Two on FWRC Executive Team Retire Two members of the team that produces the Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC) have retired from their positions. Scott Kelly was president of the board of directors and Holly Hanson was the executive director for FWRC. Those who remain on the board, and the staff of FWRJ, wish them well as they pursue other interests.
Holly Hanson Caps Over 20 Years as FWRC Executive Director It all began with me lying by the pool and being approached with, “You know Apple computers, right?” From that point on I was engaged in fixing registration computers and working the next two days at the 1998 FWRC in Ft. Lauderdale. The next year the board of directors of FWRC approached me about outsourcing the registration portion, the following year I became the executive director, and the rest is history. I was happy to apply my computer, graphics, and administrative talents to shape, organize, and grow FWRC from 700 attendees to over 4,000.
Evolution of the Conference According to Water Environment Federation statistics, FWRC is second in size for a joint water/wastewater event in the United States, trailing only a similar conference in California. “Leading the Nation in Water Innovation” wasn’t just a conference theme— it was a reality we made happen. The FWRC
went from t-shirt poker parties to state-of-theart educational sessions with recognized and published industry leaders. I am proud to say that in my more than 20-year career, we were able to distribute $2.5 million among the three member organizations that sponsor the conference—Florida Section American Water Works Association (FSAWWA), Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA), and Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA)—for their educational and training purposes. The FWRC was instrumental in the continued growth of these three associations.
Conference Challenges and Rewards Some people thought my job was a “cake walk,” an easy job. The whole back of the house could be burning down, but by all appearances, it was normal at the registration desk, in the technical sessions, and on the exhibit floor. I’ve handled everything from stolen dentures to a zealot off the street arguing with me about water pollution and conservation. I’ve been spit on, cursed at, and called more inappropriate names then I care to recall. There were some other tough times, too. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans, and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center became a shelter to house displaced residents, so other facilities in surrounding states were picking up their canceled events. Our contract was canceled in place of a bigger
show, and that took weeks of phone calls, emails, and threatening letters until we were issued $30,000 in punitive damages for being relocated. Another year, we were at a beautiful new hotel in Jacksonville, and had over 25 complaints, from eyeglasses being stolen to rooms being multiple-booked. Yes, conference attendees actually walked into their rooms and other people were already in bed there. The most rewarding part though, has been all the acquaintances I’ve made along the way—many now good friends, and some became excellent mentors. Here I would like to thank Tom Baber for mentoring me the first few years and providing a wealth of historical information. Scott Kelly, the FWRC immediate pastpresident of the board of directors of FWRC, was always available for guidance and advice, and never micromanaged me. I respected the responsibility given me, appreciated his and the board’s trust, and I nurtured FWRC with all the passion I could muster. Many, many good people—Don Maurer, Bill Heller, Sean Gucken to name a few—were always kind and helpful. Tim Madhanagopal, FWRC’s new president, and I worked together for many years fashioning the technical program computer application. When COVID-19 paralyzed the nation in 2020 and cancelled FWRC that year (and in 2021), I was sickened at the course of events because many of our exhibitors I’ve known for years—even their spouses and children. It was difficult to maneuver through those months, and I am thankful we are seeing the light at the end of this ordeal. Only successful events ahead!
Into the Sunset
Ilex Services A-Team.
10 July 2021 • Florida Water Resources Journal
Retirement looks like lots of traveling, especially a road trip with my granddaughter, and time spent with grandkids. I love to paint, ride motorcycles, anything involving auto racing, and golf. I crushed this job for many years, worked hard, and gave it my all. “Coming in hot” is a racing term, and I had great passion for the Ops Challenge, Top Ops, and Student Design Competition. My driving force is to “help the next person along.” I have always believed that “you will never know if you don’t try, so take that chance.” Be fearless!
