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Career Progression Program
Diverse career paths, from tech to leadership, boost career growth.
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Career Progression Program at VERTEX
We hire smart, motivated people who are determined to advance their careers and achieve their professional goals. In addition to our multiple Services as career choices, our Career Progression Program offers twelve levels and multiple Career Pathways that offer satisfying and progressively challenging opportunities for our employees to grow their careers. From Technical Experts, Client Account Management, to Project Management, and Operations Leadership and Corporate roles, we offer employees the chance to change to identify, plan for, and pursue their ideal career in our industry.
I was referred to VERTEX by a colleague in 2019. Leveraging a BA degree Environmental Studies degree and prior experience as a Project Manager for the Engineering department at the Town of Cohasset, I was offered an Industrial Hygienist role. Since joining, I have been provided the opportunity to build my career by earning certificates and licensure in Asbestos Inspection, Project Monitoring, Asbestos Air Analysist, Mold Remediation and Radon Measurement. Supported by my colleagues and management, I was honored with two promotions, to Assistant Project Manager in 2023 year and Project Manager in 2024. Today, I manage client projects, serve as a Health and Safety Manager in addition to Office Manager for our Weymouth office, and am working towards my goal of becoming a Certified Industrial Hygienist.
If you have the motivation and will to do or learn something, our group will support your growth. Your career path is truly in your hands.
More About Ian LysterI started my career journey in 2018 with Compliance Environmental International (CEI) working with Archie Barrett as a Project Administrator supporting our industrial hygiene teams with client invoicing, collections, and other administrative tasks. In 2019, CEI was acquired by The Vertex Companies (VERTEX), and I came over as a Project Administrator in their new Healthcare Group. With strong mentorship from my managers and the opportunity to enroll in Project Management training through VERTEX’s Lifetime of Learning Program, I quickly developed the client and project management skills needed to be promoted to an Assistant Project Manager position. Recently I was promoted to a Project Manager role currently leading up to 30 projects a month while managing the day-to-day operations of the Mid-Atlantic Healthcare group.
More About Kameron SheetsI began my career journey at VERTEX as an Assistant Project Manager in the Environmental Insurance group, where I honed my skills in managing projects. Developing an expertise in environmental loss control led to my progression to the role of Senior Project Manager. During this time, I was invited to share my insights on mentoring within VERTEX’s Women’s Group, igniting a passion for mentoring and the opportunity to pitch the idea of creating an in-house mentoring program to the President. With senior leadership support, the EDGE mentoring program was launched, and I still run it today. This transformative experience inspired me to pivot my career path and I now bring my expertise to the LOLP team as a Learning and Development Manager.
More About Lauri Fern GlinskyI began my career journey at Vertex as an environmental scientist traveling the country conducting Phase I and Phase II site assessments within the Due Diligence group. Always eager to learn more and grow professionally, I volunteered for many assignments allowing for my exposure to the other groups including Surety, Remediation, and Environmental Insurance. Within a year of being employed at Vertex, I transferred into Environmental Insurance where I honed my management skills and expertise while creating a niche in indoor air quality which fueled my entrepreneurial spirit. In 2009, I was able to take that expertise and create a new service offering and company – Vertex Air Quality Services, LLC. VERTEX then consolidated into The Vertex Companies, Inc. and I was promoted to Executive Vice President of the newly named Industrial Hygiene and Building Sciences (IHBS) group. Through this journey of growth and embracing the entrepreneurial spirit, I continued to hone my management and financial skills which has culminated into me becoming Managing Director of the entire Environmental Vertical.
More About Erik BorgesenI started my journey career in the accounting field, earning an associate’s degree, followed by a bachelor’s degree in Business Supervision and Management and a master’s degree in Information Technology focused on Software Development. I have also taken part in continuing education and professional development programs, earning a Project Management Professional certification and a Six Sigma Black Belt certification. Now with over 15 years of multi-faceted experience in business operations, accounting, and project management I hold the position of IT Director at VRETEX.
More About Candice GonzalezI started at VERTEX as a Project Manager in the Environmental Insurance group, and within my 14 years advanced through the roles of Senior Project Manager, Assistant Vice President, Vice President and Executive Vice President. In June 2020, I was chosen to lead our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative and continue to Chair our DEI Council I and am also a member of our ESG Committee focused on the Social aspect. I obtained my MBA through VERTEX Lifetime of Learning Program and during my enrollment realized I had a goal outside of running a business unit, which brought me to my current role of Director of Growth Strategy of Claims, Disputes and Forensics which allows me to work with various service areas on Account Management and Business Development.
