Looking Back with Gratitude: Ten Years of Wetlands Unlimited
The highs, lows, friendships, and lasting purpose behind building Wetlands Unlimited, Odyssey EHS Strategies, and Nexus Land & Timber Solutions
“What began as a dream built after hours has grown into a family of companies built on trust, opportunity, and relationships.”
Looking Back with Gratitude
When I look back at the journey of Wetlands Unlimited, Odyssey EHS Strategies, and Nexus Land & Timber Solutions, I find myself smiling more than anything else. Like most entrepreneurial stories, ours did not begin with a detailed roadmap, outside investors, or grand ambitions. It started as a nights-and-weekends dream: a vision of building something different, grounded in technical excellence, strong relationships, and a commitment to doing right by our clients and our team. There were late nights, long drives, early mornings, and sacrifices along the way. There were also plenty of unknowns.
Still, what I remember most is the excitement. Every opportunity mattered because we were building something we believed in, one client and one project at a time. God has been very good to us, and I say that with genuine humility and gratitude. For me, acknowledging God’s goodness is simply part of telling the truth about the people, opportunities, protection, provision, and timing that have shaped our story. We have worked hard, made sacrifices, and taken risks, but I would be remiss if I did not also recognize the blessings that have carried us along the way.
Taking the First Giant Leap
The first major turning point came when my business partner, Matt Mixon, made the leap to join Wetlands Unlimited full-time. That decision changed the trajectory of WU. It was the moment our nights-and-weekends dream began to feel like a business with a real future.
Matt’s decision required faith in the company, faith in our clients, and faith in what we could build together. I will always be grateful that one of my closest friends believed enough in the vision to take that step. Building WU together has brought challenges, laughter, lessons, and more memorable experiences than either of us could have anticipated.
Going All In and Launching Odyssey
The second major milestone came in 2023, when I joined the company full-time. After years of building around other responsibilities, I finally had the opportunity to commit all of my professional energy to the work, the clients, and the team.
That same year, we opened our first subsidiary, Odyssey EHS Strategies. Odyssey expanded our ability to serve clients beyond our traditional wetlands and natural resources work by offering broader environmental, health, safety, and related consulting services. Starting another company was exciting and humbling. It challenged us to learn, adapt, develop new capabilities, and trust talented people to help carry the vision forward.
The second major milestone came in 2023, when I joined the company full-time. After years of building around other responsibilities, I finally had the opportunity to commit all of my professional energy to the work, the clients, and the team.
That same year, we opened our first subsidiary, Odyssey EHS Strategies. Odyssey expanded our ability to serve clients beyond our traditional wetlands and natural resources work by offering broader environmental, health, safety, and related consulting services. Starting another company was exciting and humbling. It challenged us to learn, adapt, develop new capabilities, and trust talented people to help carry the vision forward.
Closing the Circle with Nexus
In 2025, we completed what felt like the final piece of the puzzle with Nexus Land & Timber Solutions. Through Wetlands Unlimited and Odyssey, we had long helped clients with wetlands, permitting, mitigation, and natural resource challenges. Nexus gave us the complementary ability to help with upland land management, timber, forestry, wildlife habitat, and rural property needs.
Together, WU and Nexus allow us to serve clients across the landscape, from wetlands to uplands. Odyssey adds another layer of support for the environmental, health, and safety needs that affect their businesses and operations. Each company has its own purpose, but all three are connected by the same commitment to practical solutions, trusted relationships, and quality service.
The Trust Our Clients Place in Us
At the heart of everything we do is trust.
Our clients trust us with complex projects, difficult regulatory decisions, sensitive business matters, and significant investments. Many times, they call us when the path forward is not clear, and the consequences of getting it wrong are meaningful. That responsibility is never lost on me.
Client trust is not earned once. It has to be earned again with every conversation, proposal, field visit, report, recommendation, and deadline. We earn it by being honest, responsive, technically sound, and willing to stand beside our clients when projects become difficult.
Some of our most meaningful client relationships have lasted for years and grown into genuine friendships. Being invited back for the next project is one of the greatest compliments we can receive. It tells us that our clients see us not simply as consultants, but as trusted partners who care about their success.
Developing People and Creating Opportunity
The other part of this journey that gives me tremendous pride is watching our employees grow.
One of the greatest privileges of leadership is helping someone recognize and develop abilities they may not yet see in themselves. It is rewarding to watch an employee take on a difficult assignment, gain confidence, build a relationship with a client, develop technical expertise, and eventually step into a leadership role.
Our success has never been about one person. It has come from creating opportunities for talented people, giving them meaningful responsibility, supporting them when they make mistakes, and celebrating them when they succeed. The goal is not simply to build strong companies. It is to build strong professionals and future leaders who can take the companies farther than we ever could alone.
I am proud of the work our employees produce, but I am even more proud of the people they are becoming. Their development strengthens our clients, our culture, and the future of WU, Odyssey, and Nexus.
The Highs, the Lows, and the Fun of It All
Has it all been easy? Absolutely not.
There have been disappointments, setbacks, proposals we did not win, projects that did not go as planned, difficult decisions, and sleepless nights. Leadership can sometimes feel heavy because the decisions affect employees, their families, business partners, and clients who depend on us.
But the highs have always outweighed the lows. The opportunity to build businesses alongside close friends, serve clients who trust us, develop talented employees, solve difficult problems, and create something meaningful has made every challenge worthwhile.
When people ask what it has been like to own and lead these companies, my answer is simple: it has been so much fun.
Not every day is easy, but the journey has been incredibly rewarding. What started as a nights-and-weekends dream has grown into a family of companies serving clients across wetlands, uplands, environmental compliance, land management, and EHS. Along the way, we have built lasting friendships, developed talented professionals, earned the trust of outstanding clients, and created something I am genuinely proud of.
Most importantly, we have enjoyed the people and the process. I am grateful for everyone who has trusted us, worked beside us, and helped shape the story. And I truly believe the best chapters are still ahead.