Before compliance was a buzzword—before “sustainability” made headlines—John Von Bargen was rewriting the rulebook for American industry. As Ship & Shore Environmental, Inc. (S&SE) accelerates toward its 25th anniversary, Von Bargen’s legacy remains the foundation of one of the world’s most trusted engineering firms in CleanAir Solutions™.
A chemical engineer with zero patience for mediocrity, Von Bargen started as VP of Engineering at Hirt Combustion Engineers, building the first CARB-certified thermal oxidizers in the U.S.—before most companies even knew what “VOC” meant. When President Nixon formed the EPA and California established the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), regulators called in Von Bargen as one of the elite few to help train their first wave of inspectors. He played an instrumental role in educating and training the agency that is now widely considered the gold standard for air pollution regulation and enforcement in the United States—setting stringent and advanced standards for industrial emissions and compliance. SCAQMD’s rule making, permitting processes, and technical protocols are so respected, they continue to be emulated by agencies across the country. Today, Von Bargen brings that same pioneering expertise and uncompromising standard to every S&SE solution, ensuring clients stay ahead of regulations and always at the forefront of innovation.
But technology alone doesn’t build a legacy. Enter Anoosheh Oskouian also a chemical engineer, entrepreneur, and a force of nature in an industry where few dared to innovate. As she likes to say, it was “a match made in heaven” when the two joined forces—two experts, one vision. Together, they tore up the playbook, building S&SE around in-house innovation and custom engineering. Their formula: relentless rigor, entrepreneurial fire, and total refusal to compromise.
“Our success isn’t just about great technology. It’s about two perspectives—engineering and entrepreneurial—pushing each other to outthink, outbuild, and outperform what’s possible,” said Oskouian. “John’s approach has always been do it right, do it better, and don’t wait for the rules to catch up. That’s the culture John and I started. It’s what’s shaped Ship & Shore from day one, and it’s why our clients still win. We built S&SE around a single conviction: if you want real results, build your solutions in-house and never, ever settle for ‘off the shelf.’”
Together, they’ve made S&SE the firm that competitors watch and regulators trust. The impact is everywhere. S&SE’s abatement systems consistently deliver 99%+ destruction efficiencies and are tailored for the toughest real-world demands. Their modular RTOs cut operational costs in real plants, and the company’s engineering department—now a new generation over a dozen strong, most trained by Von Bargen—continues to define S&SE’s technical edge.
While the years have required John to scale back his involvement, he hasn’t stopped. He still shows up to the Ship & Shore offices every afternoon, working alongside the engineers of tomorrow, driving a culture where regulatory changes are seen as opportunities, not obstacles.
With its 25th anniversary only months away, Ship & Shore’s legacy of innovation and grit is only gaining momentum. The future of clean industry? With this partnership at the helm, one thing is clear: when expertise meets audacity, you don’t just keep up with the rules—you help write them. And at S&SE, regulators are often reading from Von Bargen’s playbook.
Feature Image Courtesy of: Ship & Shore Environmental
