Experienced people. Practical solutions. Stronger communities.
AWS Environmental is a nonprofit that brings experienced environmental professionals together to help businesses, local governments, and communities protect air, water, and soil.
Our story
AWS Environmental began with a simple belief: the knowledge and experience gained over a lifetime should keep benefiting the communities we call home.
After a career with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality, Jenny Sheppard saw firsthand why environmental protection matters, and how hard it can be for businesses, local governments, and communities to navigate complex environmental requirements.
When Jenny retired, she still had valuable experience to give. She knew many other retired and experienced engineers, scientists, regulators, and environmental professionals felt the same way. She brought the idea to her daughter, Lauren, who shared her vision. Together, they co-founded AWS Environmental.
Bring experienced people together. Put knowledge into action. Create healthier, stronger communities for the next generation.
Two generations. One mission.
Decades of technical and regulatory experience, paired with a new generation of leadership.
Jenny Sheppard
Co-Founder & Vice President
Director of Environmental Programs
Jenny spent her career with the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality. She brings decades of technical and regulatory experience and a commitment to putting it to work for the community.
Lauren Sheppard
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Lauren provides the leadership and organizational direction that turned a shared idea into a growing environmental nonprofit. She brings her own education, experience, and dedication to environmental and community service.
What we do
We help organizations and communities understand environmental requirements, solve problems, stay compliant, and make informed decisions.
Air
Permitting, compliance support, and emissions and air-quality monitoring.
Water
Clean-water solutions, wastewater reverse osmosis, and leachate management.
Soil
Landfill alternate daily cover, site assessment, and circular-economy solutions.
How we work
We collaborate
We don’t replace the people already doing good work. We work with internal environmental teams, consultants, regulators, local governments, and community partners, adding expertise and capacity where it helps most.
We share experience
We give experienced environmental professionals a way to keep contributing, through monitoring, education, clean water, and access to reliable environmental information.
We balance priorities
Environmental protection, healthy communities, and responsible economic development can work together, and we help make that practical.
Work with us
Need environmental help, or want to put your experience to work? Let’s talk.