By Sophie Albertie
The demand for ambitious young scientists to help save the environment has increased by tenfold.
Justin King, 2006 alum and Environmental practice leader at TRC Companies Inc, has returned to SUNY Plattsburgh to educate students on his environmental experience.
King has been consulting for 17 years and is pleased to be back at SUNY Plattsburgh, a place that has played an important role in shaping his career. King held a seminar on environmental consulting in Hudson Hall on Friday, Sept 12, as part of the weekly CEES seminar series provided by the SUNY Plattsburgh Center for Earth and Environmental Science. He has been consulting for 17 years and is pleased to be back at SUNY Plattsburgh, a place that has played an important role in shaping his own career.
“Be open to something different. It will always lead to an opportunity,” King said.
King delayed his graduation from SUNY Plattsburgh by a year so he could study at the William Miner Agricultural Institute before receiving his bachelor’s degree in environmental science. He now preaches being an environmental expert for the purpose of helping his clients achieve environmental health through protecting both humans and nature.
“Laws and regulations govern everything we do as consultants. We must promote sustainable practices while minimizing environmental impact,” King said.
The Portfolio of Petroleum Spill Sites is one of the most significant projects King has worked on with around 50 gas stations located throughout lower New York. This project is what King said he considers “the cornerstone of his career.”
“That field experience became a guide to me, as it formed my ability to lead,” King said.
In terms of interns and future employees for his company, King said that he looks for technical knowledge in all forms including technical writing skills and technical conversation skills. He encourages students to come readily equipped for a job in this field.
“Utilize your university, that is the reason why I am here today,” King said.
For the experienced scientist, his journey has not come without setbacks. King recalls the peak of his burnout when he first started managing projects for his company. He said he blames both his obsessive work ethic and the number of projects he took on. The small size of the workforce and the much bigger number of projects contributed to the changes he finally decided to make in his career to address his struggles.
“Know your boundaries, that’s what became important to me,” King said.
Ultimately, his goal is to encourage as many aspiring young scientists as possible to care about the environment from a perspective of research and safety to help build a sustainable future.
“Being here with you all is special for me because this is where my journey with environmental consulting began,” King said. “It’s an honor to share those experiences with you and hopefully the next generation of environmental consulting professionals.”
