Our Team

Susan Sylvester

Sue is President & Chief Financial Officer of Absolute Resource Associates. After 20 years of working at various environmental laboratories in almost every capacity from Lab Technician to Lab Director, Sue purchased Resource Laboratories (now Absolute Resource Associates) with Guy Sylvester in 2000. Since then, the business has expanded to meet the ever-changing needs of its customers and markets, tripling in revenue, staffing and facility size.

Sue currently manages the overall operations, sales, safety, finance, human resources, and quality aspects of the business. In this capacity, Sue makes sure that the employees and customers all have what they need to insure success of every project we touch. Whether it is writing a quality assurance project plan, scope of work for a project, or getting data to the customer in a regulatory compliant format, Sue has done it all.  Sue has made a name for herself in this industry as an entrepreneur with steadfast ethics and a natural business sense. ARA has been recognized as a Top Woman-Led Business in NH, Sue won the prestigious NHBR Business Excellence Award in 2014, the Outstanding Women in Business Award in 2016, and was invited to testify and share her story at a Small Business Hearing in Washington D.C. in July, 2014. In 2015, Sue was appointed to the Federal ETTAC Environmental Committee by the US Secretary of Commerce.

When she is not at work, you can find Sue kayaking, camping, biking, running, cooking, gardening, or hanging with her nieces, nephews and grandkids.

Cliff Chase

Cliff is the Vice President and Director of Technology for Absolute Resource Associates, as well as a partner in the business. Cliff reviews and approves the equipment we buy, the methods we use, looks at a fair bit of data and introduces us to new and upcoming technical issues that affect our work.  In addition, he is responsible for our information systems.

After receiving his degree in Chemistry from the University of New Hampshire, Cliff has been working in the environmental field since the 1980s.  He has bench level experience with almost every method we perform at the laboratory.  His project experience includes responsibility for analytical data in response to EPA Superfund investigations, municipal wastewater permits, groundwater investigations and various federal environmental clean-up projects.

Much of the work Cliff does is behind the scenes, improving data handling systems, and finding ways to get the job done more quickly and easily, with ever improving quality.  As you will see when you work with us, Cliff achieves these goals on a continuous basis. In his spare time, Cliff is a marathon runner, mountain and road biker and a proud husband and father.

Aaron DeWees

Aaron has been with Absolute Resource Associates since 1999, and has directly contributed to the success of the business on many levels. Starting as an intern in the extractions department during his college days at the University of New Hampshire, and filling almost every role here at one point or another, Aaron’s hard work, dedication and vast understanding of day-to-day operations have led him to his current position as Chief Operating Officer. Along with his responsibilities of overseeing operations at ARA, Aaron is also accountable for researching and implementing new methods and technologies as the environmental testing field evolves. Aaron has extensive hands-on experience using GC/MS, GC/ECD, GC/FID, ion chromatography, ICP, cold vapor AA methodology, as well as various wet chemistry techniques. Aaron is the “Captain” of the lab, and has become known for finding creative solutions to every challenge brought to his attention. The company would not have developed with such success without Aaron’s inspirational insight, guidance and “can do” attitude.

In his free time, Aaron can be found running 5K road races with his wife, camping with the family, snowshoeing, brewing tasty ales and working on home improvement projects.

Guy Sylvester

Guy is a former board member of the New Hampshire Chapter of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), the American Lung Association (ALA) in the Northeast, and Past Chair of the ALA Leadership Board in NH. Guy is a visionary leader and Strategic Contractor at Absolute Resource Associates, helping guide the firm toward market trends that will best serve our customers and the environment.

Guy is a past winner of the NH Business Review (NHBR) Business Excellence Award, and is co-founder of the New Hampshire Mold Task Force, a group which helped to pass SB125 in NH, which is important legislation in support of consumer protection and health as it relates to mold.

Guy has managed environmental firms and projects all over the country before purchasing Resource Laboratories (now Absolute Resource Associates) in 2000 with his wife Susan Sylvester. After helping set the lab up for success, Guy then created the Indoor Air Quality division of the business, seeing a need to help solve indoor air quality mysteries for his customers. His passion for helping people with illness related to air quality led Guy to write a book for consumers, entitled “Mold: Myth or Monster?” which helps homeowners and small businesses in their quest to get information and help as it relates to mold, indoor air quality, and related health issues.

