AKRF: A culture that encourages the talents of women in every aspect of the firm's business; Industry leading environmental, planning and engineering consulting firm

Over thirty years ago, Debra Allee founded AKRF and became its first president, CEO, and board chair. Since then, women have played key leadership roles as AKRF has grown into an industry leading environmental, planning and engineering consulting firm serving the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. At AKRF, we have a culture that encourages the talents of women in every aspect of our business - including traditionally male-dominated fields like civil engineering. Today Karen Franz, P.E., senior vice president, and Wendy Ho, P.E., vice president are leaders in the 50 person Site/Civil group and are supported by engineers like Jennilee Covucci, P.E. Five years ago, Jennilee came to AKRF straight from college. Now, she is a senior project engineer who works on land development throughout New York City's five boroughs. Michelle Lapin, P.E., senior vice president, heads up our site assessment and remediation services. This group of 40 environmental scientists, engineers, and geologists is almost half women and includes industry leaders like vice president Becky Kinal, senior technical directors Deborah Shapiro and Kate Brunner, and technical director Colleen Griffiths. Firm-wide, AKRF is over 40% women. Under the direction of our COO Anne Locke, Claudia Cooney, vice president, leads our Cultural Resources group, which includes architectural historians and archaeologists. Julie Cowing, AICP, senior vice president, directs our Major Transportation projects group, which prepares environmental review and permitting for projects like the Second Ave. Subway, LIRR East Side Access and the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement. Sandy Collins, vice president, oversees the Natural Resources group, which obtain permit approvals for many prominent New York development projects. Nanette Bourne, AICP, senior vice president, and Lisa Lau, AICP, senior vice president, head up our planning efforts in the Hudson Valley and New York City, respectively. Nanette's projects have included revitalization and planning initiatives throughout Westchester County and Lisa has worked with many of New York City's major hospitals, educational institutions, and private developers on expansion and redevelopment projects. If you walk the halls at AKRF, it becomes clear that we have fostered learning and growth for women at all levels. We have many women who joined AKRF early in their professional lives - often straight from college - and have stayed for over a decade to grow their careers. People like Allison Ruddock, AICP, senior technical director - who started as a technical editor over 15 years ago, transitioned to the Planning group and, with AKRF's tuition assistance, completed an MUP program at NYU - are proof positive of the opportunities offered to women at AKRF.