Conservation and Corpo CES alum tackles
When Jessica Quinlan graduated from UWM, the job market was bleak. It was 2010 and she had just finished her major in Conservation and Environmental Science. At the height of the recession, few if any nonprofits and local governments were hiring full-time.
She began in her new role with the company’s environmental compliance team, eventually transitioning to her current job as a Sustainability and ESG (Environment, Sustainability, and Governance) Coordinator.
She scraped by with part-time parks and forestry jobs in Milwaukee County, Oconomowoc, and Muskego, all while continuing her college job as a cashier at Kohl’s department stores. But, when Kohl’s offered her a full-time position with a salary and benefits as an assistant store manager, Quinlan had a choice to make: Did she pursue her passion in environmental science, or take the job that offered great stability?
A sustainable role
Kohl’s made the decision easier. “I knew that Kohl’s had a sustainability team at the corporate office, and I knew that they had a strong volunteer program in place where I could leverage that to continue supporting the parks through Kohl’s volunteer hours and Kohl’s donations,” Quinlan said. Her choice paid off; after a few years as an assistant store manager, Kohl’s corporate headquarters had a rare opening on its sustainability team. “I was able to leverage my store experience with my background and expertise in environmental science, and they were happy to have me,” Quinlan said.
4 • IN FOCUS • August, 2021
All large businesses and corporations – due to their size and scope – have the potential to make a significant impact on the environment. In recent years, public opinion has shifted towards demanding that businesses work to be part of the solution for a greener future. At Kohl’s, that’s the job of Quinlan and the rest of the Sustainability Team at the company’s headquarters in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The Sustainability Team not only handles compliance – ensuring that stores can comply with regional and national environmental regulations – but also ESG standards. Those are a set of criteria that investors, customers, and even employees look for a company to abide by when it comes to environmental and social responsibility. “We focus on three key areas: Climate, Waste and Recycling, and Sustainable Sourcing (of Kohl’s products),” Quinlan explained. “We have over 1,100 stores in 49 states. Every store is expected to implement the sustainability programs that we have in place. ... It’s a big company, but it’s really rewarding because you can have a big impact.”
