Course Description:
As operators progress upward through the ranks due to experience and hard work, they generally feel comfortable wearing the hat of a lead operator. However, when they reach the positions of supervisor and manager, it is likely that they will be asking questions like: Where did that come from? How was I supposed to know that? How do you expect us to do that? Where is that money coming from? Being a good operator does not necessarily mean the person will be a good manager and vice versa. The goal of this lecture is therefore to initiate training activities which will help people transition from operator to supervisor or manager. The titles, supervisors and managers, can mean different things to different people. In some cases, a manager has several supervisors, whereas, in others, supervisor and manager might be the same person. Two plant managers from different types of systems (city vs. public authority) will discuss in a panel format their management programs, concerns, and lessons learned. The two managers are Caleb Taylor with the City of Salem, and Jerry Higgins of the Blacksburg/Christiansburg/VPI Water Authority. They will lead off with information about themselves and their systems, and then participate in a discussion facilitated by Dr. Greg Boardman, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech.
About the Instructors:
Dr. Gregory Boardman is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of the Annual Short Courses for Treatment Plant Operators at Virginia Tech. Dr. Boardman is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (F.ASCE), licensed as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Virginia, and registered as a Diplomate of Environmental Engineering (DEE) with expertise in the areas of water and wastewater engineering. He performs research and teaches courses in the areas of environmental engineering principles, industrial and hazardous waste management, environmental toxicology, and water and wastewater treatment processes. Since joining the Virginia Tech faculty in 1976, Dr. Boardman has served as an engineering consultant to more than 30 agencies and companies, been the principal or co-principal investigator for more than 135 funded research projects, and published more than 160 papers and reports in the environmental area.
Jerry Higgins has been an AWWA member for 39 years serving the Virginia Section as Trustee, Chair, Director, and Secretary. At the National Association level, Jerry served in several positions. He represented AWWA on the EPA Operator Certification Work Group. Jerry has been the Manager of the Blacksburg, Christiansburg, VPI Water Authority for 23 years. He is a Licensed Class I Water Works Operator, and a registered Professional Engineer. He holds a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering, a Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering and a Master's Degree in Public Administration. His other professional associations include the Virginia Rural Water Association, National Society of Professional Engineers, and serves on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers.
Caleb Taylor received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Military Institute and a M.S. in Civil Engineering with a major in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering from N.C. State University. Following his education, Caleb's experience has ranged from environmental work in the chemical industry to consultant engineering work in the municipal water and wastewater field. In 2007, he joined the City of Salem Water & Sewer Department as Assistant Director and in 2010; he was named Director of the department. Caleb holds a professional engineer's license as well as a Class I WTP Operator's license in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
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