Experience and Excellence Leads to Success
With diverse backgrounds and a wide range of cross-disciplinary experience, the Apex leadership team is a group of dynamic and energetic executives who blend competence with care. Our hands-on approach and focus on strategic thinking, innovation, action, and accountability is essential in shaping a culture of trust, ensuring a safe and healthy workplace, and serving our clients—all part of our commitment to putting people first.
Apex Leadership Team
Shawn Doherty
Chief Executive Officer
Shawn Doherty brings over 30 years of experience in environmental and sustainability consulting to his role as CEO. His career spans from field hydrogeologist to C-suite advisor, with expertise in ESG advisory across key sectors including oil and gas, power, chemical, and mining. A former track and field athlete, Shawn's competitive drive has shaped his approach to professional challenges. He has successfully led high-growth initiatives across multiple continents, orchestrated business turnarounds, and guided organizations through critical transitions. Shawn's career highlights include developing and implementing a global commercial strategy that nearly doubled top-line revenue and spearheading digital business initiatives including overseeing a market leading EMIS implementation service line. His leadership style emphasizes customer-centricity, staff empowerment, innovation, and results-oriented management. Deeply committed to preserving Apex's agile culture, Shawn is focused on driving sustainable growth and delivering exceptional value in the evolving ESG landscape. He holds a BS in Geology from Texas Christian University, an MS in Earth and Space Science from UCLA, and an AMP certification from The Wharton School. Shawn serves on the board of Fort Worth, Texas non-profit LVTRise as a result of a recent merger with a non-profit he co-founded in 2017. Shawn and his wife Kelli (and their boxer, Ruby) reside in Texas where they are close to their son and his young family.
Donell (Doni) Murphy, MBA
Chief Strategy & Growth Officer
Known for her dynamic, strategic, and results-oriented approach, Doni brings over 20 years of experience in growth, operations, and sustainability technical leadership in the industry. As CSGO, Doni leads Apex’s commercial growth strategy, including sales, marketing, and client development, as well as acquisition pursuit and integration. Doni earned her BS in forest biology from Colorado State University and her MBA at the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business. Prior to joining Apex, Doni served as global director and managing partner of new business integration for the global consultancy Environmental Resources Management (ERM), where she led mergers and acquisitions (M&A) integration strategy. During her 13 years at ERM, Doni served in various leadership positions, overseeing commercial and operational growth initiatives, and working closely with business stakeholders to integrate strategy throughout all functions of the organization. In her spare time, Doni enjoys running, kickboxing, and volunteering.
Bruce Maisel, MBA
Chief Human Resources Officer
With over 30 years of experience in the environmental engineering and consulting space, Bruce brings deep expertise in both human resources and business operations to his role as CHRO. Passionate about employee engagement and building a people-focused culture, Bruce taps into his multi-faceted background to align talent strategy with organizational goals. Bruce started his career as a technical program manager, utilizing his degree in chemistry from Brandeis University, and his MS in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to direct environmental management projects for both private sector and government clients. After earning his MBA at Boston University and taking on a series of operational leadership roles, Bruce pivoted to focus on the human resources function. In the past 17 years, Bruce has served in various talent leadership roles for both large and mid-sized organizations, helping to drive growth-focused human resources strategies that deliver value and impact for employees, organizations, and clients. When he isn’t working, Bruce enjoys skiing and hiking with family and friends.
Jim Cochrane, CISSP
Chief Information Officer
As CIO, Jim combines his background in both information technology and his passion for innovation and leadership with over 30 years of diverse industry experience. Jim’s vision, and ability to enhance, adapt, and implement technology in both a secure and reliable manner ensures efficient and effective technical solutions for Apex. Before joining Apex, Jim implemented cutting edge solutions for the Orange County Tax Collector’s office as their CIO, benefiting hundreds of thousands of residents in Florida. Prior to that, he served as IT director with General Dynamics where he led several national and international projects focusing on technology infrastructure, cloud solutions, security, and innovation. He holds an MS in management of information systems from Florida Institute of Technology and a BS in computer science from the University of Central Florida. Jim enjoys hiking, running, and spending time with his wife and three daughters.
Matt Hardesty, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Matt brings over 14 years of financial management experience to Apex. As CFO, he oversees all financial and accounting responsibilities including financial planning and analysis (FP&A), corporate accounting and reporting, tax, compliance, and risk management, as well as Apex’s data management capabilities through the build-out of an enterprise wide KPI reporting solution. He also provides leadership in Apex’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities including sourcing and evaluation of acquisition candidates, and management and support of all phases of diligence, deal execution, and integration. Prior to joining Apex, Matt spent the first six years of his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the transaction services, advisory, and assurance practices. Matt received his BS in accounting and finance from Virginia Tech. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four young children.
Amandeep Kang, PE
Regional Business Unit Leader
Amandeep has over 20 years of experience in engineering, environmental consulting, and operations management. As Apex’s vice president of the West region, he is responsible for operational and business development across a footprint that spans from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Adept at both mentoring and developing staff and solving complex technical problems, Amandeep earned his BS in civil engineering at Thapar Institute for Engineering and Technology, India; an MS in civil/environmental engineering at Texas Tech University; and an MBA at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. Amandeep is based out of our Dallas office and is a Texas-registered professional engineer (PE). When he isn’t working, Amandeep enjoys playing cricket with his two sons and a variety of outdoor activities with his family.
Ryan Trahan, PE
Regional Business Unit Leader
Ryan has over 20 years of experience in infrastructure engineering and construction specializing in drinking water, environmental, and stormwater infrastructure. A certified professional engineer in multiple states, Ryan is an alum of Northeastern University where he majored in civil engineering and minored in business administration. Ryan was named a 2018 National Rising Stars by Civil & Structural Magazine and Zweig Group and the 2018 ENR New England Top Young Professional. Ryan is a strategic leader known for cultivating a vibrant organizational culture that fosters teamwork, inclusivity, and high employee engagement. Simultaneously, Ryan demonstrates exceptional financial acumen, consistently delivering profitability and shareholder value through strategic decision-making and fiscal responsibility. In his current role as senior vice president at Apex, Ryan oversees the East Business Unit. His responsibilities encompass the delivery of integrated water, environmental, health and safety, and engineering solutions for public and private sector clients across the East Coast.
Stephen Choi
Controller
Stephen brings over 18 years of financial and accounting experience to Apex. As the controller he oversees all financial and accounting responsibilities including project accounting, accounts payable and receivable, corporate accounting, income tax reporting, and other areas that focus on the quality and accuracy of Apex’s financial results. Prior to joining Apex, Stephen served as chief financial officer and chief accounting officer for the Washington Football Team where he led all aspects of financial management, budget and forecasting, risk management, and strategic planning. Prior to that, he began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in transaction services and in the assurance practice where he earned his CPA designation. Stephen received his BS in accounting from the University of Maryland College Park. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, and two dogs.
Jay Strauss
Executive Director, Health & Safety
Jay is a skilled quality, health, safety, and environment (QHSE) leader with over 30 years serving in both industry and professional settings. Prior to joining Apex, his career focused on improving QHSE performance for large, complex industrial clients through the implementation of innovative operational management systems and systematic audit processes. At Apex, Jay is responsible for ensuring that health and safety (H&S) are at the top of mind for all employees, leading our internal H&S team, tracking, and measuring H&S leading and lagging indicators, and reinforcing a spirit of continuous improvement with Apex’s WorkSafe program. Jay is known for his approachable and interpersonal leadership style, and his ability to engage stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Jay holds an MS in environmental science from Johns Hopkins University and a BS from Ohio State University. When he isn’t working, Jay enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and friends.