Michelle Kirchman

Professional Summary

Job duties:

I am currently an EHS Engineer focused on environmental compliance at Flex, a contract manufacturing company. I coordinate waste shipments of hazardous material, evaluates chemicals for environmental concerns, and analyze chemical waste data for monthly sustainability metrics. I complete a variety of compliance reports, including Annual Waste Summary, Tier II, and TRI. I am an active advisor of the Emergency Response Team, an on-site team that responds to chemical spills and medical emergencies.

Impacts:

I help ensure that Flex Austin has a safe and environmentally sound operation. This includes protecting individual health and wellbeing of our operations staff along with ensuring minimal environmental impact on the surrounding communities and parks.

What are you passionate about?

Protecting the environment! Being part of a sizable company means that I can have a large impact on the environment — and have a much larger influence than you can as an individual.

Describe your educational history:

I completed a BS of Bioenvironmental Sciences with a minor in Geographic Information Science and Technology at Texas A&M in May 2020.

What advice would you give current Aggies interested in entering environmental industry?

Reach out to people in the career paths that interest you. We all want to see our Aggie BESC colleagues succeed, and want to lend a hand where possible. Additionally, don’t forget your degree is just the start! Pursue additional certifications to increase your skillset. Volunteer for projects or teams that give you opportunities to learn and step out of your comfort zone.

If you were entering the enviromental industry toady, area would you pursue? Why?

EHS is a growing field with many great opportunities! Combining your environmental background with the safety field will open up many doors.