Using Your Marketing Degree in the Environmental Industry

In Fall 2004, I graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in marketing and international business. After various positions that ranged from restaurant management to database administration to website design, I have a promising career in the environmental industry as a marketing manager.

Having a marketing degree is very flexible because there are so many things you can do with it. It encompasses sales, public relations, resource allocation, business strategy and creative thinking. Combine that with a winning smile and personality, you'll be a valuable commodity to any company. Because of the versatile skills that comes with a marketing degree, I have various responsibilities as a marketing manager for the current environmental consulting firm I work for. Our firm mainly deals with the commercial sector; we perform various environmental assessment services like sustainability/greening issues, asbestos services, real estate aquisitions, and hazardous materials management. Because of the specialized areas we work in, we must market our services to a broad range of current and potential clients in the private and public sector.

Proposal Writing

One area I am responsible for is proposal writing. Our services are usually requested by potential clients through RFQ's (Request for Qualifications) or RFP's (Request for Proposals) through a formal bid system. I am responsible for keeping up to date with current RFPs and RFQs that are released so that our company can effectively position ourselves to bid on the upcoming contracts and projects. Proposal writing is a fine art because you're tailoring your companies best qualities and services to what the client is asking for in their scope of work. Although technical writing is a must for proposals, you also have to combine this with a creative eye to organize the proposal in a pleasing aesthetic way for the client. For more details on proposal writing careers, click here.

Conferences and Vendor Fairs

It is essential to be able to effectively communicate your company's services and strengths to potential clients. I've been all over the nation attending various industry conferences to promote our company. These conferences and vendor fairs are great networking opportunities to meet clients, subcontractors to team with, and even your competition. You can also get valuable information about upcoming contracts clients will be bidding on. Some examples of these events include the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Trade Fair, the Wind Power and Energy Conference,City of Dallas EarthFest and various municipal vendor fairs targeting Minority/Women Owned Businesses. It's also a fun part of the job when you get to travel and get out of the office once in awhile.

Marketing Materials

A creative part of my job is creating marketing materials like brochures, pamphlets, and newsletters. it's great being able to create promotional pieces that highlight the company you work for. You'll need skills with Word, Publisher, or any other word processing and image editing software. Also, I write press releases whenever our company has completed a significant project or received an industry award. This entails your communication and writing skills as well.

Website Development

I am also in charge of updating our website with current events and completed projects. Having a user-friendly website it key to a successful company because when a potential client hears about you, they'll most likely go to your website first. The website may be the first impression the potential client has of us, so we want make sure information is updated and accurate and reflects the best qualities that match their needs. I usually update the website every week with recent press releases, current/completed/upcoming projects, and events we've attended.

Community Outreach

One of the best parts of my job is doing community outreach. The environmental industry is a hot sector that promises to grow by leaps and bounds in the upcoming years. We talk to various schools and universities about the opportunities this industry has to offer because many people do not know how versatile and flexible environmental careers can be.

I'm lucky to have a job as a marketing manager in such a vibrant industry. It lets me have creative freedom, travel opportunities, and work in an industry that is helping our environment become more sustainable. If you'd like more information on careers in the environmental industry, or would just like any advice, please email me at annie@benchmarkenviro.com. Good luck!