More About Catherine PierceMy career journey at VERTEX began in 2011 as an Office Administrator in Weymouth, MA supporting our corporate and construction groups with coordination of proposals, reporting and administrative needs. In 2017, I wanted a career change and was able to help facilitate the integration of a newly acquired Information Technology company, Optistar and moved into a new Business Administrator role supporting their marketing and administrative needs. Shortly after I was promoted Head of Business Administration for Optistar which allowed me to be part of the Leadership team and manage a small team of professionals. I utilized our Lifetime of Learning Program to earn an HR certificate and in 2022, I helped facilitate the spinoff of Optistar and was offered a Senior HR Generalist role at VERTEX. Earlier in my tenure I started an Adopt a Family charitable initiative which partnered well with becoming a founding member of the VERTEX Charitable Giving Committee #VERTEXGIVESBACK.
More About Kara HackneyWhile pursuing my undergraduate degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Ecosystem Science & Policy, I began my career with VERTEX as an intern in 2013. Over the summer, I assisted our Environmental and Surety teams in the New York metropolitan area. After graduating in 2014, my first full time role was with another engineering firm in New York. Missing the culture I experienced during my internship, I joined VERTEX’s Environmental Team in Fort Lauderdale, FL, in 2015 as an Assistant Project Manager.
Initially, I focused on Environmental Due Diligence projects and then transitioned to our Industrial Hygiene and Building Sciences group as a Project Manager. There, I helped to develop a new Waterborne Pathogens practice. During that time, I was given the opportunity to obtain my Master’s degree in Enterprise Risk Management.
In 2020, I shifted to Optistar Technology Consultants, our wholly owned managed IT service provider, where I gained experience working on projects involving eDiscovery and cyber security. Then, in 2022, I joined our Shared Services team. Currently, I work with our interdisciplinary team as Integration Program Manager to evaluate opportunities for Mergers & Acquisitions, conduct due diligence, and bring companies into our organization. Looking back, VERTEX’s commitment to learning, collaboration, and the creation of opportunities is a true differentiator.
More About Daniel L. FurmanI joined VERTEX shortly after graduating from college in as a Business Development Associate, focused on the Denver market. I had the opportunity to join NAIOP’s Developing Leaders Committee and meet VERTEX’s technical seller doers and learn how to effectively cross-sell our services. I had the privilege of co-founding the Charitable Giving Committee and feel fortunate to have contributed to such an impactful initiative. My career soon took off as I was steadily promoted to new roles, from Business Development Manager to National Director of Sales to Account Management and Development Director and now Revenue Operations Director. Throughout my career, I’ve had thoughtful, caring, and encouraging mentors who have supported me to reach new heights. My responsibilities grew to include developing and managing business development strategies, account management programs, marketing initiatives, events, and accredited webinars. I launched a continuing education and webinar program, was nominated and selected as one of Civil + Structural Engineer magazine’s Rising Stars and joined the American Bar Association’s Fidelity and Surety Law Committee (FSLC)’s Technology and Social Media Committee, serving as a Vice Chair for four years. Currently as a Revenue Operations Director, I lead a team responsible to equip Business Development representatives and leaders with the data and strategic insights they need to maximize sales effectiveness and ensure process excellence.
More About Brenna StuhlmanI began my career journey at VERTEX as someone returning to the workforce after a 10-year gap in employment while I raised my family. Initially, I was able to come in as a consultant with a new professional services company serving the construction industry, Compass Project Management using my prior 10 years of experience as a technology services executive, and my BA Accounting and MS Information Technology degrees. I got involved with a little bit of everything and then began to focus on two needs – our Project Managers needed systems for managing years of project information and workflow and our clients needed a reliable way to manage the financial health of their multi-million-dollar project budgets. Rapid growth and success in our OPM business supporting owner clients with their large construction projects provided me opportunities to help build teams, participate in VERTEX’s People Manager Learning program, develop best practices, and support a number of business line integrations. Almost 15 years later, I have held a number of titles from Consultant, Project Accountant, Manager, Director, and most recently Vice President. My passion remains the same – providing best in class service to our clients and to my teammates.
More About Mary Kuppens