Cherie Koester, CEO at Earthworks Environmental, sets the bar high for the company she founded in September 2014. Her goal is to nurture and grow Earthworks into the most prestigious and experienced environmental consulting firm in the U.S., specializing in dust control and storm water pollution prevention. With her wealth of experience, that goal likely will be achieved sooner than later.
Cherie founded Earthworks after serving as Director of Environmental Compliance for a large landscape maintenance and landscape construction company in Metro Phoenix. While at that firm she created and ran the environmental compliance and safety division. Previous to that that role, she was a compliance inspector for the Maricopa County Air Quality Department.
Cherie gained five years of experience working closely with the development and construction industries by inspecting a wide variety of regulated sites and sources. She is a member of the Clear Air Council for MCAQD and is an expert in storm water pollution prevention and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. She is proficient in leading public education presentations on particulate matter pollution, dust control regulations and the necessities of staying in compliance with federal and local air pollution laws. Cherie is skillful in ensuring dust compliance and assisting the regulated community with rule interpretation. She has a specific expertise in identifying field observations then indicating cost effective and accurate job site practices.
Cherie received her Master of Science degree in International Environmental Technology Management & Sustainability in December 2011 from Arizona State University. She earned her BS in May 2008 from ASU and also holds an associate degree from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in business administration.
Prior to her work with the air quality department Cherie gained experience in the regulated community as an office manager for Pauley Construction, a contractor of the Salt River Project. She learned aspects of the contracting industry including professional bids, job coordination, and accounting. She acquired her passion for the environment and health and safety issues as assistant store manager of a family-owned health and nutrition business.
A native of Green Bay, Wisc., Cherie has three adult children which all work with her at Earthworks. Cherie enjoys spending time with her family and is particularly fond of cooking, swimming, riding her bike, and perfecting her wine palette.
Cherie is active in industry groups throughout the United States and encourages her employees to do so as well.
Maybe because she grew up where it’s cold and now, she lives here in the Valley, this is what Cherie says people don’t know about her: “I am a Christmas fanatic and listen to Christmas music at least three times a week while I cook, all year long.”
