ERI is the nation’s premier consulting firm that specializes in the management of environmental risk for commercial lenders. ERI’s clients include a broad base of commercial lenders, from regional banks to banks with national footprints. Since 1999, ERI has been dedicated to providing commercial lenders with effective and efficient due diligence services and guidance. ERI is staffed with environmental professionals whose diverse experience and expertise enables ERI to offer a wide variety of traditional and progressive risk management services. ERI is not a traditional environmental consulting firm that performs Phase I or Phase II Environmental Site Assessments. As a result, ERI’s recommendations represent a truly independent, third party opinion that conforms to the client bank’s specific risk tolerance.
Our History
Since our inception in 1999 (First Union was ERI’s first client, as a result of outsourcing the bank’s Environmental Policy Group to ERI), our national banking client base has grown to over 60 commercial lenders. ERI custom tailors our service model to meet a broad range of commercial lending operations for banks of all sizes and internal structure.
Our Leadership Team
Greg Lathan, MPSH
President
Developed ERI in 1999 to meet the banking sector’s needs of the time. President of ERI and the EI group and a member of top professional associations around the county
Karen Nelson, PG
Senior Vice President
28 years of experience in the environmental industry and a Licensed Geologist in North Carolina
Bill McGuinness, PG
Vice President
Over 30 years of experience in the environmental industry and a Licensed Geologist in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida
About the Team & What We Do
ERI is staffed with environmental professionals with backgrounds in environmental banking risk management, regulatory oversight, and consulting. Our diverse experience and expertise enables ERI to offer a wide variety of traditional and progressive risk management services. ERI is not an environmental consulting firm that performs Phase I or Phase II Environmental Site Assessments. As a result, ERI’s recommendations represent a truly independent, third party opinion that incorporates the environmental risk tolerance of the client bank.
Security
ERI is committed to supporting the needs of our clients and keeping your data secure by employing the following:
- Dedicated IT Security Staff
- Secure server with strong user password policies
- Network based intrusion detection
- Professionally managed firewall service
- Logged network access
- Logged physical access to building
- Required proximity card for building entry
- Secure onsite document destruction
- Employee background checks
- Discrete database ordering to protect client identification
Careers
Immediate Job Opportunities
Environmental Professional / Environmental Risk Analyst
ERI hires Environmental Risk Analysts/Scientists with Phase I experience. Individuals must be well organized, positive, and possess the ability to manage multiple projects at one time. Excellent communication (verbal and written) skills are essential to this position. Science degree required. Environmental Risk Managers, Geologists, Engineers and Environmental Professionals with at least 5 years experience should apply.
ERI is the nation’s largest environmental risk consulting firm, specializing in the management of environmental risk for commercial lenders. ERI’s clients include a broad base of commercial lenders, from regional banks to banks with national and international footprints. ERI provides third-party review of environmental assessment reports and conducts Records Search with Risk Assessments (RSRAs)/desktop reviews on commercial properties. ERI’s third-party reviews of environmental assessments and property regulatory/historical data are accompanied by free “day-to-day” technical support to commercial loan officers and bank risk managers, as well as complimentary assistance in developing/amending environmental risk management policy based on our client banks’ specific risk tolerances. ERI is not a traditional environmental consulting firm that performs Phase I or Phase II Environmental Site Assessments. As a result, ERI’s recommendations represent a truly independent, third-party opinion that conforms to the client bank’s specific risk tolerance. The key to our success is the collaboration of all of ERI’s permanent environmental risk management professionals working together in a single office location in Charlotte, North Carolina. Well, almost…
ERI is always looking for talented individuals with experience in the environmental field to join our team. We hire Geologists, Engineers, and Environmental Scientists.
If you are interested in an employment opportunity with ERI, please send a resume and cover letter.
Giving Back
We are more than just a business – we value making an impact. We love to support a good cause as much as we love Environmental Risk Assessment, and we value serving others.
St. Joseph Social Service Center
ERI participates annually as a sponsor in the Columbia Bank Annual Golf Outing. The October 2022 event was conducted to benefit the St. Joseph Social Service Center, an organization that provides support for the homeless and poor in Elizabeth, NJ and surrounding counties.
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation -
Proud to support the Chicago Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Charlotte Rescue Mission
In concert with the Environmental Bankers Association (EBA), ERI sponsored and coordinated preparing and serving lunch to residents at the Charlotte Rescue Mission – Rebound House
Lyndale Park Gardens
ERI participated with the EBA Gives Back program in planting perennials at the butterfly and hummingbird gardens adjacent to Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, MN
Algalita Marine Research and Education Center
ERI participated with the EBA Gives Back program to assist the with ocean plastics pollution research in Long Beach, CA
180 Place Shelter
In concert with the EBA, ERI sponsored and coordinated assembling fleece blankets and preparing personal care kits (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.) for the 180 Place Shelter Mission in Charleston, SC
Loaves & Fishes
This holiday season, the ERI team partnered with Loaves & Fishes. We’ve assembled special Christmas gift bags filled with essential items to brighten the season for those in need. These gift bags will accompany Friendship Trays this December.
Ride to End Alzheimer's
In July 2024, ERI was proud to sponsor the Alzheimer’s Association Ride to End Alzheimer’s! We received the response below from one of the participants who we sponsored. “THANK YOU so much for your advocacy on my efforts! I’m extremely touched by your thoughtfulness and your company’s generosity! Please pass this along to the folks at your company that made the choice to support me….I’m forever grateful! And please share my story … I’m still fundraising!“
Nourish Up
ERI is proud to support Nourish Up, an organization that delivers meals to more than 500 elderly households to Charlotte. Today, the ERI team prepared gifts to be delivered with those meals during the 2024 holiday season.
Social
Every now and then we like to let our hair down and socialize with our colleagues and clients. For example, ERI sponsored the Cocktail Reception at the 2022 EBA Conference at Nuvole 22 Rooftop Bar in Charlotte accompanied by music from North Carolina’s own Sassafras Band.
Representative Banking Clients
Legacy Banking Clients
“Thank you also for all your partnership and hard work this year. ERI is an essential contributor for our business, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration.“
Georgina Dannatt, Environmental Risk Manager, Bank of the West
“…we have a very tight, long-term working relationship and he should call me to discuss your phenomenal company.”
Dan Berenschot – Managing Director – Chief Appraiser, CIBC Bank USA
“Wow, review complete! Thank you, super-fast turnaround greatly appreciated!”
Richelle Morrissey, Appraisal and Risk Coordinator, Valley National Bank