Listening First, Solving Always: A Chat about Environmental Compliance
- Alliance Technical Group
- Sep 12
- 4 min read
An inside look at how Alliance supports clients
through every stage of compliance
At Alliance, environmental compliance isn’t just checking boxes—it’s about building trust by building customized solutions for every client.
Tanvi Desai, Director of Compliance Services, has spent the past decade doing just that. In this Q&A, she shares changes she’s seen in her career and the secret to building long-lasting positive relationships across the industry.
What exactly is environmental compliance, and what do you and your team do for clients?
For background, federal governments and state governments, and cities and counties, come up with rules and regulations to control pollutants across industries. Our role is to help all industrial clients across the country facilitate their needs for permits and their needs for recordkeeping.
But our job doesn’t end with “OK, you have a permit, you're good to go.’ It starts there.
We go out on site checks regularly—monthly or quarterly—to help our clients stay in compliance. And it cannot be one solution that fits every client. Each client is different, each client’s requirements are different, and their permits are different. So, our role is to customize our program for each client to make sure we do the right job.
Do you find that some companies still take a reactive approach to compliance rather than a proactive one?
Yes, definitely. A lot of companies don’t want to spend money on environmental compliance unless they get a violation from a state or federal agency. Some people don’t take it seriously until there’s an issue.
But in the last ten years, and especially the last five, I’ve seen more and more clients understanding that one audit isn’t enough. An audit just tells you what’s wrong. It doesn’t solve the problems. That’s where we come in. We’re the real problem-solvers. When we work with clients regularly, they don’t have to worry about compliance on a daily basis. We allocate the right experts to find solutions for whatever comes up.
What’s the key to building long-term relationships with your clients?
You don’t want sales to be only about selling. Everyone needs to be heard, to be understood, to have their problem understood. If their problem is with safety and OSHA [Occupational Safety & Health Administration], I get the subject matter expert for that and find a solution. If they have a budget problem, I suggest a budget-friendly option.
I love the relationships we build with our clients.
My role is to find a solution for what they need, not what I want to sell. That’s where we win the clients’ heart.
And they say, “I want to give you all my environmental work because I trust you and I trust you’re not just here to sell.”
That’s what I try to pass on to my team as well: wherever you go, with whichever client you meet, your first goal is to be helpful. If you understand their problem, solve it, they’ll be your forever-client. And it’s really like that.
Can you share a project that reminded you why you do this work?
One in particular stands out. One client had an EPA inspection and was given a list of 70 findings—missing documentation, incomplete records, permit issues. They had two or three months to resolve everything. It was a lot. We had to work together as a team and come up with a solution and a plan to save them from getting a big violation and a big fine. And we did it. They met all the requirements.
That was challenging but a fun project. And they’re still our client many years later. They know they can rely on us to do the right thing.
What do you want people outside the industry to know about the work you do at Alliance?
We really try our best to be the best company in terms of work culture, by mentoring our team members and growing their career path. And doing the right thing for a healthy environment too. We also involved ourselves in a lot of volunteer work. Recently we did a clean-up in Galveston Beach.
What do you want people in the industry to know about your work at Alliance?
Things can get complicated for clients working in this industry. So we offer it all–permitting, compliance, stack testing, LDAR [Leak Detection & Repair], industrial hygiene, OSHA studies, groundwater remediation, wastewater design—and much more. There are so many regulations we have to keep up with. There’s constant change. Sometimes it’s federal, sometimes it’s state or county regulations that are changing. We are all putting in an effort to provide a solution for all industries, not just one.
You’re a woman in a leadership role at a major environmental firm. What has that journey been like for you?
Honestly, I never thought I would be where I am right now. When I started my career, I just needed a job. But once I got into this field, I realized I really liked the work. And I found I have a leadership quality.
I wouldn’t say it was easy. It can be like a rollercoaster ride. When I come to the office in the morning, there is a new challenge on my door. I always rely on what I’ve learned: the problem-solving skills, the time-management skills, just knowing you’re doing the right thing. You just have to keep showing up for yourself, for your team, for your clients–and do the job right. And you’ll get there. That’s my motto. Do the job right, every single day.
When you have that, it’s like you’re unstoppable.
With Alliance, there's a better way.
Navigating compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. At Alliance Technical Group, we simplify the process with tailored programs, ongoing support, and deep regulatory expertise. From environmental compliance and LDAR audits to health & safety consulting and industrial hygiene assessments, our team partners with you to reduce risk, improve efficiency, and achieve confident compliance.
Ready to streamline your compliance?
