We sat down with Rebecca Osei, founder and CEO of EcoSeal Environmental Services, an OCA member firm that has grown from a two-person startup in 2019 to a 47-person operation serving clients in eight states. Here’s what she had to say about building a containment compliance practice.
How did you get started in oil containment?
“I was a project manager at a large environmental consulting firm and noticed that smaller industrial clients were underserved. They needed SPCC plans and containment system support but couldn’t afford large firm rates. I saw an opportunity to build a practice around affordable, high-quality compliance services for small and mid-sized operators.”
What role has OCA membership played in your growth?
“Enormous. When I joined OCA in 2020, I immediately gained access to resources that would have taken me years to develop on my own—technical standards, regulatory interpretation guidance, connections to other professionals. The annual conference was transformative for business development. I’ve probably generated over $2 million in business directly from relationships I developed at OCA events.”
What’s the biggest challenge in the containment compliance space?
“Educating clients about the true cost of non-compliance. Many facility managers see SPCC plans and secondary containment systems as pure cost with no return. My job is to help them understand that a single enforcement action can cost more than 10 years of proactive compliance, and that their insurance premiums reflect their compliance posture. When you frame it that way, the investment makes obvious sense.”
What advice would you give to others building a containment practice?
“Get the technical training first. The CCS certification from OCA gave me credibility with clients and referral sources. Then network aggressively within the industry—most of our clients come from referrals from other professionals. And stay current on regulations; in this field, a year-old guidance document can be significantly out of date.”