We spoke with Jeff Smith about his new role as Vice President and Director of the Upper Midwest Permitting and Compliance division. Read more below to learn about his professional background with over 30 years of permitting and compliance experience, his current role and the most rewarding parts about working at Braun Intertec.
What is your current role at Braun Intertec?
My current role at Braun Intertec is Vice President and Director for the Upper Midwest Compliance and Permitting group.
What is your professional background?
After college I put my environmental science degree to work as a technician for a couple of Twin Cities consulting firms. I then had a chance to move into government services when I joined the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). For the next 30 years, I worked as a regulator in many of the air, water, and land programs at the MPCA where I learned not only about environmental laws and leadership, but how to work cooperatively with individuals and communities, regulated businesses, consultants, legislators, and other local, state and federal governments. My last twelve years at the MPCA, I was the director of the MPCA’s Industrial division where my staff and I worked on some of the state’s most complex and controversial permitting and compliance projects.
What interested you about your profession?
I enjoy the nexus (and challenge!) of science and society. As one might imagine, environmental compliance and permitting work requires strong science skills to understand complex laws, systems, and processes. However, it’s often the ability to apply and explain that science to governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and communities that determine the success of a project. Over my 30+ years in the environmental field, I’ve found that the most effective consultants are the ones that can use all the hard science skills as well as the softer communication and relationship-building skills.
What is your favorite aspect of your role or the most rewarding part of what you do at Braun Intertec?
Besides building and leading an amazing team, the most rewarding part of my work is bringing my knowledge as a former regulator to help clients navigate the complex, confusing, and, sometimes, intimidating world of compliance and permitting. Working with state and federal environmental agencies can be tricky. I see my job as helping clients de-mystify government processes, build productive, long-term positive relationships, and move projects forward as quickly and efficiently as possible.
What is your favorite thing about working at Braun Intertec? What do you feel makes it unique?
When I decided to begin the next stage of my career 2 ½ years ago and move from the public to private sector, I took my time investigating all the options. Braun Intertec was the clear choice for me. Besides being employee-owned, I really appreciated the commitment and support that the Braun Intertec executive team made to the compliance and permitting sector. The executive team gave me the freedom to build the best possible team. Being a national leader in the environmental consulting field is an ambitious goal and being part of an organization that is committed to that vision was, and continues to be, important to me.
What is your approach to client problem-solving?
One of my first steps to client problem-solving is building a positive relationship with my client. Without some understanding of the people and culture of our two organizations, it’s hard to build the two “T’s” – team and trust. The two “T’s” are critical to success. Compliance and permitting projects are often complex and controversial. A strong client and consultant partnership can really help weather the storm and often lead to better and faster outcomes
What qualities do you look for in your team members?
A solid background in the sciences is obviously very helpful in the world of compliance and permitting but I also look for staff that are critical and creative thinkers and great communicators. Being able to think out of the box and effectively communicate those ideas can really help propel projects forward. I also appreciate folks with the ability to engage their softer communication skills. These days, success is often driven by the ability to work effectively with folks from outside the project – neighbors, community groups, non-governmental organizations, etc. Being able to connect with people on behalf of the project proposer and to empathize with what might be their real sense of confusion or fear about a project might make all the difference.
What should new Braun Intertec employees know about working here? Do you have a piece of advice for someone entering your profession?
I would encourage folks interested in the world of consulting to fully engage all your passions and interests. For some that might be science, legal, policy, and/or communication. There’s so much to do and learn, and the possibilities are nearly endless. Find ways to connect and learn from the folks around you. Their experience and wisdom from years of personal and professional successes and failures can be invaluable to your development.
What fuels your passions outside of work?
Besides my family (wife, two kids, two grandkids and old dog), I love to travel, fish, camp and play sports of all kinds.