Program Coordinator
Department of Public Works
Town of Danvers, MA
How long have you been in the industry?: I鈥檝e been in the environmental industry since I got out of college in 1991. I worked for the state and then in environmental consulting. I took eight years off to raise my two daughters and have been at the Danvers DPW for 10 years.
How did you get involved? What was your first job?: I have a degree from Dartmouth College with a major in Earth Sciences (focused on hydrogeology) and a certificate in Environmental Studies. My first job was with the State of Massachusetts Department of Public Health as an Environmental Analyst working on public health assessments for Superfund sites.
Who/What was your biggest influence?: My biggest influence was going to New Hampshire for summer vacations. I grew up in a city outside of Boston, and I always loved how different it was in New Hampshire. It was so green! I really wanted to help preserve that and do what I could to protect the environment.
What has been your most unique/interesting experience over the years?:My most unique experience was working on a tiny barge with a drill rig attached in Salem Harbor. We took sediment samples for pilings that were going in for the Salem-Beverly Bridge project. One day we didn鈥檛 quite hit the tides right and had to trudge through mud flats to get from the boat to the pier!
What do you see as the biggest challenges to the industry today?: Recycling contamination is the biggest challenge to the recycling industry today. Communities are considering taking components out of their recycling stream and I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 the best way to deal with this problem. In Danvers, we have dual-stream recycling and I think that helps with contamination issues. We have also run a recycling contamination campaign, which has helped to educate our residents. Overall, the U.S. needs to develop equipment to effectively sort recyclables collected curbside at materials recovery facilities and invest in plants that could recycle more products locally.
What do you like most about being in the industry/your job?: I love engaging with the community and educating residents of all ages about sustainability issues.
Hobbies: I love to dance, love pets and have been collecting rocks, minerals and crystals since I was in third grade! One goal of mine is to become a certified crystal healer.
Last vacation: I went to Napa Valley, CA with my fianc茅 Phil鈥攚e got engaged there! We also took a local vacation to Cape Cod, MA with my daughters over the summer.
Words to live by: 鈥淏e yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that. Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for.鈥� 鈥擱alph Waldo Emerson.