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Elena Ziskind and her Sustainability Journey at HRP

October 7th, 2024

Elena Ziskind and her Sustainability Journey at HRP

When Elena Ziskind made the move down to Greenville, South Carolina to begin her internship with HRP, it marked the culmination of what to that point had been a long process of applying to internships and a lot of hours spent in the career center at the University of Pittsburgh refining her resume and cover letter.

“I had applied to several different internships before I heard from HRP,” recalls Elena. “I was on LinkedIn like it was my job.”

But the trip down to Greenville was more than just the end of a search; it was the beginning of an exciting new chapter. It was a chance to dive deep into life cycle assessments, explore the carbon footprint of remediation projects, establish key performance indicators, calculate emissions, and immerse herself in Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) procedures. Supporting HRP in their sustainability journey has become a vital part of Elena’s own journey toward a career in sustainability.

Originally from upstate New York, Elena began her academic journey at SUNY Geneseo, pursuing a degree in psychology. However, her desire for new experiences and opportunities led her to transfer to the University of Pittsburgh.

“Throughout high school, I always liked Psychology, and I wanted to pursue it in college,” says Elena. “But sometimes it can take a couple of years of college to figure out what you like. I ended up taking some sustainability-related classes and found that I was interested in it.”

During her freshman year, Elena took an Intro to Environmental Issues class that opened her eyes to how everyday actions impact the environment. This sparked a passion that drove her to earn Certificates in Sustainability and Geographic Information Systems, intern with a nonprofit focused on environmental justice, and join Epsilon Eta Delta, the Environmental Honors Fraternity, at the University of Pittsburgh. Through Epsilon Eta Delta, Elena connected with like-minded peers and actively engaged in sustainability outreach and community cleanups.

“It was so inspiring to be around people so passionate about the environment and sustainability,” says Elena. “I knew being involved in an organization like that and people with similar interests and passions meant I was on the right path.”

During her internship at HRP, Elena focused on the company’s internal sustainability policies and procedures.

“One of the big projects I worked on was updating the greenhouse gas emissions for HRP, gathering information from different offices on the type of AC units, recycling practices, vehicle mileage, and utility data, and working on calculating those emissions.”

She also collaborated with HRP’s EHS&S Practice Leader, Jackie Baxley, on writing and editing policies related to business ethics and sustainable procurement. Additionally, Elena researched best practices to improve HRP’s sustainability efforts, particularly in relation to their EcoVadis score, a global standard for assessing business sustainability.

“I’ve been taking the feedback from EcoVadis and looking for ways to improve how the company operates to boost the score when they retake the assessment, as well as gathering info for the annual Sustainability Report,” says Elena.

Elena also collaborated with Health and Safety Officer Jessica Eubanks on a subcontractor orientation presentation, contributing a couple of slides on subcontractor ethics that help ensure all employees of HRP are being treated fairly while in the field. These experiences have broadened her understanding of sustainability, adding consulting to her portfolio alongside her previous work in the nonprofit and corporate sectors.

“The one thing I never knew much about was how the consulting industry works,” Elena says. “Over the course of my internship, I sat in on weekly meetings for the environmental and engineering departments, learning about the projects they work on and what they do in the field. I had no background in EH&S, so learning about all of this has been very exciting.”

Looking ahead, Elena is eager to advance her career in sustainability, driven by the tangible impact of her work.

“You can really see the impact of your work on a daily basis,” says Elena. “Working with HRP, reviewing their internal policies, and conducting research, I can see these initiatives being put into place. I know that when I calculate greenhouse gas emissions, it’s going to help HRP reach their sustainability goals.”

Reflecting on her time in Greenville, Elena fondly remembers not just the learning experience but also exploring a part of the country she’d never been to before. Her love for the outdoors—hiking, fishing, camping—was only heightened as she discovered different parts of South Carolina. Now, she’s looking forward to the future with a wealth of new experiences and knowledge.