Bonton Associates has welcomed Michael Ellis, PE as a partner serving as Principal Engineer for water resources and environmental projects and services. Ellis joins Bonton with more than 25 years of professional experience, most recently as Vice President of Strategic Environmental Affairs at U.S. Sugar. Immediately prior, he served as Executive Director of the State of Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), a position appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards in 2016. Under his leadership, Louisiana’s $50 billion, 50-year Coastal Master Plan and its sweeping initiatives were unanimously adopted into legislation.
In his new role, Ellis will help Bonton Associates expand its presence in existing markets and grow into new markets while maintaining the high level of customer service foundational to the firm’s ongoing success. His diverse background spans industry, consulting, and government agencies, providing a unique and comprehensive perspective for clients of every type. He has extensive experience as a wastewater capital program manager, and his significant accomplishments with CPRA add immediate depth to the firm’s water resource and environmental capabilities, including coastal engineering services.
“Michael brings a deep well of knowledge and know-how to our team,” says company founder and principal Darius Bonton, PE, MBA. “His tireless efforts with CPRA will be instrumental in protecting and preserving our state’s vital coast for generations. He has run public infrastructure capital improvements, managed large-scale civil engineering and construction work, and directed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remediation projects. Just as important, he manages people with great care and a team-first approach. I can’t imagine a better fit for both our culture and our ambitious plans for the future.”
“I’ve spent most of my career working to make a difference in water and the environment,” says Ellis. “That’s my passion, so it was important for me to join a company that shared my values and beliefs. I have always been impressed with Darius’s professionalism and technical expertise, and I know that Bonton Associates is a reflection of his vision and ethos. I’m very happy to be a part of the leadership team he has assembled.”
Ellis holds bachelor’s degrees in Civil Engineering and International Trade and Finance from Louisiana State University. An avid sportsman, he enjoys anything that brings him on or near water, whether it’s hunting, surfing or, especially, fishing on the Louisiana Coast.