Her Story
About Alissa
Alissa Vanim is the Director of Operations for Aqua New Jersey, where she oversees water and wastewater operations serving hundreds of thousands of customers across the state. Based in Forked River, New Jersey, she leads field staff and operational teams responsible for ensuring safe, reliable drinking water delivery and effective wastewater treatment. Her leadership is centered on operational excellence, safety, and a strong commitment to public health and service.
Alissa’s career in the water industry spans nearly a decade and began in environmental remediation and consulting, where she built a strong foundation in environmental science and project management. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Stockton University and initially explored culinary arts before ultimately finding her path in environmental work. She joined Aqua New Jersey after unexpectedly discovering a job opportunity in the field, a decision that sparked a lasting passion for water infrastructure and public service.
Over the years, Alissa has grown through multiple leadership roles at Aqua, including Manager of Environmental Compliance before stepping into her current role as Director of Operations. She is known for her focus on team development, mentoring staff, and helping emerging leaders grow within the organization. As a trustee with the AWWA New Jersey Section and a recipient of industry recognition for outstanding service, she continues to champion reliable water systems, strong teams, and meaningful impact in the communities she serves.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alissa
01What do you attribute your success to?
Honestly, my success is attributed to having great bosses throughout my career who have just been inspiring. I've been very blessed in that regard. I currently work underneath Natalie Chesko, who's the president here, and I've been with her for about 3 years. She believes in inspiring everybody through what she does and the opportunities she gives you to do things. That truly stuck with me, and I hope that as a boss, that's what I get to be. She's been a huge part of my career, and having leaders like her who inspire and believe in their people has made all the difference for me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Do something that you love. Something that you want to do when you wake up in the morning. You might not always have great days, but something that you always look forward to. That advice has really guided me throughout my career and helped me find work that's truly meaningful to me.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would give them the advice of always making sure that they're heard, and doing it professionally and politely. But realizing you don't have to take a backseat, and that your opinion matters just as much as everyone else's. It's so important to speak up and know your worth in this industry.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is being heard in the room, especially as a female in a male-dominated industry. You're usually the only female, or maybe you might have two females sitting at the table. My biggest challenge was building the respect for me in this position and in my career, which I feel that I have now. But it wasn't always that way. Now I'm looked at as being one of the resources, and when I realized that those tables had changed, it just inspired me to make sure that I let other females know that this is possible and give them the room to be that. As for opportunities, it's honestly about giving opportunities to younger females, or even just everyone coming up in this industry, of seeing and teaching them. I love that I'm able to do that at Aqua, whether it's through school tours or Boy Scout and Girl Scout tours, teaching them what I do and what I love.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Obviously it's work-life balance. I have two kids, and making sure that I'm present for them and present in their life is something I always prioritize. I don't ever want to be the parent that's not at the event. That is always super important to me. And then obviously it's just having the ethics and the caring for people that make me want to make sure that I'm giving them exactly what they deserve.
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