Green Careers

Employer Panel
Thomas J. Werling
Assistant Project Manager/Green Operations, The Hagerman Group

Education:
BS Purdue University – Building Construction Management
LEED Accredited Professional

Previous Work Experience:

Started at The Hagerman Group fulltime after graduation in December 2003.
Was the Project Engineer on the First LEED Certified (Silver) New Construction Building
in the state of Indiana.

Information about Current Company:

Still with The Hagerman Group, which is comprised of Hagerman Construction, Hagerman
Inc. and GDH. We offer general contracting, construction management, design-build and
green building services in addition to masonry, concrete and carpentry self-performance ca-
pabilities. The Hagerman Group is a four-generation company founded in 1908 performing
most of our work in the Midwest.

Best thing about working in a “Green” industry:

Analyzing the owners desires and requirements, delivering a product that exceeds their
expectations, all while implementing resourceful engineering, design, and construction
expertise.

Skills Needed / Used in Current Position:

Four Year Construction/Architectural Degree, Knowledge of LEED/USGBC, Technology/
Engineering schooling for photovoltaic’s or wind energy.

Advice to Students:
Go with your passion, get active within school and the community, obtain as many
certifications/accreditations as soon as possible, differentiate your self from others…
 Green Careers
Employer Panel
Abigail Frost ...soon to be Abigail King this coming June!
Office Manager - Citizens Action Coalition, Ft. Wayne office
Classroom and In-Car Instructor - Safeway Driving School
Founder & Education Outreach - Save Maumee Grassroots Organization

Education:
Bachelor of Arts in Communications; Interpersonal and Public Speaking with Minors in Business
and Government

Previous Work Experience: I worked my way through 11 years of college at Hall's Triangle
Park. Upon graduation I moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL and worked for the largest production
studio in South Florida, Tri-Com Pictures. I moved home and installed cable and cable modems
for Comcast Cablevision as a contractor for a few years. Upon moving back to Fort Wayne in
2000 I purchased a home on the Maumee River and research into our rivers' conditions
began. I continue to work for Citizens Action Coalition, Indiana's oldest and largest consumer
and environmental rights group. After working in the environmental industry I will never go
back to a regular job. My only regular job I will claim is teaching at Safeway Driving School
where I can continue to change lives through teaching teenagers, (and some older folks) how to
drive properly. I truly love my teenagers that I teach and press environmental issues even while
educating!

Information about Current Company: Save Maumee Grassroots Organization is dedicated to

raising awareness about the conditions of the 3 Rivers in Fort Wayne, Indiana while facilitating
ecosystem restoration projects; ultimately repairing and improving the St. Joseph, St. Mary and
Maumee Rivers to reverse the affects of pollution. www.savemaumee.org

Best thing about working in a “Green” industry: Making people aware and making things
better through sustainability and practical solutions, assist in helping improve environmental
resources for generations to come!

Skills Needed / Used in Current Position: People Skills! People who are interested innately
seek out information, so making it readily available for consumption is key! Make the job
fun. For example we cleanse the riverbanks of garbage, but we try to include local, live entertain-
ment and snacks in a friendly, thankful environment to keep volunteers coming back. Help
others to help ourselves. Environmental work needs PEOPLE!

Advice to Students: Please seek out information from all sources. It is important these days to
read your news from reliable non-partisan and non-corporate sources such as Scientific America,
BBC, National Public Radio, Reuters. PLEASE volunteer your time toward a local, worthy cause
that you would like to support.

One last thing....Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change
the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead
 Green Careers
Employer Panel
Brian Winters
Corporate Environmental Manager, OmniSource Corporation

Education:
BS Degree in Safety Management, Indiana State University

Previous Work Experience:

Started with OmniSource directly after college in '97 (internship lead to full-time position) -
became Omni's Corp Env Mgr in July 2004

Information about Current Company:

OmniSource Corporation is one of North America's largest scrap metal recycling compa-
nies, operating at more than 70 locations throughout the U.S. and processing capacity to re-
cycle more than 7 million tons of ferrous scrap and over a billion pounds of nonfer-
rous metals annually.

