Knight and Leavitt Associates is proud of our diverse and experienced cultural resource management staff. Our team of archaeologists have extensive knowledge and experience of both prehistoric and historic archaeology within the regions of southern Nevada, southern California, southwest Utah, northwest Arizona, and the Lower Colorado Basin. Our archaeologists have worked with several agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Reclamation, and the US Forest Service. Our team prides ourselves on developing good relationships with our clients, agencies, and stakeholder communities.
Annette J. (AJ) Thompson, M.A. RPA
Principal Investigator and Cultural Resource Department Head
Knight and Leavitt Associate’s cultural resource staff is directed by AJ Thompson who has been with the company since 2010. She has over 25 years of experience in archaeology and is familiar with all aspects of the field. She received her Master of Arts (M.A.) in Anthropology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and two Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees, one in Anthropology and the other in Art History, from Arizona State University (ASU). Her focus has always been in the greater North American southwest including the Great Basin and Mojave Desert. AJ also has a comprehensive knowledge of the prehistoric ceramics found in southern Nevada, southwest Utah, northwest Arizona, and the Lower Colorado River Basin.
AJ meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for a Professional Archaeologist and is a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA).
W. Bryan Cole, B.A.
Field Director, Senior Archaeologist, and GIS Analyst
Bryan has worked with Knight and Leavitt Associates since 2013 and has over 22 years of experience in archaeology. He received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Anthropology with a Minor in History from Arizona State University (ASU) and attended the Institute of Human Origins where he participated in a field school in South Africa. His areas of expertise include bioarchaeology and zooarchaeology analysis and excavation; project and laboratory management; prehistoric lithics and ceramics of southern Nevada, southwest Utah, northwest Arizona, and Lower Colorado River Basin; and Geographic Information Systems (GIS/GPS).
Bryandra Owen, A.A.
Senior Crew Chief, Archaeologist, and Lab Manager
Bryandra has worked for Knight and Leavitt Associates since 2015 and has over nine years of experience in archaeology. She received her Associates of Arts (A.A.) in Anthropology from the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She is familiar with the various aspects of the field including field methods, report requirements, and curation requirements. She has extensive experience working professionally, and as a volunteer and student in southern Nevada. Areas of expertise include Nevada history and archaeology; Great Basin prehistoric archaeology; prehistoric lithics and ceramics of southern Nevada, southwest Utah, northwest Arizona, and Lower Colorado River Basin; and artifact curation.
Michael Fedele, A.A.
Crew Chief, Archaeologist, and GIS Analyst
Michael has worked for Knight and Leavitt Associates since 2019 and has over four years of experience in archaeology. He received his Associates of Arts (A.A.) in Anthropology from the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and attended the University of Arizona (UA). He is familiar with the professional, academic, and legal aspects of the field and he has comprehensive knowledge of Nevada’s history and archaeology with some experience in southern Utah archaeology. He has experience with the identification of prehistoric lithics and ceramics of southern Nevada, southwest Utah, northwest Arizona, and Lower Colorado River Basin; and Geographic Information Systems (GIS/GPS).