Company Culture

Another Successful Retreat on the Books!

FlowWest recently hosted its much-anticipated annual retreat at the beautiful Wildhaven Sonoma, creating a perfect blend of relaxation, wine tasting, team bonding, and outdoor adventure. Nestled in the heart of Sonoma County, Wildhaven provided the perfect backdrop for the event, with its serene atmosphere and luxury glamping accommodations.

The highlight of the retreat was a full day spent on the waters of Lake Sonoma, where the team enjoyed an array of exciting activities. FlowWest went all out, renting a boat and offering thrilling rides on jet skis. For those who preferred a slower pace, there were plenty of opportunities to get closer to nature with paddleboarding and kayaking—ideal for soaking in the peaceful surroundings and scenic views of the lake.

Of course, no retreat would be complete without delicious food! The team refueled with snacks and sandwiches from Costeau’s Bakery, making the perfect lakeside picnic. The combination of adventure, smores, winetasting, team bonding, and great food made this year’s retreat a memorable success. FlowWest’s annual retreat continues to be an incredible opportunity for the team to recharge, connect, and create lasting memories over the three days.

Go with the Flow: 2024 New Hires Edition

Go with the Flow: 2024 New Hires Edition

This edition of Go With the Flow features our 2 new engineering team hires: Audrey Jones and Monique Rabold! Our firm is rapidly expanding and wants to celebrate the new talent onboard. Based in Colorado, Monique is a California-certified Principal Engineer with many years experience from working at other consulting firms such as GEI. Hailing from Santa Rosa, CA, Audrey Jones is bringing fresh energy and skills to our expanding team from her time at Sherwood Design Engineers. Both Audrey and Monique are helping with aquatic projects all around California. Welcome to FlowWest! We’re excited to get to know more about them and are excited to get started with exciting projects.

Happy National Pet Day from FlowWest!

Happy National Pet Day! As a firm that specializes in aquatic resource management, fish like chinook salmon, clear lake hitch, and steelhead are top of mind for us. But that isn’t the only kind of animal we cherish. FlowWest employees tend to be big animal lovers in general and have many furry, scaled, or feathered companions. These pets are often seen peeking into company Zoom meetings, or their barks are heard when the mail comes for the day. Today and every day our steadfast companions in life deserve a special shoutout! Enjoy the compilation of staff photos!

PS- Did you spot the emu? 👀

Data Science Team to Present at American Fisheries Society 2024 Biennial Meeting

Data Science Team to Present at American Fisheries Society 2024 Biennial Meeting

The Cal-Nevada Chapter of the American Fisheries Society is hosting the 58th Biennial Meeting in Redding, California April 9-12th. FlowWest Data Scientists Ashley Vizek, Erin Cain, and Liz Stebbins will be presenting at the conference in the spring run Chinook juvenile production estimate (SR JPE) symposium titled “A Collaboration to Assess and Forecast Annual Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Abundance in The Sacramento River Basin: Making, Managing, and Modeling Data Across Life Stages, Geographies, and Agency Boundaries.”

FlowWest in the Field: Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model

FlowWest in the Field: Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model

Last week, the NorCal team at FlowWest had the amazing opportunity to visit the Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model in picturesque Sausalito. The Bay Model is a feat of engineering that serves as a vital tool for understanding the complex interactions between water, land, and human infrastructure. Built in the 1950s, this multi-acre hydraulic model was constructed to simulate the tidal movements and currents within the San Francisco Bay-Delta system.

FlowWest Engineer Julius Ratemo Attends STEM Industry Day

FlowWest Engineer Julius Ratemo  Attends STEM Industry Day

FlowWest participated in the MESA STEM Industry Collaboration Day at Sacramento City College yesterday. SCC MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement Program) is an equity-focused program that supports students who come from historically underrepresented backgrounds to pursue STEM careers. Julius Ratemo, EIT represented the firm at the event and engaged with the bright minds currently enrolled and alumni of the program.

2023 FlowWest Retreat Recap

2023 FlowWest Retreat Recap

FlowWest recently embarked on an enriching corporate retreat that combined team building, strategic planning, and immersion in nature. In the heart of Sonoma County, this retreat served as a catalyst for collaboration, growth, and rejuvenation within the organization. Employees from across the country came together to spend time bonding and strategizing.

Go With the Flow: Willie Whitfield

Go With the Flow: Willie Whitfield

Willie Whitfield has a lot to celebrate these days; from being freshly promoted to being on ESPN playing for Team DRC in The Basketball Tournament in a few short days, things are certainly exciting for him. FlowWest is proud to support our staff’’s growth and all their achievements, which is why this month’s Go With the Flow features our Staff Web Developer, Willie Whitfield. Catch Willie & Team DRC play some fierce basketball on ESPN+ at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern on 07/21 - come cheer him on with us!

Ten Earth Day Activities that are Family-Friendly

Ten Earth Day Activities that are Family-Friendly

As Earth Day approaches, it's important to remember the importance of protecting our planet's precious resources, particularly in areas facing unique challenges. California, for example, is home to a vast array of aquatic ecosystems, but it also faces challenges such as drought and water pollution. With this in mind, here's a list of 10 Earth Day activities that families can do to help protect California's water resources. From reducing water usage to supporting local conservation efforts, these activities are a great way to celebrate Earth Day while also making a positive impact on the environment.

Go With the Flow - Hunter Herrera

Go With the Flow - Hunter Herrera

Hunter Herrera is one of FlowWest’s software developers, based in Santa Monica. Having grown up in Vermont, Hunter has seen the duality of American landscapes and now cherishes his time back on the west coast. You can find Hunter on the Pier with friends, or at a trendy new food pop-up in town. One of his passions is taking advantage of Southern California weather by visiting natural landscapes in his area, bicycling, and hiking. Read more about some current projects and career path below.

Go With the Flow: Ashley Vizek

Go With the Flow: Ashley Vizek

For Ashley, the environment was always in her life. She spent her youth exploring forests and listening to singing insects in the Chicago suburbs. Today, she is part of the FlowWest Data Team that is developing an app to provide up to date monitoring data for Spring Run Chinook Salmon, a threatened species native to the Central Valley. As our Senior Data Analyst, Ashley manages a team of data scientists that put their hard work to the test every day building out programs in tandem with our development team. Based in Oakland, Ashley is an avid skier and spends her winters in Utah with her family doing all sorts of winter activities. Read more about her current projects and career path below.