Career Catalyst: How to Set and Achieve Professional Development Goals

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• Guest speaker
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  Alexa Smith Senior Sustainability Analyst @ APTIM

  Alexa is a senior sustainability analyst supporting climate-related risk assessments and strategy work for clients in retail, hospitality, and other commercial sectors. Alexa has always known she wanted a career that provided personal fulfillment, and she chose to work in this space because it satiates her curiosity, evolves quickly, and allows for the development of wide-ranging skillsets and exposure to other adjacent fields (finance/accounting, engineering, compliance, etc.). Alexa’s favorite part of her role is being able to provide science-based guidance upon which clients can build their sustainability strategy, plan their investments, and dispel greenwashing.

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  Sara Ford Sustainability, Resilience & ESG Advisor @ GHD

  Sara Ford is an Advisor in the Sustainability Advisory group at GHD, with over 4 years of experience in the corporate sustainability space. She holds a Bachelor’s of Environmental Studies degree in Environment & Business from the University of Waterloo, Canada. With GHD she works on a wide range of sustainability related topics, including greenhouse gas management, fleet decarbonization, climate risk management, sustainability reporting and disclosure, and more. Sara has been passionate about sustainability for as long as she can remember, and loves being able to work in a role that allows her to expand and apply her knowledge, and make a visible impact.

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  Julie Cacace Project Scientist, Biodiversity & Ecology @ Ramboll

  Julie Cacace is a Project Scientist in the Biodiversity and Ecology Group at Ramboll, with over four years of professional experience. She holds a B.S in Environmental Science from RPI, and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management at Duke University, with a concentration in Coastal Environmental Management and a certificate in geospatial analysis. At Ramboll, she leverages her knowledge of coastal and marine ecosystems, ecology, and strong geospatial skills to deliver high quality data products and analyses in support of biodiversity, environmental permitting, and coastal resiliency related projects.

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  Frances Parsons Environmental Engineering & Sustainability Professional @ Jacobs

  I am an Environmental Engineering & Sustainability Professional at Jacobs focused on helping companies understand and mitigate environmental impacts. My specialties are in greenhouse gas measurement, climate risk identification and mitigation, and sustainability reporting and disclosure. The ability to make an impact with clients across a wide range of sectors drew me to a career in environmental consulting, thus far I have worked with clients in the transportation, data center and real estate development, and athletic footwear and apparel sectors. I love working every day with my teammates to unravel complex problems that contribute to real world change.

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  Raphaelle Mboyo Engele Associate Consultant – Sustainability, Energy, and Climate Change @ WSP

  Raphaelle is an Associate Consultant in the Sustainability, Energy, and Climate Change group at WSP USA, where she leverages her background in environmental science and social impact assessment to deliver integrated sustainability solutions. Her work centers on circular economy, waste management, corporate renewable energy procurement, asset management, environmental disclosure, and the integration of environmental justice into sustainable business strategy. Raphaelle supports clients in connecting strategy to implementation, optimizing data collection and analysis, and facilitating corporate partnerships that align business goals with community and stakeholder engagement. She previously served on the Illinois Green Alliance Auxiliary Board (2022–2024), contributing to educational advocacy and strategy initiatives that promote affordable net-zero buildings across Illinois.

• Team member
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  Emily Ridge Community & Events Manager, and Chair of Early Careers Advisory Boards @ Environment Analyst