Lars Anderson
Project Engineering Consultants, West Jordan Utah
Where do you work? How long have you worked there? What do you do?
I am the Environmental Manager and Landscape Architect for the PEC Offices of Utah, Idaho, Arizona, and Nevada. Have you earned any additional degrees or certificates since graduating from BYU? Yes, a Masters of Landscape Architecture from USU in 1996
How is your profession related to Environmental Science?
I prepare and review Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, and Categorical Exclusions.
What are the most rewarding aspects of managing your career?
WWhen I see a project completed.
How has your BYU education benefited your career and would you recommend any specific course background for your field?
The education at BYU has been very beneficial. I recommend courses regarding wetlands, water quality, and threatened and endangered species in addition to the more traditional soils and plant courses.
What changes do you see or expect in your profession in the near future?
More specialization in specific fields of study. Landscape Architects will manage the environmental process more and outsource to botanists or environmental scientists more of the technical information.
There is a common misconception of lumping environmental science with environmental activism. How can our department best address this perception problem with our students and employers?
It takes education and advertisement. Most people lump football with recreation management, but that is just because they are uneducated.
How can students best network within your profession in order to gain employment or internships? Does your company have internships that may be of interest to our students?
TParticipation in Professional Conferences and volunteer
Does your company have internships that may be of interest to our students? Who should they contact?
Our Utah office has internships available on a limited basis. Currently the Utah office has 1 BYU student from the Civil Engineering Program.
Do you have any general advice for our students or our faculty with regard to your profession?
AI recommend tailoring the course work towards the NEPA regulations. Most of the work in the area of Environmental Science is a result of the regulations required by NEPA.
Would you share a favorite memory of your BYU professors?
I remember a field trip in 1991 with Dr. Terry and Dr. Williams to Arizona and parts of California. At one of our stops in St. George Dr. Williams ate an entire strawberry pie himself. It was unbelievable.
