“EEE was an emerging major in 2011, and I felt that a degree in EEE would give me the best shot at making a positive impact on the Earth,” LaBelle recalls.

Like all EEE alumni, LaBelle’s goal is to protect, improve, and advocate for the environment and its resources.

“I believe that our time on Earth is precious and finite. The natural systems on Earth are well designed to heal, restore, and sustain themselves. I believe the work that we do as environmental engineers, scientists, and geologists is moving our human-made systems, designs, and processes to a place that aligns with and mimics natural systems,” he explains.

At SCS Engineers, LaBelle’s role focuses on working with clients to find truly sustainable solutions. Some of his primary responsibilities include identifying potential clients, understanding their needs and goals, preparing proposals, managing client relationships, and overseeing project execution and delivery. LaBelle has found environmental consulting to be an incredibly diverse and fulfilling career.

Spencer investigates sites like this one with clients to ensure he's meeting their needs.

“I love helping people and collaborating with teams to provide solutions that overcome challenges, and I get to do that every day,” LaBelle shares.

LaBelle’s dedication to the environment doesn’t stop at work. As a member of the Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition (IFSCC), he works toward the goal of bringing businesses, solid waste agencies, governments, and composters to advance food scrap composting in Illinois. Composting is a great example of aligning engineered systems with nature.

“My wife and I have composted our food scrap since we became vegetarian in 2020. I am thankful that I can speak to and assist IFSCC’s mission on a personal and professional level,” LaBelle shares.

Spencer (back center) attends the COMPOST 2025 conference with coworkers from SCS Engineers.

Reflecting on his journey, LaBelle credits his EEE classmates for teaching him about teamwork and working with a shared vision.

“I will never forget my time sitting in the EEE study room in Potter, learning with my peers. Whether we were working through calculus problems, learning new thermodynamic concepts, or trying to figure out our dynamics homework, we were always collaborating. Solving problems in the environmental engineering space is rarely a solo effort, and learning to collaborate, teach others, and be a part of a team is incredibly important. I owe a lot to my fellow classmates in EEE for teaching me how to work together,” he concludes.

Written by: Lacy Gehmlich

Photo Courtesy: Spencer LaBelle