2023 Ones to Watch Industry Leaders: Scott Yanuck, Laurel Environmental Geosciences, D.P.C.

Number of years in CURRENT position: 30

3 skills that you use every day in your position: Business management, contract negotiations, client relations.

Best book, podcast, or app for aspiring leaders: Harvard Business Review.

Best advice for new leaders in 10 words or less: Be accessible to your clients and effectively mentor your employees.

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? We worked on investigating and remediating a brownfield site on Long Island that had once been a commercial dry cleaner. I handled multifaceted issues with the client in terms of costs and timing, with the regulators to meet standards and with the community to alleviate their fears of contamination affecting their health and devaluing their property. I was able to complete the work on budget and on time. My client was subsequently able to complete the sale of the property, ending more than a decade of uncertainty over an issue that he did not create.

Additionally, I was recently honored to deliver the convocation for the 2023 Graduating Class of the Department of Geosciences at Stony Brook University. I had earned two degrees there in Geology and Hydrogeology but would have never imagined being given this honor! It felt really great to impart some of my wisdom on the new graduates.

What makes this nominee an Industry Leader? “Scott Yanuck is not only a industry leader because he has worked hard on becoming the one of the best in his professional field, but he also has shown a unique ability to apply his expertise, business sense, and communication skills in providing environmental technical support to environmental attorneys, such as myself, who render legal environmental advise.” - Theodore W. Firetog, Esq., Environmental Attorney at Law Offices of Theodore;W. Firetog.