M&A Prioritizes Consultant Professional Development

Montgomery & Associates (M&A), a consulting firm providing services in hydrogeology and water resource planning and management, began with a few hydrogeologists in 1984. We have since grown to nearly 150 staff members in 12 offices across 3 countries. This expansion inspired the creation of our professional development program, where we support scientists at various stages of their careers and help them grow into water resource experts, professional consultants, and future leaders of the company.

Training in the professional development program is based on years of experience, scientist level, and employee and company interests. Early-career training focuses on the application of groundwater science as a consultant. As employees advance in the company, training shifts to developing technical expertise and skills in project management, client relations, and business operations.

Each scientist participates in our cohort training program with a group of peers who are at a similar stage of career development. The cohort program is facilitated by Erika Gallo, Ph.D., who joined M&A as the Career Development Lead in March 2025. During her first year, Erika met with all levels of scientific staff and leadership to understand what M&A needs in a professional development program. After polling individuals and meeting with the Staff Cohort, which includes early-career scientists, and the Project Cohort, made up of mid-level scientists, Erika developed training sessions appropriate for each group.

Training began with a 2-day workshop in Tucson for the U.S. Staff Cohort, followed by a trip to Salta, Argentina, to train the Staff Cohort in South America. Erika is a native Spanish speaker, so she is a natural fit for communicating with our South America staff. Her presentations in the United States and South America focused on the core skills needed to become a professional consultant, what career progression can look like, and how those ideas align with M&A’s company culture and employee professional development goals. She also designed hands-on activities that encouraged teamwork and communication.

Erika kicked off 2026 with virtual presentations for the Project Cohort and also the Senior Cohort, which includes senior and principal scientists, managers, and executive leadership. Some of the core skills Erika discussed in these training sessions are project management, critical thinking, and relationship building. Developing these skills is necessary to become a professional consultant. Ways to enhance these skills include experiential learning on the job and knowledge transfer by our experienced consultants.

Scientists in each cohort are scheduled for regular in-person and virtual sessions so they can network, increase their skills and knowledge, and exchange ideas as they grow into professional consultants. This spring, members of the U.S. and South America Project Cohort met in person in Tucson.

For more information about M&A’s professional development program, visit our webpage.