These amazing people have some pretty interesting jobs, so we’re bringing you a fun peek into their work-world along with some of their personal facets. This series will be ongoing, so if you have anyone you’d like to nominate as a potential Spotlight feature, put it in the comments, or send us an email, [email protected]. Enjoy!
Spotlight on Mindy Granley
Mindy Granley is the sustainability officer for the city of Duluth. The BBER will be partnering with Mindy this fall on a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to conceptualize and analyze the feasibility of implementing a geothermal district heating system in the Lincoln Park neighborhood near I-35. We have also recently collaborated on a grant proposal related to powering commercial businesses with solar energy.
What does a typical day look like in your job?
There isn’t really a typical day. But I do attend a lot of meetings and webinars, and I write and edit a lot of ideas, proposals, pitches, and communications pieces for our website (www.duluthmn.gov/sustain) and Instagram (www.instragram.com/duluthsustain).
What do you like best about your current job?
I love being able to partner and learn from others—to find solutions and ways to advance sustainability and climate work with them. Sometimes it is with my colleagues from across different city departments, and sometimes it is with community organizations, university staff, AmeriCorps VISTA members, or business and industry partners from around Duluth.
What about your current job do you find most challenging?
Applying for and managing grant-funded projects can be an added stressor to the actual work. Each grant program is different and has various requirements. However, without external funding, it would be impossible to accomplish all we’re doing! It can get difficult, but it’s worth it.
If you could snap your fingers and solve any problem facing our community, what would it be?
I would reset the lifespan of all of our city’s infrastructure: buildings, streets, stormwater, wastewater, fleet, water, energy, all of it! I would make sure to adapt all of this infrastructure to the impacts of our changing climate. I’d reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by making sure our buildings were energy efficient, our fleet was electrified, and our water treatment/pumping systems were carbon neutral through production of solar power! To support community resiliency, I would up-size stormwater infrastructure to handle bigger storms, renew our urban tree canopy throughout the city, and add energy storage for critical infrastructure functions.
What is the most recent thing you’ve read (besides email)?
I’m reading The Seed Keeper, a novel by Diane Wilson.
What is something (knowledge or a skill) you would like to learn?
I’d like to learn how to play the guitar.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received that has helped you in your career?
“Sometimes you’ve just got to be confident and comfortable enough doing a C+ job and move on. (The credit goes to Cindy Hagle for this advice. Thank you!)