The family-oriented team at RATES bring over 90 years of combined water system experience to guarantee you and your team and systems the best care and information.
Lee A. michalsky
Owner
Mr. Michalsky is recognized on state, regional and national levels for water, wastewater, sanitary survey, and asset management training courses and holds a State of Montana 1B Water Treatment, 3D-OT Waste Water Treatment and 1A Water Distribution certificate. Lee conducts sanitary surveys, system assessments, and provides technical assistance to tribal systems. Lee also manages the administration and operations of RATES.
Dave SChultz, PE
Owner
Mr. Schultz conducts sanitary surveys, system assessments, and provides technical assistance to tribal systems, in addition to managing the administration and operations of RATES. Dave is a professional engineer and also holds a State of Montana 1B Water Treatment and 1A Water Distribution certificate.
jason michalsky
Environmental Development Specialist
Jason Michalsky brings five years of experience working with utility boards to establish or revise by-laws, policies and procedures, writing resolutions/ordinances, meeting with tribal councils to review grants, quarterly financial reports, updates on construction timelines, and agreements between utility commissions and tribal councils.
sarah robbin
Environmental Development Specialist
Sarah Robbin helps to coordinate with funding agencies-both State and Federal. She holds a 4A/4B operator certification within the State of MT and has working experience with ground water systems and wastewater systems. Mrs. Robbin brings 5 years of experience working with utility boards, system operators, and the public to create policies and procedures, budgets, rate studies.
barb Burkland
Environmental Development Specialist
Barbara Burkland was an Environmental Scientist for EPA, in the Region 8 Drinking Water Unit from 2002-2020. She works part time for RATES performing environmental information operations and assistance to tribal systems located throughout EPA R8, among other tasks. During that time, she initially worked in both enforcement and compliance assistance roles but transitioned to full time
DAVE ROBBIN
Quality Assurance Manager
Dave Robbin reviews all documents for quality assurance prior to them being delivered to the EPA. Dave works independently of the field service unit. He has the responsibility to ensure that RATES delivers a high-quality product to both the EPA and the Tribes.
Nick Jensen
Environmental Development Specialist
Nick Jenson has been working for RATES assisting with technical assistance visits as well as Sanitary surveys for Region 8 and Wyoming. He is the newest member of RATES and is currently studying to become a 4A/4B water operator. He works full-time for RATES performing environmental information operations and assistance to tribal systems located throughout EPA R8, among other tasks.
Connie Worl
Quality Assurance
Connie Worl is part of the QA Team. She may perform QA/QC reviews on environmental information operations document reviews and submission to EPA R8. Mrs. Worl joined the RATES team in 2019 and currently provides quality assurance oversight of survey reports before they are submitted to the EPA. Mrs. Worl's goal is to provide high quality and professional reports which reflect the high standards the RATES team strives for.
Will Schultz
Environmental Development Specialist
Will Schultz brings a background in data collection and analysis. He is working currently to obtain his water certification in Montana is hard at work in getting his prerequisite visits completed. He holds a bachelor’s degree in MIS from the University of Montana. He works full-time for RATES performing environmental information operations and assistance to tribal systems located throughout EPA R8, among other tasks.
Ronnie Fisher
Rural Environmental Development Specialist
Ronnie Fisher is an enrolled Crow Tribal member who worked 8 years as a Maintenance Worker/ Water Treatment Plant Operator holding a 1B Surface Water Treatment Certificate and a 3A Water Distribution Operator Certificate for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Crow Agency, MT. He recently joined RATES as a Compliance Specialist to ensure tribal water systems remain compliant to EPA. He works full-time for RATES performing environmental information operations and assistance to tribal systems located throughout EPA R8, among other tasks.
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Diane Monahan
Environmental Development Specialist
Diane Monahan currently works with RATES performing training and technical assistance throughout the region. She has been a Wyoming water/wastewater operator for over thirty years and has Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Michigan University. She currently maintains four Wyoming DEQ Operator Licenses: Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment, Distribution, and Collection. Diane managed the City of Gillette, Wyoming Water System for over 14 years supervising overall operations and maintenance of the regional system. As a circuit rider for Midwest Assistance Program (RCAP), Diane’s responsibilities included conducting sanitary surveys on public water systems in the state of Wyoming and completing evaluations of water and wastewater treatment facilities for ten reservations in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Other activities included conducting training opportunities for operators and offering general comments on the management, operations, and maintenance of the systems. She works part time for RATES performing environmental information operations and assistance to tribal systems located throughout EPA R8, among other tasks.
Shelley Nolan
Environmental Development Specialist
Shelley is a Montana native, born and raised on what is called the Hi-line. She grew up in Havre, MT, along Hwy 2, 42 miles from the Canadian border of Alberta in a farming, ranching, and railroad community. She served in the Army for three years in Germany as a medical corpsman. She also attended college to learn about environmental health field practices and treating drinking water and wastewater. Shelley then served as a certified operator for 38 years with 11 years in operations and as the Superintendent of communities’ surface water treatment plant, wells, storage tanks, boosters, etc. She taught as an adjunct faculty for 11 years with MSU-Northern. She has worked in environmental labs analyzing metals for drinking water, wastewater and environmental samples. Shelley has been a technical assistance provider for Montana Rural Water Systems and with Cadmus and RATES. She was employed by the State of Montana as a rule manager for DBPs and SWTR for two years, and as the drinking water program manager for the State of Montana for 6 years. She works part- time for RATES performing environmental information operations and assistance to tribal systems located throughout EPA R8, among other tasks.