When Dave Claycomb founded HELIX Environmental Planning in 1991, he set out to build an environmental consulting firm known for technical excellence, trusted relationships, and a commitment to helping clients solve complex environmental challenges.
What began as a one-person operation in San Diego County has grown into a statewide firm serving public and private clients throughout California and other parts of the western U.S. Over the years, we’ve expanded our expertise, opened offices across the state, and assembled a talented team of professionals who are passionate about helping clients move projects forward while protecting natural and human environments.
Growth has always been part of the HELIX story, but our success has never been measured solely by the number of offices we open or projects we complete. It has been fueled by the people who have chosen to build their careers here, the clients who have trusted us with their most important projects, and a culture that values collaboration, curiosity, and long-term relationships.
One of the most significant moments in our history came in 2004 with the creation of our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Employee ownership reinforced something that had always been part of HELIX’s culture: when people have a personal stake in the success of the company, they bring a different level of commitment, accountability, and care to their work. Today, HELIX is proud to be 100% employee-owned, and every employee-owner plays a part in shaping the future of our company.
As HELIX continued to grow, so did our reach and capabilities. We expanded beyond our San Diego roots, established offices throughout California, welcomed new service offerings, and broadened our expertise to meet the evolving needs of our clients and communities. Along the way, we have remained focused on delivering practical solutions, high-quality work, and exceptional client service.
Today, HELIX is recognized as one of California’s leading employee-owned environmental consulting firms. While the company has changed considerably since 1991, the values that inspired its founding remain the same. We still believe in acting with integrity, building trusted relationships, investing in the growth and wellbeing of our employee-owners, embracing new challenges, and finding thoughtful solutions to complex problems.
We continue to build on the foundation that Dave created. HELIX is now powered by a new generation of leaders, the energy and ideas of our employee-owners, and the same entrepreneurial spirit that has guided us from the very beginning. Our history is something we’re proud of, but we’re even more excited about what comes next.
Milestones
1991 – HELIX Founding – HELIX opens its doors with a San Diego County office located in La Mesa and one employee, our founder, Dave Claycomb.
1993 – HELIX hires Kristin Olszak, now the firm’s current CFO.
1997 – HELIX acquires staff and contracts from Sweetwater Environmental Biologists and begins offering biology services.
2001 – HELIX hires habitat restoration field crew and begins offering habitat restoration services.
2004 – HELIX establishes an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and begins transition to employee ownership.
2004 – HELIX hires first licensed landscape architect and begins offering landscape architecture services.
2007 – HELIX acquires the Environmental Planning Division of Project Design Consultants and expands our CEQA/NEPA environmental planning services.
2007 – HELIX hires its first acoustics specialist and begins offering acoustics and noise consulting services.
2008 – HELIX Board of Directors appoints Michael Schwerin as CEO as HELIX founder, Dave Claycomb, pursues other passions.
2010 – HELIX hires its first air quality specialist and begins offering air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) consulting services.
2011 – HELIX acquired natural resources staff and contracts from North Fork Associates and starts its first office in Northern California, located in Auburn under the leadership of former CEO, Dave Claycomb.
2012 – HELIX establishes a Riverside County office.
2013 – HELIX expands northern California presence and moves to Folsom in Sacramento County.
2014 – HELIX acquires the Cultural Resources Division of Affinis and begins to offer cultural resource management services.
2015 – HELIX opens Orange County office located in Irvine.
2016 – HELIX begins its 25th year, expanding in San Diego County with the opening of an additional office in Carlsbad.
2019 – HELIX acquires Foothill Associates and establishes our Placer County office.
2021 – HELIX establishes a Los Angeles County office in Pasadena.
2023 – HELIX expands in Northern California with an opening of our first Bay Area office, located in Antioch.
2024 – HELIX Board of Directors appoints Shelby Howard as CEO and Justin Fischbeck as COO as Michael Schwerin retires.
2025 – HELIX acquires the majority of contracts from Bargas Environmental Consulting, begins offering paleontological services, and broadens teams for cultural resources and biological services across California.
2026 – HELIX celebrates 35 successful years!