Tommy Mathews, PG, President

Tommy Mathews, PG, REM, CESCO, CAPM is President and founder of Westward. He is a Registered Professional Geoscientist (PG) and Registered Environmental Manager (REM). Mr. Mathews works as an expert on land use issues and as a liaison between industry and community groups and has testified numerous times before the Texas Legislature. He frequently serves on stakeholder and taskforce groups at the state and national level working on various environmental issues that impact industry. Tommy serves on the Environmental Committees of the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association, Associated General Contractors of Texas, and the Texas Aggregate and Concrete Association. He is active at St. Helena’s Episcopal Church in Boerne, on sits on numerous local community boards including the Boerne Kendall County Economic Development Corporation and Visit Boerne, where he currently serves as a Director/Vice Chairman.  Mr. Mathews holds Professional Geoscientist/Geologist licenses in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Wyoming, and Louisiana. Mr. Mathews earned a B.A. in Geology from Trinity University in San Antonio.

Gary Nicholls, PE - Executive Vice President & COO

Gary Nicholls, PE, is Executive VP and COO for Westward. He is a professional engineer with more than 40 years’ experience in construction, aggregates, and construction material industries. As the head of the firm’s engineering and permitting/compliance departments, Mr. Nicholls and his team work with organizations to provide turn-key civil and environmental engineering designs. In addition to his engineering role, Mr. Nicholls oversees the company’s air permitting, Edwards Aquifer protection and spill prevention control/countermeasure plans. Gary has served as an expert witness in air emissions permitting, water quality and land use cases in Texas. He has also worked with the TCEQ Edwards Aquifer Protection Program providing professional direction, and the Lower Colorado River Authority, helping develop their technical guidelines related to quarry operations. Gary is the Chairman of the Texas Asphalt Pavement Association Sustainability and Permitting Committee and has filled that role for many years. Mr. Nicholls is a graduate of Trinity University, where he earned a B.S. in Engineering Science, and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the states of California, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.

Curt Campbell, PE - Senior Vice President Engineering & Natural Resources

Curt Campbell, PE, CFM, LEED AP ND, is a civil engineer with a primary focus on industrial land development. As Senior Vice President at Westward, Mr. Campbell provides oversight of all engineering, natural resource, and geology projects. His experience includes floodplain analysis, hydrology & hydraulics, public water systems, federal/state/local permitting, groundwater analysis, impoundment design, roadway design, 404 permitting, and mine planning. Curt specializes in the John Graves Scenic River Way Permit, TCEQ Edwards Aquifer Permitting, and site design for industrial facilities. He holds licenses to practice engineering in Texas, New Mexico, Georgia, Florida, Utah, Colorado,  Arizona, North Carolina, and South Carolina. He is also a Certified Floodplain Manager with the Texas Floodplain Management Association and is a LEED Accredited Professional in Neighborhood Development with the U.S. Green Building Council. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District, Groundwater Management Area 9, is a representative on the South-Central Texas Regional Water Planning Group, and is former president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, San Antonio chapter. Mr. Campbell received his B.S. and M.S. from Texas Tech University in Engineering and Architecture. He also holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Florida in Systems Ecology and Ecological Engineering.

Melissa Fitts, Senior Vice President Permitting & Compliance

Melissa Fitts is an environmental consultant and specializes in permitting and regulatory relations in the construction, aggregates, and construction materials industries. As Vice President at Westward, Mrs. Fitts manages the company’s permitting and compliance projects. With her extensive knowledge in air permitting regulations and strategy, she provides creative solutions for the construction and mining industries. She actively manages air permit application processing, ensures environmental compliance, calculates emissions, models air dispersion, coordinates public notices, participates in public meetings/hearings, utilizes computer-aided drafting (CAD), and generates sitemaps and flow diagrams. She is also responsible for project management, coordination, tracking, and correspondence with clients as well as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). In addition, Mrs. Fitts serves on the Allied Board of Directors for the Texas Aggregates and Concrete Association. She is a graduate of Baylor University and holds a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science.

Matt Bellos, Vice President Permitting & Compliance

Matt Bellos, REM, CESSWI, CESCO has more than twenty years of experience in the construction materials, aggregate, and environmental consulting industries.  Matt’s primary responsibilities include project management, environmental compliance, managing site inspections, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWP3), Phase I & II ESAs, soil and water sampling, environmental audits, Aggregate Production Operations (APOs), waste compliance, tank registrations, NSPS OOO testing, stack test coordination, air permit compliance, researching and gathering field data for various types of environmental studies and preparation of required documentation. He is responsible for correspondence with clients, various governing agencies, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Matt is a graduate of Texas State University and holds a B.S. in Resource and Environmental Studies.

Michelle Lee, PG, Senior Geologist

Michelle M. Lee, PG, RM-SME, is a Senior Geologist at Westward who brings extensive expertise to her role. As a Registered Professional Geoscientist (PG) and a Registered Member (RM) of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME), she specializes in designing and executing diverse subsurface exploration initiatives for mining and environmental projects. With over 35 years of experience in the industry, Mrs. Lee has conducted numerous field investigations across various states in the U.S., as well as in Argentina, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, focusing on aggregates and industrial minerals. She is a frequent author and presenter, contributing valuable insights through professional articles and presentations. Beyond her professional activities, Michelle is deeply committed to community outreach in Boerne, Texas. Her professional credentials include PG licenses in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Wyoming. Mrs. Lee earned her B.S. in Geology from West Texas State University (renamed West Texas A&M, 1992).

Rick Mathews - In Memoriam

March 3, 1963 - July 3, 2023

With heartfelt remembrance, we honor the legacy of Rick Mathews, a founding member of Westward Environmental, who passed away after bravely facing cancer. For over 30 years, Rick, alongside his colleagues, embodied professionalism, integrity, and a sincere commitment to serving our clients. Rick's presence within our close-knit company was cherished, and his spirit infused our work since our establishment in 1996. While we mourn his loss, we are grateful for the enduring impact he made on our firm and the lasting friendships he created. Rick's memory will always be treasured, and we are thankful for his contributions and forever humbled by his legacy.