Sagebrush Consultants, L.L.C. maintains a permanent staff and retains many consultants and associates in specialized fields in order to maintain the availability of a broad, experienced group of professionals. The staff includes individuals with professional degrees and experience in the social, behavioral, and physical sciences, while associates complement the staff with degrees in a variety of social, natural, and physical sciences. Both the Principal Archaeologist/Owner and the Principal Investigator are members of the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA). Sagebrush works regularly with other firms in teaming arrangements to provide clients with the most experienced and balanced environmental project teams. Individual staff information links are located to the right.
Principal Archaeologist/Owner  Mr. Polk has extensive experience in conducting and managing cultural resources projects in 16 states, including all 10 western states. He established Sagebrush Archaeological Consultants in 1983 (which became Sagebrush Consultants, L.L.C. in 1996), and has since been the owner and Principal Archaeologist. Since he began his career in the field in the early 1970s, Mr. Polk has been involved in a variety of tasks concerning prehistoric and historic archaeology, history, HABS/HAER documentation, National Register nominations, architectural history, resource management plans, and the National Environmental Protection Act. Mr. Polk has experience in both prehistoric and historic archaeological excavation and survey, including project management, field supervision, and excavation. Mr. Polk has worked with a wide variety of clients in both the public and private sectors, and he has gained a broad perspective in planning and development issues. He has gained skills in integrating cultural resources requirements with environmental and engineering planning programs. Prior to establishing Sagebrush Consultants, L.L.C., Mr. Polk worked for a variety of institutions including: San Diego State University (1971-1972); Arizona State Museum; Tucson (1972-1973); Idaho State University in Pocatello (1973-1975); Bureau of Land Management, Vale and Prineville, Oregon (1975-1976); Michigan State University (1976-1980); and Environment Consultants, Inc., Dallas, Texas (1980-1983). M.A. Anthropology B.A. Anthropology Principal Investigator- Historian/Archaeologist  Mr. Southworth holds an M.A. in Anthropology (Historic Archaeology) with a minor in History, as well as a B.S. degree (double major) in both History and Anthropology. In the past 20 years, he has worked in six western states in a variety of undertakings in historic archaeology. These include tasks covering archaeological excavations, project management, osteological analysis, artifact analysis, surveying, HABS/HAER documentation, historic research, National Register Nominations, architectural evaluations, and report preparation. Projects Mr. Southworth has participated in excavating the Tooele City Pioneer Cemetery (the first pioneer cemetery in Utah ), the Old Social Hall, Cove Fort, Camp Floyd, and the Emery Lime Kilns. He has also participated in the evaluation of numerous bridges, farmsteads, and rural and urban community landscapes and architecture. He recorded 2,700 names at Names Hill (Wyoming). Prior to working for Sagebrush Consultants, L.L.C., Mr. Southworth worked for the Utah Department of Transportation as a specialist responsible for both project review and management for transportation projects involving cultural resources in the northern half of the state. These responsibilities included management and review of cultural resource management consultants, as well as the NEPA process, Section 106 review, Section 4(f), paleontological review and evaluation, management of the Historic Bridge Program, and being UDOT's representative on the Utah Historic Trails Consortium. M.A. Anthropology/History (minor) Teaching Certificate B.S. (Double Major) Anthropology/History Senior Archaeologist/Owner  Ms. Polk has over 25 years of experience in conducting and managing cultural resources projects in ten states including eight western states. Since she began her career in the field in the early 1970s, Ms. Polk has carried out a variety of tasks in both prehistoric and historic archaeology, and in history and historic structure evaluation. She has experience in both prehistoric and historic archaeological excavation and survey, including field supervision and excavation. Ms. Polk has worked with a wide variety of clients in both the public and private sectors and has gained a broad perspective in planning and development issues. This has helped her gain skills in integrating cultural resources requirements with environmental and engineering planning programs. Prior to working for Sagebrush Consultants, L.L.C., Ms. Polk worked for a variety of institutions including: San Diego State University (1971, 1973); Arizona State Museum, Tucson (1972-1973); Idaho State University, Pocatello (1974-1975); Michigan State University, East Lansing (1979-1980); and Environment Consultants, Inc., Dallas, Texas (1981-1983). B.A. History Graduate Studies in Anthropology Graduate Studies in Anthropology Senior Archaeologist Ms. Simmons Johnson holds an M.A. in Anthropology from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. She has experience in both historic and prehistoric archaeology and has participated in various projects in the Intermountain area. Ms. Simmons Johnson is proficient in project and field supervision, site evaluation, data collection, file searches, research and documentation of historic sites and events, excavation and mapping of both historic and prehistoric sites, lab analysis, and participation in all phases of final report preparation. Prior to joining the staff of Sagebrush Consultants, L.L.C., Ms. Simmons Johnson worked for the USDA Forest Service, the Office of Public Archaeology (OPA), and the American Expedition to Petra doing field survey, excavation, lab processing, and curation of artifacts. M.A. Anthropology B.A. International Relations Archaeologist Ms. Pagano was trained in Archaeology, Anthropology, and Sociology at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, where she received a Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree. She has experience in both historic and prehistoric archaeology and has participated in cultural resource projects throughout the Great Basin. She is proficient in intensive and reconnaissance level survey; excavation; mapping; site evaluation; artifact inventory; and curation. She is also proficient in identification and analysis of faunal remains and ceramic, lithic, and historic artifacts. Prior to joining the staff of Sagebrush Consultants, L.L.C., Ms. Pagano participated in a Bureau of Land Management Land Exchange survey with the Center for Environmental Anthropology at Idaho State University in 1997. In 1996, she worked at WSU as a Supplemental Instructor and Tutor for the Department of Anthropology, as well as a volunteer assistant at Weber State University's Archaeological Field School from 1996-1998. She was employed at Utah State University as an Archaeologist for the Utah Test and Training Range project with the USAF in 1996. B.I.S. Anthropology/Archaeology/Sociology Archaeologist Ms. Pomerleau obtained an M.A. in Education from the University of California, Davis, and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology/Archaeology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Ms. Pomerleau has over nine years of experience conducting prehistoric and historic archaeological research in California, the Great Basin, and the Southwest. Ms. Pomerleau is proficient in pre-field research, intensive and reconnaissance survey, site evaluation, test excavation, data recovery, technical analyses of lithics and shell beads, and collaboration and coordination with various agencies and clients. Ms. Pomerleau also has experience in implementing provisions of Section 106 of the NHPA (National Historic Preservation Act), NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act), and CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act). Prior to joining the staff of Sagebrush Consultants, L.L.C., Ms. Pomerleau balanced a career in Cultural Resources Management, while teaching Geography, World History, and U.S. History at the high school level in California. |
|