Make a Difference

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.

We Serve and Support:

Well Aware

Over the years, INTERA has provided funding, knowledge, and on-site volunteering to Well Aware as they work towards sustainable water solutions in East African communities.

INTERA was a 2020 corporate sponsor of Well Aware’s fundraising gala which raised over $180k for water well installations in Kenya.

NAACP

INTERA is a proud member and supporter of the NAACP as they lead the fight for justice, equity, and equality in Black communities across the nation.

Meals on Wheels Central Texas

INTERA is a long-time supporter of Meals on Wheels Central Texas. During the height of the pandemic, we helped them provide meals to hungry, and often homebound, seniors in our Texas communities.

INTERA is also a title sponsor of the Meal on Wheels Golf Benefit

Roadrunner Food Bank

Every year, our Albuquerque, NM, office donates money and canned goods to the Roadrunner Food Bank. Their work helps reduce food insecurity throughout the entire state of New Mexico.

Navajo & Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund

The Navajo and Hopi reservations routinely experience great food scarcity with limited running water and electricity. COVID-19 exacerbated these conditions with its great need for handwashing, hospitals, and hospital beds. With limited resources, the Navajo and Hopi Nations struggled to care for several thousand cases of COVID-19. Our donations were used to provide food, water, and sanitation supplies to their most vulnerable populations.

Tri-Cities Mutual Aid Fund

INTERA held an internal holiday fundraiser for the Tri-Cities Mutual Aid Fund where our Richland, WA, office is located. They are a grassroots organization that are primarily serving immigrant families and other vulnerable groups who need groceries and pandemic rent or income relief.

Casa Marianella

INTERA held an internal holiday fundraiser for Casa Marianella in Austin, TX. Casa has been creating a community of respect and solidarity with refugees, Latin American immigrants, and immigrant women escaping domestic violence since 1986. Many of their previous residents have needed food and rent or income assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

Our Social Justice Committee

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 social justice 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. The SJC 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.

What I love most about INTERA is the collaborative and independent culture that we foster. I have truly awesome colleagues, and I really enjoy my interactions with everyone within the company. Our company also has a commitment to Social Justice and Environmental Sustainability, that matters a lot to me personally.”

Abhishek Singh, PhD, Vice President – Western Region

What I love most about working at INTERA is that the work that we do really matters. We are helping our fellow human beings find ways to live in the world in a more sustainable way. Every day, I have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from some of the smartest, most creative people in their fields. The possibilities for getting involved in interesting and fulfilling work are endless, limited more by time than opportunity.”

Dan Haddock, Principal Engineer, Director of Water Utility Services

I’ve been with the company for over 30 years, which is unusual in consulting and in most companies. I’ve stayed so long because I’ve been given the opportunity to have three or four different careers at INTERA, and our culture is truly our greatest asset. It’s friendly, it’s open, it’s not punitive, and it’s supportive. We run a business, of course, but we do it with grace and care. There isn’t anywhere that I’d rather work than INTERA.”

Cindy Ardito, Senior Vice President