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Women's History Month

March 7th, 2022

Historically, the STEM industries have been predominately male fields where women were not seen or well represented, especially in high level positions such as managers. To address this issue, we introduce the Women Win Wednesday series! This series was created not just to highlight our brilliant female managers and practice leaders, but to also prove that women possess all the capability, skills, and drive to be leaders in our industry. The Women Win Wednesday series is about giving representation and showing that a diversity of voices in leadership is an asset that all companies should strive for to create a company that is as inclusive as it is effective for success.

Each Wednesday on social media and on our blog we will highlight a different female manager at HRP. Check back each week to learn more about our incredible group of women in leadership.

Deb Berardi, Principal and Director of Human Resources 

Deb began her career with HRP in their 3rd year of business. This was a fantastic opportunity to get in on the ground floor.  Working her way from Word Processor to Accounting Manager to her current position of Director of Human Resources, she has many years of experience and knowledge with several administrative roles within the company.  Trained by the CFO at that time, Joseph Rinaldi, he was instrumental in boosting her career. There is something to be said about learning how to process things without a computer doing it for you!

Among her many accomplishments was upgrading the accounting system from manual to fully digitized and establishing the HR Department; from creating an employee manual, planning corporate and employee events, writing policies and procedures, annual evaluations of insurance plans, and continually looking for greater benefits for all employees. Deb spent 20+ years dividing her time between managing the accounting and human resources departments before making the choice for people over numbers 7 years ago. The HR Department continues to grow under her leadership, her HRP life experiences, and her passion for finding solutions for the employees, as well as the company.

Deb feels very fortunate to have excellent role models with her parents and grandparents who instilled a strong work ethic, while showing that you also need to take time for yourself and your family to enjoy life. This fits in perfectly with HRP’s Work Hard Play Hard mantra!

Jessica Kruczek, PE, LEP, Principal and Contract Manager

Ms. Kruczek has over 24 years of experience with client and project management, remediation design and construction using both traditional and innovative technologies, and site investigation of a host of projects with varied constituents of concern including chlorinated solvents, gasoline-related compounds, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, metals, perfluorinated compounds,  and various explosive compounds.  Ms. Kruczek earned her Master’s Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Rutgers University and her Bachelor’s Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in two states (soon to be three!), and a Licensed Environmental Professional in Connecticut. Jessica has served as a Project Manager for over a decade assisting scores of commercial, industrial, residential, and quasi-governmental agencies perform due diligence to assess environmental liabilities in support of property transactions in accordance with ASTM and state-specific standards.  Jessica has supported clients both large (Fortune 50) and small (local homeowners) for their environmental needs, as wells as state and Federal entities. Most recently Jessica is serving as a Contract Manager for a State contract valued at up to $50M.  Jessica prides herself in developing and maintaining close professional relationships with her clients by acting as a client advocate, and providing sound advice, making herself available to her client’s needs, and acting in her client’s best interests.

Growing up, Jessica had always heard from relatives that her mother should have been an engineer (her brothers went on to become mechanical and nuclear engineers), but in that generation, that simply wasn’t done.  Her mother went to college to become a primary school teacher, but her mechanical inclination was always apparent.  When considering career paths, though flirting with the idea of becoming a lawyer, Jessica followed the path to engineering wanting to use her strengths in math and science to make the world a better place. The field of Environmental Engineering has an altruistic component to it, and became the focus of study early on in college at time when Environmental Engineering was a subset of water resources under Civil Engineering rather than its own field of study. Early in Jessica’s career, she was one of only three technical women at her firm of over 45 professionals.  Over time, the field itself has grown, and the ratio of active female professionals continues to improve. 

Allison Tyropolis, PE, Project Manager

Allison Tyropolis is a Project Manager and Professional Engineer in our Clifton Park, NY and Farmington, CT offices.  She manages our Compliance Engineering Team and enjoys working with HRP’s group of responsive and qualified engineers to assist clients with their compliance needs across regulatory programs including, but not limited to, air, wastewater, stormwater, EPCRA reporting and assessments, tanks, sustainability, energy audits, and PSM/RMP.  

Allison has over 15 years of experience in air permitting and emissions modeling and maintains productive relationships with various regulatory agencies to achieve positive outcomes for our clients.  Allison prides herself on responsive service and maintaining strong communications to understand client goals and objectives.  She recently earned her Toxics Use Reduction Planner Certification and continually focuses on improving her team’s knowledge and skills to offer a full service experience to meet client needs.
 

