Brilliant Lewis - About Brilliant Lewis

Brilliant Lewis Environmental Services, LLC (BLES) was established by two principals, Philip I. Brilliant and Zachary D. Lewis, who together, share a combined 40 years experience in the environmental-consulting field. Small enough to be approachable—yet large enough to tackle even the toughest environmental problems—the firm serves industrial and residential sectors with professionalism and unmatched expertise.

In addition, BLES is registered as a minority business in accordance with the New Jersey Set-Aside Act and the federal SBA 8(a) Business Development program (pending), filling a much-needed gap in the environmental-consulting industry.

PHILIP I. BRILLIANT
Co-founder and chief operating officer Philip I. Brilliant has had an extensive and distinguished career in the environmental-consulting field. Prior to launching BLES, he was owner and former president of a Toms River, NJ-based environmental consulting firm from 1993 until 2003. In early 2004, the firm formed a strategic merger with a northeast regional engineering and surveying firm. There, he served as principal/regional manager of the Lakewood, NJ office until he and his partner, Zachary Lewis, decided to establish their own firm—free from the constraints and unwieldiness of a large corporation.

During his decade-long tenure at the Toms River-based environmental firm, Brilliant helped grow the company from one office, four employees and gross sales of $425,000 to two offices, 38 professionals and sales exceeding $7 million. In addition, he transformed the company into one of the most reputable underground storage tank remediation firms in New Jersey, providing consulting services for a number of Fortune 100 companies.

Well versed in federal and state funding opportunities, Brilliant has assisted municipalities, developers and nonprofit organizations across the country. His well-rounded expertise also includes project management; field supervision; quality control of field data and data-acquisition techniques; development and implementation of site-specific sampling methodologies for air, soil and water contaminants; permitting and operation of remedial systems for contaminated air, soil, groundwater and surface water; soil boring and well-installation supervision.

He has managed numerous due-diligence portfolios and is frequently tapped for expert testimony at planning- and zoning-board meetings throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Brilliant currently has a consulting role as director of environmental affairs for a major oil company, in which he oversees environmental compliance on all the client's east coast terminals and service stations. A graduate of Cook College at Rutgers University, Brilliant received a Bachelor of Science degree in international environmental studies/law and institutions and has since been awarded numerous registrations and certifications. Brilliant is a member of the Ocean County Board of Realtors, member of the board of directors of O.C.E.A.N. Inc. and president of the Ocean County Business Association.

ZACHARY D. LEWIS
With more than two decades in the environmental-consulting field, BLES co-founder and president Zachary D. Lewis was most recently a principal/vice president of redevelopment and government services for a large engineering-consulting firm headquartered in Lakewood, NJ. He has assisted numerous towns and cities, in addition to other public, private and not-for-profit agencies, with redevelopment projects.

While at the firm, he—along with Philip Brilliant—developed a brownfields division in 2003, responding to a rapidly growing national trend to transform once-contaminated sites into inhabitable commercial and residential properties.

Lewis has also held positions at other prestigious firms, honing his expertise in a variety of areas, including federal and New Jersey construction and environmental regulations; risk assessment; Brownfields redevelopment; Phase I and II environmental assessments; due diligence; environmental compliance and permitting; cost-recovery assistance and business development.

In addition, Lewis's intimate knowledge and understanding of environmental law make him an invaluable and sought-after resource. He is frequently tapped to interpret and respond to proposed environmental regulations, often interfacing with regulatory agencies in the process.

Lewis was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science from Stockton State College. Throughout his career, he has taken numerous professional continuing education courses and garnered key registrations and certifications. He is an active member of the community and is chairman of the board of directors of O.C.E.A.N. Inc.