November
Colter Andersen, T5/D5 Production Manager
Zone 7 Water Agency
I have had the opportunity to work in the Water Industry for over twenty years. My career flourished when I began attending Cal Nevada Section AWWA Conferences. I have encountered an impressive array of water professionals and I have gained many connections through this opportunity. At Conference, I have been introduced to fellow Operators, Water Quality Analysts, Engineers, Managers and Vendors. I started my career as an operator in the field, these interactions at Conference had a significant impact on my career advancement, as I am now a Production Manager. I have determined that as I grow in my career, I will never outgrow AWWA.
I have learned that establishing a network of fellow water professionals is essential, especially during a natural disaster, a water quality event, or a major mechanical failure. One of my colleagues previously identified this network by urging, “We are Vanguards of Public Health.” Nothing is more important than clean drinking water; this one element determines the success or failure of all modern civilizations. In forging a career in the water industry, I have established meaningful connections that I know will last a lifetime. It is a great feeling to know that the people you are surrounded by are just as dedicated as you are to the mission of delivering clean drinking water. This dedication can be most inspirational when exhaustion kicks in during that water challenge.
The AWWA Organization also affords you the ability to give back to the water community. You can engage by giving speeches at the Conferences, becoming an instructor, or volunteering as a committee member or leader. Ultimately, you have the freedom to be a water genius all day long. Only a water professional could discuss the various aspects of water for that long!
September
Marc Marcantonio, General Manager
Yorba Linda Water District
I have been an AWWA Member and General Manager of Water Districts for 16 years in both California and Washington State. Working in the public drinking water industry parallels my former 25-year career in the Army. It is not just a job, it’s an adventure. And like the military, water workers are critical to our way of life. Public health and safety are on the line, so we must be highly trained professionals capable of managing complex operations, often under adverse conditions.
This is where AWWA and the CA-NV section come in. Both at the national and local levels, AWWA is our primary resource and organization that ensures we are professionals who fulfill the awesome responsibility of protecting public health and safety.
AWWA is about learning technical skills, best management practices, measuring key performance indicators, following established construction and operations standards, and more. Over the years, I have attended valuable and fun professional training classes, participated in innovative conferences and even competitive events. AWWA has provided tremendous networking opportunities resulting in lifelong relationships with top quality individuals who deeply care about making the world a better place.
Public water service is a noble cause, and CA-NV AWWA has your back by helping you to be all you can be.
June
Cristian Irigoyen, Water Treatment Plant Operator
Modesto Irrigation District
Over the past few years, the CA-NV AWWA section has provided me with useful knowledge and experience to excel in the water industry. I’ve attended various courses that have helped me pass my Distribution Grade 3, Treatment Grade 4, and Backflow tester certifications. I’ve also been able to take the information I’ve learned through AWWA’s courses and apply it to my apprenticeship with Modesto Irrigation District (MID) to better understand our Conventional Filtration and Membrane Filtration plants.
I'd just like to thank AWWA. Since 2016, I've passed my D1, D2, D3, T2, T3, T4 and Backflow tester certification! Not only that, but I've attended and competed in the Top OPs Challenge in 2018 in Burlingame and our team placed in the top 2 and we got to represent the CA-NV Section at ACE 2018 in Las Vegas. I've progressed in the water industry a lot thanks to [CA-NV AWWA]. I look forward to attending other conferences/classes in the future!
Chris Martinez, President
AWWA Student Chapter
Cuyamaca College
The AWWA CA-NV Fall 2018 Conference was a great conference to attend! The theme of sustainability really set the tone for the conference and reminded us that we need to protect our resources. As a young professional and a new member of AWWA, attending the conference for the first time was a great experience, but also an awesome opportunity to represent my AWWA School Chapter as President for Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego. At the conference I was able to get great industry insight about what this is all about from talking to engineers, consultants, operators, AWWA committee members and a variety of professional representatives from different water agencies. Meeting other students from different school chapters was also a great way to network and see how they integrate their AWWA student chapter with their school and education.
The theme of sustainability was a common link in all of the technical sessions I attended and it was great to see technology integrating with water agencies to become more efficient and sustainable in sessions given by Monobina Mukherjee from Moulton Niguel Water District - Developing a Financially Sustainable Water Supply with Advance Data Models and other sessions using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to predict the likelihood of failure of transmission and distribution water pipelines from Fracta.
Topics of climate change and sustainability with professionals taking steps toward managing and projecting water use in Adam Hoch from the City of Oceanside - Groundwater Augmentation in Mission Basin and in Daniel Wisheropp session - Non Project Water Inflows to the State Water Project; Balancing Sustainable & Reliable Water Supplies with Water Quality Objectives. A session that I found really beneficial was the Young Professionals Committee with the Mentoring Activity meet and greet on day two. The professional insight and the one-on-ones I had gave very helpful advice for moving forward in my career. I even got an opportunity to be a part of the YP committee in the future as Vice Chair! AWWA - CA-NV Section really did a great job with the organization of this conference from the venue The Westin Mission Hills Resort, technical sessions and teaming up with the Coachella Valley Water District as host utility.
The conference was awesome and offered great resourceful information that I'm taking back with me to my school chapter to give all my colleagues a chance at success and help them achieve their personal career goals. I am looking forward to the Spring 2019 Conference in Sacramento!
January
Chisom Obegolu, P.E.
Metropolitan Water District
I just wanted to share a quick note to express how impressed I was with the 2018 AWWA Annual Fall Conference. In addition to having a multitude of topics to provide insight on sustainability, it was well organized and simple to follow. I particularly enjoyed the app that was created for this conference as it helped me decipher through the many presentations and identify which ones peaked my interest. The various presentations were immensely informative and applicable to my organizational goals as well as my personal and professional goals.
As a speaker at this event, I was well accommodated from my arrival and sign-in to my departure. I am looking forward to the 2019 conference in Sacramento!