770.578.9696 | info@dextra-group.com
770.578.9696 | info@dextra-group.com

About Us

Dextra is an engineering consulting firm specializing in environmental project management and program support. Founded over 20 years ago, Dextra has an established history in improving project delivery and performance, and in reducing costs for both private and public sector clients. We are based in the southeast United States, but our work spans the entire country. Our primary clients are the business managers responsible for environmental program success and regulatory compliance within US-based companies, and our strategic intent is to create measurable and sustainable value for these clients, bringing a competitive advantage to their environmental management activities.

Unlike other environmental services firms that focus on building and selling technical expertise, Dextra has built its practice on a foundation of management skills. We focus first and foremost on impeccable project management, including attentive listening to our client’s needs, concerns, and drivers; clearly defining and communicating project objectives; implementing project controls; and consistently advocating for the client. This approach allows us to build solutions that are completely client-driven and strategically aligned with the business objectives of the client’s organization.

“Dextra” is the Latin word for “right hand”, a fitting name for a company that is focused on a close and critically supportive role with clients.

Core Services

Program Support
On a program level, Dextra's environmental business consulting practice seeks to add value to the client's overall environmental program, working hand-in-hand with the client and his or her staff. We focus first on the big picture, providing management consulting services to understand and assess current environmental practices as well as long-term business objectives. We then offer refinements and alternative practices that help reduce costs and bring the program more fully into alignment with the strategic direction of the company. Our environmental business consulting practice includes services in three categories: management consulting, resource leveling, and compliance.
Project Delivery
On a project level, Dextra leverages its extensive experience to assist clients with project implementation. Our project-level support covers multiple areas, including site restoration, environmental infrastructure, auditing, risk evaluation, and environmental planning.
Project Management
At the heart of everything that Dextra does is our commitment to exceptional project management. Our approach to project delivery is based on the premise that most environmental projects fall short of expectations not because of the lack of technical know-how, but because of a lack of attention to detail on the critical aspects of project management. Dextra offers a full suite of services related to project planning and implementation, plus the unique practice of project analysis and salvage and project management training.

Success Stories

Strategic Thinking
Dextra prides itself on the strategic approach it applies to problem solving. For remediation sites, such an approach often involves Dextra developed tools such as a Site Management Strategy Workshop and Blue Ribbon Panel Remedy Evaluation. Both of these tools along with a modified corrective action approach consisting of interim measures were used at a remediation site in the southeast to accelerate the cleanup and closure process. EPA representatives have commented that Dextra’s approach for this site has set a new standard for how remediation projects should be judged and modeled.
O&M Cost Savings
In the role of outsourced project manager, Dextra has been supporting an industrial client with ongoing O&M for one of its remediation sites. O&M is complicated by some site-specific compounds in groundwater that have historically required offsite disposal. However, through a collaborative process with the client and consultant, a cost-effective alternative was devised using enhanced treatment and reinjection. Construction of a new system is complete and estimated to save over $500,000 in O&M costs per year.
Risk-Based Landfill Closure
Dextra saved Twin Oaks Power approximately $1 million through preparing and obtaining regulatory approval for a risk-based closure plan amendment for one of Twin Oaks’ above-ground, coal ash landfills. The amendment allowed using compacted coal ash for the remaining landfill cap instead of imported clay. The use of a risk assessment to support selection of a non-clay cap for coal ash had only been approved once before in Texas.
Full-Scale Remediation Via a Pilot Study
To address residual groundwater contamination at a former facility in the southeast U.S., Dextra oversaw implementation of in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) using permanganate. This was accomplished via a pilot study that was set up with the flexibility to cost effectively determine whether ISCO would be successful and to perform additional injections in support of full-scale remediation. The pilot study was so successful that additional remediation was unnecessary, and a no further action letter has been received from the State agency.
Environmental Dashboards
Dextra has partnered with several clients in developing dashboards using Microsoft Power BI. These dashboards have been used to track budgets, compare spending to forecasts, analyze consultant costs and rates, monitor remediation site progress, and evaluate portfolio risks. The dashboards provide project managers, directors, and upper management with quick access to key performance indicators.
Remediation Portfolio Risk Evaluation
Remediation sites face a wide range of uncertainties that can flare up and cause unexpected cost escalation and reputational damage. While this can be alarming on an individual site, it is especially problematic on a large portfolio of remediation sites. Dextra has worked with several clients to develop risk models to score the key factors that trigger uncertainty in remediation sites. These models have helped identify the risks facing the portfolio, fostered dialogue at various altitudes within a client organization, and led to initiatives focused on risk mitigation and resiliency.
Representative Client List

Practitioners

Kurt Batsel
Kurt has over 30 years of experience managing environmental projects for industry, primarily involving remediation under RCRA and CERCLA. He has worked with a broad range of technologies and contaminant groups, with key focus on a strategic approach to bring complex projects to successful completion.
Kathleen Gill
Kathleen founded Dextra in 1998 to focus on creating measurable and sustainable value for her industrial clients. Her practice involves the use of interactive tools and group facilitation to solve business problems, plan and implement cost-effective environmental programs, and build teams to meet the mission and goals.
Andrew Romanek
Andrew is a Project Management Professional with over 20 years of experience managing environmental projects and optimizing management processes, systems, and delivery. Andrew's diversity of experience allows him to find pathways to success for even the most complex projects.

Associates

To meet the varying needs of our clients, we combine our in-house competencies in environmental engineering, project management, and business and process consulting with externally available expertise – Dextra Associates. Our Associate network, which is accessible to all of our clients, consists of the best resources in their fields – independent professionals and employees of large and small consulting firms or industry – with substantial experience in all areas of environmental management.

LinkedIn Articles

Understanding Outsourced Project Management
Outsourcing is not typically a company's first thought when it comes to project management. Is that fair? This article explores some of the myths and benefits associated with outsourced project management.
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Tips for Managing Stakeholders
You cannot drive successful projects if you do not understand your stakeholders. This article provides some quick tips for effectively managing stakeholders.
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Are You Overcomplicating Risk Management?
Risk management continues to lack the attention it deserves and is too often viewed as a prescribed and complicated process. This article explores how to approach more constructively.
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Finding a Great Project Manager
Project management is a specialty skill, and too often, people are put into this role when it isn't a good fit. This article identifies some key traits to look for when selecting a project manager.
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Proactive Site Remediation?
Dextra has been fortunate to work (and learn) with clients that use a strategic approach to managing risks and life-cycle costs. Read on to learn more about the benefits of proactive remediation.
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Why You Should Value Project Management
Firms with a higher level of project management maturity deliver better results. This article quickly articulates why you should value project management.
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Dextra LinkedIn Page