Compliance Professionals
knowledgeable Environmental Specialists
Compliance Professionals is a Virginia-based, SWaM-certified consulting firm with expertise in helping our clients successfully navigate various stormwater and environmental regulations. Core services include VPDES SWPPP compliance inspections, stormwater management BMP inspections and maintenance, wetland delineations and permitting, and GIS app development.
At Compliance Professionals, we have a team of knowledgeable Environmental Specialists who work daily with local and state authorities to ensure our partners are in compliance with various environmental permits.
Services Include
- VPDES permit registration and SWPPP completion
- Routine SWPPP inspections
- Audit preparation and support
VWP permitting and wetland / stream impacts monitoring
- Permit termination support and construction monitoring closeout consulting
Meet the Team
The Original Compliance Pros
Jason Murnock, CPESC, CPSWQ
President & Founder
Mr. Murnock has been working in the environmental compliance industry since 2002. His experience includes, but is not limited to, permit compliance in relation to the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Construction General Permit, Clean Water Act Sections 401/404 Virginia Water Protection Permit, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Permit (Phase I and Phase II), Industrial Stormwater Discharge Permit, and other environmental regulations. His past responsibilities have included management of an environmental compliance division of inspectors, client interaction, completion of permit registrations and site-specific Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), construction site inspections, audit preparation, and audits. He also meets the requirements for an Environmental Professional as defined under ASTM E 1527-13 as he has been performing investigations of environmental conditions since 2013.
Notably, the environmental compliance division of inspectors expanded under Mr. Murnock’s leadership to include, at its height, active inspections of more than 400 individual projects (ranging in size to over 100 acres), for over 40 clients, in eight states (VA, NC, SC, MD, DE, NJ, PA, WV) and the District of Columbia, and involving 45 dedicated inspectors. Duties included completion and filing of permit registrations; preparation and maintenance of SWPPPs; performance of quarterly audits; conducting site inspections; coordinating and representing clients at audits or meetings with regulatory agencies; training of inspectors; and providing a close level of interaction with, and personal service to, diverse clientele. He has overseen or completed in the production of over 700 SWPPPs.
In 2010, he formalized a Stormwater Compliance division which added the maintenance and inspection of post-construction stormwater management (SWM) facilities for private landowners and public entities.
Experience:
2002–present
Education:
MS: Environmental Studies
BS: Environmental Studies
Minors: Biology, Philosphy, History
Certifications:
- Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), EnviroCert International #5388
- Certified Professional in Stormwater Quality (CPSWQ), EnviroCert International #0999
- VA Combined Inspector: Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Management, DEQ Cert. #DIN0167
- VDOT ESCCC #3-00835
- NC DOT Certified Erosion & Sediment Control: Stormwater Site Manager / Installer #6703 / #2751
- OSHA 40hr HAZWOPER Trained
- Confined Space Certified
- Level I Anti-Terrorism Awareness Training
Matt Whitacre
Manager of GIS & Ecological Services
Matt Whitacre
Manager, GIS & Ecological Services
Experience:
2008–Present
Education:
Master’s Certificate: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
B.S.: Geographic and Environmental Science
A.S.: Natural Resource Management
Certifications:
- Virginia DEQ Stormwater Management Inspector – SWIN 0657
- FAA sUAS Remote Pilot #4279772
- AED and CPR certified.
Matt Whitacre is a GIS and Environmental Professional and has worked in the field since 2008. He holds undergraduate degrees in Natural Resource Management and Geography from James Madison University and a graduate degree in GIS from Johns Hopkins University. During his undergraduate studies, Matt was part of a longstanding avian migration research project at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia where he banded and logged critical information for hundreds of avian specimens over a two-year period.
Mr. Whitacre began his environmental career at URS Corporation as part of a research team studying the bioaccumulation of mercury through organisms in freshwater and terrestrial environments along the South River in Virginia. Here, he worked alongside researchers from the Smithsonian Institute, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and multiple Universities performing benthic macroinvertebrate studies, avian population studies and blood analysis, piscivorous mammal surveys, and fish population survey and diet analysis.
Matt then went on to join Angler Environmental to serve as a GIS Professional and Project Manager. While at Angler Environmental, he spearheaded mobile GIS Application development for the firm as the technology began to emerge. He developed GIS Applications to boost workflows both in and out of the office for wetland delineations, mitigation bank site analysis, erosion and sediment control inspections, and post construction SWM inspections among others. During this period Matt was co-inventor of the U.S. Patented GEOSWM GIS Application, a system for combining pollution source information with geographic and/or temporal information for a land disturbing construction site.
