Key Personnel

Mary Lauren Passaretti, MS, President, Senior Hydrogeologist    top

B.A. Geology, 1980, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, M.S. Geology, 1988, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ms. Passaretti has over twenty-five years of experience as a geologist and hydrogeologist in both the environmental and petroleum fields. Expertise in the environmental field includes real estate environmental site assessments, compliance audits, environmental drilling and sampling, petroleum storage tank removal and upgrades, and design and installation of soil and groundwater remedial systems for petroleum contamination. Mary’s experience in the petroleum field includes clastic and carbonate core description, thin-section petrography, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe study for use in petroleum research, exploration, and production.

Accomplishments include successful completion of thoroughly researched Phase One Environmental Site Assessments and successful management and completion of Phase Two groundwater studies. Responsibilities include installation of soil borings and monitoring wells, soil and groundwater sampling, aquifer testing, and report summarization for optimal remediation. Design and implementation of Phase Three remediation projects, including soil vent systems, soil and groundwater bioremediation projects, carbon filtration units, air stripping systems, air sparge and high vacuum extraction. Work including aiding clients in interaction and compliance with local, state, and government regulations including, but not limited to PBS (compliance audits), RCRA, CERCLA, SARA, TSCA, CWA (NPDES and SPDES permits), and CAA. Additional work includes successful completion of subsurface profiles for use in foundation designs. Mary is certified by the National Registry of Environmental Professionals as a Registered Environmental Manager (REM) and a Certified Environmental Auditor (CEA).

When she isn’t shuttling her two active girls to swim team events, Mary serves on several corporate boards and enjoys gardening and skiing.

Fil L. Fina III, P.E., Vice President, Engineering   top

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Clarkson College, 1979. M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1988. Originally from Saratoga, Mr. Fina worked as an engineer for a petrochemical pump and seal company and a consulting engineering firm prior to returning to Saratoga. He then managed a regional office of a medical waste transportation company for two years. Next came a stint as an engineer for a petroleum product distributor/retailer prior to private contracting. His responsibilities included management of all engineering and environmental affairs. Related engineering and contracting has included pump and tank installations and removal, aboveground petroleum and chemical bulk facility design, SPCC plans, SPDES permitting, process exhaust and ventilation permitting, DOT and spill response training, retail facility construction and bulk storage facility construction. Remediation system design and construction includes soil vapor extraction, groundwater pump and treatment, free product removal, high vacuum extraction, total fluids extraction and oxygenation.

Fil has successfully designed hundreds of remediation systems using all the accepted technologies, and also directs the Aztech research and development program that has invented and/or refined several products and technologies involved in the measurement and treatment of environmentally impacted materials.

Fil enjoys skiing with his daughters, training his Chesapeake Bay retrievers, and flying light aircraft.

Matthew Darcangelo, P.E., Chief Operating Officer   top

B.S. Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1997. M.S. Business Administration, State University of New York at Albany, 2005. Mr. Darcangelo has over ten years experience in environmental response and remediation. Prior to joining Aztech Technologies, he was a Spill Response Engineer with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Matt’s first assignment was to NYSDEC’s Region 1 office in Long Island. In that position, he responded to over 400 petroleum and chemical releases. Additionally, he oversaw hundreds of tank closures and obtained invaluable experience investigating and remediating underground gasoline and fuel oil releases. Working out of NYSDEC’s Central Office in Albany, Matt focused on planning, policy interpretation and development, process improvement, and computer system enhancements for the Spill Response and Remediation Program. At Aztech Technologies, Matt’s responsibilities include marketing and business development, human resource and operations management. Providing unique insight from a regulatory prospective, Matt assists with project management and review.

An officer in the Army Reserves, Matt served on active duty in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Nobel Eagle. He enjoys working on home improvement projects like his house addition, skiing (both snow and water) and spending time with his wife Pam and their two great kids.

Terrence Bohn, Vice President of Design   top

B.A. Psychology, Anthropology, and Biology, SUNY College at Potsdam, 1979. Mr. Bohn owned an electronics store for seven years before founding a company to do technical coordination for fundraising events and PR firms. Next came two years on the board of directors of a not-for-profit fundraising group and a four-year stint as Associate Director of the National Museum of Dance. Terry joined F.L. Fina, PE, PC in 1996, later helping to shape the Aztech ideals, philosophy and organization. He has many years of experience analyzing, designing, building, and refining remediation systems. In 1999, Terry began adapting integrated programmable logic controllers to replace old-fashioned control components. He is also instrumental in recent moves to design innovative Aztech brand products. Having authored hundreds of control programs, Terry continues to expand the boundaries of system integration and monitoring, resulting in affordable yet innovative system design, with accountability to clients and regulatory agencies, as well as efficiency, as underlying principles.

In his spare time, Terry enjoys puttering around his four-story commercial building, woodworking, and traveling with his wife Kristine and their baby daughter.

