Bryan Berkompas and Rebecca Powell are two recent additions to Aspect's stormwater team in our Seattle office. Here are five questions we asked to get to know them better.
Bryan Berkompas, Senior Hydrologist
Bryan Berkompas
- Where are you from? If you’re not from the Pacific Northwest, what brought you here?
I was born in New Mexico and I still love the 4-Corners area, but I was raised in the Yakima Valley surrounded by orchards and vineyards. I moved to the Seattle area for graduate school. I thought the rain might drive me crazy but I have found I enjoy it.
- What inspired you to pursue hyrdology? What made you curious about it?
I grew up hiking and fishing the rivers and creeks around Mt. Rainier and White Pass, but I didn’t really consider hydrology until college. In the fall of my junior year I did a suspended sediment study in a small urban creek in Michigan as part of fluvial geomorphology course I was taking. One frosty morning I was standing in the creek about an inch from topping my waders holding my arms at a crazy angle to collect my sample but not get my coat wet and it occurred to me that I was truly enjoying myself and maybe hydrology would be a good fit for me.
- What do you like best about your area of expertise? What excites you and keeps you motivated?
I still love the sound of water splashing and falling over itself as it flows down a channel. Still brings me peace. I enjoy the challenge of working at a site with unique or challenging hydraulic conditions and designing and implementing a monitoring approach that succeeds in meeting the project needs.
- What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
I enjoy exploring the outdoors under my own power: backpacking with my kids, cycling, etc. I lead a kids’ program at my church and love hanging out with elementary school age kids for a few hours each week. I also enjoy the process of pulling and drinking a good shot of espresso.
- Where in the world would you like to travel next?
I would love to visit Italy, see the Giro de Italia, relax in the Cinque Terre, eat lots of food, burn it off riding my bike in the Dolomites, and drink espresso.
Rebecca Powell, Staff Water Resources Specialist
Rebecca Powell
- Where are you from? If you’re not from the Pacific Northwest, what brought you here?
I am from Salt Lake City, Utah; my husband is from the Pacific Northwest. One day he said “I want to go home.” I have been in the Pacific Northwest since then (1997).
- What inspired you to pursue water resources? What made you curious about it?
My great grandfather was a Forest Ranger and always took us (my grandparents, parents, me, and my siblings) to the fire lookouts. My grandparents managed a farm and were always worrying about water resources and how to manage natural resources. My mother is a retired biologist and science teacher (she hates picking peaches, I loved that).
- What do you like best about your area of expertise? What excites you and keeps you motivated?
I am walking (slightly aside) in the footsteps of my mother, grandfather, and great grandfather.
- What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
I like to work in my garden, work on my truck, sewing, cooking.
- Anything else we should know?
Just became a grandma!