A history focused on you.

A history focused on you.

About Us

Our history, mission and leadership drive us to be the best. Here’s a little more about what makes us tick.

James Moody and Associates groundwater professionals since 1891 started with steam-driven drillings rigs in Crawford County, PA old sepia company photo stamp
Services
20
Years of Experience
130
Associations
28

Our Mission

Our mission is to uphold the values of a family owned organization that have been the building blocks of our success since 1891. We are passionate about timely and professional responses, cost effectiveness, and being a solution-based company for all of our valuable business partners.

Our Executives

Since March 2018, Moody and Associates, Inc. has been owned by our current executive team. They embraced the long history and previous company leadership. Yet, their experience and dedication to Moody clients has opened a bright new chapter in our proud history. Take a look at how their backgrounds and experience shape our direction today.

Jeff Walentosky headshot

Jeff Walentosky

President, CEO

Jeff Walentosky joined Moody in 1990, worked through the ranks of the company and was named president of the company in February 2017. He was later named President, CEO and majority shareholder of the company in March 2018. Jeff is a licensed professional geologist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New York. While Jeff maintains his administrative duties for Moody, he remains active in assisting clients with commercial/industrial development, energy and municipal related projects. In addition, he remains active in numerous industry organizations and workgroups.  

Jeff served as the Citizen’s Advisory Council’s representative to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (PA DEP) Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board (TAB) from 2017-2024. Jeff still serves on the TAB Well Plugging Workgroup, where he assists regulatory and industry leaders with technical and regulatory initiatives. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association (PIOGA), Washington County Chamber of Commerce (where he is Board Chairman for 2026), United Way of Washington & Greene Counties and the Mon Valley Alliance. 

Matt Mitchell Moody and Associates Vice President

Matt Mitchell

Vice President, Operations Manager (Washington, PA)

Matt Mitchell has a bachelor’s of science degree in geology from West Virginia University, and holds professional geologist licenses in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Matt joined Moody in 2008 and has worked on projects throughout Appalachia and the mid-Atlantic region since 2001. His primary areas of focus for his clients include hydrogeology, water resource development, and environmental geology projects. Matt is active with the Pittsburgh Geological Society, Marcellus Shale Coalition, and the West Virginia Independent Oil and Gas Association.

Mark Miller - VP Operations Manager

Mark Miller

Vice President, Operations Manager (Meadville & Erie, PA)

Mark Miller joined Moody in 1989 as a geologist. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and holds a professional geologist license in Pennsylvania. In addition, he is a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) Certified Tank Installer.  

Mark works on projects throughout Appalachia and has an extensive background in directing and working on all aspects of environmental geology, groundwater resources, Brownfields redevelopment and related services. He has been appointed by the Secretary of the PA DEP as a member of the State Tank Advisory Committee (STAC) representing hydrogeologists. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Independent Petroleum Producers (PIPP), Friends of Drake Well and serves as Vice President of the French Creek District Development Corporation. 

Travis Bennett Moody and Associates Vice President

Travis Bennett

Vice President, Operations Manager (Athens, PA)

Travis Bennett joined Moody in 2010 as an environmental technician, quickly advancing to a project manager, before being named vice president and operations manager of the Waverly Office in July 2016. While Travis maintains his administrative duties for the Waverly office, he remains active in energy and municipal related project work, the company’s health and safety program and client relations. In addition, he is also active in several industry and regional organizations. Travis has worked on projects throughout Appalachia and has a strong background in oil & gas related surface and groundwater sampling programs and stray gas response and investigations. Travis has also participated in and managed industry and government funded research studies related to hydraulic fracturing, field sample collection methodology and dissolved methane gas variability.

Katie Sasala

Senior Project Manager

Katie Sasala holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geology from the State University of New York at New Paltz. She joined Moody in 2006 and has contributed to projects across the Appalachian Basin. Katie currently serves as a Senior Project Manager where her primary areas of expertise include the design and management of surface and groundwater sampling programs related to coal and oil and gas, as well as coal mine permitting initiatives.

Katie is also involved in several coal industry associations, which include the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance and Pennsylvania Mining Professionals. Katie was names a shareholder of Moody in April 2026.

Our History

1891 – 1946 1891 – 1946
1946 – 1964 1946 – 1964
1964 – 1980 1964 – 1980
1980 – 2004 1980 – 2004
2004 – 2018 2004 – 2018

1891 – 1946

Beginnings

James Moody receives a steam-driven drilling rig as payment for an old debt, and his son Kay begins drilling water wells in western Pennsylvania.

1946 – 1964

Growth and Reputation as Drilling Experts

Under Dwight Moody’s direction, Moody’s third generation owner, we became established residential and industrial drilling experts while successfully drilling hundreds of high capacity water wells throughout the region. Dwight takes advantage of new technology which begins to emerge during the post-war era, which helps improve upon the success of his drilling business.

1964 – 1980

Origins of PA’s Leading Hydrogeologic and Environmental Consulting Firm

Moody partners with Penn State geology professors to utilize an innovative method of locating high capacity water wells, known as “fracture trace analysis”. During this period, a technical staff of geologists joins the Moody team in response to company growth and due to the emergence of environmental regulations.

1980 – 2004

Establishing a Reputation as Environmental Experts

Jeff Moody becomes the fourth generation owner in 1985, and the company further develops the geological and environmental consulting services in response to increasingly stringent state and federal environmental regulations. During this time, services are expanded into West Virginia, Ohio and New York. Moody becomes an established hydrogeologic expert for oil-and-gas and coal mining industries.

2004 – 2018

Expansion of Company, Growth in Energy-Related Consulting

Continued growth in natural gas, coal, water supply, and environmental markets has given us the resources to offer full service geologic, hydrogeologic, and environmental consulting services across a growing variety of markets. Upon the retirement of Jeff Moody in 2018, the company was purchased by members of Moody’s leadership team. Moody will continue to focus on innovation, customer service, and favorable results for our clients, which have been the focus of our company since 1891.