GZA, a leading environmental and geotechnical consulting firm, announces that James Watson has joined the company as an Associate Principal and as Vice President of Laurel Oil & Gas Corp., an affiliate of GZA.

Watson, who is located in the Wexford/Pittsburgh office, is a resident of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. He joins GZA with more than 25 years of industry experience; his areas of specialization are oil and gas field operations management, vertical and horizontal drilling, vertical and horizontal completions, work-overs, well control and executive management.

Prior to GZA and Laurel Oil & Gas Corp., Watson was employed with Abarta Energy as Director of Unconventional Operations; previously he was the Ohio Operations Manager, Drilling for Gulfport Energy Corp.

Watson received a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. He holds certificates in Well Control from the federal Minerals Management Service, Radiation Safety for Well Loggers from the Texas Dept. of Health and IADC RigPass with SafeLand Certification from the International Association of Drilling Contractors.

He is a member of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association (PIOGA), Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE) and the International Tang Soo Do Federation (ITF).

Watson served in the United States Air Force at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas as a Hazardous Materials Certification Instructor from 1987-1990. He was selected for this assignment by the Pentagon.

About GZA

Founded in 1964, GZA is a multi-disciplinary firm providing Environmental, Geotechnical, Ecological, Water, and Construction Management services. GZA maintains corporate offices at 249 Vanderbilt Avenue, Norwood, MA 02062. The firm has over 560 employees and operates 28 offices in the New England, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes and Appalachian Regions of the United States. For additional information, please call William Hadge, CEO at 781-278-3808 or visit the company’s website at www.gza.com.