LINDSEY Sullivan
Favorite Part of Job?My favorite part of my job is solving tough problems with my talented colleagues. There is often a “moment of truth” when you are trying something new or finishing a project to see if it finally works, and if it does, it’s the best feeling.
Most Inspiring Mentor: I have been immensely fortunate to have had many outstanding mentors. I have had so many people in my life who have encouraged me to take on tough challenges, to never stop learning, and to have confidence in my abilities. I am very grateful to everyone who continuously supports and helps me grow.
Tell us something fun about yourself that few people know: I enjoy slalom waterskiing. You can find me, my husband, and friends enjoying the smooth water at Waterbury Reservoir on early Saturday mornings in the summer.
Favorite Hobby: Anything active outdoors. Vermont is so gorgeous, I have to be outside whenever I can.
Favorite Vermont Escape: Hiking or running on one of the many beautiful trails.
Favorite Social Media: I like Facebook because I have many friends and family living far away from Vermont. I appreciate being able to keep up with everyone that I miss in my daily life.
Favorite Website: The Food Network website to find new recipes.
Vermont Business Person you would like to have lunch with: Jan Auman of Tetra Tech International Development. I'm always looking to expand my knowledge of water as a global issue.
Career Highlights: I have collaborated on a couple of really rewarding projects at IBM. The first was focusing on our reverse osmosis water treatment process. Using a combination of optimizing the way we operate and installing a new supplementary system, we were able to decrease the amount of water our plant consumes by 100 million gallons of water annually. The second was working in our industrial wastewater treatment plant. Our team researched, piloted, and implemented changes to our process that reduced the average amount of nitrates discharged from the plant by 30 percent, with the added benefit of significant energy savings. Both of these challenging projects positively impacted IBM’s business while helping contribute to improved environmental sustainability.
Community Involvement: There are so many great opportunities to contribute to the community in Vermont and the rest of the world in a meaningful way. I am currently the Nicaragua Project Leader for the Vermont Professional Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB). EWB is a national organization of volunteers who collaborate with local in-country partners to implement sustainable engineering projects across the globe. The Vermont Professional Chapter, comprised of many dedicated and talented engineers in the area, has partnered with a non-governmental organization in Nicaragua to improve the drinking water supply to a rural community of 700 people. We have traveled to the community twice for assessment and educational activities, and are planning on returning in early 2015 to implement projects to alleviate contamination and to increase the supply of the community’s drinking water.
Locally, I have been involved with many outreach efforts, including running hands-on educational activities for kids through IBM, helping to cook and serve meals at COTS and Essex Eats Out, participating in various volunteer events through EWB, and working to improve and enrich Camp DREAM for the DREAM Program. They have all been such rewarding and fun experiences, I encourage anyone interested in volunteering to get out there and do it. Even a small piece of a person’s time is a valuable thing and it makes such a big difference in the community and the world.
