Leslie’s rare combination of technical expertise, client relationship skills, and community involvement is remarkable for a Young Professional, even by today’s standards. Late last week, Leslie gratefully accepted a 40 Under 40 award from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES). We hope you enjoy learning a little more about our colleague at SCS Engineers.
As a Project Manager at SCS Engineers, Leslie leads remediation and redevelopment of complex contaminated sites in South Florida and was an early contributor to PFAS investigation procedures. Her early career projects included national Superfund site research and large-scale investigations of military sites. She also demonstrates her commitment to community and professional development through mentoring and volunteering.
Leslie Smith exemplifies the qualities celebrated by the AAEES 40 Under 40 program and SCS values. She has multiple publications under her belt and holds a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering and an M.S. in Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering) from Florida State University, as well as a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering) from Louisiana State University.
Leslie has built strong, enduring relationships with major residential and commercial land developers in South Florida, earning trust through straightforward communication and effective project management of large-scale remediation projects, balancing schedules and budgets.
She manages complex environmental assessments and remediation for large-scale redevelopment projects, including a 100+ acre former golf course and agricultural properties, successfully engineering on-site reuse of contaminated soil to reduce costs and environmental impact, thereby converting contaminated sites into residential communities.
Her doctoral research involved pioneering bioremediation at scale by correlating pilot systems with full-scale Superfund site operations, characterizing microbial communities via DNA sequencing, and validating remediation efficacy—work that resulted in peer-reviewed publications and presentations.
Early in her career, Leslie was part of a large-scale site investigation at a former Cold War missile launch complex in Wyoming, addressing severe TCE contamination across a plume spanning 20,000 acres. This project shaped Leslie’s approach to contamination management.
Leslie continues to contribute her expertise to the evolving field of PFAS contamination by assisting Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection in developing Standard Operating Procedures, conducting field assessments at fire training facilities, influencing state regulatory responses, and publishing in industry publications.
Leslie regularly volunteers at Deck the Halls, a community event that supports children in foster care by decorating homes for the holidays.
She also participates in Water Matters Day in Broward County, promoting water conservation through educational booths, giveaways, and activities, and in Baynanza, Miami-Dade’s celebration and cleanup of Biscayne Bay, contributing to ecological restoration efforts.
She mentors K–12 and undergraduate students in STEM education, fostering curiosity and supporting growth through lectures and research guidance. She supports affordable housing initiatives through volunteering with the Appalachian Service Project, Habitat for Humanity, and Bike & Build, aiding families with home repairs and raising awareness of housing issues.
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