Issue link: https://geospatial.trimble.com/en/resources/i/1415426
MAY 2019 csengineermag.com 27 StormRax BY Structural HDPE Products for all your Water Screening Needs. • 100% Maintenance Free • Light Weight • Chemical Resistance • Outstanding Strength • UV Resistant RE-ENGINEERED PEAK SERIES VISIT US AT: www.plastic-solution.com or CALL 1 (877) 877-5727 PYRAMID SERIES ROUND SERIES SLOPE SERIES FLAT SERIES BMP SERIES EH: To be honest, I can't think of challenges or triumphs in my career that I can specifically attribute to being a woman. Since day one I've been surrounded by very talented men and women and don't feel like I've been treated any different because of my gender. So, perhaps as we participated in Women's History Month in March, part of my message to women who are thinking about a professional career in technical disciplines is two-fold: don't accept a situation that suggests gender is a factor, and surround yourself with mentors (men and women) who share that view. Beyond your immediate work environment, profes- sional organizations such as the National Institute of Building Sciences offer fantastic opportunities to develop your professional network. C+S: You have a BS in Environmental Science and Marine Biology from the University of New Hampshire. This is not the most popular degree in the collegiate world. What drew you to this field of study? EH: As a child I wanted to swim with dolphins. I loved to SCUBA dive and snorkel and anything that had to do with the ocean. After a year or two of higher-level biology, physics and chemistry classes, I knew I was a better fit in the business world than the lab. At UNH, the environmental science curriculum included economics, business, writing, and public speaking courses. This well-rounded curriculum really set me up for success in the business world. C+S: At some point you did FAA environmental work in Alaska. Did you see any bears? The Aurora Borealis? Mountain tops and salmon spawns? EH: No bears or Aurora Borealis, but we did run into a very large moose on a midnight hike. Alaska is one of the many gorgeous loca- tions this job has taken me to. C+S: Any final thoughts? EH: Work-life balance is possible. Both myself and my spouse, Jim, have professional careers and have managed to find a rhythm and tempo that fits our family – daughters Maddie and Caroline, and a rescue lab named Deacon – that allows us both to be engaged with our children, and to concurrently pursue individual passions such as traveling and running. Don't give up on the idea that work-life balance is an achievable goal! RICHARD MASSEY is managing editor of Zweig Group publications. He can be reached at rmassey@zweiggroup.com.