Today we’d like to introduce you to Marguerite Hughes.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Marguerite. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I knew I wanted to be in the environmental industry since I was 13 years old. I grew up in La Canada-Flintridge, a city in Los Angeles, and my junior high school offered a trip to Yosemite during spring break. We went on many beautiful hikes in Yosemite Valley, led by the park rangers who expressed their concerns about the environment. I listened intently to what they said and knew that it would be a tragedy to lose beautiful places like Yosemite that was home to a complex and wonderful ecosystem. Keep in mind this was in 1972! There were very few environmental laws in the US at that time and no environmental industry or jobs in that field.
Fast forward to 1978, to when I was a student at U.C. Santa Barbara which was home to one of the first environmental degree programs. After my first environmental class, I was hooked (again)! The teacher was very charismatic, and one of the books we read had a huge impact on me, “Should Trees Have Standing?” In this book, Christopher Stone illustrates have throughout history, certain “unfavored” groups of people have been denied rights for a variety of reasons. Over time, we have come to realize the atrocity and unfairness and have gradually extended those rights to those disadvantaged groups, like women. Stone then suggests special guardians be empowered to speak for the “voiceless” elements in Nature: in effect, to give “legal standing” to endangered species and threatened forests.
“So, what job are you going to get with this environmental degree?” asked my father. It was indeed a good question, as not many existed in 1982. I told him that I honestly didn’t know, but I knew that it was very important and that I felt we were on the brink of realization and taking action, and I knew I had to be a part of it. New environmental legislation and laws passed in the late 1970s/early 1980s which created the EPA and the need for doing environmental due diligence and other research, but there was a lag time until the environmental job opportunities materialized.
I finished my degree at UC Irvine, which had a new and unique Social Ecology program. UC Irvine is also one of the top dance schools in the country. As I waited for the environmental jobs to materialize, I fell in love with dance and trained intensively. During a ballet class, I had a realization that has become my life-long philosophy. I was standing behind my ballet teacher, who was approaching 50 years old. She looked fabulous, and I was thinking that if you had never seen her from the front, you would have sworn she was in her 20s. Admiring her extension and beautiful physique, the realization hit me like a ton of bricks! That’s the secret! If I kept dancing for my entire life, I would be able to maintain not only the beauty but the health, flexibility, and mobility in my older years!
I moved to San Diego in 1984 to train with renowned dance choreographer, performer, and teacher Jean Isaacs. Just about the time I was debating about how a career in dance would be difficult, I saw a job listed in the paper for an opening with a new environmental company. I was very excited and applied right away. This company was not involved with “bugs and bunnies” environmental work, but collected federal and state agency data on sites with hazardous waste chemicals and releases. This was not what I had envisioned, but realized that bunnies and other living things don’t do well on a diet of hazardous waste!
The company was called Vista Environmental, and I worked there from 1990 until 2002 when it was bought by the company I currently work for, EDR (Environmental Data Resources). I have worked at EDR for the last 12 years, and I love it! When I started at Vista, I initially ran reports and did research, then went into customer service and for the last 14 years have been a Regional Manager. It has been very exciting to see all the advances and growing awareness over the years!
Although EDR’s data is used mostly to avoid purchasing, developing or lending on properties that have environmental risk, it has helped identify sites for cleanup. For example, historic Sanborn fire insurance maps showed where a historic pesticide storage site was on a former sugar cane plantation that was redeveloped into a residential neighborhood. My colleagues at EDR and I worked closely with the Hawaii Health Department to design a solution for identifying toxic sites. Once they found the pesticide storage site, they worked with the EPA to remove the toxic waste.
We also helped identify drinking water wells with EDR’s data to be investigated for potential PFAS/PFOA contamination. PFAS has used a fire retardant at airports and military bases and was named as an emerging contaminant by the EPA a few years ago. Exposure to PFAS/PFOA has a variety of health risks, negatively effecting growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children; interfering with the body’s natural hormones, negatively affecting the immune system and increasing the risk of cancer.
In 1993, I was married to my wonderful husband, Jeffrey Hughes. Shortly thereafter, we had two sons, Jeffrey and Shane. It was always my goal to have a family, and I love children and being a mother. We had so much fun doing things together as a family, from camping to snowboarding. Jeffrey and Shane are my best accomplishments! We are so proud of both of them. They are wonderful people and very motivated.
