Exploring Sustainability Careers: a webinar series
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We were pleased to welcome MNR alums, students, faculty and staff to our three-part webinar series that explored sustainability roles in the government, business, and non-profit sectors. Our career coaches and expert alums shared their professional journeys and then answered questions in a follow-up discussion session.
To see what our students and alums are doing, check out our blog and sign up for our newsletter.
Exploring Sustainability Careers: Nonprofit Sector
(Tuesday, October 18, 2022)
Hosted by Career Coach Dr. Kathy Miller Perkins
with alum panelists Nick Blankenship, Adam Schellhammer, and Tori Yauch
Exploring Sustainability Careers: Business Sector
(Tuesday, October 11, 2022)
Co-hosted by Career Coaches Dr. Kathy Miller Perkins and Trish Kenlon
with alum panelists Andrew Ernest, Makayla Haertel, Ziggy Karpa, and Karlee Siepierski
Exploring Sustainability Careers: Government Sector
(Tuesday, October 4, 2022)
Hosted by Career Coach Dr. Kathy Miller Perkins
with alum panelists David Cleveland, Amy Eckberg, and Yanet Rodriguez
Career coaches
![Kathy Miller Perkins](/content/cligs_vt_edu/en/virginia-tech-master-of-natural-resources/green-careers/exploring-sustainability-careers/_jcr_content/content/vtmulticolumn_1364451384/vt-items_0/adaptiveimage.transform/m-medium/image.jpg)
In her role as the owner and CEO of a consulting firm, Dr. Kathy Miller Perkins has assisted leaders of global corporations and educational institutions. Kathy directs a research program exploring the culture and leadership characteristics of successful purpose-driven organizations. She authored the book, Leadership and Purpose: How to Create a Sustainable Culture, and writes regularly for Forbes.com. Kathy obtained her B.A. and M.A. from Indiana University and her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Kentucky. Her company, Miller Consultants, PBC, is a certified B Corporation, a designation for businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
![Trish Kenlon](/content/cligs_vt_edu/en/virginia-tech-master-of-natural-resources/green-careers/exploring-sustainability-careers/_jcr_content/content/vtmulticolumn_1364451384/vt-items_1/adaptiveimage.transform/m-medium/image.jpg)
Trish Kenlon is the founder of Sustainable Career Pathways, a popular website and sustainability jobs search coaching service. Her practice focuses on helping graduate students and mid-career professionals with transitioning into roles in the sustainability space. She is a frequent contributor of career expertise to the Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps community, and has been featured on several podcasts, including Sustainability Defined and Degrees with Yesh Pavlik Slenk. Prior to SCP, Trish worked in sustainability roles for the fashion retailer Ann Taylor, the Environmental Defense Fund, and TXU Energy. She has also worked in project management and consulting roles for IBM, CGI, and Bank of America. She is an alum of Carnegie Mellon University, the NYU Stern School of Business, and the EDF Climate Corps.
Panelists
![Nick Blankenship MNR alum](/content/cligs_vt_edu/en/virginia-tech-master-of-natural-resources/green-careers/exploring-sustainability-careers/_jcr_content/content/vtmulticolumn/vt-items_0/adaptiveimage_561026.transform/s-medium/image.jpg)
Nick Blankenship MNR (O) ‘21
Environmental Resources Manager,
Lake of the Woods Association
![Andrew Ernest, VT MNR (Online) alum](/content/cligs_vt_edu/en/virginia-tech-master-of-natural-resources/green-careers/exploring-sustainability-careers/_jcr_content/content/vtmulticolumn/vt-items_0/adaptiveimage.transform/s-medium/image.jpg)
Andrew Ernest MNR (O) ‘21
Manager, Property Sustainability
Tricon Residential
![Yanet Rodriguez MNR alum](/content/cligs_vt_edu/en/virginia-tech-master-of-natural-resources/green-careers/exploring-sustainability-careers/_jcr_content/content/vtmulticolumn/vt-items_0/adaptiveimage_1032361303.transform/s-medium/image.jpg)
Yanet Rodriguez MNR (O) ‘19
Foreign Affairs Officer,
U.S. State Department,
East Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau
![Tori Yauch XMNR alum](/content/cligs_vt_edu/en/virginia-tech-master-of-natural-resources/green-careers/exploring-sustainability-careers/_jcr_content/content/vtmulticolumn/vt-items_0/adaptiveimage_173356.transform/s-medium/image.jpg)
Tori Yauch XMNR ‘20
Program Financial Analyst, Environmental Defense Fund
![David Cleveland MNR alum](/content/cligs_vt_edu/en/virginia-tech-master-of-natural-resources/green-careers/exploring-sustainability-careers/_jcr_content/content/vtmulticolumn/vt-items_1/adaptiveimage.transform/s-medium/image.jpg)
David Cleveland MNR (O) ‘22
Sensitive Activities Program Manager,
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
![Makayla Haertel XMNR alum](/content/cligs_vt_edu/en/virginia-tech-master-of-natural-resources/green-careers/exploring-sustainability-careers/_jcr_content/content/vtmulticolumn/vt-items_1/adaptiveimage_1263605692.transform/s-medium/image.jpg)
Makayla Haertel XMNR ‘21
Sustainability Analyst,
Booz Allen Hamilton
![Karlee Siepierski XMNR alum](/content/cligs_vt_edu/en/virginia-tech-master-of-natural-resources/green-careers/exploring-sustainability-careers/_jcr_content/content/vtmulticolumn/vt-items_1/adaptiveimage_637021068.transform/s-medium/image.jpg)
Karlee Siepierski XMNR ‘16
Sustainability Manager, Merrimak Capital Company
![Amy Eckberg XMNR alum](/content/cligs_vt_edu/en/virginia-tech-master-of-natural-resources/green-careers/exploring-sustainability-careers/_jcr_content/content/vtmulticolumn/vt-items_2/adaptiveimage.transform/s-medium/image.jpg)
Amy Eckberg XMNR ‘20
Sustainability Programs Manager,
Orange County, NC
![Zigmund "Ziggy" Karpa](/content/cligs_vt_edu/en/virginia-tech-master-of-natural-resources/green-careers/exploring-sustainability-careers/_jcr_content/content/vtmulticolumn/vt-items_2/adaptiveimage_1996954411.transform/s-medium/image.jpg)
Ziggy Karpa XMNR ‘20
Director of Environmental Programs and Regulatory Affairs,
Constellation
![Adam Schellhammer, MNR alum](/content/cligs_vt_edu/en/virginia-tech-master-of-natural-resources/green-careers/exploring-sustainability-careers/_jcr_content/content/vtmulticolumn/vt-items_2/adaptiveimage_543352707.transform/s-medium/image.png)
Adam Schellhammer MNR (O) ‘16
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