In his college days, Guy was a wildlife biologist and his attraction to the natural earth and all its creatures is still strong. In his spare time Guy enjoys spending as much time as he can in the great outdoors kayaking, sailing, camping, biking, and hiking. However, his most pleasurable moments are spent enjoying time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Alan Naber

Alan graduated with a BS in Industrial Chemistry from Keene State College in NH. He has over 30 years of environmental laboratory experience. Alan has performed metals analysis using graphite furnace, cold vapor AA, ICP-OES, specializes in ICP-MS, and has served in capacities from Lab Analyst to Inorganics Manager and Laboratory Director. Alan was hired at ARA in the summer of 2017, and spends most of his time on what is now his third ICP-MS instrument. In his time off, Alan likes to hike, camp and volunteer with the AMC to maintain hiking trails of the White Mountain National Forest.

Alex Alterisio

Alex has been a part of the ARA team since 2015, having recently graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Alex began his time at ARA as a technician working both in the lab and on the road, performing sampling and courier services.

Alex now works full time in the laboratory as an analyst, and in 2021 was promoted to Laboratory Supervisor. Alex was instrumental in bringing ARA’s PFAS capabilities online, making ARA the first commercial laboratory in NH to receive accreditation for EPA method 537.1 and Isotope Dilution analysis of both potable and non-potable waters. In addition to PFAS analysis, Alex operates and maintains the gas and ion chromatographs used for petroleum, PCB, pesticide, and anion analysis. Alex’s quest for learning makes him an ideal employee, as he is willing and able to fill in wherever needed.

Alison Keith

Alison received her bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of New England, and started working for Absolute Resource Associates in May, 2006. As an organics extraction tech, Alison worked with semi-volatile solids and waters, including DRO, PAH, ABN, PCB, and Pesticides. Alison has always had a strong interest in environmental science and laboratory work, and is particularly proud of her role in helping to implement the methods using microwave technology here at ARA, which reduces the environmental impact of the extraction process and greatly reduces turnaround time. Alison is also responsible for pioneering ARA’s in-house mold capabilities (including mold identification in air and surface samples), as well as our in-house asbestos capabilities. Alison joined ARA’s IAQ team in 2017, where she is now an ACAC Certified Mold Inspector (CMI), Asbestos Inspector, Lead Inspector, and Field Analyst. Alison loves being in the field helping customers tackle their IAQ issues, and her smart, friendly demeanor puts everyone at ease. In addition to all of this, Alison is also one of ARA’s Site Safety Health Officers (SSHO), managing and maintaining safety protocol on our projects. When Alison isn’t at work, she enjoys hiking and mountain climbing, running road races, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Ashlee Nowell

Login Technician

Cathy DeWees

Cathy holds a B.A. in English with a minor in Elementary Education from the University of New Hampshire. Cathy came to ARA in May 2015 as Administrative Assistant and soon moved over to our Federal Project Management Division. Cathy’s extensive experience in HR and Finance as well having spent five years as an Assistant Project Manager have made her such a valuable member of the ARA team.  In 2020, Cathy became the Business Administrator for ARA. Her vast skill set, positive energy, welcoming personality and enthusiasm to take on any task make her invaluable in so many areas at ARA.  When not at the office, Cathy can be found in her flower gardens, watching the diverse wildlife in her neighborhood and canoeing on Ayers Lake with her husband.

Chuck Leahy

Chuck became a member of the Absolute Resource Associates team in the fall of 2015 as an analyst. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BS degree in bioscience technology. Chuck returned to the environmental laboratory setting after several years of being a stay-at-home dad to his three busy sons. Chuck has a technical background and previously held laboratory-based positions including working in organic extractions, as an analytical chemist in a volatile organic laboratory, and also has experience working in a virology and waterborne disease laboratory. Outside of work, Chuck loves spending time with his family… outside. He enjoys exploring places both near and far with his wife, Alison, their sons, and yellow Labrador retriever.

Donna Valley

Donna graduated from the University of New England in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science. After taking higher level chemistry labs, Donna quickly realized she wanted to make a career in the laboratory environment. She joined Absolute Resource Associates in October of 2017, primarily being a second set of hands in the wet chemistry and extraction departments. Since then, she has become a SVOA analyst primarily focusing on pesticides, PCBs, EPH and DRO while also maintaining her ability to run bacteria, anions and cover extractions when necessary. Donna is also now a part of our PFAS extraction and analysis team. Outside of work, Donna enjoys hiking, camping, biking and spending time with her family and yellow lab.

Erik Byrne

Laboratory Analyst

Hazardous Waste Coordinator

Gary DiRusso

Courier

Jason Muchmore

Jason joined Absolute Resource  Associates in August of 2013 as a  member of the Indoor Air Quality  Division. Jason studied Marine  Science and Geographic Information  Systems at the University of Maine at  Machias. Jason is an ACAC Certified Indoor Environmentalist (CIE), a Licensed Asbestos Project Monitor, and Asbestos  Inspector. Jason started out at ARA performing air monitoring, sample collection, and mold assessments. As a hard worker and quick learner, he was easily  promoted to Supervisor, and then Manager, of ARA’s Indoor Air Quality division. Jason now oversees all field activities related to our client’s indoor air quality concerns (mold, lead, asbestos, odors, allergens, etc.). Jason’s CV can be found here.  In his spare time, Jason can be found surfing the icy cold waters of the Maine coast. He also enjoys soccer, kayaking, hiking, camping, traveling, and picking on his guitar and banjo.

