Maya Rao, P.E., BCEE
Managing Consultant, Jackson, MS Office
Trinity Consultants
Jackson, MS
Member Since: 2007
Section/Chapter: Southern Section/Mississippi Chapter
Education and Professional Credentials: BS in Mechanical Engineering from Ravi
Shankar University in India and an MBA from the University of Kentucky. Mississippi
Professional Engineer (PE) license, Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) in
Air Pollution, Certified Public Manager (CPM)
Biographical Summary:
Maya Rao is currently the manager of Trinity’s recently opened office in Jackson,
Mississippi and her primary responsibility is to provide technical services on
environmental issues and air permitting to Trinity’s clients in Mississippi.
Prior to joining Trinity, Maya Rao worked at the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for 25 years, first as a permit engineer in the Air
Division, then as a Manager for multi-media permitting in the Energy Branch, and
finally as Director and Chief of the Air Division from 2006 until 2014. As a multimedia manager for Energy, Maya oversaw the permitting for Air, Water and Hazardous
Waste facilities. She has extensive experience in Air Quality Permitting, Planning and
Policy. Previously, she has worked as adjunct faculty at Tulane University at the A. B.
Freeman School of Business (1985-1989) and Louisiana State University (LSU) at the
Department of Quantitative Business (1988-1989).
During her years at MDEQ, Maya has had the opportunity to work various kinds of
industries, other State and Federal agencies on various air issues and policies. As Air
Director at MDEQ, Maya has the experience of managing her Division’s budget and
optimizing the dwindling resources and focusing on the priorities to get the MDEQ
objectives achieved in a timely manner.
Maya has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Ravi Shankar University in India and
an MBA from the University of Kentucky. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in
Mississippi and a Board Certified Environmental Engineer. She is also a Certified
Public Manager in the State of Mississippi and has served on the Board of A&WMA as
Chair for the MS Chapter and is currently the Vice- Chair of the A&WMA Southern
Section Board. She has also served on the Board of Mississippi Energy Coordinator
Association. She was Chair of the Administration Committee of the Association of the
Air Pollution Control Agencies (AAPCA), Director of Southern States Air Resource
Managers, Inc. (SESARM) and is currently on the Membership Development &
Outreach Committee for the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. She has
graduated from Mississippi DEQ’s Accelerated Training for Leadership and Succession
(ATLAS) program. Maya has been on the Mississippi’s Disaster Response Team for
Hurricane Katrina, BOP Oil Spill and other Emergency and Disaster projects.
Maya has worked and volunteered on several fund raising projects at MDEQ to benefit
the Making Strides- Breast Cancer Foundation and the American Lung Association.
She is also a life member of the Junior Auxiliary of Clinton, and has worked on several
projects benefitting the local community. She has been actively involved in the Clinton
MS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Board for twelve years.
Since joining the A&WMA in 2007, Maya has been instrumental in reviving the
Mississippi Chapter, assessing the needs of the membership and also increasing the
membership for the Mississippi Chapter. Under her leadership, Mississippi got the
Outstanding Chapter award in 2012 and the Chapter has continued getting this
award in 2013 and in 2014. Maya is passionate about working for this organization
and strongly believes that in this complex world of Air and Waste Regulation,
Technological Innovations and Climate Change issues, we can take the lead and
provide the services in the Air & Waste areas to our members according to their needs.
Having served in academia, the government and now in the consulting world, Maya
has the tools to look at air issues from all angles and provide the leadership needed to
help this organization better serve the members.
Maya lives in Clinton, MS with her husband Deepak. Her two children, Angie and Jay
are both in college. She likes to travel and cook and it is only in the last four years has
she finally learnt to enjoy college football and baseball thanks to her children who
painstakingly explained the rules until she got it!!
A&WMA Activities/Offices Held:
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Vice Chair, A&WMA Southern Section 2015
Director, A&WMA Southern Section, 2014
Past Chair, A&WMA Mississippi Chapter
Chair, A&WMA 2011 & 2012
Organized Southern Section Conference in 2012 hosted by MS Chapter
Scholarship Committees for MS Chapter & Southern Section
Attended Leadership Training in Pittsburgh
Presented at several A&WMA Section and Chapter Meetings & workshops
Organized Training Sessions and Workshops for MS Chapter
Organized several brownbag lunches
Recruited several new members to the MS Chapter
Goals/Visions for the Organization:
I have been a member of A&WMA for almost eight years and have benefitted a lot from
this organization, both personally and professionally. My vision for A&WMA is to grow
this organization, recruit members, not to just benefit the A&WMA, but also to benefit
themselves as well. I also want to help A&WMA actively develop the Student Chapters
and the Young Professionals. With Air and Waste Regulations becoming increasingly
complex, and with Climate and Energy issues emerging, I see a huge role that A&WMA
can provide with technical information in a neutral atmosphere. We as environmental
professionals need to hear the voice of the industry, the regulators, the citizens and we
need to work together with all these stakeholders so that we can do our jobs in the
best possible way to benefit our society.
One of my overriding priorities is to work closely with the “Young Professionals” and
promote more student involvement in the Organization. There is a large pool of very
experienced Air Professionals who started their career in “Air” following the Clean Air
Act in the 1970s. Most of these professionals are retiring and we have to mentor the
younger generation to carry the torch. I am in awe of the potential of the Young
Professionals in our organization and we will need to cultivate and mentor them to
carry this organization forward.
Organizational finances continue to be an issue as all entities and members tighten
their belts to lower their costs. We have to continue working to find ways to do more
with less, by utilizing the emerging technology of recruiting members and increasing
sponsorships with less resources. I want to be a part of this team at A&WMA who
have various skills and am excited at the opportunity to associate with them and work
closely with the regulated community and provide the type of services they need to
train their younger staff and make technical resources available to them at short
notice. I would like our team to brainstorm ways on delivering the tools to our
membership by focusing on what they need from us the most and making it cost
effective for them to invest in becoming a member.
I am proud to associate myself with this organization and will continue to work hard
at the local levels, section level, and if elected to the Board, the International level, to
help the environment and the professionals involved in every way I can. As an
Environmental Professional, I feel it is not enough to always do the best to solve
environmental problems, but important to influence others to do the same. We have
an obligation to share our knowledge and passion with others. I can see the A&WMA
continuing to excel to be that organization.