Celeste Barnes-Crouse is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist with five years of experience and a background in environmental policy and geography. As a permit specialist, she’s experienced in preparing and securing environmental permits from federal, state, and local agencies for clients to conduct their projects in compliance with all relevant regulations. She is well-versed in marine infrastructure and environmental legislation, combining these skills to support projects.
What is your favorite ESA moment/memory so far?
The Seattle-Portland Office Kickball Game! It’s held annually for the ESA Northwest region, but this was my first. It was great to see so many folks and get to connect with each other outside of the office. Everyone gave it their all out on the field for a super fun and friendly competition. Lots of cute dogs made an appearance too!
What does it mean to you to be part of an employee-owned company?
Being part of an employee-owned company feels like a meaningful shift from traditional corporate structures. I value working in a place where profits are shared more fairly and where people are genuinely invested in collective success. ESA feels like a workplace built on mutual respect and a clear sense of purpose, and that’s the kind of place where I feel I can do my best work.
What keeps you coming to work here at ESA every day?
It’s a mix of meaningful work and good people. I have some of the best clients and an amazing group of colleagues in the Seattle Office. I get to do work that matters to me, and I get to do it with folks who care about the same things. That makes showing up every day feel worthwhile.
What is your hidden or special talent(s)?
I’m a great baker! Sweet treats are my favorite. I recently successfully made macarons for the first time, and I was thrilled with how they came out!
What’s your favorite thing to do when you are out of the office?
I know everyone says they love to travel… but I love to travel! The world is so big and there are so many beautiful places to see. Experiencing new cultures and new foods is so exciting to me. I try to go on one big adventure every year. This year it was Japan, which was truly amazing!
What are three skills that you bring to the ESA team? In other words, what should colleagues know to reach out to you about?
- Expertise in the marine environment
- Strong biology background
- Extensive environmental permitting experience
In a nutshell, what kind of work does your team do?
My team was formed from the acquisition of 48 North Solutions in March 2025. We call ourselves the Marine Infrastructure Team (MI Team). We provide regulatory and environmental support for all kinds of marine infrastructure projects – anything from mooring scientific instruments for research to deploying marine energy systems. For example, we do a lot of subsea cable work to help install enhanced internet services.
Describe your role at ESA and the type of work you do.
I’m a Senior Environmental Scientist in the Seattle Office. I often work on NEPA projects, on documents like biological assessments, and prepare permit applications.
the sweater she’s wearing! Multi-talented!
