ALICE Urban
Company: Tetra Tech International Development
Title: Senior Manager, Business Development
Age: 30
Career Highlights: I am most proud of the work I have done supporting communities to address development challenges – both abroad and in the U.S. This has included working with farmers in Honduras to access basic sanitation, with Liberian Ebola responders 
to tell their stories, and with New England youth to connect them to career and support resources. After graduating from Middlebury College, I completed a Master's Degree at the School for International Training in 
Washington, D.C. I spent a semester in Morocco working with a media production nonprofit focused on development issues, and this solidified for me my interest in working in international development. I went on to work for Global Communities, a D.C.-area international nonprofit where I held several roles, including as an Africa-focused program development manager and as an Ebola response communications and reporting officer in Liberia. Most recently at Tetra Tech, I am a senior manager for business development. I mange multi-million-dollar proposals to fund international development efforts, most recently for a West Africa water and sanitation program. I am now working on the start-up team to launch this program in Cote d'Ivoire and Benin.
Community Involvement: Mentoring has been a significant part of my life, and I have been fortunate to have had several impactful mentors as well as to have the opportunity to be a mentor. I currently volunteer with the Crossroads Mentoring Program, a program of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, where I am matched with an impressive young woman most recently from Chad. I've become good friends with her and her family as we navigate their transition to life in Vermont. I also serve as an advisor to the board of directors of Pure Water for the World, a Rutland-based nonprofit that provides comprehensive water, sanitation and hygiene services to vulnerable communities in Haiti and Honduras. In addition, I am a volunteer interviewer for the Middlebury College Alumni Admissions Program, and last spring I completed Leadership Champlain, a year-long professional development and community engagement program.
What motivated you to live and work in Vermont? I am a Western Massachusetts native, and I grew up traveling throughout Vermont on assignment with my mother, a writer and St. Michael's College alumna; so Vermont has long been a special place for my family. Attending college in rural Vermont added to that, and I always had a desire to live in Burlington one day. It happened sooner than I expected when I learned of an opportunity at Tetra Tech, and I made the move to get back to my New England roots and a stronger sense of community.
Favorite part of your job? My favorite part of my job is traveling to the field and having the opportunity to meet with stakeholders to understand local contexts. Working in international development, it's easy to feel disconnected from our work while answering emails or writing proposals from the U.S. Traveling to project sites abroad allows me to better understand the needs of the populations with whom we partner and the creative solutions communities are already implementing.
Most inspiring mentor and why: My first informal supervisor, Brett Sedgewick, patiently taught me the ins-and-outs of international development. He encouraged me to take on challenging assignments, provided thoughtful career guidance, and made sure I had the tools I needed to do meaningful work. He demonstrated how to empower teams, celebrate their successes, and address their challenges.
What is the best career advice you have received? When heading out on my first international assignment a former professor told me, “the deep end is what you are looking for.” I try to remember that even when I feel in over my head, I'm a strong swimmer. Staying where you feel safe does not stretch you or help you grow and be proud of what you’ve accomplished.
Favorite Vermont escape: The Champlain Islands – I enjoy exploring back roads, roadside shops, and kayaking. A new favorite spot is the Cottonwood Campsite on Knight Island; it feels just far enough away from civilization.
Favorite downtime activity: I love open water swimming in Lake Champlain. The vastness of the lake, beauty of the scenery, and cadence of a long swim help me unwind and collect my thoughts.
If you had unlimited access to funds which cause(s) would you support: I have recently become interested in and passionate about youth workforce development, particularly in rural areas of the U.S. Supporting several young women in Vermont to navigate young adulthood, I've seen the challenge of pursuing career goals with limited resources and disconnected support networks. With unlimited access to funds, I would promote more comprehensive, wrap-around workforce development programming focused on rural youth.
Where do you see yourself professionally in the next 5-10 years? I see myself continuing to address community development challenges either domestically or internationally. I would like to be using my skills in fundraising and communications to support a community-based, mission-driven organization to increase its impact.
