Whelan of CA Rich awarded QEP by IPEP

Name: Victoria Whelan Title: Project Manager, QEP, CPG Company Name: CA RICH Consultants, Inc. Years in Commercial Real Estate: 10 Email: [email protected] In the last 12 months, which project, transaction, honor or accomplishment are you most proud of and why? In 2014, I joined the ranks of certified environmental professionals throughout the world by becoming a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) awarded by the Institute of Professional Environmental Practice (IPEP). It is distinguished from other certifications by its cross-disciplinary nature, strong professional ethical standards, and vigorous testing requirements in environmental management. The QEP certification is the first and only multi-media, multi-disciplinary, board-certified credential of its kind that requires environmental professionals to consider the overall environmental picture and to have the specialized skills and knowledge to resolve real world problems. What were your biggest fears when you started out in your profession? My biggest fear was that I didn't know enough to perform my job responsibilities properly. As I commuted on that first day, I remember thinking maybe I didn't pay enough attention in class. Shortly after I was given my first assignment, my anxiety subsided. I realized rather quickly that my college education didn't teach me everything, nor would I ever know everything in this multi-disciplined profession. Instead, my education taught me how to learn, how to ask relevant questions, be patient, and do appropriate research. What was your first job and what did you learn from it? Growing up in the Whelan household you got your first job as soon as you were of age. The work philosophy in my home was that if you want something, you need to earn it. My first job was during my last year of middle school at a bagel shop. At that early time, I resented my Father for making me work when I just wanted to sleep in and be a lazy teenager. Looking back, working taught me many life lessons including accountability, financial independence, responsibility, customer service skills, respecting others, and the importance of work ethics. What is your favorite quote? "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain" - Vivian Greene