Dawn Blackledge has joined the firm as an industry specialist focusing on engineering. Dawn has over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur in the engineering and environmental consulting fields, as well as in general construction services.
Dawn founded Aerostar Environmental Services, Inc., which grew from a one-person firm to a staff of over 100 employees located in eight offices in five states. After selling Aerostar to a larger environmental services firm, Dawn continued the entrepreneurial spirit by providing startup capital and expertise to a new venture with a firm that is now thriving as a small upcoming business.
She serves as the President of The Blackledge Group, Inc. (TBG), a professional management and consulting firm based in Jacksonville, Florida. TBG specializes in providing sound business growth and marketing strategies to small and mid-sized businesses. Prior to her involvement in environmental consulting, she was employed in oil and gas exploration by Schlumberger Well Services.
On the technical side, Dawn has extensive experience in toxic and hazardous waste site evaluations, hydrocarbon site assessments, surface water quality assessments, RCRA permitting, Pollution Prevention Plans, and NPDES permitting. She has varied experience related to the aerospace, chemical, iron, lead and steel, pulp and paper, transportation, and petroleum industries. Dawn is experienced in a wide range of environmental applications, including environmental permitting at the local, state, and federal levels; compliance of facilities for industrial, domestic, and stormwater regulations; and requirements for groundwater monitoring plans. She has directed multi-disciplinary environmental and geophysical projects for private industry and the public sector.
Dawn holds a bachelor of science degree in geological engineering and has completed the major degree coursework for her master of business administration degree at the University of North Florida. She is registered as a professional geologist and a licensed asbestos consultant (LAC) in Florida. She serves on the dean’s advisory board for the College of Engineering at the University of North Florida and on the School of Engineering advisory board for the University of Mississippi. Her previous board commitments include the board of directors of the Society of American Military Engineers, the board of directors and chair of the strategic planning committee of the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, the board of directors of the American Red Cross.
She was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Board of Professional Geologists in 2000 and served a seven-year appointment.
In her spare time, Dawn likes to run, play golf, and weight train. She is an avid reader and an advocate for small and minority-owned businesses. She has lived in Jacksonville Beach for the past 20 years.
