K&LA Staff

The most important asset at Knight & Leavitt Associates (K&LA) is the staff. Our team of experienced archaeologists have numerous hours of monitoring, surveying, permitting, mitigating, documenting, and reporting for multiple projects throughout Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and desert regions of California. Knight & Leavitt believes every employee has a unique combination of knowledge, skills, and experience that contributes to the company’s 35+ years of experience. We celebrate all ages, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and all differences within our company.
Office Staff
Richard Holly –President

Richard’s career journey reflects a remarkable breadth of experience and adaptability. Since the late 1980s, he has held pivotal roles including accounting, office management, human resources, payroll management, and business management. His professional endeavors span both the for-profit and non-profit sectors, with extensive work in Ohio, Michigan, Nevada, and a brief but impactful tenure in California within the non-profit realm. Richard’s versatility shines in industries ranging from health care and casinos to payroll, relocation, and service enterprises—each contributing to his ability to deliver exceptional customer service and decisive results.

Richard has seamlessly integrated into companies of varying sizes, from ten-employee startups to organizations with thousands of personnel. His expertise has driven successful outcomes, displaying a unique ability to adapt and excel in diverse environments. This extensive and varied experience forms the foundation of his leadership at K&LA, where his commitment to excellence enhances the firm’s ability to serve clients with reliability and precision.

Cultural Staff
Annette J. (AJ) Thompson, M.A., RPA – Department Head – Principal Investigator – GIS Analysis
AJ directs the Cultural Resource staff with a strong academic background and extensive field expertise. She earned her Master of Arts (M.A.) in Anthropology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and possesses dual Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees in Anthropology and Art History from Arizona State University (ASU). With a deep focus on the greater North American southwest, including the Great Basin and Mojave Desert, AJ has cultivated an extensive understanding of prehistoric ceramics across southern Nevada, southwest Utah, northwest Arizona, and the Lower Colorado River Basin.
W. Bryan Cole, B.A. –Senior Archaeologist – Principal Investigator – GIS Analysis

Bryan received his B.A. in Anthropology from Arizona State University, and has experience in cultural resource management, bioarchaeology, zooarchaeology, laboratory analysis, recording, and GIS mapping. He has been involved with numerous projects across the Great Basin, Mojave Desert, and Southwest regions, including work on various solar projects, archaeological surveys/inventories, and excavations. Bryan has over a decade of GIS experience specifically related to cultural resources/archaeology. He has worked extensively with the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Forest Service, and various state agencies.

Bryandra Owen, A.A. –Archaeologist – Senior Crew Chief – Lab Manager

Bryandra Owen has been with Knight & Leavitt Associates for ten years and is a born-and-raised Las Vegas resident. With over ten years of professional experience and a decade in academic settings, she currently works as a Senior Archaeologist and Lab Manager, handling everything from crew management and training to artifact analysis and curation. Her work focuses on lithic analysis, rock art preservation, public outreach, and general archaeology of the Great Basin and American Southwest. A strong advocate for decolonizing archaeology and countering pseudoarcheology, she is also a member of the ArchaeoGaming Collective, where she explores how video games can be used to teach archaeology and challenge harmful narratives.

Michael Fedele, A.A. –Senior Crew Chief – Archaeologist – GIS Analyst

Michael Fedele is a seasoned archaeologist and GIS analyst with over a decade of combined academic and professional experience in cultural resource management. Currently serving as a Senior Crew Chief at Knight & Leavitt Associates, Inc., Michael leads archaeological field investigations, site documentation, and visual, auditory, and atmospheric effect assessments.

His work spans Southern Nevada, Southern Utah, Northwest Arizona, and Desert Regions of California. Michael has worked with federal agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Forest Service, Nevada State Parks, the National Parks Service, and the Moapa Band of Paiutes. Michael has co-authored over 30 cultural resource reports for federal and tribal agencies.

Matthew Ellard, B.A. – Archaeologist – Field Crew

Matthew has already demonstrated his capability in field research, cultural site monitoring, and reporting, displaying his dedication to the meticulous preservation of archaeological findings. His work reflects a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical expertise, making him a promising contributor to the ongoing efforts in cultural resource management.

Contact Us

Knight & Leavitt Associates, Inc.
3068 West Sunset Road, Suite 6 & 7
Las Vegas, NV 89120

Phone: (702) 897-2628
Fax: (702) 897-8223

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday
07:30AM-04:00PM

Email: office@klaenv.com