Practitioner Spotlight--Katelyn Foster

Name:

Katelyn Foster

Office:

Valhalla, NY

Practice area:

Environmental Remediation

Area(s) of expertise:

GWS, soil boring and well install oversight, UST system excavation oversight

About me in 140 words:

I am a transplant to NY from my home state Florida, where I earned my BS and MS in Soil and Water Science at the University of Florida. When I am not spending my time as an environmental remediation practitioner, I enjoy spending time with my pets, friends, and loved ones--usually outside in some capacity (hiking, camping) or inside playing games (board games and video games) and reading. I am artistically inclined and I like to dabble from simple home crafts to digital illustration, which usually means I have a bunch of unfinished projects going on at once.

Favorite thing about being an environmental remediation practitioner:

Environmental stewardship is something I value highly and I am happy I can work in a company where my personal and professional goals overlap. At the end of the da,y what I do here contributes to a greener and cleaner Earth.

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

Within the environmental remediation practice, the most interesting/bizarre project I worked on was my first UST pull in the Bronx. It was hard to believe a little corner station could have 18 (!!!) underground storage tanks on the property, most of which were surprises.

What are some of your favorite tools/resources for professional development in this practice area? 

I think my best tool/ resource has been networking between Antea Group offices. This has given me the opportunity to work on non-routine projects and gain experience with work in other states.

What do you consider your biggest professional achievement so far?

I would have to say earning my Master’s Degree. It was a lot of hard work, but that made it all the more meaningful when I finished, and I know I benefitted both personally and professionally from that experience.

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

For the longest time, I wanted to be a veterinarian because I love all animals, but I volunteered for a semester at a vet office and was immediately turned off (owning animals and operating on them are two very different experiences).

What was your first job?

In school, I worked as a bag check person at a supermarket, but my first professional position was in my college department’s wetlands biogeochemistry lab as a lab tech.

Is there something unique that people might not know about you?

Some people don’t know that I spent the first 4-5 years of my life living in Japan--but no, I do not speak the language.

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