Enviri Women: Jennifer Moreno’s Story
Can you talk about your experience in the industry and how you got started?
My first job out of college was with an electronics company as part of their logistics team. After a year, I relocated to the Lehigh Valley where I landed a job at Clean Earth’s facility in Allentown as an Operations Coordinator. My role there was very hands-on and allowed me to experience many facets of the business – from health and safety, to onboarding, to inbound and outbound operations, and more. After about 2.5 years in this role, there was an opening for an HR Generalist position within the Company. I moved into this role in March of 2020, right at the start of the pandemic. The shift from being in the facility every day to working remotely in a completely different field required some adjusting but allowed me to gain invaluable experience. In my role as an HR Generalist, I supported the Soils and Dredge division. After about a year, my role shifted to support our hazardous waste sites in the northeast region. After serving as an HR Generalist for three years, I was promoted to Human Resources Manager in February of this year, now supporting the northeast in a different capacity.
What do the day-to-day responsibilities of your new role entail?
Every day looks different in this role. As an HR Manager, I provide a strategic partnership to our leaders in the field; this includes General Managers, Facility Managers, a Regional Operations Manager, and a Regional Operations Director. It is my goal to ensure they have the tools and resources they need to be self-sustaining and better guide and lead their teams.
What has been the most rewarding part of your career thus far?
Establishing Enviri’s very first employee resource group, Enviri Women, has been the most rewarding part of my career. Enviri Women, formerly known as Women of Harsco, was founded in 2021 to provide support to women in the organization both personally and professionally. It has been rewarding to see the impact it has had both across the Clean Earth division and internationally as we have recently expanded to India, Latin America, and Harsco Environmental (Australia, Africa, and Europe).
What is the most interesting part of your job?
The most interesting part of my job is meeting team members and hearing their stories. We all come from different walks of life and so the conversations I’ve had are truly memorable. It helps me learn about people I am supporting and how I can be a resource to them.
Do you have a fun fact about yourself?
This past spring, I joined a community rowing team! We meet twice a week at 5:30 AM on the Lehigh River. I jumped into the sport not knowing what to expect, but it’s been tons of fun and gives you all the energy you need to get your day going. It’s so peaceful to be on the water while everything is still and the birds are chirping.
How do you enjoy your time outside of work?
I generally love being outdoors - I love going for walks with my dog, biking, hiking, and playing badminton. I also love traveling and will be headed to Montreal in July.
How do you empower other women in our industry?
It is important for me to provide positive feedback when warranted. So many women experience imposter syndrome where we question whether what we are contributing is valuable or if we deserve to be here. Affirming them that they are qualified and that their contributions are valued is imperative. I love being a cheerleader to my peers, especially when they are doing awesome work.
How do you think we should encourage the younger generation of women to join the waste industry?
All it takes is one person to make a difference. It can be as simple as having a conversation with your daughter, or cousin, or friend to share what you do, why it’s so important, and the impact it has on us all. Having that conversation in a way that makes sense and resonates with them is equally important. That kind of exposure is crucial because our industry is male-dominated which can be discouraging for some women.
What advice would you give to your younger self at the start of your career?
Be confident in yourself and your ability. Fear holds a lot of us back from our true potential. Looking back, there were many times I doubted myself and my potential due to fear. Just do it, even if you’re terrified. If you’re not a little terrified, you’re not pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
What can be done to further improve the participation and progression of women in the recycling and waste industry?
Being an advocate for women and actively speaking up against biases you may hear when no one else is in the room is a step in the right direction. Fact-checking yourself and not letting stereotypes play into your own biases and beliefs is vital to improving the participation and progression of women in this industry.