An Interview with Sarah

What do you do at Liberty?

I wear a lot of hats. Every day is different. I oversee operations, compliance, marketing, permitting, accounting and the overall strategy. At the beginning there was a lot of learning that took place (systems to set-up, SOPs to write) and fires to put out. It's gotten much easier. We have a FANTASTIC team.

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How long have you been there?

Managing the facility since 2019, operating the facility since 2020. 

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Where is home now? Where are you from originally? 

I live in Youngstown, New York with my husband, 2 boys, dog and cat. I lived in Buffalo-area (and Delhi, NY) for a while and then moved back to Youngstown once we had a family. Youngstown is where both my husband and I were born and raised.

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What is your background? Work? Education?

I've been around the "garbage" business my entire life. When I was 5-years-old my father started an environmental engineering business in our living room with him and one other person. They would design landfills. (I can still remember my father showing SLIDES of photos he had taken at landfills on the "bring your parent to school day" at elementary school.)  After graduating from college I worked for a hazardous waste transportation and disposal company. I did their Sales & Marketing and launched their Household Hazardous Waste Division.  In 2016 I left them to start my own company. I raised funds and designed & launched a recycled-content paint brand "Olive Ridley". In 2018 the company's environmental consulting work took precedent. I love new challenges and learning new things. And now, here we are in the sludge business! Just when I thought my work couldn't get any messier.

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When you're not working how do you like to spend your time?

With my family going on walks, playing volleyball, reading.

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​If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Norway to see the Northern Lights

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If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Healing by song​

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What lessons have you learned while working at Liberty?

There are a few. But first and foremost - having a great team makes a world of difference. I work with people that I trust and respect immensely. And the feeling is mutual. With a great team a normally heavy burden or unexpected boulder in the path feels much lighter. Second, I've learned to pose questions and be open minded to other people's thoughts & ideas for solving a problem rather than jumping to a my own solution.