Officers left to right: Christine, Darryl, and Tiffany.
District Staff Recognized at AWW&WEA Regional Meeting
On December 13th, members of the Northwest District of the Arkansas Water Works & Water Environment Association (AWW&WEA) met for their monthly training meeting at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences in Fayetteville. The full program included introduction of officers, an awards presentation, lunch for the attendees, and classes for continuing education. The officers for 2024 are Darryl Fendley of Beaver Water District as Chairperson, Tiffany Mallard of Springdale Water Utilities as Secretary/Treasurer, and Christine Schneider of Benton Washington Regional Public Water Authority as Vice-Chair. Jeff Hickle with Jacobs, awards committee member, presented outstanding achievement awards for 2023. Eleven awards were presented.
| Award Title | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Water Operator less than 5000 Population | William Winn with Winn Environmental Tech |
| Water Manager of the Year | Cody Ashworth with the City of Fayetteville |
| Water Small System Management | Decatur Water with the City of Decatur |
| Water Backwash Prevention Professional | Emmett Hall with the City of Fayetteville |
| Young Professional of the Year | Aryana Davin with Mead & Hunt |
| Wastewater Operator less than 5000 Population | Isaac Harderson with the City of West Fork |
| Wastewater Operator more than 5000 Population | Mike Turner with the City of Harrison |
| Wastewater Manager of the Year | Kathryn Catlin with the City of Harrison |
| Wastewater Laboratory Professional | Walter Chodor with Jacobs Fayetteville |
The mission of the Northwest District of the Arkansas Water Works & Water Environment Association, formed in 1950, is to encourage the education and licensing of its members in the field of water and wastewater systems and to provide a venue by which the members can share information, obtain training, and improve the overall standing of the profession within their communities. Monthly meetings and training opportunities are conducted on the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings rotate around the region to allow training options for as many water industry individuals as possible in Northwest Arkansas. Visit www.nwd-awwwea.org for a schedule of events and to browse job opportunities.
Holly
Holly Wren joined BWD in November as the Environmental Scientist. She received her master’s degree from the University of Arkansas in Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences. Holly is an Arkansas native and lives with her two cats, two dogs, three fish, and fiancé. Outside of work, you will find her reading, going to the gym, or working on house projects.
Colten
Colten Jones joined BWD in November in the Environmental Technician position. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas in Environmental Soil and Water Science. He is passionate about the natural environment and providing a service to the community. He enjoys backpacking, mountain biking, and looking for waterfalls in his free time.
Alan
Congrats to Alan Littrell on 35 years at Beaver Water District! “I worked for the same company for thirty-five years” is not a statement you hear very often, but we do here. Alan started at BWD as a relief operator before moving to a shift operator. Shifts are 12 hours at BWD, so this makes 35 years of service even more impressive. When asking about Alan, one will hear that it is his knowledge, experience, and instincts that make him a great operator. Thanks Alan for keeping the water flowing!
Adam
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Adam Motherwell was recognized in the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) newsletter Member Spotlight in December. One of the highlights was Adam’s response when asked “What do you like most about working for a water utility? I’m a proactive person, and water utilities are always looking to the future to ensure there is water at the tap. I enjoy being part of the long-term planning process and the emphasis water leaders put on planning ahead.” Read more at awwa.org Connections publications.