I am originally from Galway, New York, a small town of less than 4,000 people. When I was younger, I really wanted to be a pediatrician. I just love helping people. Once I got into college, I channeled that desire to help others into Human Resources.
I gravitated to manufacturing and recycling because there aren’t enough female leaders in this field. When I was hired as human resources manager for UltrePET, part of the Evergreen family, I thought it was a great opportunity to break glass ceilings in a male-dominated industry. This has been a great career decision because I believe the whole world is beginning to realize how crucial the plastics recycling role has on waste reduction and environmental sustainability, and I get to be a part of this initiative. My responsibilities include recruiting new talent, planning employee engagement initiatives, handling employee relations issues, and now as part of Evergreen, I’ll be doing much more.
What I like most about my job is interacting with our team members, learning about their backgrounds and how they would like to grow with the company. It’s a privilege to watch someone you’ve hired work their way into becoming a talented team member and a professional leader. This makes me happy and proud to know that I am able to contribute in the success of that person’s career.
Mentors are very important to me. I’ve found a lot of mentors in the books I read. Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo was the company’s first female CEO and one of the few women running a Fortune 500 company. She is a big inspiration to me, showing the leadership roles women can attain regardless of industry.
Manufacturing and recycling make for a challenging career. I’m working to promote more acceptance of women in our industry. The work we do is so important. People should be defined by their talent and what they bring to the table, not their gender.
Living in Upstate New York is the best. The foothills of the Adirondack Mountains are just beautiful. I love being active outdoors—hiking tall peaks, running, biking, skiing, kayaking. In winter, skiing with my sister is one of my favorite weekend activities. And I can’t forget my best friend, Rue! She is a Lab mix born in March 2021 on the streets of Alabama! I rescued her in May and she’s been such a blessing. She makes anyone who comes in contact with her smile. She also loves the outdoors so she’s always up for a long hike with me, even in the snow!
Evergreen Women in Recycling is a series created to celebrate the wonderful women across our company who make a difference in our world every day.