prior to joining Battelle, Mathies oversaw the development of a long-term plan to preserve and protect nearly 4 million acres of Louisiana’s nationally significant coastal ecosystems while Director of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program.

“The Gulf of Mexico region is unique in comparison to other coastal regions around the world,” says Mathies. “The technical expertise of Battelle nationwide that can potentially be marshaled by a regional office will, I believe, reap great benefits for our region and for Battelle. Knowing our customers needs at the local level and having a personal, trusting relationship with those customers is the key.”

Battelle has a long history of partnerships with agencies and programs in the Gulf region, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mineral Management Service, and the Gulf of Mexico Program. The new office was opened to better service the expanding opportunities in the region.

“Given the tremendous technical expertise and worldwide experience within Battelle, it is an honor to be part of bringing that knowledge base to my home state of Louisiana and to the broader Gulf of Mexico region.

“We expect great things to happen in this office and in this region, and I am excited about being a part of it,” Mathies adds.

For more information, please contact Steve Mathies at (504) 581-3888 or via e-mail at mathiess@battelle.org.