National Women’s History Month at the Well Done Foundation
This March, during National Women’s History Month, we’re proud to recognize the women of the Well Done Foundation who are helping lead the effort to locate, measure, and plug orphan wells across the country.
From the field to program planning to technical leadership, these women bring expertise, curiosity, and dedication to work that protects communities, restores landscapes, and removes harmful methane from the atmosphere.
Their stories remind us that solving complex environmental challenges requires a wide range of skills—and people willing to step forward and do the work.
From Environmental Science to Field Operations
Ivy – Environmental Field Technician
For Ivy, working in the field began with a foundation in environmental science and a desire to apply that knowledge in a practical way. While she didn’t originally picture herself working in field operations, she quickly discovered that the work matched both her skills and her curiosity.
As an Environmental Field Technician on the Deep Fork project, Ivy enjoys the hands-on nature of the work and the opportunity to spend time outdoors while learning from experienced teammates. She notes that the teamwork on each job site—people coming together to solve problems and complete the job safely—is what makes the work especially rewarding.
When speaking with people outside the field, Ivy often finds they are surprised to learn about women working in operations like orphan well plugging. Her advice to young women who might be curious about similar careers is simple: follow your curiosity and give it a try.
For Ivy, the meaning of the work is clear. By working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to plan projects carefully and minimize environmental disturbance, she knows the team is helping protect ecosystems and prevent further environmental damage.
“It feels good to know we’re helping break the cycle of harm to the environment,” she says.
Guiding the Deep Fork Project
Micaela – Environmental Project Manager
As Environmental Project Manager for the Deep Fork project, Micaela plays a key role coordinating the work required to safely plug legacy wells within one of the nation’s protected wildlife refuges.
With a background in environmental science, she saw orphan well work as an opportunity to apply her training in a way that produces immediate environmental results. Working closely with field teams, regulators, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, she helps ensure each project is carefully planned to minimize environmental impact while achieving permanent well closure.
Micaela says one of the most rewarding aspects of the job is seeing the collaboration that takes place on every site. Engineers, environmental specialists, and field crews all contribute their expertise to solve complex challenges.
Her message to young women interested in environmental work is straightforward: stay curious and explore opportunities, even if they don’t look like traditional career paths.
At the end of the day, the motivation is simple—helping protect land and water resources for the people and wildlife that depend on them.
Engineering the Mission
Nichole – Chief Technical Officer
Nichole’s path to the Well Done Foundation began in the United States Air Force, where she served as an aircraft mechanic. That experience shaped her approach to complex operations—precision, systems thinking, and problem solving when the stakes are high.
After more than a decade in aviation, she transitioned into the energy sector, where her work evolved toward program development, data analysis, and operational strategy. Today, as Chief Technical Officer for WDF, she helps design the systems and frameworks that allow field teams to safely and efficiently execute well-plugging projects.
Much of her work happens behind the scenes—coordinating partners, analyzing data, and developing the programs that support operations in the field.
One project that stands out involved planning and supporting the successful plugging of a well located directly in a river—an effort requiring extensive coordination with regulators, environmental specialists, and field crews to ensure the surrounding ecosystem was protected.
Nichole has spent much of her career in male-dominated industries, from aviation maintenance to energy operations. Her focus has always been simple: do the work well and solve the problem in front of you.
Her Hawaiian heritage also shapes how she views the mission of the Well Done Foundation. She often references the phrase mālama i ka ʻāina—to care for and protect the land.
“When we take care of the land,” she says, “it takes care of us.”
That principle is at the heart of the work happening across the Well Done Foundation today.
Keeping the Mission Moving
Stacey – Chief of Staff
Since the Well Done Foundation began in 2019, Stacey has been one of the driving forces behind turning complex projects into successful well closures.
As Chief of Staff, Stacey manages regulatory compliance across multiple states, oversees the permitting and change-of-operator processes, and coordinates bonding and financial assurance programs that allow WDF projects to move forward. She also works directly with landowners, service companies, and suppliers to organize the many moving parts required to safely plug orphan wells and restore the land.
In recent years, Stacey has also led the expansion of WDF’s methane measurement and monitoring efforts, guiding an all-women’s field technician team and helping evaluate hundreds of orphan wells across the country. She manages the WDF Well Intel™ IoT platform, which tracks project data and operational information from field to office.
With more than 20 years of experience in oilfield and construction project management, Stacey’s leadership ensures that every project — from planning to reclamation — moves forward with discipline, precision, and purpose.
Strength Behind the Numbers
Bethany – Director of Finance
Bethany brings more than 15 years of accounting and financial leadership to the Well Done Foundation, ensuring that the organization’s mission is supported by strong financial stewardship and operational discipline.
Her experience spans companies of all sizes, from startups to established enterprises, where she has developed financial systems and procedures tailored to each organization’s needs. A specialist in forensic accounting, Bethany has built a reputation for uncovering financial discrepancies and helping companies strengthen their financial foundations.
At WDF, Bethany’s work ensures that the financial structure behind every project is solid, transparent, and positioned for long-term success. Her approach focuses on proactive financial management — creating systems that support growth rather than reacting to problems after they arise.
Outside the office, Bethany approaches life with the same energy she brings to her work. Her personal mission is simple: live adventurously, be extraordinary, and inspire others along the way.
Discovering her Field
Isabella – Petroleum Engineering Intern
For Isabella, the path to working with the Well Done Foundation began with a long-standing interest in both engineering and environmental protection. As a petroleum engineering student, she has always been drawn to understanding how energy systems work—but also how those systems can be improved to better protect the environment.
While she knew she wanted to experience field work at some point in her career, she didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as she does today. Working alongside the Well Done Foundation team has given her the opportunity to see firsthand how engineering knowledge can be applied to real-world environmental challenges.
As a Petroleum Engineering Intern, Isabella appreciates the variety that comes with orphan well work. Each project presents new conditions and new lessons, making every day in the field different from the last. One moment that stands out for her was the first time the team located an orphan well hidden deep in the woods—an experience that underscored just how many legacy wells remain out there waiting to be addressed.
Despite the perception that oilfield and field operations are traditionally male-dominated, Isabella says she has always felt respected and valued as part of the Well Done Foundation team. Her advice to young women considering careers in the field is simple: stay curious and give it a chance. “Tie flies out there, and it’s fun when you do what you love.”
For Isabella, the work is meaningful both professionally and personally. It allows her to strengthen her skills as an engineer while contributing to something larger—helping restore land and protect water resources for future generations.
“It feels like giving something valuable back to the planet and to the people who come after us,” she says.
That spirit carries through in the work she supports every day at the Well Done Foundation.
The Well Done Foundation story has been shaped by the leadership, dedication, and expertise of remarkable women whose work continues to move the mission forward—protecting land, water, wildlife, and communities.
#onewellatatime
