Margo Environmental: Leading the Way in Environmental Risk Management Solutions
For the last nine months, Margo Environmental has been at the forefront of environmental services in West Michigan. As a provider of environmental consulting services, Margo Environmental specializes in elite environmental real estate risk management services, vapor intrusion assessment and mitigation, hazardous building materials surveys, and storage tank management, to name a few. Margo Environmental has built a reputation as a provider of high-quality assessments, which is coupled with a passion for innovation and efficiency and a deep commitment to environmental stewardship in Muskegon County.
Founded in June 2024 by Joseph Bolin, the company’s focus is helping individuals and businesses buy and sell contaminated property throughout West Michigan and help with the associated environmental risks, liabilities, and due care obligations that come with that. Margo Environmental assesses all kinds of properties, however, commercial and industrial real estate generally pose greater risks than, say, undeveloped or residential land. If concerns or risks are identified, Margo Environmental may collect soil, soil gas, or groundwater samples to confirm whether contamination is present so those risks can be properly managed and the purchasing and operating entities can obtain liability exemption through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
“Our goal is to improve the environment and strengthen our local communities,” Bolin says. “It sounds like a motto, but it’s not. It’s just what we do. We’re trying to help our local businesses and individuals properly manage environmental contamination so properties can be safely operated.”
Day-to-Day Operations
Margo Environmental operates with a hands-on leadership approach, with Bolin playing an active role in the company’s daily functions. “On any given day, I could be reviewing a technical document in the office, or I may be out in the field training environmental technicians on our sampling strategies and methodologies, or maybe you could find me having lunch with a new customer and learning about the hurdles they face and how we can help them deal with that,” Bolin explains. “It’s a great mix of things, and I love it.”
Bolin and his team of dedicated specialists ensure that every project is handled with precision and care. From environmental site assessments to implementing complicated remediation strategies, Margo Environmental has become a trusted partner for developers, attorneys, manufacturers, municipalities, and businesses in Muskegon County and greater West Michigan who are looking to comply with federal, state, and local environmental regulations while building a better community for us all.
A West Michigan Legacy
For Bolin, West Michigan is more than just a business location. It’s home. “I think the west side is the best side; we all know that,” Bolin jokes. “All the beautiful lakes. It is a great place to raise a family, and there are a lot of really good people here trying to make a positive impact in the community. There is a lot to like.”
This is at the heart of Bolin’s mission—helping our local business and people trying with their environmental challenges and keeping them safe whether that be during a property transaction or redeveloping a contaminated parcel of land.
Of his career trajectory, Bolin highlights that he’s always been drawn outdoors. “I’ve always enjoyed being active, playing sports, fishing, hiking, and I really like rocks and dirt,” he says. “I knew I didn’t want to spend my entire career in my office. Environmental consulting is a rewarding career because you’re always trying to improve the environment and help someone. I love to work outdoors, drilling soil borings, and I often get excited about geological and hydrogeological stuff, but the historical research part of looking at a property is interesting, too. We look into the past history of property, what they did there, and what chemicals were used. There’s always something to investigate.”
What’s Next for Margo Environmental
Margo Environmental is new to Muskegon, however, Bolin has been consulting for more than 11 years and looks forward to continuing to deepen his company’s roots in the area. “I think the biggest thing we strive for is improving our communities and growing with the great people in the area and helping our communities flourish,” he says.
“We are trying to support the great things going on here with developments, new construction, and helping local organizations and businesses thrive,” Bolin explains. “Our vision and focus here at Margo is to help local businesses, revitalize and bring new life to underutilized properties, and improve the environment. That’s what you can expect from us.”
He adds, “As a community, we all really have the same goals. We want a place where we can work, play, and raise our families with access to healthy food, clean drinking water, affordable housing, and more of the latter. Affordable housing is a real issue that we all face today, but we are working on that!”
Partnering with Greater Muskegon Economic Development
Since its beginning, Bolin has established a strong working relationship with Greater Muskegon Economic Development (GMED), recognizing the organization’s vital role in supporting environmental and redevelopment efforts across the region.
As Bolin explains, “The partnership is rooted in a shared mission—to improve the community by addressing environmental challenges, overcoming those endeavors, and supporting growth.”
Bolin emphasized the collaborative nature of the work, describing it as a team effort where both organizations bring unique strengths to the table. Through this partnership, Margo Environmental aims to contribute to the revitalization of Muskegon, a community with a legacy of industrial use and related environmental concerns.
Bolin and Margo Environmental value its role as an investor in GMED and see continued collaboration as essential to making meaningful progress. The relationship is marked by a mutual commitment to building a healthier, more sustainable Muskegon County.
A Message for Muskegon County’s Next Business Owners and Operators
For Bolin, the journey of building a business in Muskegon has always been rooted in passion, persistence, and a commitment to serve. When asked what advice he would give to someone starting a business in the area, his answer was simple but powerful: pursue your passion relentlessly.
“If you don’t try, the answer is always no,” he says. “Go after your passion, attack it as hard as you can every day, and put everything you have into it. Great things are achieved by those who are persistent and show up every day, roll up their sleeves, and work hard.”
That mindset carries through to how Margo Environmental approaches its work. Built on a foundation of genuine care and deep knowledge of West Michigan’s environmental challenges, the company is committed to helping others, whether that means guiding small businesses through environmental hurdles or revitalizing large, complex brownfield sites for redevelopment.
His words serve as both a rallying cry and an invitation—to entrepreneurs chasing their dreams and to investors and organizations like GMED who believe in the power of collaboration to shape a better future for Muskegon.