Section Awards

Recipients of this year’s awards are noted and/or pictured in this section. The Florida Section AWWA honored outstanding individuals and organizations in the state’s water industry on two different dates. At the opening general session, held on November 29, the following awards were presented to the recipients.

This award honors individuals who contributed their time and talent to the success of their region.

NOT PICTURED

Arthur Bides Region II NOT PICTURED

Jenny Tomes Region VIII Kirsten Burns Region III David Yonge Region IV

Dustin Chisum Region V Emma Johnson Region VI Raul Alfaro Region VII Monica Wallis Region IX Trooper Smith Region X

This award honors distinguished service by a council or committee chair who has made the most-significant contribution to the council.

Kevin Stine (left) and Kim Kowalski (center) present award to Josh Anderson on the Manufacturers/Associates Council.

David Roberts Member Engagement and Development Council

Shea Dunifon Public Affairs Council NOT PICTURED

Paul Kavanagh Operators and Maintenance Council

David Yonge Technical and Education Council Tara Lamoureux Water Utility Council

The following awards were also handed out at the opening general session because the Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC) was canceled in 2021.

Most Improved Water Treatment Plant Class A Coral Springs Improvement District Accepted by Christian McShea. Outstanding Water Treatment Plant Class C Peter’s Creek, Clay County Accepted by Dwight Garth and Ross Bland.

Most Improved Water Treatment Plant Class C City of Lynn Haven Water Treatment Plant Accepted by Derek Rizzuto. Outstanding Water Treatment Plant Class B City of Clearwater Accepted by Timothy Ferlanie and Fred Hemerick.

Outstanding Water Treatment Plant Class A Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority Accepted by Richard Anderson (center).

These awards honor exceptional operators in the industry.

Meritorious Water Treatment Plant Operator Presented to Sam Stone (center), Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority.

Meritorious Water Treatment Plant Operator Presented to Karla Berroteran-Castellon (center), Village of Wellington.

Outstanding Water Treatment Plant Operator Presented to Robert Nelson, City of Palm Coast.

On December 1, FSAWWA honored outstanding individuals and organizations in the state’s water industry at the annual awards luncheon.

Bill Young

This year’s Fuller Award recipient, William “Bill” Young, embodies the principles of the George Warren Fuller Award, especially demonstrating constructive leadership, research, and organizational skills in promoting the water profession.

He is a native Floridian who can trace his family’s heritage back to over 400 years and is a graduate of the University of Florida.

Bill has served his local community in countless ways. He’s a past president of St. Augustine Rotary Club and The Arc of the St. Johns. He has served on the YMCA board and Cathedral Parish board. He worked for St. Johns County Utilities for over 35 years and recently retired as director. After his retirement, he took a different career path and joined Wright-Pierce, a multidiscipline engineering firm.

Bill has been an AWWA member since 1988. He was a Roy Likins Scholarship recipient in 1993. He served in many positions over the years with the Florida Section, including Roy Likins Scholarship Committee chair, and trustee, secretary, vice chair, chair-elect, and finally section chair in 2018. He currently serves the section as the Finance Committee chair.

Bill will receive his award at AWWA’s ACE22 in San Antonio, Texas, this coming June. Congratulations Bill!

Chi Ho Sham, AWWA president, presents Fuller Award pin to Bill. Bill with daughter Georgia.

This award is named in honor of Allen B. Roberts Jr., who worked diligently as the Florida Section’s executive director to improve the status of the section by providing valuable leadership.

Jay Madigan received this year’s award for his outstanding service as a member. Jay has contributed most to the section by providing valuable support to its programs through outstanding leadership, creativity, and service in the water-related field, particularly in fulfilling AWWA membership challenges.

Jay embarked on a road trip last year to visit the 12 FSAWWA regions. His goal was to a) see people outside of Zoom meetings, b) keep Member Engagement and Development Council (MEDC) interests in the forefront of everyone’s mind, c) spike some interest in the need for diversity, and d) put some wind in the sails for Water Equation (WE) virtual fundraising events, such as the WE Walk before ACE21, WE Bid, and Last Splash of Summer, a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) youth education project.

Also, under Jay’s leadership, MEDC worked hard in fostering AWWA’s Veteran Initiative, a program to create a career path for active military members to apply their skills, experience, and talents to the water industry. Currently FSAWWA has six regions with a designated veteran volunteer.

Kim Kowalski

This award was given to Kim Kowalski by the FSAWWA Executive Committee for dedicating her time and talents in ensuring that the Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC) remains viable and continues to serve all the members of the three sponsoring organizations. This exceeded her duties and obligations in her service to the FSAWWA board of governors and the section.

Todd Jernigan was honored by the MAC with this award as its individual member of the year. He is an active committee volunteer for the FSAWWA Fall Conference, especially in the operator competitions.

Todd Jernigan

The following were honored for their service to the Florida Section:

David Roberts Region I Chair 2018-2021 Rhea Dorris Region III Chair 2019-2021 Kenneth Broome Region IV Chair 2019-2021

Lisa Wilson-Davis

This award is named in honor of Robert L. Claudy, who was a past chair of FSAWWA and is a big supporter of, and still active in, the Roy Likins Scholarship program.

