Women of Harsco: Sheri Cunningham's Story

Our Women of Harsco program fosters a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with our organizational mission, values, goals, business practices and objectives.

We are proud to feature Sheri Cunningham, Director of Sales Process and Contract Management at Clean Earth. This year, Sheri is celebrating 15 years with the company. She has been an incredible asset to Clean Earth and embodies what our program is all about.

How Did you Get Your Start in the Industry?

I have my degree in Secondary English Education, however, when I graduated college after my student teaching, I decided it wasn’t for me. Getting my start in the waste industry kind of happened organically. I started in a temporary position for Waste Management primarily answering the phone. Being a naturally curious and service-oriented person, the more questions the customers had, the more interested I became in the industry; I wanted to learn more about it and how I could help the customers. After speaking with the sales manager, I was hired within the next couple of weeks as a customer service representative. When I moved up to Customer Service Manager, I worked with James Hull, our current VP of Sales and Marketing for Clean Earth. A few years went by, and I found out that James took a new position with Clean Earth. After giving him a call to catch up and telling him to let me know if he needed any support in his new role, we met for lunch and within two weeks I began consulting for Clean Earth and came on as a full-time employee in June of 2007.

How Has Your Position Evolved Over the Years?

I initially started at Clean Earth through an initiative called “One Clean Earth”. At the time, Clean Earth was comprised of six soil treatment facilities and one hazardous waste facility in New Jersey. The company had grown through a series of acquisitions, and they needed someone to help streamline the processes and procedures of seven disparate facilities to deliver a consistent customer experience across the organization. Collaborating with key stakeholders in various departments was critical to the success of this initiative as we reviewed the various processes and procedures at each facility to identify commonality, best practices and then define the new processes and procedures and the appropriate systems to support and manage them. Getting the waste profile for the soil facilities from six versions to one is an example of the documentation consolidation that was needed. In addition to my more general participation in the “One Clean Earth,” initiative, my personal goal, the reason I was hired, was to establish a client solutions department. By the end of 2007, the team was hired, the processes, procedures, paperwork, and workflow were in place and the client solutions department was up and running.

Currently my position includes reviewing and managing all contracts that come in for Clean Earth and I am also the Administrator of Salesforce.com for Clean Earth. As a member of the CRM selection team, back in 2007, I have played an integral role in the implementation and development of this application since its inception. Having been with the company for so long, I have grown to be the subject matter expert for Salesforce and various sales team support processes.

What Was the Most Rewarding Moment in Your Career?

The most rewarding accomplishments of my career have been establishing departments and developing processes and procedures that are sustainable, scalable, and that support the business. I've done this a few times throughout my career and I'm very proud of that. To see the Clean Earth Client Solutions department still intact and playing an integral part of the business is rewarding.  Knowing that I built that sustainable framework is pretty awesome.

Share a Fun Fact About Yourself

Funny story, I was actually in a commercial. My husband and I have since sold the company, but we had a pharmacy and there I was, in a commercial for Good Neighbor Pharmacy! I even received a phone call from an employee at Clean Earth saying that he saw me on television. I gave him a picture of myself, and I signed it as if I was a celebrity.

Where Can We Find You Outside of the Office?

Anytime I have an opportunity to be near the water, I like to be. My husband and I just bought a boat last year, so we are new boaters. I'm really enjoying that, and I cannot wait for the season to start. We’re docked on the Delaware River, and we like to take the boat out around Bristol, PA. Surrounding myself with family and friends, hosting at my house, hosting on the boat, or down at the dock. That’s where I find the most happiness.

How Do You Think We Should Encourage the Younger Generation of Women to Join the Waste Industry?

When I was in school, I never really enjoyed chemistry, but getting into the environmental business and working in a technical position, the science became real. Those analytical results played into where we could take the material and manage it in a safe way. When you make the science tangible and applicable to life, that's where it comes alive in my opinion.  Seeing how the science impacts the environment gets those diagrams of molecules to jump off the chalkboard and into real life situations. I think it's something we should offer more in the educational arena as far as getting that message out to young women. Understanding the impacts of what we're throwing in the garbage, or what happens when a gas station has a leak can influence our decisions and help us make sense of our world. It can really get people thinking. Getting women involved in the industry comes through education and making the coursework tangible and relatable. We could benefit from more partner programs between schools and our industry so we can get that message out there. There's definitely some value to be had with those two coming together.

What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self at the Start of Your Career?

Don't get lost in pleasing others so much that I lose sight of what pleases me. Take the time to focus on the things that energize me and make me feel alive and let that be my path in life.

How Do You Empower Your Team?

Collaboration and inclusivity are at the top of my list. I do not make decisions in a vacuum, and I feel that collaboration is mandatory for achieving the best results. People need to feel engaged and a part of the solution. When my team is part of the process, I think that's empowering for everyone.

How Do You See Women in the Future of Clean Earth?

Generally speaking, and specifically at Clean Earth, I think you’re seeing more women in leadership roles now than ever before. As society and Clean Earth continue to evolve, I see women not just having a seat at the table, but having a voice in the room: a voice that is heard and respected.