Allen Graber Named 2025 Second Quarter Lawrence S. Semo Scientific Achievement Award Winner

Congratulations to Allen Graber, Senior Ecologist out of our Flagstaff office, on being named the Lawrence S. Semo Scientific Achievement award winner for the second quarter of 2025.

Since joining SWCA in 2007, Allen has carved out a remarkable path—one that reflects not only his deep-rooted passion for ecology but also the transformative impact of his work across the company. Starting as a GIS technician in Durango, Allen quickly expanded his role through initiative and expertise, ultimately becoming a wind-wildlife subject matter expert and trusted project manager in Flagstaff. His journey is an example of how curiosity, adaptability, and scientific rigor can shape a career NeverSettle. Through nearly two decades of leadership, Allen has helped elevate our technical capabilities, mentor emerging talent, and drive solutions that benefit both clients and the resource.

Scientific Excellence and Leadership

Allen’s passion for birds began in childhood, photographing backyard species from a homemade blind. That curiosity led to a biology degree from St. Lawrence University, field studies across the country, and eventually, a career at SWCA that was supposed to be temporary—but became a home. His career at SWCA began with cultural resources mapping for the Animas-La Plata project, but his passion for ecology quickly expanded his role. Within months, he was leading MBTA nest surveys, golden eagle nest surveys, and habitat assessments. His expertise in avian ecology, which was rooted in years of fieldwork with universities, nonprofits, and government agencies, made him a natural fit for complex wildlife studies.

One of Allen’s early highlights was leading a small team conducting southwestern willow flycatcher surveys and nest monitoring along the Gila River; the continuance of research he had co-led with Arizona Game and Fish. That work evolved into a focus on wind energy permitting, and for the past 14 years, Allen has managed multi-disciplinary wind projects from planning through post-construction monitoring, while supporting teams across regions with his SME knowledge.

Allen’s career has been filled with unforgettable field experiences: kayaking the Gila River, snowshoeing to track deer and elk, catching sage-grouse under moonlight, and helicoptering into a remote mountain range to survey yellow-billed cuckoos. But for Allen, the most rewarding moments happen in the office—”when high-stakes challenges are met with creative, science-driven solutions.”

A standout example is the Chevelon Butte Wind Farm project. Allen helped design and implement raptor migration surveys that earned agency and client buy-in. The results enabled the client to secure critical turbine placements despite regulatory hurdles.

“It’s those mic-drop moments, when we approach problems with class, technical acumen, and teamwork, that stick with me most,” said Allen.

Allen Graber receiving the Larry Semo Award for Q2 2025 from Jill Grams in Flagstaff.

Teamwork and Mentorship

Chevelon Butte remains Allen’s favorite project—not just for its complexity, but for the collaboration it inspired. From tribal coordination and cultural surveys to sound modeling and expert testimony, the project showcased the power of OneSWCA teamwork and the value of never settling.

Allen’s advice to colleagues pursuing a technical career is rooted in experience: “Be entrepreneurial. Read everything—agency guidance, new research, regulatory updates. Share what you learn. Surround yourself with teammates who complement your strengths. Approach problems with calm and clarity. Be persistent, solutions-oriented, and open to feedback. And most importantly, make it fun.”

The quarterly Lawrence S. Semo Scientific Achievement Award rewards individuals for demonstrating passion, creativity, and scientific excellence in a manner that advances SWCA’s purpose, mission, vision, and values. The award is in honor of Larry Semo, who began working as a biologist for SWCA in Austin in 1993 and transferred to Denver in 1999. A respected and widely published ornithologist and all-around naturalist, Larry had an insatiable desire to learn and a great love for the outdoors until his untimely passing in 2011.