Her Story
About Lisa
Lisa Attaway is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and Food & Lodging Supervisor with nearly 27 years of experience in food safety, restaurant plan review, and regulatory compliance. Based in Dobson, North Carolina, she has served with the Surry County Health & Nutrition Center since 2000, where she oversees inspections, investigates public complaints and foodborne disease outbreaks, reviews plans and blueprints, and conducts construction site visits and compliance follow-ups. Her work spans restaurants, delis, meat markets, schools buildings and cafeterias, hospitals, nursing homes, daycare centers, and lodging facilities. Lisa earned a BS in Foods and Nutrition from Appalachian State University and has continued to build her expertise through professional training and environmental health organizations. She is actively involved with the North Carolina Environmental Health Supervisors Association and the Central NC Environmental Health Supervisor’s Association, where she has held leadership roles. She also teaches ServSafe and participates in community outreach, helping students and community members better understand food safety and public health. Throughout her career, Lisa has emphasized the importance of integrity, accountability, authenticity, and work-life balance. She is passionate about educating others and building trust through genuine interactions, while helping businesses understand and navigate increasingly complex health regulations. Lisa encourages women entering the environmental health field to build strong professional networks, seek mentors both inside and outside their workplaces, and step outside their comfort zones as they pursue growth and new opportunities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lisa
01What do you attribute your success to?
My team. I've got the best employees who show up and work hard every day and have a genuine commitment to educating others. During the hiring process I look for authentic candidates who have integrity and are accountable for their actions. This builds trust as a team and extends into the community. I encourage clear communication, paying attention to details, and continuously learning. Most importantly, I cultivate an environment where we can be passionate about our work and take pride in knowing that our joint and shared efforts help protect public health and make a meaningful difference in the community.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to build strong relationships, seek mentorship, and never stop learning. Experienced professionals can offer guidance that you cannot always learn in a classroom. I’ve also learned that success should not come at the expense of your well-being, so maintaining balance and avoiding burnout are essential to a fulfilling career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to network, network, network. Seek mentors both within and outside your workplace, build meaningful relationships, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Growth often happens when you put yourself out there and embrace new opportunities. I would also advise to not short sight family time. You don't want to look back and wish you spent more time with your family. Time has flown by and just like that both of my kids are in college. Spending time with them while still at home is important. You'll have plenty of time to build a business when they are no longer living in your home.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges is navigating increasingly complex regulations while helping businesses maintain strong public health and safety standards. At the same time, I see opportunities for experienced professionals to apply their knowledge through consulting, plan review, restaurant design, construction, and compliance guidance. Now that the kids are out of the house and I'm soon retiring from public service, I would like to start a consulting business. It's a great way to use one of my biggest challenges and turn it into an opportunity to help others!
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are integrity, accountability, authenticity, and work-life balance. I believe in being an educator first, building trust through genuine interactions, and treating others with respect and professionalism in both my work and personal life.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.