NACWA’s National Environmental Achievement Awards recognizes individuals and NACWA member agencies that have made outstanding contributions to environmental protection and the clean water community. As recruitment and retention challenges rise, the Workforce Development Award is presented to outstanding projects or programs that embody effective, sustainable solutions that address the need for a qualified, diverse, and knowledgeable utility workforce. These video interviews dive into the successes, challenges and lessons learned of the 2023 Workforce Development Award winners. Learn more about NACWA’s National Environmental Achievement Awards.
Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority, IA
Jonathan Gano talks about the ways the City of Des Moines is recruiting the next generation of wastewater technicians.
Hampton Roads Sanitation District, VA
Christina Perez and Christina Brooks from Hampton Roads, Virginia explain how a partnership between the utility and a local job corps program has delivered a new batch of promising young wastewater treatment operators.
Jefferson County Commission, AL
Marc Crenshaw, Ian Peters, and Jeremy Creel from Jefferson County, Alabama talk about the steps they took to implement a new recruitment program to bolster the needs of the local wastewater treatment utility.
Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, WI
Michael Mucha from Madison, Wisconsin offers a behind-the-scenes look at the various ways his utility found to train and bring on board more racially diverse and younger employees.
Mount Pleasant Waterworks, SC
Allan Clum from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, gives a behind-the-scenes look at the ways in which he led a successful top-to-bottom rebranding of the local wastewater treatment utility when he was promoted from within to serve as CEO.
King County Wastewater Treatment Division, WA
Kamuron Gurol from King County in Washington State provides an overview of their effort to bring in more diverse and younger wastewater treatment plant operators.