Education: Bachelor of Science – Civil Engineering Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY. Master of Engineering – Environmental Engineering, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY
Job Overview: I am the Client Service Leader for the New York region, which includes New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. I am responsible for growing the business practice in water resources, water and wastewater treatment, and other wet infrastructure through building client relationships, studying market trends and new technologies, finding ways to obtain work with good contract terms in order to increase profit, and build a larger MWH presence in this area, where we are not well-known. When I am not doing those things, I have time to practice engineering here and there.
How I ended up at MWH: Another great woman, Becky Hachenburg, Vice President in West Palm Beach, Florida, thought I might make a good addition to the firm, and sent my resume to the New York office. Becky and I had worked together in the past. In the past, I had been an MWH client, competitor, and partner – and now I am on the team!
What is on my desk right now: A set of construction As-Builts for a reservoir cap awaiting my signature, various invitations to several professional society events, a lovely map of the NYCDEP sewage treatment plants and their capacities, my marketing plan for the NYC metropolitan area, and the MWH Client Service Behavior Model (framed).
Free time activities: Watching New York Rangers hockey, hiking, yoga, traveling, shopping, volunteering in my local community benefitting children’s welfare and wellness programs, and playing golf. I also love finding new places to shop, socialize and dine in NYC.
Best career advice I’ve ever received: Received or heeded? Here are a few notable gems:
1. Change is constant. Adapt! Don’t complain about it, embrace it! The faster you accept this fact, the more quickly things will move forward.
2. Know when to move on to a new job, position, or even arena. However this is expressed to you, whether verbally or through writing on the wall, listen and take notice.
3. Tag line – “It’s all about relationships.” This is a given. It’s how you maintain and use the relationships that will determine your success.
4. Don’t burn bridges. See number 3.
5. If you are miserable in your job, do something else. Not every day on the job is a holiday, but you should not dread going to work every day. If that is the case, you will be unhappy, unhealthy, unmotivated and an unproductive member of the team.
Experiences at MWH: I attended the Client Service Leader Training/Strategic Workshop Session in Broomfield, CO in January. It was great to collaborate with my peers while getting the MWH growth plan and strategy, and set our business goals for the year.
Pictured above is Karen inside a power generating unit at a hydropower plant during a routine maintenance inspection.
