Employee Spotlight – Jenni Light
Meet Jenni Light! She is an environmental engineer at TD&H’s Lewiston, Idaho office. Most often, her work includes coordinating environmental permitting with federal and state agencies. The Lewiston office has also started taking on more projects focused on environmental issues so these projects are beginning to include air emissions, Spill Prevention, Control & Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Environmental Assessments. Jenni first learned about TD&H through Heather Calkins, another TD&H employee. Heather was in the first engineering class that Jenni taught and she now regularly comes back to that very same class since obtaining her degree and shares her school and engineering experiences. TD&H originally drew Jenni in after she had been teaching engineering for several years and was beginning to feel removed from the field of environmental engineering. When the Lewiston office requested assistance with environmental documents, it provided a perfect opportunity to reconnect with her discipline, while continuing to teach.
Before working at TD&H, Jenni had an unusual experience while working for the City of Pocatello in Idaho. During her time in the environmental department, she was asked to investigate a citizen complaint about a “stinking tree.” It turned out that a large tree had been cut down and the roots had infiltrated the nearby sewer line where it was up-taking a rather rich nutrient supply. Those “nutrients” were emanating from the exposed and rotting portion of the tree stump that remained. Talk about an interesting day at work!
What does Jenni do on her days off? We inquired and she told us “white water raft or back country ski…..when I can. Otherwise it’s cleaning the house or other mundane chore.” Jenni also volunteers as a board member of the Asotin County Library, the newsletter editor for Asotin United Methodist Church and is a member of the City of Asotin Planning Commission and Secretary/Treasurer for the Asotin Days Planning Committee.
Other random tidbits about her include:
First Concert?
ZZ-Top, also had dinner with them….well, just so happened we were at the same restaurant as part of the band. Can’t miss the long beards.
If you were stuck in an elevator with any 3 people, dead or alive, who would they be?
Too hard to pick even one, let alone three. Better yet, surprise me – you don’t have many real surprises in your life so I’d be up for this kind of surprise.
Favorite movie quote?”
Don’t assume – it makes an ass out of u and me.” Bad News Bears around 1973
Best advice you’ve ever been given?
“Make decisions and act as if I were looking over your shoulder” my dad told me when I was 17. Although I didn’t always do it as a teenager, it motivated me to think before I acted.
Pet Peeves?
Ignoring facts and jumping to conclusions.
Best Vacation?
I went to Cuba four years ago wanting to see Cuba before the borders opened to the US. At the time it wasn’t imminent, it just seemed like it was coming. Really glad I was able to go when I did. Amazing culture – 400+ pictures worth.
Three words to describe TD&H?
Variety, fulfilling, stimulating
How do you balance your career at TD&H, education, and family?
I have a fantastic partner who shares meal preparation and household chores. We’ve got an amazing son who loves school, math and science and is pretty independent, and I have a flexible work schedule that allows me to work when the projects are in full swing and not when there’s a lull.