EBC Recognizes Staff Engineer Liz Desjardins As A 2020 Ascending Leader
The Environmental Business Council of New England is recognizing Environmental Engineer Liz Desjardins as an Ascending Leader. This award is given to professionals early in their careers who are demonstrating leadership and exceptional contributions to the energy and environmental sectors.
Desjardins is based in Tighe & Bond’s Westwood, Massachusetts office. Working on both private and municipal projects, she specializes in site/civil projects including renewable energy, stormwater management, and utility infrastructure. Desjardins got her start in Environmental Engineering while attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and received high honors upon graduation. During her senior year, Desjardins and her team received the Provost MQP Award for their evaluation of the role of stormwater treatment basins in controlling highway runoff quality and their design recommendations for improved water quality. She then began to zero in on a career path and found her passion for renewable energy by joining the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Clean Energy Internship Program where she became an intern for Tighe & Bond.
Desjardins quickly progressed from intern to full-time employee and in just 3 years has already made an indelible mark on the renewable energy work Tighe & Bond is advancing throughout the Northeast. She has worked on multiple solar energy projects up to 60MWDC in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. Some of these projects include her contributions to the design of an 8.1-megawatt (MW) solar project in Worcester, Massachusetts on the Greenwood Street Landfill and most recently the current development of Nutmeg Solar, LLC’s 19.6MW solar project that will power about 4,300 homes in Enfield, Connecticut. While her work spans many facets of a project, she has become a go-to engineer in the firm for her expertise in the development of stormwater management analysis and design, and preparation of stormwater pollution control plans for solar projects.
Desjardins is a leader within her industry through her involvement in committees and programs that help to encourage STEM education and careers. Serving as a judge for the Worcester Regional Science & Engineering Fair and participating in WPI’s chapter of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists’ annual career panel are some ways she enjoys contributing to the community that encouraged her to be an engineer. She is an active member of the New England Women in Energy and the Environment Rising Professionals Committee and part of the leadership team for the EBC Ascending Professionals Committee.
Desjardin will join her fellow Ascending Leader Award recipients on October 27 for a panel discussion about their work and lessons learned early in their careers.