Barbara specializes in the economics of natural resources and environmental services, with a particular focus on water, agriculture, recreation, habitat and endangered species, land use, and ecosystem services.  With an academic background and personal interest in both the natural and social sciences, Barbara integrates insight and knowledge from ecology, hydrology, anthropology, demography, and pyschology into her economics work. She has served as an expert witness on a range of economic and demographic issues. For diverse clients, Barbara identifies the social and economic consequences of alternative management strategies and actions, values resources and ecosystem services, and estimates the economic development impacts of policies, industries, or actions.  She is also experienced in natural resource damage analysis (NRDA), comprehensive land use analysis, NEPA socioeconomic impact analysis, regional economic impact modeling (using IMPLAN), and modeling of tradeoffs using multicriteria analysis. Her particular interest is in developing integrated frameworks and cost benefit analyses to assist natural resource managers in making informed decisions.  

Travis is an expert in the economics of natural resources, with a special focus on agriculture and water resources. Travis has an academic background in business finance and a personal background and interest in sustainable agriculture.  He has led many types of economic analyses for regional and business level planning efforts, and has served as lead economist and expert witness in numerous water rights cases.  In addition to consulting on agricultural projects, Travis is also a part owner of an oilseed pressing company (Ole World Oils), part owner of a small vegetable and berry farm (Hilltop Haven Farm), Treasurer for the Missoula Conservation District, Treasurer for the Western Montana Growers Cooperative (WMGC), and member of the Montana Sustainable Growers Union (Homegrown).  

Winston is a research economist at Highland Economics with experience in transportation economics, non-market valuation of resources, land use policy, and water economics.  Winston is well-versed in the use of statistical and data analysis software, and has a strong background in economic theory and environmental policy.  He has a B.S. in environmental sciences, policy, and management from the University of Minnesota and a M.S. from Oregon State University in Applied Economics, with a focus on natural resource and environmental economics.

​Aidan is an agricultural specialist with academic and practical experience in applied agricultural research, specialty crops, organic crop production, and environmental issues. Aidan draws from skills in primary data collection and analysis, geospatial analysis, and stakeholder engagement gained from work experience, his master’s degree in horticulture from Washington State University, and his bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies focused in sustainable food and farming from the University of Montana.

Rachel Pearce-Smith is a natural resource and environmental economist with experience analyzing agriculture, climate change impacts, environmental quality, and water resources. Rachel is skilled in data collection, survey design, and economic and statistical analysis to provide information and support decision-making on a variety of natural resource and environmental topics. Rachel’s recent projects include estimating the effects of drought on agricultural land prices, analyzing the value of providing reliable surface water supplies to an area with declining groundwater levels, and developing a tool to estimate the economic and environmental benefits of green infrastructure and best management practices to minimize environmental effects of development. She has a B.A. in psychology from the University of Puget Sound and a M.S. from Oregon State University in Applied Economics, with a focus on natural resource and environmental economics

Bob is an expert in natural resource economics research and project management, including economic analysis of water resources, benefit-cost analysis, economic base studies, transportation pricing, land-use analysis, comprehensive natural resource planning, water and energy conservation, agricultural development, and damage analysis and valuation. He is a nationally recognized expert in water and natural resource planning and evaluation, and has testified in numerous litigation cases, involving Indian water rights, economic feasibility, energy development and use, agricultural damages, ESA, interest rates, beneficial use of water, and water allocation. He has also served as an economic expert and technical team leader for negotiations related to water rights, damage claims, water leasing and marketing, and land settlements.