Our team

Applied Natural Sciences is a woman-owned small business committed to meeting our clients’ unique remedial challenges. As pioneers in our field, we have been applying agronomic processes to environmental remediation problems of soil and water for decades.

Paul Thomas, Chief Science Officer at Applied Natural Sciences, a phytoremediation company

Paul Thomas, M.S.
Co-owner, Chief Science Officer

Paul Thomas has over forty years of professional consulting experience and has conducted environmental characterization and remedial actions at major industrial facilities throughout the United States and in Europe. His work has resulted directly in the completion of full-scale design-build remediation projects including CERCLA, RCRA, brownfields and voluntary actions. He has also been involved in all aspects of due diligence, ecological characterization/mitigation, remediation, and regulatory compliance.

His early work experience included geologic mapping, geophysical methods, geological software development, and modeling of groundwater and surface water.

Beginning in 1987, Paul was among the pioneering practitioners of vegetation-based remediation and waste management (Phytotechnologies). He founded Thomas Consultants, Inc. in 1989 and has worked to develop applications for phytotechnologies over the past 35 years. In the early 1990s, Paul collaborated with Dr. Edward Gatliff on the development of phytoremediation methods to overcome the limitation of traditional phytoremediation to relatively shallow groundwater. Dr. Gatliff patented the TreeWell technology, and it was provided as a service through his company, Applied Natural Sciences, Inc. (ANS). A close working relationship developed between Thomas Consultants and ANS.

Upon Dr. Gatliff's passing in early 2021, Paul assumed the role of President of ANS. He has since transitioned to Chief Science Officer, passing day-to-day scientific leadership to Chris Gale, while remaining actively involved in the company's technical direction. ANS has continued to grow and is currently providing TreeWell-based remediation services throughout the United States and European Union.

Specialties: Phytotechnologies, TreeWell technologies, phytoremediation, alternative cover technologies, wetland treatment, stormwater management, groundwater modeling, surface water modeling, sediment transport modeling, groundwater remediation, soil remediation

A smiling woman with long dark hair, wearing a dark dress with white flowers, earrings, a necklace with a pearl, and a watch, standing against a plain light background.

Tara Gatliff Hail, M.S.
Co-owner, Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Operating Officer and owner of Applied Natural Sciences, Inc., Tara Gatliff Hail brings more than two decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of scaling organizations through strategic growth, innovation, and team development. Since stepping into executive leadership in 2021, Tara has guided the company through a pivotal transition, doubling its size and driving significant revenue increase. Under Tara's direction, Applied Natural Sciences expanded its international footprint, secured multiple patent-pending technologies, and strengthened its intellectual property portfolio across North America and Europe. Known for a pragmatic yet visionary leadership style, Tara has restructured operations, established employee ownership initiatives, and built a culture centered on excellence, collaboration, and sustainability.

Before assuming executive leadership, Tara spent nearly a decade managing environmental remediation projects across North America, honing expertise in operations, client relations, and project execution. Tara holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University and is committed to advancing the company's mission of delivering practical, science-driven solutions that restore and protect natural environments worldwide.

Chris Gale, President of Applied Natural Sciences, a nature-based remediation company

Chris Gale, M.S., P.G.
President

Chris Gale has over 20 years of professional environmental consulting experience. He has substantial experience managing and implementing a wide variety of environmental site investigation, characterization, and remediation projects, including all aspects of building and leading successful teams on large-scale complex projects. Chris has expertise in a variety of remedial technologies including Electrical Resistance Heating (ERH), Dual Phase Extraction (DPE), Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE), Enhanced In-Situ Bioremediation (EISB), In-Situ Chemical Reduction (ISCR), In-Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO), and soil excavation and how these technologies can be combined with ANS's engineered phytoremediation technologies to optimize remedial strategies to meet client objectives.

As President, Chris leads ANS's science-based initiatives, strategic vision, business development, and R&D, working alongside Tara Gatliff Hail, Chief Operating Officer, who oversees day-to-day operations.

Specialties: Phytoremediation, combined remedies, groundwater remediation, soil remediation, vapor intrusion

Robin McLamb
VP of Operations and Growth

Robin McLamb serves as VP of Operations and Growth, overseeing the full range of functions that keep ANS running and growing — from marketing and brand strategy to internal reporting systems, project logistics, and long-term strategic planning. In this role, she manages the company's web and social presence, drives business development and oversees client management initiatives, and leads efforts such as WOSB certification and conference strategy that position ANS for future growth.

Robin brings nearly a decade of experience in interdisciplinary project management and leadership from an international, publicly traded corporation, where she managed relationships with subsidiaries and the parent organization in Japan. She has also worked as a freelance editor and content generator for financial and corporate events in the Middle East.

Prior to those roles, she spent six years as a non-profit program manager, building stakeholder alliances, driving community-wide research, and managing evidence-based programming. In addition to her professional experience, she founded a 501(c)(3) charity focused on supporting female entrepreneurs in the Global South.

