Women at Foth is proud to highlight four amazing women within our organization as part of Women’s History Month. These women are supporting and paving the way for others in the science, engineering, and professional services.
One of several Peer Networking Groups, Women at Foth is dedicated to creating a community to discuss and improve issues women face in the workplace, and developing additional skills and relationships that will allow for personal and professional growth.
Susan Nilson, Senior Vice President
Susan is Foth’s first female business unit leader and is supporting and helping to elevate others to follow in her footsteps. When asked what she enjoys most about her work, Susan shared “I am fueled by building a collaborative group within Foth and with our clients to identify their objectives and find ways to overcome complex challenges to achieve collective success.”
If Susan could give advice to her younger self, she would say “The work we do is serious, but don’t take yourself too seriously.” Susan’s mother was very impactful in her career and personal growth, despite not having any technical alignment with engineering. “In the early days of a small family-owned business, she focused on building camaraderie and a team, creating momentum and confidence to grow as a business.” Susan is doing the same here at Foth as she and her team solve real-world problems and have a positive legacy across our communities.
Eva Moritz, Lead Environmental Engineer
When asked about a specific accomplishment Eva was proud of, she responded, “I am very proud of the growth of the wetland team. When I started at Foth 10 years ago, I was the only member of the team. We now have five team members and two interns joining us this summer.” When asked what advice she would give her younger self, she offered that office culture matters. She recommends finding a company that is willing to invest in good people. Additionally, she said that having a career is important, but your time outside of work is what will leave a lifelong legacy. “Find an organization that will help you achieve the balance between working hard, contributing to your community, and having a great home life.”
Eva’s most rewarding work is designing a wetland mitigation area or mitigation bank. She knows that the work she does is protected by the conditions of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and that those areas will be available for others to enjoy for future generations. A fun and interesting fact about Eva is that she is a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Krystle Smits, Compensation and Benefits Manager
Starting as an intern with Foth, Krystle has held several different positions, most recently serving as the compensation and benefits manager. When asked about what is most interesting or rewarding about her work she said, “The field of benefits and compensation is constantly changing due to regulations and industry standards, which keeps the work engaging and challenging.” One of Krystle’s most impactful projects she was involved in was being a part of Leadership Green Bay. Through that program, Krystle learned about several different needs within her community. The experiences she had throughout the program helped her better understand her strengths and weaknesses.
Krystle sees our Foth members exhibit the cultural attribute of caring most frequently. She is inspired by members who step up to help those in need, whether supporting a project, volunteering in their local community, or being an advocate for others. In her free time, Krystle loves to travel and experience outdoor activities with her family. Visiting all 50 states is on her bucket list and is proud to say she has been to 37 of the 50 states so far.
Debra Olson, Electrical Designer
Debra enjoys solving puzzles, which makes her the right person for the role she serves. With 43 years in the industry, she loves working on a project and figuring out how all the pieces will go together. When asked about a role model that influenced her career, Deb mentioned two lessons that were shared with her: “The ‘not enough time to do it right, but always time to do it over’ mindset is not acceptable” and “Never settle for ‘it’s good enough.’ It isn’t good enough until you can look at it and honestly say it’s good.”
When asked what advice she would give her younger self, she said be flexible. “Project scopes and schedules can change directions in a heartbeat, and you have to change direction with it.” She also recommends keeping an open mind. “Technology, the industry, and even life is constantly changing and there is always something new to learn.” An interesting fact about Debra is several years ago, she spent her weekends donning a police uniform as part of the Brooklyn Park Police Reserve Unit.
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