After his time at Angler Environmental, Mr. Whitacre joined Greenway Engineering as the firms GIS Director and Environmental Compliance Manager. Here, Matt maintained and enhanced the firm’s longstanding GIS program and oversaw all aspects of GIS responsibilities of the firm spanning from data acquisition and manipulation to complex cartography, and application development. Also serving as the firm’s Environmental Compliance Manager, Matt oversaw numerous environmental feasibility projects including Wetland Delineations and Permitting, Threatened and Endangered Species Research, State and Federal agency coordination, Unified Stream Methodology assessments, Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, among others. While with the firm, Matt also oversaw the construction and field design of the Sleepy Creek restoration project in Morgan County, WV. This restoration helped alleviate the estimated 163 tons of sediment and associated nutrients from entering Sleepy Creek and Chesapeake Bay annually.
Mr. Whitacre brings his diverse background to Compliance Professionals to enhance the firm’s offerings and carry on their commitment to quality services. At Compliance Professionals, Matt oversees all aspects of GIS, Wetland Delineation and Survey, State and Federal Regulatory Permitting, Threatened and Endangered Species Studies, among others.
Matt also holds his certification as a Stormwater Management Inspector from VA DEQ and is a licensed FAA sUAS Remote Pilot.
Ethan Cassee, CPMSM
Manager of Water Quality Services
Ethan Cassee
Manager, Water Quality
Experience:
2011–Present
Education:
B.S.: Earth Systems Science
Certifications:
- Certified Professional in Municipal Stormwater Management #0373
- National Green Infrastructure Certification #00018
- VA Pesticide Commercial Applicator #114121-C
Mr. Cassee specializes in stormwater management facilities and water quality systems, with experience spanning asset management, monitoring and reporting, maintenance, restoration, and retrofit. His work includes structural inspections, asset assessments, commissioning planning, estimating, and water quality monitoring and mitigation—supported by strong project controls in cost and schedule management, client coordination, change management, quality control, and proposal development.
In his current role, Ethan has served as a project manager and technical lead on complex stormwater and restoration efforts. At Compliance Professionals, he developed an inspections and asset management plan for 400 stormwater facilities at the Highlander Solar Facility (over 6,000 acres) and built a community-wide stormwater asset program for Redwood Lakes in Culpeper, including repair scopes for extended detention ponds. He also led BMP performance testing protocol development and field sampling/reporting to verify phosphorus removal performance across multiple BMP types.
His broader project background includes stream restoration design, permitting, and construction management (including approximately 5,800 linear feet at Winters Run), statewide TMDL design-build delivery producing 631 impervious acre credits across 66 sites, and technical leadership on MWAA’s design-build implementation of 17 BMP facilities associated with the Metro Silver Line project.
Caleb Stoltz
Manager of Regenerative Landscape Solutions
Caleb Stoltz
Manager of Regenerative Landscape Solutions
Experience:
2012-Present
Certifications:
- ISA Certified Arborist #MA-5698A
- Virginia Certified Pesticide Applicator #127052-C
The bulk of Caleb’s professional experience stems from the vegetation side of the ecological restoration world, having worked on over 100 ecological restoration projects of virtually every shape and size. As a bona fide plant nerd, Caleb is a technical expert in both the design and implementation of projects involving forest establishment, invasive plant management, pollinator habitat, and wetlands. Caleb also brings an abundance of vegetation-related monitoring and reporting experience to the team, facilitating effective permit compliance for our clients. As an experienced project manager, he also assists clients in crafting vegetation-related permit language to generate win-win-win outcomes for the permittee, the regulators, and the environment. His business development and operational experience led to projects that are value-engineered for performance, cost integrity, and regulatory compliance.
Mickie Fox
Manager of Business and Operations & Environmental Compliance Specialist
Mickie Fox
Manager of Business and Operations & Environmental Compliance Specialist
Experience:
2021–Present
Education:
M. Ed: Education
BA: Engineering Science, Hydrology
Certifications:
- Virginia DEQ Dual Inspector (DIN) Certification (DIN1602)
- AED and CPR certified
Ms. Fox primarily assists Compliance Pros with all administrative tracking and organization. She is also a project manager, attends site audits and conducts audit preparation, interacts with clients, and monitors and performs environmental inspections to ensure regulatory compliance with the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Construction General Permit. She routinely oversees and manages active construction projects, and acts as a liaison between our clients and local/state authorities.