My son Jeffrey graduated from Embry Riddle in Aerospace Engineering last year. He decided he did not want to work to develop anything that could potentially harm people, so he works engineering hospital medical equipment. Shane will be attending San Diego State next year to pursue a degree in nutrition. He wants to help people live healthier lifestyles. Both my sons are vegan, and have educated and encouraged me to adopt the vegan lifestyle, which has cut my cholesterol in half and is far more sustainable and gentle on the environment.
Approaching 60 years old, I’m looking forward to a new and exciting chapter in my life after I retire. I still want to be involved in working to protect the environment, by volunteering or doing research. I have several dance certifications and will be working on two pole dance certifications this summer. I plan to teach and perhaps open up my own studio, providing pole dance, fitness, and dance classes to empower and increase confidence in women. I’m also working on my real estate license, to help fund my retirement projects and income. I can’t wait to be a grandmother!
Both of my parents taught me many valuable lessons. My father was very loving and supportive. He sent me a newspaper article in 1995. The article reported that the environmental industry was the fastest growing industry in the US. He said, ” You were ahead of your time. You knew this would happen, even though I didn’t.” My mother was very unique for her generation. She earned a Master’s Degree from USC in the early 1950s. She told me that I could accomplish anything I put my mind to. She never wanted me to feel inadequate or that I couldn’t do something because I was a female.
A few years ago, one of my son’s school counselors noticed I was in a traditionally male-dominated industry, dealing with mostly with engineers and geologists. She said it must be difficult for me since it really is a “man’s world.” I looked at her and replied, “No, because I don’t believe that is true. I feel women can accomplish anything!”
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Getting a degree in the environment industry that was not already established was challenging, both to justify and to find employment. I think the rewards have definitely outweighed the challenges. It was exciting to be involved from almost the inception and watch it evolve.
My advice to women is to network with other women in your industry. Especially for those younger ones just embarking on a career. There are many organizations that foster and support these relationships. Going to these association meetings can connect you with potential mentors and employers, even those organizations that are general and not just for women.
Know that there has never been a better time and more support for women to excel in any profession! Reap the benefits that have come from those women who have fought and struggled before you. It is the PERSON, not the gender or race that defines your ability to succeed. NEVER believe you can’t do something because you were born female. There may be challenges and disappointments along the way, but the only “failure” is not trying and giving up. You can accomplish ANYTHING if you apply yourself and work hard!
Please tell us about your work.
I’m EDR’s Regional Business Development Manager for the Southwest. We specialize in environmental data and historical reports to help environmental consultants, engineers and geologists perform Phase I Environmental reports and other scopes of work, ranging from CEQA to property condition assessments.
EDR aka Environmental Data Resources is widely considered the industry leader and oldest and most trusted company of its kind. We have a huge resource of historical information and own the Sanborn Fire Insurance Map collection.
EDR has the most comprehensive collection of public data, as well as proprietary data. We are constantly innovating and creating new tools to help our clients review our data and write reports. EDR is the only company in our industry that has a tool to help assess potential vapor encroachment. We provide ongoing training for our clients and keep them up to date on important industry updates. and ASTM revisions.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Have a specific and clear idea of what your next goal is. That might change as you move along your career path, but it is important to have always something specific in mind. If you aim at nothing, you will hit nothing.
Be open to new opportunities that you might encounter along the way. Initially, I did not envision working for a company that reports on hazardous waste data. I wanted to educate people about the threats to the environment. As it turned out, I do that! It is just not in the manner I had originally envisioned. I remember doing environmental due diligence training for a bank. Afterwards, one of the staff told me she learned so much, and never realized that dry cleaners were so toxic!
Be true to yourself and your dreams. Don’t settle for something less. It’s fine as a start to get experience in what may not be your ideal job, but use at it as a learning experience to reach your end goal.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.edrnet.com
- Phone: 760-415-9320
- Email: mhughes@edrnet.com
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhughes-marguerite-7a864a27/
Image Credit:
Hawaii Department of Health, EDR, EPA
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