Name:

Caron Koll

Office:

Syracuse, NY

Practice Area:

Environmental Remediation

Areas of expertise:

Non Aqueous Phase Liquids (NAPL), NAPL Surface Water Sheens, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Massachusetts 21 E Regulations, PFAS Management

About Me in 140 Characters (or more!):

Environmental earth studies and working with like-minded people has been a passion of mine for over three decades. Along the way, I have had the opportunity to work with and get to know some great people fostering long-term professional relationship and friendships. Building that trust with clients, colleagues, team partners, and regulators has been one my highest honors and proudest accomplishment that led to focused environmental response actions and management of hundreds of environmental investigations to achieve remedial goals in the Northeast and Midwest United States and South America. I attribute success to team building, listening, understanding stakeholder needs, assembling the right Antea Group team, knowledge of applicable environmental laws, and regulations, and an aptitude for identifying creative and cost-saving solutions.

Favorite Things about Being a Practitioner:

One of my favorite things about being a remediation Practitioner is continuous learning and sharing of what I learned with others.  I’ve had the opportunity to experience a wide spectrum of industrial clients including: chemical manufacturing, oil and gas, energy, automotive, transportation, and general manufacturing. I’ve filled many roles along the way, such as account leader and project manager, and handled field execution of environmental remedial investigations including conceptual site models, feasibility studies, permitting, remedy design, remedy implementation, and remedy operations through to post closure. So, I love the fact that I can envision a project from start to finish, see how to make it happen, and share that vision with others.

My other most favorite thing is being able to focus on a client’s needs and expectations and becoming a trusted advisor. I really like it when a client calls and says “thank you” or “your team did an excellent job”. In my book, it’s all about the team and great results come from the team. I really like sharing that feedback. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” --Aristotle.

What is the most interesting project you’ve ever worked on?

My most favorite project is the one that I have been honored to be involved with as a budding geologist in the initial stages of investigations. Over the course of 15-years, I began to work side by side with client and state and federal regulators as the state-licensed professional and had the opportunity to build trusting relationships to vet and select appropriate permanent solutions. My involvement began in the early 1980s and witnessed the fast pace of regulatory updates and the growing body of best practices. With that, came the opportunity to implement remedial solutions (landfill cover systems, chemical oxidation in-situ treatment, monitored natural attenuation and institutional controls.) I’m still honored, as I continue to be involved at this large industrial site for professional opinions following regulatory closures to facilitate upgrades to this successful manufacturing business.

What is a key ingredient for success as a practitioner?

Establishing good habits, exercising patience and persistence, adopting mentors, making friends, staying positive, experiencing the joy of continuous education, admitting to your mistakes, learning from them and sharing lessons with others, and remembering to step back look at the big picture considering all the stakeholders.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A grocery store owner because that’s what my favorite uncle did. Plus, I figured that's where all the money goes, but I treasured all my worthless rocks.

What was your first job?

My first job while in high school was a cashier at grocery store. My first job as a geologist out of college was a mud logger in Moab Utah.

If you had one month off, where would you go or what would you do?

Backcountry and alpine skiing in Utah. Then go north to Alaska to hike.

What is your most treasured possession?

I have two beautiful daughters (Carly and Sarah) who are the most important part of my life along with my loving and supportive husband (Chris). My family is everything to me.

What historical or fictional character would you most like to work with?

William Smith, the Grandfather of Geology, but only in his prime (not while he was in prison) for presenting alternative theories on evolution.

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