MiMfg Magazine
PREMIUM
ASSOCIATE
8
September 2019
Member
Spotlight
Megan Napier
AKT Peerless
Member since August 2014 • Learn more at www.aktpeerless.com
Moving into a brand-new manufacturing facility
is a celebratory moment for a business. Whether it’s
moving out of a basement or garage and into your
first building or when your growth requires a larger
facility or an additional building, purchasing new
property is seen as an indicator of company success.
While selecting the right property can boost you up,
the wrong choice can result in lasting, detrimental
damage to your brand’s potential.
That’s why environmental consultants like AKT
Peerless provide necessary services for small and
mid-sized manufacturers.
“We help businesses from start to finish with
their due diligence needs — whether it’s property
acquisition, decommissioning an existing property
or keeping them informed of the environmental and
safety-related issues that can pop up during the
lifespan of a business,” explains Megan Napier, a
senior engineer and AKT Peerless’ regional business
manager for southeast Michigan.
When it comes to new property purchases,
liability concerns at the federal, state and local level
can strike fear into the hearts of even the most
well-prepared employers.
“There are plenty of liability protections in place to
help manufacturers build their business without the
worry that they’ll be held liable for a piece of land
they purchased,” said Napier. “At AKT, our clients
benefit from a team who is in touch daily with the
regulatory community, including EGLE (Michigan
Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and
Energy), the former Michigan DEQ.”
A major threat facing manufacturers is the quick
regulatory changes that impact their business. As Napier
insists, it can be “a constant challenge to figure out
where regulatory goalposts sit because where they
were yesterday may not be where they are tomorrow.”
Working alongside environmental compliance
consultants can help manufacturers reach those
goalposts, stay informed of when regulatory changes
Megan Napier, a senior engineer and AKT Peerless’
regional business manager for southeast Michigan
occur, and ensure they are operating their facilities
in a way that protects their workers and visitors. As
companies begin looking to acquire their first
property, make renovations to their current facility
or expand to a larger location, they should be asking
themselves if they are planning far enough ahead.
“Consider your long-term growth,” Napier
stresses. “You wouldn’t buy a home sight unseen or
purchase a two-bedroom apartment when you see
yourself growing a family in three or four years. You
don’t want to go through the process of allocating
resources to environmental due diligence only to
discover you’ve outgrown the location in a few years.”
Environmental consultants like AKT offer
manufacturers the ability to properly consider their
current and future properties by looking above
ground, below ground and with all the potential
issues in mind.
“Manufacturing is challenging enough without
the risk of added liability,” says Napier. “Your
reputation is built on the products being created
within your four walls; reliable due diligence is not
something you can afford to ignore. We’re here to
help you create a better environment for your
business to help ensure your success.”
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