Bridget Wlosek: 2019 CDM Smith Rising Star

SWANA would like to congratulate Bridget Wlosek on being named one of CDM Smith’s Rising Stars! Bridget is a SWANA member and on the YP Steering Committee. 

Bridget Wlosek is an environmental engineer at CDM Smith. Her favorite project is any project that directly benefits the community and helps protect the environment. She joined SWANA in 2016 and joined the YP Steering Committee in 2018. Being part of SWANA and the YPs has allowed Bridget to network with other professionals and YPs in the industry. In her free time, Bridget likes to cook, bake, be outdoors and visit the multiple restaurants and breweries in Charlotte, NC. She is also learning how to garden and sew!

We asked Bridget to answer some of our questions about this award, SWANA, and her life as an environmental engineer! Check out what she had to say here!

Bridget Wlosek (BW): It is a huge honor to be selected as one of CDM Smith’s Rising Stars. Only 13 people were selected this year out of CDM Smith’s 4,000+ employees!

How did you get into this industry?
BW: I studied Environmental Engineering in school and took landfill design as my senior design “capstone” class. I was offered a position at CDM Smith in the solid waste department and have been working on solid waste projects since I started in 2016.

How did you get involved in SWANA?
BW: I joined SWANA as a YP (Young Professional) soon after I started at CDM Smith in order to stay involved with the industry. In 2018, I joined the YP Steering Committee and have enjoyed being able to play a larger role in organizing YP activities.

What is your favorite part about SWANA and/or the YPs?
BW: Attending conferences, either locally or nationally is a huge benefit of being a member of SWANA and a YP. Conferences are a great way to network and learn about upcoming technologies in the solid waste field. I am able to take the knowledge I learn from the conference and relay the information to our clients.

What does your daily work life look like?
BW: Most days, I am in the office working on multiple solid waste projects. It is my goal to developed sustainable solid waste management solutions for our clients and my community. I also occasionally do field work and attend site visits at our construction sites. I like to have a balance of office days and field days.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?
BW: Since I started my career at CDM Smith, I have been able to fully design, bid and construct multiple projects. Seeing a project go from concept to completion is very rewarding! Also, about a year after I started at CDM Smith, I was given the opportunity to travel internationally and conduct a solid waste master plan project in Bahrain. It was an amazing experience and I am thankful that my coworkers trusted me after a relatively short time on the job with CDM Smith.

What goals do you have for the future?
BW: My short-term goal is to pass the PE Exam! Long-term goals are to increase the range of projects that I work on and ultimately become a project manager.

What advice would you give someone just starting out in the industry?
BW: My advice for someone who is just starting out in the industry would be to get involved with an organization/society as soon as you can, whether it is local or national! Being involved with organizations in college and throughout my career has helped me immensely and helped me land my job with CDM Smith. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions and step out of your comfort zone!