Randolph Hoose, P.G., Senior Hydrogeologist and Project Manager   top

B.S. Geology, Waynesburg College, 1982. M.S. Geology/Hydrogeology, Wright State University, 1986. Mr. Hoose has over twenty years of experience as a geologist and hydrogeologist in the field of environmental consulting. He has conducted and overseen many environmental investigation/restoration projects at RCRA facilities, CERCLA sites, petroleum retail facilities, industrial facilities, construction and demolition debris landfills, and hazardous waste sites. Randy has guided many spills through to regulatory closure.

Randy has also overseen every major type of drilling operation method, including bedrock drilling. But perhaps Randy’s greatest asset to Aztech is his unique technical expertise. His guidance and input to the engineering staff shapes the development of the appropriate remedial scope and design to properly accommodate the specific geology of any project location.

Randy is an active member of his church, is a huge sports fan, enjoys playing guitar and trumpet, and spends many hours each winter maintaining the family hockey rink he built for himself and his three children.

Environmental Field Technicians   top

Aztech Technologies' field technicians are at the heart of our operations and play a key role in the services we provide to our clients. Collectively they have over one hundred years experience sampling, building and operating remediation equipment. They are knowledgeable in sampling techniques for soil, air, and groundwater. Our technicians are skilled machinists, welders, woodworkers, mechanics, and electricians. They have constructed and maintained systems for total fluids extraction, pump and treat, dewatering operations, soil vapor extraction, air sparge, indoor vapor abatement, and domestic water treatment. Many technicians are skilled heavy equipment operators capable of handling the in ground and above ground aspects of remediation system installation. Aztech personnel have experience in working with tank installation contractors and excavation and building construction contractors to integrate the remediation system installation into existing facility or new construction. Technicians monitor sites to optimize system performance and to ensure compliance with discharge regulations. They are skilled at interpreting the output of programmable logic controlled systems to identify potential issues, and perform maintenance to minimize downtime and maximize the lifetime of the system. Our technicians have degrees in fields such as Electrical Construction and Maintenance, Engineering Technology, and Equipment Repair.

Joseph A. McCormick IV, Senior Geologist and Project Manager   top

B.S. Environmental Science, Norwich University, 2000. Mr. McCormick has eight years of experience in the environmental industry. His experience as geologist includes the following: geotechnical analysis and classification of soil and other material prior to construction; classification of soil and groundwater during well installations and monitoring; installation and specification of monitoring and remedial wells in both overburden and bedrock geology; remedial system feasibility testing, design, construction, and subsequent monitoring and efficiency evaluation; and, underground storage tank decommissioning and upgrade reconstruction. Several examples of the remedial technologies Mr. McCormick has worked with as a Geologist for Aztech include: air sparge; soil vapor extraction; total fluid extraction; and, in-situ oxidation processes. He has also supervised excavations associated with gasoline-related facility decommissioning and upgrade activities.

Aaron M. Yecies, Senior Geologist and Project Manager   top

B.A. Environmental Studies; B.A. Geology, Alfred University, Alfred, New York, 1997. Mr. Yecies possesses over nine years of experience in the environmental consulting and environmental contracting fields. His management responsibilities include creating and maintaining . budgetary and work scope requirements for projects while working closely with the clients to maintain high work quality. He provides technical and advisory management for project staff from the planning stage through reporting. Projects that Mr. Yecies has managed included real estate acquisition and divestments assessments, geotechnical assessments for pipeline companies, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, underground storage tank removal and facility reconstruction. He has aided in remediation system design, implementation and construction, remediation feasibility studies, and system operation and maintenance. His technical expertise includes work plan development and execution of soil and groundwater characterization investigations in various media, remedial system feasibility tests, remedial system evaluation protocols, as well as regulatory compliance in New York and Pennsylvania. Mr. Yecies has worked closely with regulators and clients to close numerous spills throughout New York and Pennsylvania.

Paul M. Shannon, Senior Geologist   top

B.S. Environmental Science/Geology, Chemistry Minor, State University of New York as Plattsburgh, 1994. Mr. Shannon possesses fourteen years of experience as a geologist in the field of environmental consulting and environmental-related real estate fields. He has performed in excess of one hundred Transaction Screens and Phase I Environmental Site Assessments with geographical coverage extending from Massachusetts to California. Mr. Shannon also has significant experience in Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, environmental drilling and sampling, petroleum storage tank removals, geotechnical drilling, water supply drilling, oversight of installation of various types of wells, including monitoring, air sparge, total fluids extraction, and soil vapor extraction wells, aquifer tests, blasting monitoring, post-blast inspections, and large scale industrial contaminated soil removal oversight.

Katherine Morphis, Engineer   top

B.S. Civil Engineering (Environmental Concentration), Clarkson University, 2005. Ms. Morphis is a talented engineer with great deal of energy and dedication. She has experience overseeing UST closures, well installation and working with remediation systems. Her insights have helped identify and document that a substantial gasoline release was migrating onto a clients property from an adjacent parcel. Ms. Morphis brings enthusiasm and focus to each project she works on.