Best thing about working in a “Green” industry:

While our core business of metals recycling alone is a key component to a cleaner
environment, it's extremely satisfying to be part of an organization that focuses on
additional efforts (reduced energy consumption, recycling in the office,
etc) that help contribute to the overall greening of our environment.

Skills Needed / Used in Current Position:

Strong leadership, planning and communication skills, along with a technical knowledge of
environmental regulations.

Advice to Students:
Enjoy this time of your life. Take it all in and have as much fun as you can along the way.

.
 Green Careers
Employer Panel
Julia Gorrell
Intern, Energy & Environmental Services, City of Fort Wayne
Green Initiative Coordinator, Fort Wayne Metals Research Corporation
Organizer, Green Drinks Fort Wayne (Unpaid)
Transition Team Member for Northeast Indiana, Sustain Indiana 2016 (Unpaid)

Education:
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology (December 2008)

Previous Work Experience:

20 years of various roles, including human resources, marketing, and training

Information about Current Company:

Energy and Environmental Services at the City of Fort Wayne develops and implements
comprehensive energy and environmental policies and action plans for both the City of Fort
Wayne operations and the residents of Fort Wayne to reduce the cost burden of energy
purchases, improve air quality and improve the quality of life.
Fort Wayne Metals Research Corporation, a private corporation, is a world provider of
medical wire.
Green Drinks Fort Wayne is an international organic networking event held every month all
over the world in 636 cities. Fort Wayne held its first one in June 2009. Green Drinks Fort
Wayne meets the third Tuesday of every month at JK O’Donnell’s in downtown Fort
Wayne.
Sustain Indiana 2016 is a collaborative project initiative by Earth Charter Indiana to
showcase models of sustainability, connect individuals and organizations working for a
more sustainable state, and provide educational programs on sustainable living.

Best thing about working in a “Green” industry:

I am a change agent. I am affecting the community around me. I am able to do research and
talk with other people regionally, nationally, and sometimes internationally about what is
working for them and figure out how to apply it for our area.

Skills Needed / Used in Current Position:

Research, communication – written and verbal, networking, organization, analysis, and
marketing.

Advice to Students:
Find your passion. A job is something where you get paid for a set of skills, a career is
something you do for a living that you are passionate about, regardless of the pay.
 Green Careers
Internet Resources
Information
Blue Green Alliance: http://www.bluegreenalliance.org/home
Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance: http://csba.foresightdesign.org/
City of Chicago Department of the Environment: http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/
portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName=Environment&entityNameEnumValue=13
Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability: http://onsustainability.com/
GreenBiz: http://www.greenbiz.com/
Green Collar Blog: http://www.greencollarblog.org/
Green Tech Media: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/whos-offering-good-green-jobs-
5649/
Indiana Department of Environmental Management: http://www.in.gov/idem/
Secrets of the Job Hunt Green Job Guide:
http://www.secretsofthejobhunt.com/profiles/blogs/green-jobs-the-1-page-guide-to
Sustainable Business: http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/
Ten Best Green Jobs for the Next Decade:
http://www.fastcompany.com/articles/2009/01/best-green-jobs.html?page=0,0
Trade Wind Energy: http://www.tradewindenergy.com/
US Green Building Council: http://www.usgbc.org/

Job Boards
5 Million Green Jobs: http://www.5milliongreenjobs.org/jobs/myjobs/
Green Biz: http://jobs.greenbiz.com/
Green Careers Guide: http://www.greencareersguide.com/index.html
Green Dream Jobs: http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/greendreamjobs.main
Environmental Career.com: http://www.environmentalcareer.info/index.asp
Renewable Energy Jobs: http://www.greenjobs.com/public/index.aspx
Tree Hugger: http://jobs.treehugger.com/
USBGC Career Center: http://careercenter.usgbc.org/c/search_results.cfm?site_id=2643

Networking/ Professional Organizations

Blacks in Green: http://blacksingreen.org/Founder.html
Chicago Land Environmental Network:
http://www.chicagoenvironment.org/
Delta Institute: http://www.delta-institute.org/
Eco Tuesday: http://www.ecotuesday.com/
Green Jobs Conference: http://www.greenjobsconference.org/
Indiana Sierra Club: http://indiana.sierraclub.org/index.html
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance:
http://www.mwalliance.org/