Elyse Abel, QCIS, QSWPPP, Project Manager

Elyse has 17 years of experience in the Environmental Consulting Industry with a focus in Stormwater Management. She has managed teams of Stormwater inspectors across the Northeast throughout her entire career. She started as an inspector herself and quickly climbed the ranks to Management after only a few years. She is an expert in her field and has worn many hats throughout the years. She has experience with building a business, hiring, training, business development, client management, field work, project management, team building, leadership and mentoring. As a Project Manager at HRP, Elyse expertly manages our largest multi-state Construction Stormwater contract and runs a team of inspectors throughout the Northeast and does it in style. Check out her pink boots next time she’s on your site!

Having 4 kids ages 10, 11, 12, and 14, Elyse also runs a team of children at home. On the weekends she can be found at numerous kids sporting events or picking up random dirty socks off the floor or food that was left out. She enjoys fitness and outdoor activities like hiking and mud runs. She also enjoys reading and singing. 

Jackie Baxley, PE, Principal, EHS Practice Leader

Jackie, a professional engineer in several states, has over 23 years of experience as an environmental engineering and risk management consultant specializing in the areas of environmental health and safety (EHS) compliance and management systems. As the EHS&S Practice Leader for HRP Associates, Inc, her responsibilities include fostering operational performance to a project and management staff of engineers and scientist.  Throughout her career, Jackie has developed a strong working knowledge of the principle federal and state EHS laws and regulations, the principals of management systems and the application of sustainable practices and policies. Jackie is well known as a compliance trainer and has developed training courses delivered in person and online.  She has managed or performed hundreds of site EH&S audits for a multitude of clients.  

Blessed by opportunity both personally and professionally, Jackie has had the opportunity to travel both the Artic and the Antarctic, visit every continent but one (Oceania/Australia is all that is left), and develop and shape programs that have benefited her employers, colleagues and clients. 

Jackie’s spirit and drive has been shaped by the strong women and men in her life.  Her mom currently serves in the state legislature and was a model of balancing family and work life during Jackie’s childhood as her parents were small business owners.  Her grandmother was a career woman when that was rare and was a force to be reconned with as the Head of Nursing for her hometown hospital.  Her family has a love of games, particularly cards, that keeps her balanced and sometimes humbled (games can get quite competitive!)

Alicia Mojica Washington, Principal, Director of Marketing and JEDI

Alicia has 19 years of marketing experience in the A/E/C industry. As Marketing Director, her responsibilities include oversight of corporate and client sector branding, proposal and presentation development, supervision of marketing communication including digital media productions, and staff management. As JEDI Director, she is responsible for developing, promoting, supporting and engaging diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. 
Raised by a single mother and surrounded by many women in her family, she learned independence, strength, resilience, and determination.  It has been the backbone of her career.  Alicia supports many of her female colleagues in AEC Marketing and encourage them to speak up for themselves, challenge the status quo and be confident.

Alicia has served as President for the Connecticut Chapter of the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) and established their Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce, a board member and membership chair of the Construction Institute, Board of Advisor and Communication’s Chair for the Connecticut Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects and Board Member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.  Alicia also serves her local community as Chairwoman of the City Diversity Council.
 

Kate Hendrickson, CHMM, Project Manager

Kate is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager with more than 20 years of project management and technical experience in environmental assessment, regulatory support, and environmental compliance.  She has managed project and proposal teams for Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments, regulatory compliance reviews, and risk assessments.  Ms. Hendrickson has focused on projects involving site assessment and regulatory support under a variety of regulatory frameworks and has extensive experience in both the government and private sectors.  In addition, Ms. Hendrickson has served a support role providing assistance in drafting proposals, work plans and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Kate's desire to become an environmental consultant began kayaking the lakes, rivers and canals of New York State while attending William Smith College.  Gliding on the water so seamlessly in a boat allowed her to experience the rich and diverse natural wonders of the area, but also introduced her to direct negative effects of runoff, discharge, and contamination.  This environmental awareness has been a driving force in the detailed way she assists clients with acquisition, assessment, and evaluation of appropriate environmental reserves. The strong women in her life, starting with her mother, have lifted and empowered Kate to continually strive for excellence.

Lisa D. Aglieco, Project Manager

Lisa D. Aglieco serves as a Project Manager at HRP Associates, Inc. Lisa has 21 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry. Her project experience includes Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II subsurface investigations, Phase III subsurface environmental investigations, implementation and documentation of remedial actions at contaminated sites, Brownfield Redevelopments, RCRA and non-RCRA groundwater monitoring, interpretation of geologic and hydrogeologic data, proposal/report preparation and contractor, client and regulatory coordination with proficient knowledge with Connecticut Remediation Standard Regulations (RSRs).