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The opportunity was the environmental part of Lockheed Martin’s mission at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PDGP) in western Kentucky was coming up for re-bid, and much of the work was to be subcontracted to small businesses.
However, Jeff and Sharon did not have a small business, so the risk they had to take was to form one fast. They also needed to make it credible in the marketplace.
Fortunately, the Douthitts knew Ross Miller, a successful businessman and hydrogeologist. With Ross’s help, guidance, and encouragement, they decided to take the chance, and on June 23, 1997, GEO Consultants, LLC (GEO), an environmental and geological engineering services company, was founded and headquartered in Ross’s basement. At the time, the Douthitts had three toddlers at home and all three founders were employed in good, stable jobs. It was a big risk.
It was not easy. But the Douthitt's and Ross worked hard, and GEO won its first contract in 1998.
During the summer and fall of 1998, GEO was successful in its bid as a named subcontractor with CDM and commenced work on the Environmental Services Subcontract in April 1999. Other contracts followed and GEO’s client base grew throughout the late 1990s and 2000s to include continued work with the PGDP’s remediation contractors (Bechtel Jacobs, LATA Kentucky Environmental Services), Surface Deployment Distribution Command, Science Applications International Corporation, Tetra Tech, General Dynamics, a Department of Energy contract with Honeywell FM&T, the U.S. Forest Service, and multiple districts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 2004, Ross decided to start planning for his second retirement and the Douthitts purchased his share of the company.
GEO was founded on a vision of becoming a key environmental and geological engineering services provider to the federal sector. Since its founding, the company has steadfastly pursued and achieved this goal through the successful blending of large-company project planning, execution, and quality assurance, with small-company flexibility and responsiveness. GEO believes there is no substitute for technical competency, integrity, and a client-centered corporate philosophy, while always providing a safe and effective working environment for all employees. GEO has worked hard to earn its outstanding reputation and performance record, and will continue striving to be the “best of the best” as it continues to grow and face new challenges in the years to come.
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Sharon Douthitt - BS Economics
Jeff Douthitt - MS Geological Engineering
Ross Miller - BS Geology
Jeff and Sharon married during college, both received degrees from the University of Missouri-Rolla.
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