Alex Cross is an operations and project manager in Tetra Tech’s renewable energy practice, based in Virginia.
She has more than 10 years of experience supporting large, complex renewable energy projects and building collaborative, interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive environmental and engineering services for the full life cycle of energy projects.
Alex is a graduate of Tetra Tech’s Leadership Academy program (Class of 2019), which is a corporate professional development program that prepares our employees to be better managers and enhance their leadership skills to better serve their clients.
As the Operations Manager in Glen Allen, Virginia, Alex helps build and support teams focused on energy generation, storage, and transmission for the local region. She also is a key team member supporting Tetra Tech’s offshore wind, solar energy, and battery energy storage project portfolios in the Mid-Atlantic. Alex serves as the client account manager for multiple key clients, focusing on ensuring client satisfaction, quality, and collaboration company-wide. Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary.
How has working at Tetra Tech enabled you to expand your skillset and grow your career in renewable energy?
When I started at Tetra Tech in 2017, I was part of a two-person office that was working primarily on one large local project. As my interest in expanding the office’s skillsets and relationships with clients grew, Tetra Tech provided me with opportunities to further develop and refine my leadership, business development, and project management skills through various training opportunities, collaboration with industry experts across the company, and access to resources and cutting-edge technology.
I have had the opportunity to be involved with everything from client account management, to managing a team of engineers and scientists solving complex problems for clients, to helping lead the strategy and development of the company’s energy web content, and more.
Tetra Tech offers the unique opportunity to chart your career path with support from top industry experts across disciplines worldwide.
How have you navigated the balance between your personal life, managing a team, and growing your career?
The supportive environment and flexibility that Tetra Tech offers has helped me to balance my responsibilities in both my personal life and my professional endeavors. I started my career at Tetra Tech in a different phase of life than I am right now. I’ve gone from recent college graduate to a new mother of two under three—and have felt supported every step of the way. The sense of community offered by my colleagues allows me to continue to thrive in the workplace while rolling with life’s changes and challenges.
Tetra Tech also offers a variety of ways to connect with others who may be experiencing similar life changes or challenges during their careers, such as our Professional Women’s Network Employee Resource Group, which creates an environment where employees are able to connect and provide support to each other in both personal and career development.
What excites you about working at Tetra Tech?
Tetra Tech offers an entrepreneurial environment in which we can chart our own career paths based on our interests and goals. They invest in the success of emerging leaders and foster an environment that offers both challenges and opportunities.
Additionally, the people that I get to work with day to day are some of the top industry experts in the energy field. We are able to tackle some of the most complex, interesting challenges with innovative solutions that have a direct positive impact on communities and the environment, supporting the transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy generation.
Not only does Tetra Tech support my career goals, but they are also focused on providing integrated solutions to our clients which offers unique opportunities to collaborate with other industry experts worldwide.
What advice would you give emerging professionals looking to grow a career in renewable energy?
My advice to someone who is looking to grow their career in renewable energy would be to be curious, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and be open to trying anything. The renewable energy industry is always evolving and changing. We are navigating complex regulatory environments and challenges that are often some of the first in the industry. The transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy generation is an impactful and exciting cause to be involved in, and anyone looking to grow their career in this space is making valuable contributions to a resilient and sustainable future. Don’t forget that!