Rhiannon Whitehead
Staff Hydrogeologist
Perseverance, patience, and kindness are my ingredients to success and happiness. We can apply this not only to our lives, but to the work that we do.
Hired
- 2023
Location
- Kennewick, WA
Expertise
Rhiannon focuses on groundwater and how complex subsurface geology can impact water resources. Much of her time is spent in the field, collecting data from wells, installing field equipment, and overseeing well drilling. Rhiannon also analyzes field data to help clients like local farms, municipalities and water districts manage and improve their systems to ensure safe and sustainable water distribution.
“Water is such a precious resource that everyone should have safe access to,” Rhiannon says. “As a child, I was constantly dreaming up creative solutions to natural resource problems. I always knew that I wanted to become a scientist and make those dreams come to life.”
Her fascination with natural resources eventually led Rhiannon to pursue a degree in geology at Central Washington University. While still in school, Rhiannon logged some field experience working as a restoration technician for a regional fisheries enhancement group (RFEG), where she focused primarily on riparian zones. Then, she met GeoEngineers.
“In my senior year, Bridget August gave a presentation to a class that I was taking,” Rhiannon explains. “I thought GeoEngineers sounded like a wonderful company to work with, and even got the opportunity to watch a GeoEngineers project in action on the Central Washington University campus. I reconnected with Bridget at an AWRA meeting, and we talked more about the company and what it’s like to be a hydrogeologist. I knew that it was the place I wanted to be.”
Rhiannon has a role to play at each stage of our projects, from planning and fieldwork to analysis and final reports. She enjoys learning something new every day and is quickly becoming a well-rounded consultant who can support other disciplines and project efforts across the company. Rhiannon takes every opportunity to learn from the experienced people around her, and she believes this broad experience will give her a strong technical foundation as she builds her career.
“I work with colleagues that have been doing this for a lot longer than I have, and I think it is impressive that they know so much about many different things,” Rhiannon says. “Each person at Geo is a treasure trove of knowledge, and they are always willing to share and help me learn.”
Rhiannon’s diverse interests also extend to her free time, where she stays busy with creative hobbies and outdoor adventures. You might find Rhiannon cooking a gourmet meal for loved ones, piecing a new quilt, making jewelry, unwinding with a good book, exploring the Columbia River and nearby hiking trails—or making cordage out of materials that she picked up in the woods!
