Introducing LSA’s Executive Management Team

As Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Amy Fischer brings a rare blend of technical rigor, steady leadership, and heartfelt commitment to the people of LSA. Over her more than 2 decades with the firm, Amy has grown through the ranks, spending the last 3 years as President/Chief Operating Officer (COO) and now CEO—an evolution shaped by her deep understanding of LSA’s employee-ownership culture, her dedication to client-focused service, and her belief in fostering a culture where people feel supported, trusted, and empowered to do their best work. Her tenure includes serving as Executive Vice President, Managing Principal of the Clovis office, and long-time Director of Noise, Air Quality, and Climate Change Services, where she oversaw hundreds of CEQA/NEPA technical studies and advanced LSA’s reputation for scientific accuracy and defensible analysis. Amy oversees implementation of LSA’s Strategic Plan, ensuring financial strength, organizational cohesion, and a forward-looking structure that positions LSA to address California’s evolving environmental landscape.

A graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, with a degree in Environmental Policy Analysis and a minor in Geography, Amy also holds an Executive Leadership certificate from UC Davis and spent more than a decade on the Board of the Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP), including service as the Central Valley Chapter Director. Amy is also a two-time open-water swimming national champion and recently swam the 21.4-mile length of Lake Tahoe to earn the Lake Tahoe Triple Crown of open-water swimming. She brings the same persistence, endurance, and commitment she learned through a lifetime of swimming to her work at LSA. Amy is known for her thoughtful communication style and instinct for elevating interdisciplinary expertise across offices. Her colleagues describe her as the kind of leader who listens deeply, moves intentionally, and leads with both integrity and heart—qualities that position LSA to thrive as it enters its 50th year of operation.

With more than 30 years in environmental consulting and a long record of public service, Wes Speake brings a grounded, people-focused leadership style to his role as LSA’s President/COO. Known for his steady presence and ability to unify large, multidisciplinary teams, Wes has built his career on strengthening operations, elevating performance standards, and creating supportive work environments. His background spans program management, environmental compliance, business development, and cross-regional integration—experience that helps him align resources, streamline processes, and guide teams through complex, multi-agency projects with clarity and confidence.

In addition to his consulting career, Wes has spent years serving his community through elected and appointed roles in the City of Corona. Through his publicly held positions, he has championed transportation improvements, public safety, fiscal accountability, and long-term regional planning.

Before joining LSA, Wes spent 25 years at a large consulting firm, where he served as Senior Vice President leading a 130+-person Environmental Impact Assessment and Permitting group across the Western United States. His leadership spanned environmental planning, biology, restoration ecology, permitting, and aquatic sciences, helping unify technical teams and support major infrastructure, utility, water, pipeline, and federal projects. Wes holds a degree in Business Management from the University of Redlands and a certificate in Land Use and Environmental Planning from UC Riverside, and he remains active in environmental and professional organizations throughout the region. Colleagues value him as a thoughtful mentor, committed community advocate, and steady integrator who brings structure, empathy, and strong client focus to every challenge.

Justin Cary has over 18 years of experience working with start-ups to multibillion-dollar companies. He has a passion for analyzing processes for efficiencies and cost savings while keeping an eye on company culture and employee well-being. Justin has proven experience in exercising tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality to institute positive change. He began his career as an external auditor with large public accounting firms, then transitioned to internal auditing and then into consulting, where he held numerous Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Controller, and SEC Financial Reporting Manager roles. Justin held CFO positions in both public and private companies prior to joining LSA in 2020.

In addition to his professional experience, Justin served 8 years in the United States Army as a reservist. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science, both in Accounting, from Michigan State University and is a die-hard Spartans fan. Justin is also a self-taught weekend-warrior home remodeler and has a commitment to achieving the greatest potential in anything he begins. He has held an active Certified Public Accountant license with the State of California since 2009.

JT Stephens brings over 20 years of consulting experience to his role as Executive Vice President at LSA. Known for his calm leadership style and practical problem-solving instincts, JT has a talent for strengthening operations, improving coordination across teams, and elevating the technical standards that support LSA’s long-term success. His leadership continues to help guide LSA’s operational growth, technical excellence, and strategic direction.

In conjunction with his executive leadership, JT maintains a distinguished career as a Principal with specialized experience in acoustics, vibration analysis, and environmental modeling, contributing to complex environmental studies across California and serving as a trusted technical expert at public meetings and agency hearings. As Managing Director of the Noise and Vibration Group at LSA, JT has expanded services to over 10 states, provided international support to LSA’s clients, and acted as an expert witness for multiple projects.

Working from LSA’s Emeryville office, JT has been on the Board of Directors for over 4 years; has served as a member of the Retirement Committee, the group responsible for the ESOP and profit-sharing plans at LSA, for over 8 years; and is a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee at LSA. He is a founding member of the AEP Noise and Vibration Committee and an active member of the Institute of Noise Control Engineers.

JT holds a degree in Acoustical Engineering with a minor in Communications from Purdue University, where he also performed in the All-American Marching Band—an early reflection of his lifelong connection to sound and teamwork. JT also holds an Executive Leadership certificate from UC Davis.

Outside of his professional career, JT enjoys spending time with his family and has coached both of his daughters in multiple youth sports for nearly 10 years.