Meet the Team
At Modica & Associates our team strives to deliver sound, practical, and reliable environmental consulting services with a focus on cost-effectiveness, scientific integrity, and timely execution. We are dedicated to helping our clients navigate complex environmental challenges by providing clear guidance with a consistent commitment to quality.
Elaine Imbruglia
President
Elaine Imbruglia joined Modica & Associates in 2003. As Principal and President, Elaine supervises project teams, oversees business development and client relations.
Elaine has 30 years of experience in ecological consulting throughout Florida and the Southeast. Her expertise spans comprehensive ecological planning and strategic site design. She specializes in large-scale projects, complex wetland impact and mitigation design, and Regulatory Agency coordination.
Before joining Modica & Associates, Elaine worked as a Staff Environmental Analyst with the South Florida Water Management District, where she processed Environmental Resource Permits, approved wetland delineations, negotiated mitigation plans, and ensured post-permit compliance for complex projects. She also provided regulatory support for enforcement cases and represented the District in outreach programs. Elaine holds both a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Mississippi State University, and has completed extensive specialized training in wetland science, hydric soils, stormwater and erosion control, and wildfire management.
Clark Modica
Principal
Clark Modica joined the firm in 2008. As Principal of the firm, Clark supervises project teams and oversees business development and client relations. Clark also provides a supervisory role for jurisdictional determinations, ecological assessments, listed species of wildlife surveys and permitting, and large-scale land management and aquatic management projects.
He specializes in wetland delineation, wetland and habitat functional assessments, wildlife surveys and relocation, mitigation monitoring and nuisance species removal for permit compliance, and has extensive experience in habitat restoration and management. His consulting experience spans complex, large-scale projects—from mining operations to major residential and land-development initiatives—where he integrates science with practical field implementation. Clark’s background includes expert witness testimony and expertise in developing and coordinating land management plans, wetland creation, and aquatic habitat enhancement. He is licensed for aquatic herbicide management and has implemented specialized field applications such as aluminum sulfate treatments for turbidity reduction to improve water quality in inland lakes and ponds. Clark provides valuable, innovative assistance on complex permitting efforts. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from the University of Central Florida. Clark’s hands-on experience, technical proficiency, and leadership make him an essential part of Modica & Associates’ leadership team.
Jim Modica
Founder
Jim Modica founded Modica & Associates in 1989 and led the firm for over two decades
with a commitment to practical, science-driven environmental solutions. Jim’s career
spans nearly 50 years of environmental management, regulatory oversight, private
consulting, restoration planning, and ecological research across the State of Florida.
Before launching the firm, Jim served in multiple leadership roles at the St. Johns River Water Management District and as Executive Director of the Lake Apopka Restoration Council, contributing to major restoration efforts across the State. Jim holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Florida and has served on numerous state advisory committees, including 12 years on the Lake County Water Authority Advisory Board. Jim maintains a critical advisory role for Modica & Associates’ leadership team and his deep expertise continues to guide the firm’s unwavering mission and direction.
David Whitney
Vice President
David Whitney serves as Vice President and brings over 25 years of environmental and ecological experience throughout Florida, with extensive expertise in regulatory permitting involving wetlands and protected species. His work spans residential, commercial, and industrial development as well as major public-sector projects involving water, wastewater, stormwater, drainage, and transportation infrastructure.
David’s technical background includes wetland assessments and delineations, formal wetland jurisdictional determinations, mitigation design and monitoring, and coordination of complex state and federal wetland permits. He also has broad experience conducting threatened and endangered species surveys, permitting, relocation, and long-term monitoring. In addition, David is skilled in stormwater facility inspections, NPDES compliance, asbestos-containing material (ACM) inspections, and Property Condition Assessments.. David’s depth of regulatory knowledge and hands-on experience across diverse project types make him a key leader in guiding Modica’s ecological and environmental consulting services.
Mark Fricke
Director of Industrial Hygiene
Mark Fricke is a Certified Industrial Hygienist and Certified Safety Professional with 22 years of experience in ecological and environmental consulting. He has extensive expertise in hazardous materials assessment, indoor environmental quality investigations, industrial hygiene exposure assessments, and abatement design development for public- and private-sector clients as well as the insurance industry.
Mark has conducted more than 1,500 property and indoor environmental investigations, including assessments for asbestos, lead-based paint, mold, bacterial contamination, water intrusion, and building envelope failures. His background includes managing industrial hygiene teams for a national consulting firm and providing expert witness testimony in his areas of specialization. Mark is also an instructor at the University of Florida’s TREEO Center for Professional and Workforce Development where he provides instruction for the Asbestos Contractor/ Supervisor and Respiratory Protection Courses. In addition to his industrial hygiene and indoor environmental work, Mark has extensive experience in ecological consulting, environmental resource permitting, wetland delineations, and protected species surveys. He has held senior leadership roles throughout his career, supporting clients across residential, commercial, industrial, and government sectors. His experience in both natural and built environments brings a broad perspective to complex environmental challenges. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of South Florida and completed graduate certification coursework in Industrial Hygiene at Tulane University.
Travis Richardson
Director of Soil Services
Is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist and a Florida Certified Soil Scientist, Richardson is an expert soil and wetland scientist with more than 24 years of experience developing an understanding of the relationship among soil characteristics, hydrology, and vegetation.
He has extensive experience implementing Ch 62-340 Florida Administrative Code to delineate the landward extent of wetlands and surface waters, including areas with substantial mechanical and/or hydrologic alterations. Richardson has experience establishing Minimum Flows and Levels, permitting environmental resource impacts, developing and implementing wetland mitigation plans, evaluating wetland functional value (UMAM/WRAP), and completed soil and vegetation monitoring. Richardson Soils and Environmental utilizes Richardson’s expertise to provide efficient and accurate assessments for clients. T. Richardson Soils and Environmental focuses on hydric soil determinations, soil classification, wetland delineation, forensic wetland assessments, mitigation, soil and wetland monitoring, environmental resource permitting, and onsite sewage and treatment disposal system design and permitting.
Darla Miller
Senior Scientist
Ms. Miller has over 30 years of experience in environmental consulting and permitting. During her consulting career, Ms. Miller has worked on many small and large-scale planning projects, with many complex wetland and protected species issues.
Ms. Miller has facilitated many public meetings and is skilled at coordinating difficult goals between her clients and the regulatory agencies. This hands-on, broad-based approach provides her clients with a plan that meets the state and federal regulations, while maximizing the goals set by the project team. Ms. Miller also has significant experience with design and implementation of wetland impacts and mitigation, negotiating with regulatory staff, resolving permit non-compliance and violation cases. Ms. Miller provides expertise in wetland creation, having participated in the successful design and construction of over 500-acres of creation for mitigation projects.
Amanda Walter
Senior Project Manager
Mrs. Walter has 11+ years of experience in ecological consulting and scientific studies. During her career, Mrs. Walter has worked for the public and private sectors. Prior to her employment with Modica & Associates, Mrs. Walter served in the public sector for over six years as a Senior Environmental Specialist with Orange County Government and an Environmental Specialist with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Mrs. Walter collaborates with internal team members and engineers to design and permit projects that meet her client’s needs as well the local, state, and federal regulations. Mrs. Walter has extensive experience taking a project from beginning to end – from initial due diligence to permit issuance, Mrs. Walter also has significant field experience in wetland delineation and wildlife surveys, in addition to environmental permitting.