Ryerson, Master and Associates, Inc.
Meet Our Team

The team members at Ryerson, Master & Associates Inc. are distinctively qualified in their professional fields. They have earned the respect of their peers for their expertise and contributions in the fields of Air Quality, Climate Action and Greenhouse Gases, Engine Repowers and Equipment Retrofits, Clean Vehicles and Alternative Fuels, Safety and Risk Management, Energy Management and Environmental Management. They have received numerous awards recognizing their excellent efforts and have authored a large number of publications.

William A. Master
Bill Master is a founding principal of RMA and serves as president of the company. He provides the leadership and management direction for all aspects of the company's innovative technology and air quality services. Prior to forming RMA with Mr. Ryerson in 1994, Mr. Master served as the Assistant Director of the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District. With more than 25 years experience, he is an authority in strategic environmental policy, air quality, regulatory compliance, and innovative technology. He is an expert in alternate fuels, and low pollution vehicles and equipment. Mr. Master leads an innovative program for clean diesel engine repowers and equipment retrofits. He has provided senior level guidance to industry and governmental agencies on compliance with local, state and federal environmental requirements. Mr. Master earned a Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego State University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois. Mr. Master is a member of the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA) and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE); and has received state and national recognition for his work. Contact Mr. Master via email at info@RMAQ.com. 

 J. Ivor John, Ph.D.
Ivor John is a principal with RMA and serves as vice president of the company. Prior to joining RMA, he was with the consulting firm Arthur D. Little, Inc. and the Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District. He is an atmospheric physicist by training, with broad experience in chemical process safety and risk management, air quality, and climate change. Dr. John is approved by the state of California to certify GHG emission inventories for the California Climate Action Registry. He has managed projects for vulnerability assessments in the water treatment industry and safety audits at DOE National Laboratories, military bases, and at manufacturing plants, refineries and pipeline systems in the oil, gas, and chemical industries. He is an authority with extensive experience in risk management and safety assessments. Dr. John is an expert in water and wastewater treatment systems using chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, and anhydrous ammonia, and in industrial refrigeration systems using ammonia. Dr. John earned a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Physics. He is an AMS-Certified Consulting Meteorologist, a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society, and a member of the American Meteorological Society and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Dr. John has published extensively in professional publications. Dr. John provides consulting services to industry, government leaders, and citizen groups on climate action and risk management. Contact Dr. John via email at info@RMAQ.com. 

Ann Hewitt
Ann Hewitt, Ph.D., is a senior staff member at RMA, with more than twenty years of experience in the environmental arena. Dr. Hewitt was a member of the founding management team for the California Climate Action Registry and is qualified as a Lead Verifier of emissions inventories for the Registry. Before joining RMA, Dr. Hewitt was an independent consultant, providing consulting services to clients in the public and private sector, in the United States, Canada and internationally. Dr. Hewitt’s experience includes analysis of greenhouse gas inventories, development of a government continuity of operations plans, and clean energy assessments. Dr. Hewitt coordinated and drafted Canada’s first national report on implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and participated in the design of an international pilot project on the mutual acceptance of new chemicals notifications among countries in the OECD. Dr. Hewitt holds an M.S. in Environmental Psychology and a Ph.D. in Sociology and has lectured at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. Contact Dr. Hewitt via email at info@RMAQ.com.

Rachel Pelc
Rachel Pelc is an environmental scientist/engineer with RMA. In this capacity she participates in engine repower and climate action projects. She secures funding for and manages grant-funded engine replacement projects in the Los Angeles area to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy of off-road equipment. As a qualified Certifier for the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR), she also participates in greenhouse gas certification projects for private companies, municipalities, and public entities throughout California. In addition to her air quality experience, Ms. Pelc has professional experience in urban and transportation planning, water quality, and environmental policy and law. She holds a B.A. in Human Biology and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering and Science from Stanford University. Contact Ms. Pelc by email at info@RMAQ.com.

Nick Facciola
Nick Facciola is a mechanical engineer with RMA, performing work on engine repowers and climate action projects. He secures grant funding and oversees the implementation of a large number of engine replacements to reduce air pollution and improve fuel efficiency. His experience includes extensive research on indoor air quality, instrument deployment and calibration, greenhouse gas emission inventories, design work on HVAC systems, and air pollution control strategies for gaseous pollutants. Mr. Facciola earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at Santa Barbara and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Energy & Environment from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has pending publications on the infiltration of outdoor ultra fine particulate matter into indoor environments. Contact Mr. Facciola via email at info@RMAQ.com.

Shannon Vitale
Shannon Vitale is a project consultant with RMA, preparing greenhouse gas emission inventories and managing emission reduction projects. Ms. Vitale has participated in the monitoring of regulatory compliance on a variety of project sites throughout California. Her work has addressed the emissions of criteria air pollutants, greenhouse gases and toxic air pollutants from a wide variety of emission sources; and as well, she has reviewed municipal electric usage and associated GHG emissions, analyzed meter readings, created spreadsheets for comparisons; and identified discrepancies in supplied greenhouse gas inventory data. Also, Ms. Vitale is currently managing numerous heavy-duty diesel engine repower projects in the South Coast Air Quality Management District region. Ms. Vitale holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a B.A. in Geography from the University of California. Santa Barbara. Contact Ms. Vitale by email at info@RMAQ.com.

Co-founder James M. Ryerson (1946-2005)

Jim Ryerson co-founded RMA in 1994 after a career with state and local agencies that included serving as District Director of the California Coastal Commission for the South Central District, and Senior Air Pollution Specialist for the California Air Resources Board. Mr. Ryerson was the US EPA Special Assistant to the EPA Region IX Air and Toxics Division Director. In addition, Mr. Ryerson was the former Director of the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District and served as the President of the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association.