Barbara Thomas

Barbara Thomas brings more than two decades of expertise to the fields of safety training, regulatory compliance, environmental engineering, and geology. Her career began with a passion for science and rock collecting that led her to study geology at Michigan State University, followed by graduate work at Wayne State University. Early roles included contract work with environmental firms, an internship with the Bureau of Land Management where she served on wildfire teams, and positions as a geophysics technician at sites in Washington state involving underground storage tank detection and ground-penetrating radar. She later contributed to nuclear site remediation projects, including waste characterization at a facility in Ohio, and worked as a toxic inspector for the EPA, evaluating industrial emissions. Additional experience encompasses environmental engineering at General Motors suppliers and medical device construction in California. Now in Chandler, Arizona, Thomas is launching Greenway Safety Solutions to provide safety certifications for industrial and commercial clients. She advises aspiring geologists to specialize in a focused area such as groundwater or planetary geology, create weekly study plans, send numerous resumes, and pursue stable government roles over private sector positions.