Incoming Chair’s Reception and Barbecue

Incoming Chair’s Reception and BBQ Challenge was an Attendee Hit!

One of the highlights of the conference was the seventh annual BBQ Challenge and incoming chair’s reception held on the outdoor patio of the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. The setting made for a great evening of music, networking, and excellent food and drinks for more than 500 attendees. Mother Nature cooperated this year, and the beautiful patio setting was enjoyed by all.

It was also a chance to toast Emilie Moore, the incoming chair, who will lead the section in 2022. Emilie thanked everyone for attending.

Music was provided by Rick Hutton and Carly Jackson, each an excellent guitarist and vocalist. Some folks joined the duo onstage and had a fun and rocking time. It was great entertainment all around.

Fred Bloetscher (right), outgoing section chair, introduces Emilie Moore, section chair for 2022.

Rick Hutton and Carly Jackson provide the entertainment.

Event Sponsors

Complimentary beverages were sponsored by the FSAWWA Contractors Council and the following companies: S CROM S C&T Contracting Services S Electric Services Inc. S Integ-Crete Construction S Kamstrup Water Metering S Sinns and Thomas Electrical S TESCO Controls S Torishima Pumps S VMG Construction S Woolpert

The barbecue sides were sponsored by the FSAWWA Contractors Council and the following companies: S Barney’s Pumps S C&T Contracting Services S Core & Main S CPH Inc. S EnviroSales of Florida S Integ-Crete Construction S MCO Construction & Services Inc. S Petticoat Schmidt S PSI Technologies S REVERE Control System Inc. S Torishima Pump Manufacturing S TSC Jacobs North S Victaulic S Woolpert

The sponsors helped to make the 2021 event an outstanding success. There is nothing like an ice-cold drink and delicious sides to go with great barbecue!

Event Chairs and Teams

In charge of the event were cochairs Mike Alexakis and Richard Anderson. This year’s contest featured 12 teams competing for the honor of “grand champion.”

Grill masters from the following companies competed for top honors in chicken, pork butt, pork ribs, beef brisket, people’s choice, and overall champion: S Bonita Springs Utilities S Charlotte County Utilities/Jones Edmunds/

Crescent Limited S Core and Main S Ferguson Waterworks S FJ Nugent/Mead & Hunt/AECOM S Garney Construction S Insituform/Aegion S Kimley-Horn

Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority wins the first-place trophy for pork ribs. Charlotte County Utilities wins the people’s choice award.

Networking at the BBQ.

The hotel patio provides a welcoming setting for the event. The BBQ grand champion is Kimley-Horn.

Chi Ho Sham, AWWA president (far left), attends the barbecue with (left to right) Fred Bloetscher, Peggy Guingona, Bill Young, Emilie Moore, and Kim Kowalski.

S PCL Construction S Peace River Manasota Regional Water

Supply Authority S Pinellas County Utilities/Meat Doctors S Wharton-Smith/Barney’s Pumps

As the conference attendees socialized and feasted on the barbecue, judging took place to determine the best in each category and the grand champion. Thank you to the volunteer judges: Kim Kowalski, Mark Lehigh, Jason Parrillo, Greg Taylor, Lisa Wilson-Davis, and Bill Young.

BBQ Winners

Richard Anderson, the barbecue event cochair, announced the results at the end of the evening. Top honors went to the following teams:

First-place honors: S Kimley-Horn for chicken S Peace River Manasota Regional Water

Supply Authority for pork ribs S Kimley-Horn for pork butt S Insituform/Aegion for beef brisket

Other top honors included: S Team Charlotte County Utilities earned the crowd’s vote, winning the people’s choice award. S Kimley-Horn was declared the “2021

BBQ Grand Champion.”

Congratulations to all and kudos to the teams competing this year!

Overall, this year’s event was a tremendous success that featured great food and fun in a fantastic locale. Watch for news of the eighth annual BBQ Challenge at the 2022 FSAWWA Fall Conference at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. You don’t want to miss it! S