AWWMA News & Information
2025 – 2nd Quarter
In This Issue
- Conference’25 wrap up
- AWWMA Awards and Accolades
- Competitions
- YP Event in Anchorage in TWO DAYS!
- Other Events around the State
- Certification Exam Prep Workshops
Fuller Award Recipient Recognized at Conference’25
L to R: Cheryl Porter, 2025 AWWA President, Rebecca Venot, David Lafrance, AWWA Executive Director celebrating excellence at the American Water Works Association award ceremony with proud recipients and prestigious awards.
With 18 years as a leader in the water profession, Rebecca has held numerous consulting roles, designing and building water systems throughout Alaska and the United States. In her current role, she is the Drinking Water Technologist for Jacobs where she leads the Anchorage Office and oversees several large water projects and a large program management office for the Municipality of Anchorage.
Rebecca has served the Alaska Section for many years, going through the Chair rotation. In 2023, she became the Alaska Section Director and subsequently competed for and became an AWWA Vice President. She has actively worked to bolster the Young Professionals group at both the Section and Association level, and actively mentors young professionals at her company and in professional organizations. Rebecca has also been heavily involved in AWWA Committees.
Rebecca was awarded this prestigious accolade during ACE25 in Denver earlier this month. Congratulations Rebecca!
PLATINUM LEVEL CONFERENCE’25 SPONSORS
GOLD LEVEL CONFERENCE’25 SPONSOR
SILVER LEVEL CONFERENCE’25 SPONSORS
BRONZE LEVEL CONFERENCE’25 SPONSORS
COPPER LEVEL CONFERENCE’25 SPONSORS
Young Professionals Learning Opportunity
Join us for a pizza Lunch and Learn on June 25th to explore conventional surface water treatment with AWWMA!
LAST CALL FOR AWWMA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We currently have 3 open board positions, and are always looking for talented and willing committee participants!
If you are interested in learning more please contact us!
Conference’25 is a Wrap!
For the 3rd year, Conference’25 was held at the Egan Center in Anchorage in May. Having only missed one due to Covid in 2020, this year’s conference was our 64th Annual Statewide Conference.
AWWMA has been putting on an Annual Conference since its beginning in 1960!
With 60 exhibit booths, and 400 participants total this year– we held four concurrent technical tracks with a total of 46 1-hour sessions the first two days; and five 4 or 8- hour workshops on the last day. We have processed over 1500 continuing education credit hours that will be submitted to DEC’s Operator Training Program by the end of June. If you are tracking your own PDH’s, please reach out to us at the end of the year for your yearly summary of hours we have tracked for you.
AWWMA would like to thank our 9 Platinum Sponsors, our Gold Sponsor, both our Silver Sponsors, our 3 Bronze/Competition Sponsors, and both our Copper Sponsors. Your continued support is appreciated!
We also acknowledge the contributions from our Expo participants; without our tradeshow we would not be able to keep the attendee pricing low or provide the cutting-edge technology, expertise, and equipment you bring to our show!
And last, but not least – a hearty “thank you” to our technical presenters, and to our very active planning committee who put this all together with perfection!
Be watching our website for upcoming conferences and dates!
Competitions at Conference’25
Water Taste Test
Submitted by John Wellborn, AWWU
This year’s successful competition had 3 official entries. All participants had a great time, with the usual friendly banter and, of course, bragging rights until next year!
1st Place: AWWU’s Ship Creek (Anchorage) 2nd Place: Golden Heart Utilities (Fairbanks) 3rd Place: Northern Utility Services (Anchorage).
There were other interested participants, but due to some confusion, at least one set of samples was missed. Next year, we plan to include clearer instructions in the State Conference newsletter and do some additional promotion to make the entry process easier. To the system who’s samples we missed, please accept our apologies!
Thank you to all who participated and supported the event!
If you’re interested in volunteering for next year’s event, please contact me and we can coordinate the details.
Hydrant Hysteria
Congratulations to David Osborn and Ryan Smith, winning team from Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility, for winning the Hydrant Hysteria Competition – you will represent us at ACE26 in WA DC next June!
Joe and Eric demonstrate fire hydrant assembly at a trade show, engaging the audience in fire safety innovation.
Winners of last years state competition attended ACE25 in Denver earlier this month and represented AWWMA at the Hydrant Hysteria Competition. First time competitors Joe Pascoe and Eric Markey from Golden Heart Utilities jumped right in against repeat champions. They gained valuable experience and insight and are ready to try their hands again at Conference’26!
Top Ops
Congratulations to Northern Utility Services Operators Peter Christensen and Ed Harris for winning the Top Ops Competition at Conference25, and representing us at ACE25 earlier this month in Denver!
Peter and Ed engage in a dynamic presentation, showcasing expertise in water utility operations.
Greetings from the Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (5S)
Submitted by Joe Swain & JP Polowy, pH7 Influencers
Congratulations to this year’s AWWMA 5S inductees:
· Tarik Spear, Nexus Water Group
· Joe Buckman, APSCO
· Ori Miller, Northern Utility Services
· Sydney Van Frost, Jacobs Engineers
These four dedicated volunteers are great examples of promoting support and fellowship in our field. We will be adding their names to the AWWMA Historical 5S Roster that will be posted on our website. If you see 5S members missing, please contact Angie or myself to update our list.
Additionally, future 5S nominations will be added to the award nomination page. It is important to note that nominating and voting for inductees will only be allowed by 5S members. Nominations should recognize the fact that many of our volunteers do not receive recognition, or become a committee chair or a board member, nevertheless they provide outstanding contributions to AWWMA.
Finally, future induction ceremonies for new members will most like entail funny, embarrassing, and charitable exercises “With all the Honor, Atmosphere, Prerequisite, Reverence and Dignity pertaining thereto” when receiving our golden shovel.
Northern Region Hosts 32nd Annual Water Walk/Run
Submitted by Tarik Spear, GHU
Fairbanks Sewer and Water, along with Goldenheart Utilities hosted the 32nd Annual Water Walk Run event that was celebrated during National Drinking Water Week in Fairbanks.
Also, on May 21-23 the Northern region also hosted an HDPE Fusing and Training workshop, held at the Golden Heart Water Treatment Plant. It was attended by 5 utilities and several local contractors.
Thank you to Core and Main, Mueller, and WL Plastics for providing this training opportunity!
Operator Certification Exam Prep Workshops
So far, in 2025 AWWMA has completed in-person training sessions in Anchorage for Water Treatment 1; Water Distribution 1 – 2, as well as an Introduction to Alaska Small Wastewater Systems in Utqiagvik.
Upcoming training sessions in Anchorage:
- Wastewater Collection October 6th – 9th with certification exams on October 10th
- Introduction to Alaska Small Wastewater Systems November 3rd to 6th with certification exams on November 7th.
For more information and to REGISTRATION visit our website!
Interested in becoming an instructor?
AWWMA is seeking level 3-4 operators and licensed professional engineers that are interested in working with the DEC Operator Certification Program to instruct these 4-day courses. The curriculum is provided, and reimbursement for travel costs and compensation for your time can be discussed! Contact us for details!