Emma DiPaolo
Lead Project Manager & Senior Environmental Compliance Specialist
Emma DiPaolo
Lead Project Manager & Senior Environmental Compliance Specialist
Experience:
2021–Present
Education:
MS: Ecology and Ecosystem Sciences
BS: Organismal Biology
Minor: Leadership Studies
Certifications:
- Virginia DEQ Dual Inspector (DIN) Certification – DIN1557
- AED and CPR certified
Ms. DiPaolo monitors and performs environmental inspections to ensure regulatory compliance through the interpretation of state and federal environmental laws and regulations, particularly the VPDES Construction General Permit and the Virginia Water Protection permits. She regularly engages in direct coordination with clients and site superintendents to ensure adherence to the approved ESC plans, guaranteeing environmental compliance and continued client satisfaction.
As a project manager, she routinely oversees and manages active construction projects, writes VPDES permit registrations and terminations, and completes Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP). She also also trained other Environmental Specialists in how to conduct detailed site inspections.
Along with her VPDES experiences, Ms. DiPaolo also has two published papers: “Body Shape Transformations by Alternate Anatomical Adaptive Peak Shifts in Blenniiform Fishes” (Evolution) and “Blowing in the Wind: Experimental Assessment of Clinging Performance and Behavior in Anolis Lizards During Hurricane-Force Winds” (Functional Ecology).
Jonathan Mellis
Safety Coordinator & Senior Environmental Compliance Specialist
Jonathan Mellis
Safety Coordinator & Senior Environmental Compliance Specialist
Experience:
2011–Present
Education:
B.S.: Earth Sciences (Minors: Geology, Applied Conservation)
Certifications:
- Virginia DEQ Dual Inspector (DIN) Certification
- VDOT ESCCC-QP Certification
- OSHA 30-Hour
Mr. Mellis is an environmental compliance professional specializing in erosion and sediment control and stormwater compliance inspections. He conducts third-party compliance inspections and performs Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) reviews, primarily in Virginia with additional experience supporting projects in Maryland and North Carolina. He routinely assists clients with preparation for and navigation through local, state, and federal audits, and supports internal teams by tracking and communicating Virginia DEQ policy updates and program modifications.
In addition to his compliance responsibilities, Mr. Mellis serves as Safety Coordinator, helping ensure alignment with OSHA requirements, internal safety procedures, and fleet vehicle maintenance protocols.
Prior to joining Compliance Professionals, Mr. Mellis performed similar SWPPP and compliance work with Resource Environmental Solutions and Angler Environmental. Earlier in his career with Apex Companies, he supported Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, long-term groundwater remediation activities, alternate water supply installations and pump tests, and emergency response efforts.
“I did not get to meet Ethan in person, but he has been wonderful to work with. He was great at letting me know the steps he was taking to treat the pond and sharing pictures. We have had a great experience with CompliancePros and would recommend to anyone who is dealing with pond issues.”
“Absolutely the most responsive, responsible, best environmental professional I have worked with in quite awhile. Thank you for your help these past couple years.”
“Working with Compliance Professionals has been a pleasure. Our site inspector, in addition to being easy to work with, is knowledgeable, responsive to our needs, and is timely on all correspondence. I cannot recommend them more highly.”
“I’ve only been working with Compliance Pros and specifically Emma DiPaolo for the last 6 or 8 months. I’ve worked with other companies who do what CP does but there is something different about these folks. Emma is an outstanding inspector!!! Very knowledgeable of the rules and regulations of multiple counties E&S programs and supplies complete and thorough reports in a very timely manner. She is always open to communication and discussion of any issue that may arise and always has a solution at hand. If you’re looking for a SWPPP inspection company or simply someone to help you with E&S controls, I would highly recommend Compliance Pros. Great people!! Great service!!”
“Compliance Pros has been such an asset to our construction team. They are knowledgeable, cost effective, and easy to work with. I trust them to make sure our team stays in compliance. Their reports are easy to access, and they are flexible in providing additional information as required by specific clients. They even voluntarily proposed a price reduction when we had multiple projects in close proximity. I would highly recommend working with Compliance Pros!”
“(My) thanks for everything Compliance Pros has done for us. (Their) knowledge of State and local requirements, as well as (their) sense of urgency in expediting all of our requests has been invaluable insofar as keeping all of our projects on schedule.”
“Kathryn was very professional, smart, and humble, it was refreshing to work with her on site. We look forward to working with Compliance Pros in the future.”