Striking out on her own a good move for Medina
When Sylvia Medina left a secure job in 1997 at the Idaho National Laboratory to start North Wind Inc., a contracting, engineering and consulting firm, she had several strikes against her.
First, she was a Hispanic white-collar business owner in Idaho Falls, which was not exactly rich in that type of entrepreneur. Second, she was a woman entering a male-dominated field.
But Medina had the tools to succeed. As a teenager, she worked alongside her father, a land surveyor, helping run a transit, chain property and maintain logbooks. She graduated from college with degrees in environmental engineering and biology. She had the education, and she knew how to work.
That work ethic kept North Wind afloat in its lean early years as an environmental mediation and waste management company. It also has led Medina to embrace new opportunities to broaden the company's capabilities into natural resources, cultural resources, construction and public involvement.
Though the company has benefited in some cases from qualifying as a "disadvantaged" business, Medina prefers to downplay that label and focus instead on providing high-quality services and effectively competing against bigger firms.
Though still a small business in its field, North Wind offers "best in class" environmental and engineering services to its clients, who include key government facilities.
Medina's employees have been invigorated by the ever-expanding challenges the company's dynamic vision offers them, as well as by a company culture that recognizes their ideas and hard work.
Recent comments
This article doesn't make sense. If you know the Department of...
Anonymous | July 1, 2009 at 1:36 p.m.
- Sports reflect, affect ethics 5:04 p.m.
- Common phrases rooted in scripture 5:04 p.m.
- Season in bloom with the Jesse tree 5:04 p.m.
- Muslims quick to respond to Ft. Hood 5:04 p.m.
- Sermons give time, place for tattoos 5:04 p.m.
- Utah religion in the news 5:04 p.m.
- Religion news around the world 5:04 p.m.
- 5 'house church' leaders sentenced 5:04 p.m.
- Think before buying trendy pet 5:04 p.m.
- Unhappy wife wants husband out 5:04 p.m.
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
263 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
211 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
139 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
133 - Boys basketball rankings
126 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
112 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
106 - Hall, Johnson matchup key
102
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
nothing great, but surrounded by a pretty good core team - and that credit...
I'm shocked Leon agreed with keeping John in there. Then again, if they EVER...
We need to add a few more facts to the 9:56 a.m. post. PAST = 1....
Nobody smuggled a beer into the Utah-BYU game last, kept it the whole game,...
byu by 1
Thanks for showing, Lenora, that leading begins in the home. No wonder you...
Yes three ten win seasons in a row :) Like picking our stats? Well, if...
To Mike / 4:44 p.m. If you read all of the news articles, you will know...
I love the current uniforms! How silly to go back to the old ugly uniforms...
I can't wait for this time tomorrow and all the excuses the B Whine U fans...



