Our Team
Clayton Bowers
Director & Project Manager
Education: Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology and Biology, New Mexico State University
Mr. Bowers is the Director of RME and provides senior administrative management to the RME team. Over the past ten years with our firm, Clayton has completed over 300 natural resource management and NEPA projects for clients across the public and private sectors. With over 17 years of personal experience in the environmental industry, Clayton is thoroughly experienced in understanding the balance between development, implementation and conservation of natural resources. With high awareness of client’s needs to achieve project goals, Clayton strives to ensure every product delivered by RME is completed on time and to exemplary standards. Clayton specializes in the Section 7 ESA process, NEPA planning and USACE compliance, and regularly engages with agency personnel.
During his free time, Clayton can be found spending time with his wife, two kids and one mutt – whether it be camping, skiing, hunting, or at the soccer and baseball fields. He also finds great enjoyment with mechanical tinkering, and can often be found in the garage working on the next “project” Toyota.
Clay Benton
General Manager / Natural Resource Specialist
Education: Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning: Environmental Planning; Masters CEU’s in Sustainable Natural Resource Management.
Mr. Benton is a staff Lead Planner with RME. Clay has nine years experience within the Natural Resource sector including Biological, Ecological, and Implementation projects. Additionally, Clay provides considerable expertise in team leadership and large-scale forest plan development and grant production, providing critical direction for collaborators. Clay has significant experience in conducting various stand exam protocols, forest stewardship plans, targeted ecological pest management, aquatic endangered species surveys, and has a strong foundation in data analysis and technical documentation.
Outside of work Clay enjoys running marathons, enjoying New Mexico’s outdoors through hiking, skiing and fishing, and playing soccer. In his free time Clay volunteers for a local non-profit focused on integrating city youth and veterans into outdoor programs by providing grant management and writing.
John Searles
Field Operations Coordinator
Education: Bachelor of Science in Materials Engineering, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Mr. Searles is the Field Operations Coordinator for RME. John has been on staff with RME for over eight years and has coordinated fieldwork with the RME crew across a six-state region throughout the years. As an invaluable member of our team, John consistently delivers smooth operations and efficiency in the implementation of fieldwork throughout diverse geographies and variable projects. Specifically, John has been integral in coordinating our field crew through the completion of inventory and mapping contracts in Arizona, California, and New Mexico for the NFF and USFS. He has extensive experience in field operations, logistical support, and team coordination and consistently ensures the safe and effective execution of fieldwork in support of our contracts.
Jacqueline Fries
Lead Biologist
Education: Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of New Hampshire
Ms. Fries is an experienced wildlife biologist, with a broad knowledge of wildlife and plant ecology. She is familiar with various surveying techniques and protocols, as well as endangered species monitoring, management, and compliance. Jackie has conducted biological resource surveys, noxious weed surveys, vegetation monitoring, ordinary high-water mark determinations, and wildlife surveys for various threatened and endangered species. T&E species include Mojave Desert tortoise, southwestern willow flycatcher, yellow-billed cuckoo, Mexican spotted owl, Chiricahua leopard frog, and masked bobwhite quail, among others.
Jackie is originally from New York and has lived and worked out west for the last 8 years. She earned a B.S. in Wildlife and Conservation Biology from the University of New Hampshire in 2016. In her free time she likes to rock climb, bake, run, and spend time with her dogs.