Kevin Bamber
Project Scientist II

Kevin Bamber has over 12 years of experience in agricultural and environmental research. He has extensive experience in applied agronomics and the management and implementation of projects that investigate the environmental impacts of agriculture in numerous cropping systems. His focus areas have included: expanding agricultural uses of existing organic waste-based fertilizers; developing new organic waste-based fertilizers for agricultural and urban use; herbicide testing in major row crops and cool season pasture grasses; and reducing herbicide use through crop rotation, cover cropping, and harvest weed seed control.

As part of the ANS team, Kevin applies his data-driven approach to soil science and extensive field experience to strengthen the company's ongoing site management, monitoring, and installation work. He has developed field guides for identifying and managing insect, fungus, and weed pests affecting site vegetation, and manages procurement for soil, trees, and materials across ANS projects. He is currently pursuing certification as an arborist and training as a drone pilot, further building out his hands-on technical expertise in the field. This depth of field experience is positioning him as ANS's go-to resource for site monitoring and maintenance, complementing the team's business development and design capabilities.

Specialties: Soil science, applied agronomics, nutrient management, integrated pest management, organic waste-based fertilizers, cover cropping, herbicide reduction strategies

Bryan Fischer
Project Scientist II

After graduating from Oklahoma State University, Bryan Fischer began his career in the environmental and energy industry. He is COO and co-owner of Whiterock Resources, an alliance of environmental professionals dedicated to providing support activities to corporations and consultants in the Energy and Environmental Industries.

Over more than 15 years on extensive remediation projects, Bryan has gained deep industry insight from a diverse group of colleagues and peers. His work with both large corporations and independent operators has given him a broad understanding of remediation across project types. Bryan is driven by a strong commitment to restoring land to its natural state.

Bryan has extensive experience in phytoremediation, multi-phase extraction, in-situ bioremediation, groundwater treatment systems, and soil/groundwater monitoring. He also provides licensed oversight for the decommissioning and removal of Underground Storage Tank (UST) systems, pre-construction compliance for pipeline Right of Way (ROW) projects, site restoration, and maintenance project management. In addition, he has installed, planted, and maintained over 2,600 TreeWell Units at 41 project sites in 24 states.

Hayden Beck
Project Scientist I

After graduating from Sewanee: The University of the South, Hayden Beck began his career as a geologist. Starting in the geotechnical industry, he served multiple roles as a soil scientist and materials specialist, assisting and supporting a wide portfolio of civil and geotechnical projects. Transitioning into the environmental industry as a consulting geologist, Hayden built a strong foundation and skill set in environmental site characterization, remedial design investigation, and data collection.

With over six years of experience in the industry, Hayden brings extensive experience in field implementation and operations management. Hayden has experience in both passive and active remediation practices, including Phytoremediation, Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE), Enhanced In-Situ Bioremediation (EISB), In-Situ Chemical Reduction (ISCR), and In-Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO), working on sites with VOC, heavy metal, and petroleum contamination.

As part of the ANS team, Hayden applies his detail-oriented, data-driven approach to help clients achieve their remedial goals.
Specialties: Environmental site characterization, remedial design investigation, hydrogeologic characterization, phytoremediation, soil vapor extraction, in-situ bioremediation, in-situ chemical oxidation and reduction, contaminant fate and transport, drilling oversight, field implementation, remediation system optimization, strong safety record, operations and client management.

Edward Gatliff, late founder of Applied Natural Sciences, a nature-based remediation company

Edward Gatliff, Ph.D.
Founder

Dr. Gatliff began working in the environmental industry in 1987, primarily applying his understanding of vegetation and agronomic principles to remediate contaminated soil and groundwater. In the fall of 1990 he conceived an engineered approach for utilizing trees to remediate deep soil and groundwater, now known as the TreeWell system. With the implementation of this approach in the fall of 1991, he became a pioneer in the use of phytoremediation to clean up deep soil and groundwater. In 1993, Dr. Gatliff founded Applied Natural Sciences, Inc. through which he continued to lead the nation in the commercial implementation of phytoremediation programs, with dozens of successful projects throughout the world.

Dr. Gatliff's path to this work began with a Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He was formerly the Research Director for Servi-Tech, Inc., the world's largest agricultural consulting and testing firm; as well as the Analytical Sciences Division Director for Bowser-Morner, Inc., an environmental and geotechnical engineering and testing firm.

Dr. Gatliff passed away in February of 2021, but his work in the field of phytoremediation lives on.

Beverly Gatliff, co-founder of Applied Natural Sciences, a nature-based remediation company

Beverly Gatliff
Founder

Beverly Gatliff has been a steady partner in Applied Natural Sciences since its founding in 1993, working alongside her husband, Dr. Edward Gatliff, to build the company from its earliest days. While Dr. Gatliff led the technical and scientific vision that grew ANS into one of the country's most respected environmental remediation firms, Beverly supported the business's foundation from behind the scenes — managing the company's bookkeeping and financial record-keeping while also sustaining their family life at home.

Her steady, behind-the-scenes support gave Dr. Gatliff the stability to focus on innovation and growth, and her contributions remain woven into the foundation ANS continues to build on today.