Her Story
About Mallary
Mallary Pflum is an Environmental Scientist based in the Greater Indianapolis area, currently working with Davey Resource Group, Inc. She specializes in ecological restoration and habitat management, overseeing more than 30 active projects across wetlands, prairies, forests, and natural preserves throughout Indiana. In her role, she leads field-based conservation work focused on invasive species removal, native species planting, herbicide application, and long-term ecosystem restoration, while also managing a small team to support multi-site environmental initiatives.
Her career in environmental science began with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB), where she served as an Urban Naturalist and developed a strong foundation in urban ecology and community-based restoration work. She later advanced to a Natural Resources Technician role with the Town of Zionsville, where she gained experience in project management, volunteer leadership, grant-related work, and large-scale invasive species removal efforts. She holds a degree in General Studies with a focus in Environmental Science from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis.
Outside of her professional work, Mallary is actively engaged in environmental advocacy and community education. She serves on the board of the Hendricks County Invasive Management Cooperative, where she contributes to efforts aimed at increasing awareness and action around invasive species control. She is passionate about connecting people to local ecosystems and encouraging sustainable practices, and in her personal time enjoys hiking, gardening, yoga, traveling, volunteering, and spending time outdoors.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mallary
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from the great mentors I've had along the way, including my best friend who got me into my first internship and taught me about plants and pollinators, and my boss from that internship. Watching others be passionate about the environment has really fueled my own passion.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Find something you're passionate about and you will love your work. I've always been an outdoorsy girl and I truly love taking care of the planet, learning about pollinators, and finding ways to help ecosystems.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't settle for roles you don't enjoy. There are so many different opportunities available in the environmental field, so if something isn't what you think you like, look for something different.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge right now is government policies removing wetlands protections, which is causing us to lose contracts and struggle to find work. The biggest opportunity is growth in the field due to increasing awareness about how detrimental invasive species are to our crops and forests.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Women supporting women is a big thing that I find important for my value system. It's empowering to work with mostly women and know that we can get things done in green collar jobs.
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