Ellen Cunningham's Biography

Bio

Ellen Cunningham launched her own firm in 1989 to support clients in evaluating projects through research, analysis and communications. Cunningham Environmental assists businesses, agencies and non-profits with public opinion research, demographic analysis, and evaluation of program strategies. The firm is client-focused and delivers clearly written products on time and within budget.

Ellen As principal of the firm, Ellen specializes in quantitative and qualitative research related to environmental programs. Utilizing a wide range of techniques, Ellen assists clients with selecting the evaluation tool that is appropriate to the project, schedule and budget. She has a successful track record in providing clients with independent research that is thorough, cost-effective, and informative. Her diligence has resulted in repeat business, and she has worked with some clients for more than 10 years. She has extensive experience with water quality, solid waste management, energy, and product stewardship.

Ellen began her career conducting socioeconomic impact assessments at Envirosphere Company, now doing business as Tetra Tech. Much of her work involved preparing EIS’s and feasibility studies of energy projects in the western U.S. and Alaska. Later, she managed projects and conducted demographic and economic analyses, and worked closely with citizen groups and Indian tribes. Prior to starting Cunningham Environmental, Ellen was a project manager at Gershman, Brickner and Bratton for solid waste projects.

Ellen received her bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Trinity College and her master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Environmental planning was her concentration in graduate school where she also completed graduate level courses in statistics and economics. Ellen is a member of the Puget Sound Research Forum and the American Public Works Association.

Ellen lives on Bainbridge Island with her husband and two daughters overlooking an estuary populated with eagle, osprey and great blue heron. In her spare time, she can be found practicing the 3 R’s — reading, riding and racquet sports.