Celebrating a Storied Career, and New Adventures on the Horizon

After 26 years of dedicated service to HELIX Environmental Planning, our clients, and our colleagues, Principal Biologist, Larry Sward has set his sights on a well-deserved retirement.

Larry began his career shortly after graduating college where he worked on San Clemente Island as, of all things, a volunteer goat herder, but which also led to two years of studying and documenting the island’s flora and fauna. In 1993, Larry started at Sweetwater Environmental Biologists, which ultimately became HELIX’s in-house Biological Services Division. As an industry-leading biologist, botanist, and wetland scientist, Larry has served as a key mentor to HELIX’s biologists, sharing his extensive knowledge and helping to build the collective expertise of what is now a 40-person team. Larry has also been a long-time and favorite instructor with the Wetland Training Institute, educating professionals across a range of industries on topics including plant identification and riparian restoration.

Larry is an amazing resource of botanical, wetland science, and habitat restoration knowledge, as well as a fun person to work with and an overall wonderful human being.  We are so thankful for his dedication and contributions. Please join us in congratulating Larry on so many great years at HELIX and celebrating as he transitions towards this next step in his life where he will enjoy more time with his wife Pam, his children, and his grandchildren. We’re sure plenty of surfing, biking, and traveling will also be in the works.

Larry’s last day with HELIX will be December 5, 2019. We are organizing a gathering to celebrate Larry’s storied career to happen in early 2020 and will announce those details once confirmed.