Vance Fairchild

CEO and Executive Chairman

Vance A. Fairchild serves as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Altamira, where he provides strategic leadership focused on accelerating profitable growth, expanding specialized service offerings and establishing the company’s client-centric culture. He works closely with the management team to drive sustainable growth through strategic initiatives, measurable performance metrics and a commitment to delivering innovative, value-added solutions that help clients achieve their business goals.

A founding investor and board member, Vance assumed the CEO role in 2023 after helping guide Altamira from its recapitalization to a logical transition point incorporating new executive leadership. With 30+ years of leadership experience, he has founded, scaled and led engineering and consulting companies from inception through periods of significant growth, acquisitions/divestments and recapitalizations. His expertise spans the energy, infrastructure and sustainable development sectors, where he has built a reputation for entrepreneurial leadership, strategic execution and creating lasting business value.

Trey Whitley, P.E.

Executive Vice President

Trey Whitley serves as Executive Vice President at Altamira, where he leads the Environmental and Engineering business units. A member of Altamira’s leadership team since its founding, he has been instrumental in driving growth, developing talent, and fostering a culture centered on collaboration, accountability and client success.

With more than 30 years of consulting experience, Trey brings a comprehensive understanding of the industry, having advanced from field engineering roles to positions in design, project management, operational leadership and profit-and-loss management. His breadth of experience enables him to effectively align technical excellence with business strategy, helping clients solve complex challenges and achieve sustainable results. Known for his collaborative and transparent leadership style, Trey excels at building high-performing, multidisciplinary teams and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.

Blake Manuel

Executive Vice President, Finance & Operations

Blake Manuel serves as Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations at Altamira, responsible for driving the company’s financial strategy, operational performance and technology innovation. Since joining Altamira, he has played a key role in strengthening the organization’s operational effectiveness and supporting its growth objectives. He also leads enterprise technology initiatives, including the deployment of artificial intelligence solutions that create competitive advantages across the business.

A seasoned energy industry executive with more than two decades of experience, Blake holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University, an MBA from The University of Texas, and is a CFA charterholder.

Laura Worthen Lodes, P.E.

Chief Engineering Officer

Laura oversees the technical and engineering operations in our company, driving our team towards the creation of groundbreaking solutions that enhance both the quality and efficiency of our processes. With a solid background of over 23 years in the environmental consulting field and holding professional licenses in over 20 states, her expertise is unparalleled. Additionally, Laura’s contributions have been recognized at a high level, evident in her prestigious appointment by the governor to the Oklahoma Air Quality Advisory Council.

TK Akins

Vice President, Integrity

TK Akins serves as Vice President at Altamira, where he leads the Asset Integrity business unit. With more than 15 years of industry experience, he combines technical expertise and strategic leadership to help clients improve asset reliability, manage risk and achieve operational excellence.

TK specializes in asset integrity management, consulting service development and program execution. His ability to align technical solutions with business objectives enables clients to protect critical infrastructure, enhance performance and create sustainable value. Through a strong commitment to innovation and client service, TK helps drive growth for both Altamira and the organizations it serves.

Colby Lowrie

Vice President, Business Development

Colby Lowrie serves as Vice President of Business Development at Altamira, bringing more than 15 years of experience in engineering, asset integrity and regulatory compliance across the oil and gas, water infrastructure and petrochemical industries. A civil engineer by training, he is known for combining deep technical expertise with strategic commercial insight to help organizations improve reliability, maintain compliance and drive operational performance.

In his role at Altamira, Colby leads business development and commercial strategy initiatives, partnering with clients to address complex regulatory, technical and operational challenges. His collaborative approach and industry knowledge have helped organizations achieve measurable gains in compliance performance, cost efficiency, risk reduction and stakeholder satisfaction. Through a strong focus on long-term partnerships and value creation, Colby plays a key role in advancing Altamira’s growth and client success.

Maria Sepulveda

Director, Human Resources

Maria, Altamira’s champion of people and culture, strategically leads the organization, influencing everything from results to well-being. Beyond administrative tasks, she shapes the backbone of Altamira by attracting top talent, fostering a positive culture, and driving alignment with proactive programming. Maria prioritizes a safe, ethical work environment, creating a sense of belonging for all. With decades of diverse HR experience across industries, including environmental consulting and healthcare, she advocates for those in need and actively engages in her local community. Maria’s passion for family, backyard grilling, and the visual arts adds depth to her dynamic profile.