Jean Cappello

Laboratory Technician

Jean Gennaro

Jean joined Absolute Resource Associates in 2010 as the Director of Marketing. Jean has a BA in Communication from University of New Hampshire, and more than 30 years of experience working in media and marketing. Her broad experience includes news, advertising, television and video production, public relations, social media marketing and corporate marketing. Jean was the architect for ARA’s name change and re-branding strategy in 2010, and her creativity and broad experience have been instrumental in helping to create and shape the ARA brand in the marketplace. In her spare time Jean enjoys a busy life in Coastal Maine with her husband, 3 children, and 2 rescue dogs.

Jennifer Guerette

Jennifer has a BS in General Biology and a Minor in Environmental Conservation from the University of New Hampshire, and has been with ARA since 2001. She started as an analyst in the organics area of the lab, running a GC/MS, where she gained a tremendous amount of experience in understanding lab operations, procedures, and managing the various needs of our lab customers. Presently, Jen is our Quality Assurance Officer, and plays a critical role in ARA’s quality system. Her responsibilities include maintaining licenses and accreditations, performing internal audits, calibrating support equipment and providing QC data for our customers. Jen is passionate about maintaining our high standards of quality and keeps that priority at the top of the list in everything we do. What our customers love about Jen is when she says she will get them an answer, they can always count on her to follow through! Outside of work, Jen spends much of her time with family. She loves being a mom and is very proud of her son, Ryan. She enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, hiking and mountain biking.

Lawrence Maciejewski

Larry graduated from Keene State College in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and joined the Absolute Resource Associates team in 2004. He started out in extractions, and soon after moved into volatile organic compound analysis. Larry says that the challenge of managing a timely delivery of results to the end user, from the time we receive a set of samples through the preparation to the evaluation of data, is what has kept things interesting and motivating. Outside of work, Larry enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, puttering in the garden, or just taking in the great views that nature has to offer.

Marie Aichele

Login Technician

Olivia Langdon

Olivia studied Environmental Science at Southern New Hampshire University with a focus in wildlife conservation. She says a highlight during that time was backpacking in the Honduran rainforest to study herpetology (amphibians & reptiles). She joined ARA in early 2022 to help out with sample receipt, and by 2023 was promoted to Supervisor of Sample Receiving & Customer Relations. Outside of work, Olivia is a PADI Certified Open Water Diver, and loves camping, hiking, swimming and just spending time outdoors with her family, friends, and her dog Gunter.

Sarah Burridge

Sarah joined ARA in June of 2018 as a Laboratory Technician. After graduating from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont with a degree in Biology & Anthropology, Sarah moved to the NH seacoast, where she enjoys hiking, playing Dungeons & Dragons, hanging out with her cats and dog, and learning about the history of the area. Prior to joining ARA, Sarah worked at both Strawbery Banke Museum and the John Paul Jones House in Portsmouth; worked on a virtual coyote skull museum called Digital Coyote; and was the leader for a Habitat for Humanity group. She has been practicing martial arts since she was five years old, and is a black belt as well as a Sensei in karate. As Lab Technician, Sarah has both field and lab experince at ARA, performing sample collection at remote sites, lab extractions, login, customer service and helping out wherever she can.

Skyla Pratt

Skyla, better known as Sky, started her career at ARA in 2019. Initially, Sky managed 6 analyses for one of ARA’s large clients, and within a few months she was trained in all analyses and protocols within ARA’s Wetchem Department. In addition to her work in the lab, Sky is also manager of ARA’s Safety Committee. Sky always enjoys putting a smile on her peers’ faces and decorating her desk in fun and unique ways. In her free time, Sky can be found spending quality time with her two younger brothers, or cruising the beach and listening to loud music with her husband. Sky loves her work at ARA and is excited for what her career has in store.

Willie Stone

Willie began his career in 2009, and has a broad knowledge of the Environmental Laboratory field. He joined ARA in the summer of 2019 as an Inorganic Chemist, performing analyses such as BOD, COD, and Cyanide. When ARA began the quest to bring PFAS testing online, Willie was first to raise his hand and ask how he could be involved and was instrumental in bringing PFAS analysis online at ARA. With a unique approach to doing work, problem solving and chipping in wherever needed, Willie is a valued member of the ARA team, and was promoted from analyst to Laboratory Supervisor in 2021.