by Sami Stroud | Apr 15, 2026 | Small Water Systems, Workforce Development
Small water systems are the backbone of safe and reliable drinking water for millions of Americans, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Yet behind the infrastructure lies a growing concern: the sustainability of the workforce needed to operate,...
by Sami Stroud | Apr 7, 2026 | Green Infrastructure, Stormwater, Workforce Development
Above 1. Image courtesy of Philadelphia Water Department Gray infrastructure is not the only tool at hand to manage a community’s stormwater, and with increasing severe weather events in the wake of climate change, utilizing all assets at hand is critical to...
by Southwest EFC | Mar 27, 2026 | Managerial & Financial Leadership, Workforce Development
Figure: Older and Younger Water Operators. Image generated with AI by WSU EFC in Canva. As experienced plant managers and superintendents approach retirement, many utilities may discover that the next generation of leaders simply hasn’t been prepared. The...
by Sami Stroud | Mar 11, 2026 | Wastewater, Workforce Development
Image created by Leslie Kimball, Wichita State EFC This past January I had the opportunity to present at a conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina. What was supposed to be an easy trip to a beautiful destination proved to be a trickier...
by Sami Stroud | Feb 12, 2026 | Utility Management, Wastewater, Workforce Development
Shannon Hazelton, at work in Winterset, IA and Point Hope, AK. When Shannon Hazelton entered the workforce, he never expected to spend nearly twenty years in wastewater. Yet his path—shaped by unexpected opportunities, tough environments, and a drive to keep...
