MIDDLETOWN – INSPIRE Environmental, which announced earlier this month that it’s moving into the top floor of coworking space Innovate Newport, has hired two new team members.
The Middletown company supports offshore energy and coastal development with environmental assessments and seafloor mapping.
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The team of marine scientists and analysts at INSPIRE is expanding to include Brian Gervelis and Dustin Varnell as project scientist and equipment manager, respectively.
Gervelis, who was born and raised in Rhode Island, earned a bachelor’s degree in marine biology and a master’s degree in fisheries science from the University of Rhode Island in South Kingstown. He has worked for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Apex Predators Investigation, as well as held a data manger and Northeast-area lead assistant role with the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program. Gervelis has also been a data analyst with the Northeast Fisheries Service Center.
Varnell has a bachelor’s degree in marine transportation and a master’s degree in facilities planning and management, both from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne, Mass. He has worked in the U.S. Merchant Marine and in the oil and gas sector. With INSPIRE, Varnell will be responsible for the company’s sediment-profile imaging and underwater camera equipment.
Regarding environmental degradation, Varnell said in a statement, “There are immense challenges to putting something under the water and making it work. … Future solutions involve what INSPIRE is doing: accounting for the marine environment as we build more underwater infrastructure with advancing technology.”
Founded in 2015, INSPIRE, led by CEO Drew Carey, has more than 20 employees. Its clients include ExxonMobile, Trident Seafood, Orsted US Offshore Wind (formerly Deepwater Wind) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
After renovations are complete, Innovate Newport will be located in the former Sheffield Elementary School building on Broadway in Newport.
Susan Shalhoub is a PBN contributing writer.
