March 2024 – Meet Owen Reese, PE, Principal Water Resources Engineer at Aspect Consulting (A Geosyntec Company) in Seattle, WA
PERSONAL
What is your educational background? I hold both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Washington.
What drew you to work in the environmental sector? The straightforward answer to why I became an environmental engineer is that I cared about the environment and was good at math. Additionally, I have a genuine concern for the community I live in and the environment within it. Seeing the solutions I help create in action around western Washington is fulfilling.
In a word, describe yourself. Reliable.
What’s one interesting fact about you that most people don’t know? Most people don’t know that I had the opportunity to live in Honduras doing volunteer work for two years during my early career. It profoundly impacted me. Working on drinking water treatment for rural communities, often far from the beaten tourist trails, was a truly unique and fantastic experience. Living there broadened my understanding of the world and the challenges people face in different countries. Learning a second language and navigating daily life with less than fluent proficiency gave me immense respect for immigrant communities and the hurdles they overcome.
How do you balance your career and family? Achieving balance is an ever-evolving art. There have been times when it’s been out of balance and other times when it aligned well. Family needs change over time, whether due to children growing older or just shifting sports seasons, so frequent introspection is necessary to gauge whether I’m hitting the right balance. Fortunately, at Aspect and Geosyntec, we have flexibility—no fixed hours or rigid expectations—allowing us to adapt as needed.
ON BUSINESS
What drew you to Aspect initially? I had a lot of respect and really enjoyed working with some of the founding members of Aspect when I was working with them at a different company. When they broke off to launch Aspect and invited me about the opportunity to join them, I jumped at the chance. In particular, one of my mentors, Lori Herman, was a huge influence on me coming to work here.
How has your company helped you in your career development? The opportunity to take the next step in my career has always been available and actively encouraged at Aspect. Whether it was leading the design of a gravel mine early in my career, transitioning to project management, or moving into practice leadership and strategic planning, Aspect doesn’t pigeonhole you.
ON THE INDUSTRY
What has your involvement been with NEBC? I’ve been involved with NEBC and the Managing Stormwater in Washington conference over the past ten to fifteen years as an attendee, speaker, moderator, and sponsor.
What is the best professional advice you’ve received? While it doesn’t condense into a snappy one-liner, Lori, a key mentor for me, emphasized client advocacy. Understanding our clients’ goals and objectives and aligning our deliverables to meet those needs—rather than merely focusing on engineering or hydrogeology—has been invaluable advice.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates who want to work at your company or in the industry? During my language-learning journey, I received this advice that I like to pass on: “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.” To me, this means embracing new situations, stepping outside your comfort zone, and eagerly taking on new things. They say growth occurs at the margins, where we challenge ourselves.
What trends do you see as a part of the industry? For stormwater in the Pacific Northwest, there’s a significant focus on addressing emerging contaminants, pushing beyond the familiar territory of oil, solids, and metals removal into a broader range of environmental contaminants and understand how stormwater influences their fate and transport.