CWT Spotlight

James Courtney

CSC Technologies Inc. Woodbine, Maryland

What prompted you to obtain your CWT and when did you begin the process by taking the test?

Growing up in the industry working for my dad, I knew he had his CWT, which set the bar for me from the very beginning. I started studying in earnest once the pandemic lockdown hit our area and I had two things in abundance: time and the Technical Reference & Training Manual (TR&TM).

What advice would you give those thinking about taking the exam?

Start to go through the TR&TM well in advance of when you intend to take the exam. It will deeply inform your day-to-day work in the field and give you time to experience the information rather than just memorizing it.

What was the most difficult aspect of the exam?

The length of the exam is a true marathon event, and I run marathons, so the comparison is not one I make lightly.

How did you prepare for the test?

The TR&TM held 85% of the information I felt I needed to pass the exam. The rest came from holes uncovered by the practice exam.

Why do you feel this credential was important to have?

It's a way to demonstrate a high level of technical competence and expertise to your customers, your company, your peers, and even yourself.

Making a Splash continued

How have you been able to utilize the expanded business connections you’ve made while volunteering? What are the advantages of having the CWT designation?

Having passed the exam and earned my CWT, I feel like I can keep my chin up around my peers within the AWT community and at the same time I have a greater appreciation for just how much more there is to know.

How has your CWT improved your professional career?

Besides feeding a hunger for knowledge, it's given me confidence that I know more than a little what I'm talking about. I can take that confidence and make an impact with/for our customers.

What has been your greatest professional accomplishment?

It's not been the most financially rewarding part of our business, but I consider the operational improvements we've made with municipal customers to be a huge personal win.

What do you think are the most prominent issues facing the water industry today?

I think there's a lot of buzz around efficiency, but not enough of it directed well enough to make an impact. We have the tools to show our customers how to run efficiently, how to measure that efficiency, and track it for them if they don't do it themselves.

Certainly, a more expansive network delivers benefits on the business side, but almost more importantly, it makes being a part of our industry more fun. Being able to work with, serve with, and regularly interact with people you consider friends makes what we do more enjoyable.