Lisa Wilson-Davis was the recipient of this MAC award for her efforts in promoting water quality in the industry, community, section, and association, and continued support to the section. She continues to participate in the section and association’s programs through outstanding leadership, creativity, and service in the water-related field, particularly to the FSAWWA Water Utility Council.

MAC COMPANY OF THE YEAR AWARD

Awarded to E.H. Wachs.

Accepted by Hassan Cruz.

Monique Durand Region VI Chair 2019-2021

Ann Lee Region X Chair 2017-2021 Mike Alexakis Contractors Council Chair 2018-2021

Jay Madigan Member Engagement and Development Council Chair 2019-2021

Mike George Manufacturers/ Associates Council Chair 2019-2021 Andy May Trustee 2016-2021

This award honors the Manufacturers/Associates Council (MAC) member or honorary member who has contributed the most to the success of the FSAWWA Fall Conference. In 2021, the honor went to Richard Anderson. He helped launch the first BBQ Challenge in 2014 and continues to assist with the event.

Richard Anderson (left) receives his award from Kevin Stine.

AWWA honors significant membership tenure with the following awards. The recognition received builds with a member’s years with the association.

Recipients were honored for 50 years of AWWA membership.

Barton Jones

Recipients were honored for 30 cumulative years of membership and being at least 65 years of age.

Brandon G. Braley Thomas M. Brantley John B. Corey Christianne C. Ferraro Walter C. Goblisch John F. Hayford Michael T. Hersey Robert H. Hinkel Jonathan M. Kennedy J. Kent Kimes Steven V. Mazuk Stephen E. Moler Harold W. Morrow John E. Potts Teresa Remudo-Fries James C. Stiles

Recipients were honored for 25 cumulative years of AWWA membership. These awards were given out at the conference’s opening general session.

Paul Blastic Marjorie G. Craig Christine S. Ellenberger Bobby K Gibbs Gary J. Gula Terry D. Gullett Philip A. Jones David A. King David M. Richardson Karen P. Snyder Steven M. Soltau Barry E. Stewart Mickhael S. Sulayman Dana Kirk Tallman Marc Walch James J. Wallace

The FSAWWA gives this award to various facilities or structures serving as components of water systems that have historical significance and, as such, may be candidates as an AWWA Water Landmark or a Florida Section Water Landmark. The facility or structure should have been in service and operational for 50 or more years to qualify for this important recognition. Wells, pumps, and piping may qualify if deemed to be of important significance. S FKAA Kermit H. Lewin

Dedicated in 1968

S Miami-Dade Hialeah Water Treatment Plant Dedicated in 1925

Due to the pandemic, the plaques were not finished on time. Formal presentations will be done in early 2022 at the discretion of the utilities.

An award is given to a utility with outstanding performance during the preceding year that deserves special recognition by the section. The criteria for these awards shall be based on, but not limited to, the following: S Must be a member of AWWA (organization or individual) S Actively supports the activities of the

Florida Section S Has completed the questionnaire S Demonstrates high standards and integrity

The following utilities earned the firstplace award in their respective divisions:

Division 1 No award.

Division 7 – Lee County Utilities Water Distribution (no photo)

Division 2 – South Walton Utility Co. Inc. Accepted by Ben Keen and Alicia Keeter.

Division 3 – City of Zephyrhills Utility Department Accepted by John Bostic.

Division 4 – Bonita Springs Utilities Inc. Accepted by (left to right) James Morris, Lance Reighter, Mike Prescott, and Andy Koebel.

Division 5 – City of Boca Raton Utility Services Dept. Accepted by Lisa Wilson-Davis. Division 6 – Broward County Water and Wastewater Services Accepted by Kevin Carter. Division 8 – Hillsborough County Water Resources Dept. Accepted by (from left) Roy Bean, Chris Jones, and Suresh Maharaj.

The scholarships are awarded each year by the section to outstanding graduate or undergraduate college students enrolled in an accredited Florida institution who are pursuing a degree related to the drinking water industry. The scholarship is named for the late Roy Likins, former president of Palm Coast Utility Corp. and a lifelong member of AWWA, who served as section chair and secretary-treasurer, as well as Region IX chair with the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association.

The total awarded for the scholarships was $66,000.

NOT PICTURED

Aleutia Blakeman, University of North Florida Rachel Fonseca, University of Florida Francis Gorman, University of North Florida Francisca Olmos de Aguilera, Florida International University Carlos Cabrejos Niquen, Florida International University Maya Patel, University of Florida Senuda Rajapakse University of Florida Jerome Small, University of Florida

Zack Farmer Florida Atlantic University

Thanh Lam University of South Florida

Christopher Hagglund University of Central Florida

Elisabeth Schreiber University of Florida

Isabella Sillverman University of South Florida Nino Stea University of Central Florida Scholarship recipients pose with Marjorie Craig (back row, center), vice chair of FSAWWA.

Program Element - Single Program Highlight Best in Class - Class 2 Orange County Utilities Water Division “Water Watch Enforcement Program in a Pandemic”

Accepted by Terri Thill and Bridgett Tolley.

Comprehensive Water Conservation Programming Best in Class - Class 3 Pasco County/FGUA “The Water Awareness Poster Contest” (no photo)