Our Roots

In his last year of graduate school, 1980, Carlos Herrera founded our company to conduct a water supply research project for the Seattle Water Department. In the early years, the company focused on projects related to water quality, solid waste engineering, environmental engineering, and environmental science for municipal clients in the Puget Sound area. Carlos, a Cuban refugee who immigrated to the United States when he was four, thrived on the various perspectives offered by engineers, scientists, and people with different cultural backgrounds. He began building the company based on diverse, interdisciplinary expertise and believed that skilled, dedicated people can achieve anything when they collaborate.

In 1986, Dr. Walter (Wally) Trial joined Herrera Environmental Consultants as a partner. Wally’s technical expertise in water quality and environmental studies integrated with the engineering practice and expanded the company’s interdisciplinary approach.