Join the Greater Philadelphia chapters of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals (SWEP) and Women’s Energy Network (WEN) as we come together for a conversation about challenges and opportunities we face in our careers as well as how best to face regulatory requirements. The format will be a Q&A featuring panelists from various organizations in the industry. We will also begin with a short networking period to introduce ourselves and discuss ways to maintain connections in this virtual world.
Meet Our Moderator:
Cassie Owens, Modern Life Reporter, Philadelphia Media Network
Cassie Owens is a staff reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer. She is a native Philadelphian who often focuses on Black communities and digital culture. She has been writing about social impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, often covering how people are approaching rituals, ceremonies and faith at this time.
Meet Our Panelists:
Bonnie Anne Pugh, Esquire, Exelon
Bonnie joined Exelon Corporation in 2019 and is an Assistant General Counsel in the Environmental Health and Safety group. Bonnie serves clients throughout the company which include utility, power, and nuclear environmental matters.
She began her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Montgomery County, PA., and was responsible for a large criminal docket, with many trials including simple assault, driving under the influence of alcohol, all levels of drug related crimes, armed robbery, theft by deception, bad checks, and homicide.
Later, Bonnie moved on from the DA’s office and accepted a position at the United States Environmental Protection Agency in New York City to serve as an Assistant Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel. The job required assisting EPA Special Agents in preparing criminal environmental cases to present to the U.S. Attorney for prosecution of environmental crimes.
She left New York to take a position in the Philadelphia EPA office, and shifted from criminal to civil matters. In that role, Bonnie provided legal counsel and handled all aspects of a complex civil caseload under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Water Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, and all applicable regulations. My work included many matters with the Department of Justice, to litigate federal enforcement actions under various environmental laws.
Joanne Maxwell, Director Environmental Programs, Amtrak
Joanne Maxwell is Director of Environmental Programs at Amtrak, where she oversees environmental compliance and leads the Environmental and Sustainability Management System for the national railroad. In 12 years with Amtrak, she and a small team developed the first comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory, first annual sustainability report, and first public commitment to sustainability goals for GHG, energy and waste. Earlier in her career, Joanne served as an Environmental, Health and Safety Manager at an Ocean Spray juice manufacturing plant, a Lockheed Martin aerospace facility, and a chemical processing facility, developing strong EHS compliance programs and employee training programs. As a Senior Project Manager for the global consultancy ERM, she specialized in performing EHS audits and developing regulatory compliance programs and environmental management systems for industrial clients. Joanne holds a B.S. in biology from Bucknell University and a M.S. in Water Resources Engineering from Villanova University. She is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associate and is trained as an ISO 14001:2015 Lead Auditor.
Rachel Brydon-Jannetta, Chief Client Officer, Eurofins
Following a year of integration after Eurofins purchased TestAmerica in October 2018, Rachel moved into the role of CCO for Eurofins Environment Testing US. Rachel was CEO at TestAmerica and predecessor company STL since 1997. She is a Fellow of the [UK] Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and started her career in 1976 working in the Bank of Scotland. After a subsequent 17 years in finance and general management roles, Rachel became Managing Director of Severn Trent’s UK Laboratories in 1993, then President & CEO of Severn Trent Laboratories Inc. moving to the US in 1997 to build the US business through a series of acquisitions. Rachel was also appointed to the group Board of Directors of FTSE 100 company Severn Trent Plc in 2004; the first female executive to serve on the group board. In 2007 STL was sold to HIG Capital and merged with TestAmerica.
Rachel also served for 12 years on the board, (3 years as Chair) of WaterAid America, a philanthropic organization providing drinking water and sanitation facilities to Third World countries as well as 3 years on the board of the U.S. Water Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to solving water sustainability issues here in America.
A native Scot, Rachel and her husband Tony became U.S. citizens in January 2012.
Rebecca Buchanan, Impact Assessment Project Manager, AECOM
Currently serving as a Project Manager with the Impact Assessment team at AECOM’s Conshohocken office, Rebecca is a key manager for siting and permitting projects within the energy industry, having worked on electric utility, oil and gas, and renewable projects across the mid-Atlantic and northeast regions. Rebecca joined AECOM’s Conshohocken office in January 2020. Prior to joining AECOM, Rebecca served as a Senior Project Manager at Penn E&R, Inc. (2015-2020), Transmission Permitting Lead at PPL Electric Utilities (2014-2015), and the Erosion and Sediment Control Department Manager at Lancaster County Conservation District (2003-2013). Throughout her career, Rebecca has partnered with regulatory agencies across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, state of New Jersey, federal government and local county and municipal officials to acquire stormwater, erosion and sediment control, threatened and endangered species, and wetlands and waterways permits for construction activities. During her tenure with the Lancaster County Conservation District, Rebecca also worked directly with the Department of Environmental Protection and Lancaster County’s Planning Department to develop and grow their MS-4 program, mine reclamation grants program, and strengthen public engagement for other watershed planning initiatives.
Rebecca serves as the as the Website/Social Media/Public Relations co-chair for the Society of Women Environmental Professionals (SWEP) Greater Philadelphia Chapter (since 2017) and is a member of the Women’s Energy Network (WEN) Philadelphia Chapter. Outside of her professional career, Rebecca is an avid fly-fisher (member of the Delaware Valley Women’s Fly Fishing Association), aspiring golfer, and ice hockey referee and player in the Mid-Atlantic District.
Wednesday, November 4th from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
SWEP & WEN Members - Free
Nonmembers - $10
