We are stewards of our company and its employees, but we also serve the communities in which we work and live. Together, we can create a more sustainable tomorrow.
Our founder, Dr. Ron Lantz, was a strong believer in stewardship. Stewardship is defined as protecting, preserving, and enhancing an asset that is entrusted to you over a finite period of time. For over four decades, Ron set a high standard of stewardship through his charitable service to our company, and to those in need.
In honor of his legacy, stewardship remains the foundational philosophy for how we treat one another, how we conduct our business, and how we serve our communities. It defines our commitment to creating open and inclusive workspaces, and our love of giving back. We are proud sponsors and supporters of many charitable, nonprofit, and community organizations that serve our families, our friends, and our neighbors.
Ron Lantz Stewardship Award
In recognition of our duty to stewardship, we created the Ron Lantz Stewardship Award. The objective of the Award is to emphasize the duty of all INTERA employees to be good stewards of our environment, our communities, and our company. Every year, INTERA employees submit anonymous proposals to a committee of their peers for consideration. The winner receives a $10,000 stipend for expenses and a one-month paid sabbatical to execute a project that exemplifies stewardship. Our 2020 winner is Renee Murch, a Senior Water Resources Engineer who has had great success with her project Code Camp. Code Camp’s aim is to help close the gender gap for women in technology fields by providing engaging STEM activities for young women within the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida.
Achieving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Geosciences and Engineering
Although it is important to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in our company, we must also prioritize DEI at all levels of education, in the geoscience and engineering industries, and in our communities. That’s why INTERA’s CEO, Marsh Lavenue, has been personally forming relationships with HBCUs to recruit and connect with talented scientists and engineers. We have a team of corporate and technical staff who are developing mentorship and internship programs at INTERA to benefit disadvantaged students. Additionally, two members of our Board of Directors led the opening panel of the 2021 GRA Western Groundwater Congress: Making Ripples that Lead to Waves — Initiating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Water Industry. DEI isn’t a buzzword for us, it’s our passion.
CAST (Community Accountability and Stewardship Team)
We want to create and maintain safe and respectful work environments at INTERA. But we also want to support the personal wellbeing of our staff outside of work. That’s why we have a group of INTERAns who are dedicated to promoting the internal education and wellness of our company. Alongside them, we have staff who are passionate about positive change and stewardship in our communities. Together as a committee, they’ve made a real difference in the engagement of our employees and the impact that INTERA makes. CAST has directly influenced what charities and non-profits we’ve helped, and the committee has created several programs and initiatives for our employees like Mindful Minute and DINE. The committee has also sparked the formation of INTERA’s first employee resource group, Spectra. Spectra will provide support, resources, and learning opportunities to LGBTQIA+ employees and their allies.