THE TEAM

Brian is the Director of the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center and is a Senior Environmental Specialist at the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment. He is a Registered Sanitarian, Environmental Health Specialist, and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator. Originally from Upstate New York, Brian has lived on Cape Cod for 15 years and currently resides in Mashpee, where he formerly served as Chair of the local Board of Health. 

George Heufelder is Project Specialist at The Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) and former director of the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment . He has been instrumental in both beginning the MASSTC and initiating the first-of-its-kind electronic performance tracking service for alternative onsite septic systems. George conducts research on various aspects of onsite wastewater disposal including nitrogen, phosphorus and contaminant of emerging concern removal. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Kansas State
University and a Master’s Degree in Biology from Eastern Michigan University. He is a Class 4 Treatment Plant Operator, a Certified Title 5 Soil Evaluator and Septic System Inspector and he is a Registered Sanitarian in the Commonwealth.

Bryan joined the MASSTC team in 2020 as the site Operator. A lifelong Cape Codder and avid outdoorsman, he is passionate about protecting the local environment. Although he is relatively new to the wastewater field, he has a significant background in related environmental topics including coastal ecology, ecological restoration, stormwater management, eco-toilet research and development, and monitoring lakes for harmful algal blooms. He earned a B.A. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Emily Michele Olmsted has had an interest in water quality ever since she started swimming at a young age and has found a new fascination in wastewater. She performed research on Oyster Pond in Woods Hole and wrote her senior thesis in her findings as part of her Bachelor's of Science at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. After spending some time teaching and completing service as an AmeriCorps volunteer, Emily Michele started at Barnstable County as a beach sampler testing bathing beaches for bacteria. She then volunteered at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Testing Center (MASSTC) until being offered a position with Barnstable County's Innovative/Alternative septic system tracking program, where she continues to work.

Abby joined the team in November 2021 as a laboratory technician supporting the virus project at MASSTC. She earned her Bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Rhode Island where she was a research assistant at the wildlife genetics and ecology lab for 2 years. Abby started with the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment during the summer of 2021 as the assistant bacteriologist, helping with the beach sampling program as well as with testing drinking and waste water. From there, she was eager to continue her career at MASSTC.

Abby is responsible for completing sample processing and analysis for the EPA STAR grant, which includes testing for bacteria and e. coli viruses (see STAR project page) in treated wastewaters to evaluate possible re-use potential.

Sara Wigginton joined MASSTC in 2021 as an Environmental Project Assistant. Sara earned her Ph.D. in the Laboratory of Soil Ecology and Microbiology (LSEM) at the University of Rhode Island in May 2020. During her doctoral program, Dr. Wigginton investigated advanced nitrogen removing onsite wastewater treatment systems and served as a training staff member at the New England Onsite Wastewater Training Program. She earned a Biological and Environmental Sciences Master’s degree in 2015 at the University of Rhode Island and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Western Kentucky University in 2013. Sara has been involved in environmental research and monitoring for the past ten years and has been researching onsite wastewater treatment systems since 2017. She is an expert on nutrient movement through landscapes and nitrogen removing onsite wastewater treatment systems.

Tracy Long is the MASSTC Administrative Assistant and has been managing the Barnstable County I/A database since 2020. Tracy joined the MASSTC team after retiring from a career leading sales support teams at Verizon.

David is a seasoned project manager, known for his impactful work across banking, homeless housing, and public health. His expertise ranges from spearheading a $115M housing project for the unhoused population of New York State to leading infectious disease response initiatives in public health for the states of Vermont and Arizona. David’s dedication to fostering community well-being shines through in his roles as a Reiki master and herbalist, blending his professional accomplishments with a deep commitment to holistic health and community care.

Kym comes to the Septic Utility Program (SUP) team with years of experience in both municipal and private sector positions. She has worked in libraries and the banking industry, always focused on customer service and technical skills. She brings her attention to detail and enthusiasm to support the SUP in its mission to help Barnstable County communities meet their water quality and public health goals.

A long-time Cape resident, Kym enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

As the MASSTC Site Operator Ellis is in charge of sampling, taking field measurements, system construction and maintenance and a million other tasks that vary day to day. Prior to joining the MASSTC team he worked in the excavation trade for 4 years where he learned how to operate heavy equipment and install and service septic systems. Growing up in Falmouth he witnessed water quality degradation first hand and is now very happy to be contributing to the development and understanding of nutrient removing septic systems that can help protect and restore the environment. When not working, Ellis is an avid downhill skier (previously competitive racer) and skis New England mountains nearly every weekend!

A lifelong Cape Codder, Amy DuFault is also a long-time journalist and storyteller on environmental and supply chain issues in the textile industry. From the Cape Cod Times to The Guardian, Amy has always looked to shine a spotlight on important issues and water has become her focal point. We actually interviewed Amy on our podcast One Drop Leads To Another a few years ago. In addition to finishing up a grant last summer at MASSTC growing natural dye plants with urine to look at scaling natural dye farming for the textile industry, she is now focusing her efforts to help farmers use urine as a fertilizer.

Rick's family has had a place on the water in Wareham since the 50’s and he's spent many summers flounder fishing and digging for clams and quahogs. He became a permanent resident of the Cape in 1984.  Rick says he worked a few jobs as a mainframe computer operator before becoming the deputy harbormaster in the town of Dennis for 10 years. He started at MASSTC  in April 2024 and says "I love the mission and the people I get to work with"