2025 Year in Review: Chuck Merritt, Merritt Environmental

What accomplishment, milestone, project or transaction stood out for you or your firm in 2025? 

Merritt Environmental Consulting Corp. (MECC) was engaged to work on a portfolio of distressed properties that a client was buying. Environmental Due Diligence reports were needed back quickly so the transaction could close. MECC met the challenge by mobilizing all our resources which included working late a few nights (with pizza for the team of course) to meet the deadline. Even with new technology and AI at our disposal, sometimes you need to go “old school” just lay out a project on the conference table to figure it all out.

What emerging trends or shifts will shape opportunities for you, your firm, or market sector in 2026?

As commercial real estate becomes attractive again to investors, the environmental standards implemented in 2024, will create an opportunity for buyers to conduct additional investigation (phase 2) in order to better understand potential environmental impacts. Lenders will require this as well as part of the loan requirements.