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Environment


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September 24, 2015

Survey: Cascadia Consulting Group

Specialty: Environmental and sustainability solutions, including waste and recycling; water, energy and resource conservation; climate adaptation

Management: Francis Icasiano, CEO

Founded: 1993

Headquarters: Seattle

2014 revenues: $7.3 million

Projected 2015 revenues: $7.7 million

Projects: Seattle Public Utilities Green Business Program; Oak Foundation evaluation and strategic plan; city of Bellevue Refresh Recycling; Snohomish County Natural Yard Care Program evaluation



Photo by Logan Sayles [enlarge]
Cascadia employees sort waste for a waste characterization study, the cornerstone of the company’s field work.

Francis Icasiano talked with the DJC about his company.

Q: Is business better this year, compared with 2014?

A: Cascadia’s business is performing very well this year, comparable with our performance in 2014 plus a healthy margin of growth.

Q: Which sectors of your company are performing particularly well?

A: Cascadia began in 1993 primarily as a waste-focused company, performing waste characterization studies and working with the residential and commercial sectors to conserve resources and optimize waste streams. We continue to do such work today through our Recycling and Materials Management line of business, which will grow its revenue by over 14 percent including a major, statewide characterization study for the state of California, and recycling and composting outreach projects in and around King and Snohomish counties.

Cascadia’s Climate Adaptation practice is also growing rapidly and is expected to grow its revenue by over 50 percent from last year.

Q: Have you made any additions to handle the new workload?

A: Yes. Cascadia continues to grow, and we’ve hired many new staff to handle our growing workload and tackle new initiatives in technology and social equity. And we’re always looking for qualified, mission-driven folks, so please give me a call if you’d like to make a positive difference for the environment!

Q: What two projects in 2015 or ‘16 symbolize your work?

A: We have been working with Seattle Public Utilities to manage the Seattle Green Business Program (formerly Resource Venture) for nearly 10 years. This project highlights several of Cascadia’s core offerings and areas of environmental impact, such as waste reduction, water and energy conservation, and community outreach and engagement. The project provides local business owners with the tools and knowledge to reduce their footprint in a way that is economically viable and often improves the business’ bottom line.

Cascadia is also working with the Yakama Nation in Eastern Washington to engage tribal staff and members in a new climate change adaptation planning effort. With climate change expected to impact an overwhelmingly broad range of systems and resources that are culturally and economically important to the tribe — including water, fisheries, wetlands, forests and wildlife — the Yakama Nation sought Cascadia’s help to understand its vulnerabilities and weigh the pros and cons of various adaptation strategies.

Q: What are your predictions for 2016 for your firm?

A: Cascadia will continue to grow, thrive and support its clients in their efforts to create a more sustainable future. The need for resource efficiency will continue to increase, and we expect Cascadia to be on the front lines of helping our clients prepare for climate change, understand and reduce their environmental impact, and achieve their sustainability goals in a way that helps us to protect our fragile planet. What more of an exciting and challenging prediction could we ask for?





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