ACRT SERVICES 23RD ANNUAL OPERATIONS MANAGERS SUMMIT
We’re thrilled to share the exciting highlights from ACRT Services 23rd Annual Operations Managers Summit—a dynamic event held at Deer Creek State Park in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. This summit served as a hub for representatives from ACRT Services and its four operating companies—ACRT, ACRT Pacific, Bermex, and, of course, EnviroScience.
Designed to foster progress, learning, and team synergy, this three-day gathering was much more than just a routine corporate event. Executives from each company provided comprehensive updates on departmental achievements, while presidents shared ambitious goals for the upcoming year.
The agenda was thoughtfully curated to include immersive training sessions, addressing key aspects like engagement survey results and featuring an insightful workshop for hands-on learning. An external expert led a class on risk mitigation and best practices, and company subject matter experts shared their latest pursuits and plans for the future—all with an unwavering focus on safety.
Representatives from ACRT, ACRT Pacific, Bermex, and EnviroScience attend ACRT Services 23rd Annual Operations Managers Summit at Deer Creek State Park in Mt. Sterling, Ohio
THE INAUGURAL “HAMMER OF HONOR” AWARD
Adding an extra layer of excitement to this year’s summit, managers from each operating company had the opportunity to recognize their peers as the top manager of the year with a new accolade, “The Hammer of Honor.” The purpose of this new award is to celebrate an operations leader who:
- Hammers home leadership skills
- Nails teamwork
- Chisels out innovative solutions
- Builds a sturdy foundation of success
Managers of each operating company were instructed to select a recipient who is a master of his/her craft and consistently demonstrates an ability to drive results and nail every aspect of his/her role with precision and impact. The selected winners genuinely struck the right chord with their peers, forging success through their outstanding qualities and dedication. For EnviroScience, this prestigious new award went to Laura Sayre, Director of Natural Resource Services.
Crafted by the skilled hands of ACRT Services CEO Michael Weidner (center), the winners of this year’s Hammer of Honor for each operating company from left to right: James (Jim) Erskine of ACRT Pacific, Laura Sayre of EnviroScience, Inc., Andrea Hawco of Bermex, and Eric Morales of ACRT.
ENVIROSCIENCE HAMMER OF HONOR WINNER: LAURA SAYRE
EnviroScience President Jamie Krejsa with Director of Natural Resource Services Laura Sayre, Recipient of the Inaugural Hammer of Honor
The staff at EnviroScience are all aware of the integral role she plays on our team. We recently interviewed Laura to allow those outside the company the opportunity to learn a little more about what makes our Director of Natural Resource Services so near and dear to our hearts and why she is such a valued employee.
Tell us about yourself.
I graduated in 2005 from Mount Union College with a Bachelor of Science in biology and started working at a small wetland consulting firm.
In 2011, I started at EnviroScience as a part-time/temporary wetland delineator. I moved to full-time soon after and started in a management role in 2017. I am currently the Director of Natural Resource Services. Within the Natural Resource Services practice area, we do most of the baseline ecological surveys for wetlands, streams, mammals (including bats), macroinvertebrates, herps, fish, and birds. We also do the permitting, reporting, and GIS mapping for these and other services.
How do you feel about being awarded the EnviroScience Hammer of Honor?
Generally, any recognition makes me feel pretty awkward and embarrassed. Most of all, I am just really proud of everyone on my team.
Currently, there are 43 people on the Natural Resource Services team, and they are all dedicated, hard workers who really make me look good and make my job pretty easy. I am proud that, as a group, we take on challenges and work together to get what sometimes seems like an insurmountable amount of work done each year. I know that I can count on all of them, and I hope they all feel the same way about me.
Personally, after a stage 3 triple negative breast cancer diagnosis in December 2021 and subsequent treatment, receiving the Hammer of Honor award was the ‘I’m back’ moment and validation I needed. While I don’t feel like I am back to 100% yet, it is encouraging to know my colleagues still recognize my contributions.
What is your management style/philosophy?
I’ve seen a lot of growth within the company since I’ve been here, and it has been really fulfilling for me to be a part of the future planning for the company. Since my management role evolved from a biologist role, I started as a lead-by-example type manager, sharing in the workload as we all worked together toward a common goal (completing projects). As the group has grown, I have moved more towards being a mentor/consultative management style as I don’t have time to be involved in every project.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What I enjoy most about my job is the creative problem-solving. I enjoy reading and understanding environmental rules and helping clients navigate the process. As I become less involved in day-to-day projects, I enjoy passing that knowledge off to my staff and being a reliable sounding board for the group. Outside of project-specific work, I also enjoy helping direct new policies and ideas within the company.
PEER NOMINATIONS FOR SAYRE’S HAMMER OF HONOR AWARD
“Laura is very organized with a huge group. She has managed to make it through cancer and still maintain[ed] 470 as if nothing ever happened.”
“She has overcome a lot of personal and work challenges and still was able to keep the ship moving forward and be successful.”
“One simply can look at the number of new, capable managers within Natural Resource Services, as well as the growth of the practice area throughout the regions as proof of her ability to lead through teamwork and ‘delegating and elevating.’ [Laura] embraces growth and had the best performance of any practice ‘proposal manager.’ She leads by example, listens, and implements new ideas.”
CLOSING THOUGHTS ON THE OPERATIONS MANAGERS SUMMIT
As we reflect on this enriching experience at the Operations Managers Summit, we look forward to incorporating the knowledge, camaraderie, and inspiration gained during the summit into our everyday operations. The training received during this event will undoubtedly contribute to the continued growth and success of EnviroScience and the entire ACRT Services family.
Stay tuned for more updates on how these insights will shape our approach to environmental solutions and enhance our collective impact!
Few environmental firms in the country retain EnviroScience’s degree of scientific know-how, talent, and capability under one roof. The diverse backgrounds of our biologists, environmental engineers, scientists, and divers enable us to provide comprehensive in-house services and an integrated approach to solving environmental challenges—saving clients time, reducing costs, and ensuring high-quality results.
Our client guarantee is to provide “Excellence in Any Environment,” meaning no matter what we do, we will deliver on our Core Values of respect, client advocacy, quality work, accountability, teamwork, and safety. EnviroScience was created with the concept that we could solve complex problems by empowering great people. This concept still holds true today as our scientists explore the latest environmental legislation and regulations and incorporate the most up-to-date technology to gather and report data.
EnviroScience expertise includes but is not limited to aquatic surveys (including macroinvertebrate surveys and biological assessments); ecological restoration; ecological services (including impact assessments, invasive species control, and water quality monitoring); emergency response; engineering and compliance services; endangered mussel surveys; laboratory and analysis; stormwater management; threatened and endangered species; and wetlands and streams (including delineation and mitigation). Further, EnviroScience is one of the few biological firms in the country that is a general member of the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) and offers full-service commercial diving services.
