At Hoyle Tanner, we are fortunate to have expert leaders and innovative thinkers in every discipline. It is a big part of why clients trust us again and again, and hire us for various project services. Something we are extremely grateful for – and do not underestimate – is the value each team member brings. That includes our very special group of female engineers who focus on wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water quality services.
Affectionately known as the “WOW” Team within our hallways, Hoyle Tanner’s Women of Wastewater span generations and experience levels, with some just starting their careers and others making headlines with their years of expertise.
But it’s not just their experience levels that make them a group; it’s actually their willingness to teach and learn from one another that make this group of women truly an impressive team. It’s also a part of the reason some engineers join our firm – the chance to work and learn amongst brilliant women in a very male-dominated industry.
Below, these women feature a sentiment about why they love being part of WOW.
“As an idealistic teenager, I was drawn to environmental engineering with a passion to clean up the planet’s water systems. Almost 30 years later, I am living this dream through the work I do with Hoyle Tanner designing wastewater and stormwater treatment systems to keep our lakes and streams clean. When I started my career with Hoyle Tanner 26 years ago, there were few women in the field of engineering, and fewer still in the company, and mentorship with women was non-existent. Over the years as our representation in both the company and broader water resources sector has increased, there is a real sense of sorority and support for each other. As women, we face the double-edged sword of wanting a career and/or a family, and often have to prioritize one over the other. What has made the difference for me at Hoyle Tanner is that they worked with me wherever I was on that journey, giving me the support and commitment to find a balance and achieve both goals. As a senior female technical engineer at Hoyle Tanner, I am now in the position to provide that mentorship to younger female engineers, and I am looking forward to helping them navigate their way on their journey. I feel so fortunate to work with such a great group of women engineers at Hoyle Tanner – we truly have a sisterhood here!”
“When I talk to people in and around the City [of Burlington, Vermont], and they find out that I am working on improving the water quality of Lake Champlain, they are all starved for information and want facts and ways that they can immediately help…. Yes, beaches close when there is an issue, which makes everyone sad and angry, but just telling someone that picking up pet waste can make a difference, seems to make them listen intently. Having people that care about what [the WOW team does] is really fun.”
“Some of my favorite projects have been large infrastructure and utility projects which include design and construction of stormwater, wastewater and water systems. Recently, I’ve been collaborating with our wastewater process team on wastewater treatment facility projects, and I really enjoy working with so many smart, team-oriented women to solve design challenges on complicated projects. In an industry where women engineers tend to be the minority, I’m really proud to belong to a company culture that breaks the mold.”
“I think the WOW team is pretty special at Hoyle Tanner! I particularly like wastewater plants because although I’m a civil engineer and enjoy site, civil and structural projects, I get really jazzed up about wastewater treatment equipment, mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) equipment and process controls. I’m learning something new with each project, and enjoy working with our subconsultants that do the design in these areas.”
“My career in wastewater began working as an intern for another firm cleaning wastewater sampling equipment and other field-related services. Since then I’ve had the privilege of working alongside excellent engineers in a variety of wastewater disciplines, including my favorite – Industrial Pretreatment. All these years later, industrial inspections are still exciting to me, whether a brewery, a paper mill, a tofu manufacturing plant or a Pepsi bottler, I am able to see and stay at the forefront of continued emerging technologies to deal with pollution prevention.”
“I graduated with three other women in my major and only one female professor, so working with a larger group of female engineers is a great new experience for me. The group is very supportive and the mentorship I have received from the women at Hoyle Tanner is exceptional.”
“The company culture is what drew me to Hoyle Tanner. It always feels like your managers and supervisors really do care about you and your work experience. I’ve learned a lot from my project teams and am excited to continue doing so.”
These women are amazing, and the great news is that there is room on our growing team! Are you looking for a team to learn from and grow with? Reach out to Kirstin or check out various openings on our careers page!
*It’s Hoyle Tanner’s 50th anniversary this year! Keep an eye on our Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter feeds for articles and anniversary news!