Saundra Jacobs
Project Manager
Saundra Jacobs’s decision to pursue a career in geology and the environment stems from her love of the outdoors. And once bitten with geologic knowledge, she wanted to know more. This decision would later result in her meeting and marrying her geologist husband of over 30 years now.
Mentorship seems to stand out for Saundra, when discussing what her legacy looks like. Saundra started her career in the 1980s when she worked as a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) intern in the Environmental Department at the County of Santa Barbara.
“I was ready and willing to learn – and I never looked back. I have come to enjoy the mentorship of others. They are our leaders of tomorrow. I encourage everyone to ask questions. I think many employees are afraid to ask questions, either due to lack of self-confidence, they think their questions are not worthy, or they fear that it’s a stupid question. My answer: There are no wrong questions. I’ve found more often than not, that if I ask a question, there are others in the room that had the same question but were afraid to ask it.”
A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, she began full time work at an engineering firm where she worked on CEQA issues of new master planned communities in the Ventura and Los Angeles areas.
All those experiences led her to start her own environmental company and never looked back at this decision either. “My environmental experience took me nationwide in the early 2000s, and I was fortunate to work alongside my husband.”
By 2012, Saundra was running a well-established business, even part of the Women Owned Business Enterprise, with her own office building, staff and a never-ending workload.
“By 2022, and nearly 40 years in the environmental industry, it was time for my husband and I to retire from the business we worked so hard to build,” said Saundra. “And the company continues to flourish with the partnerships we had created, and the leadership team we built.”
Retirement was the plan. However, Saundra’s business connections had other plans for her. Saundra found herself being sought after as a consultant by companies she had previously worked for.
“I joined the Eocene Environmental Group team out of excitement and curiosity,” recalls Saundra. “I spent so many years running my own business, that I really looked forward to seeing how others run their company. I’ve been pleasantly surprised how a nationwide company like Eocene can grow like they do, while continue to grow their core business of protecting the environment.”
Saundra Jacobs’ wealth of planning knowledge, can-do attitude, analytical mindset, and passion for mentorship are the reasons why her manager feels that she is an invaluable resource to the company.