FWRJ Reader Profile—Ben Yoakum

Ben Yoakum

Orange County Utilities

Work title and years of service.

I just started working at Orange County Utilities (OCU) as the research and innovation project manager four months ago.

What does your job entail?

My current position is new to OCU. My job is to assist in leading, formalizing, and expanding OCU’s research and innovation program. The mission of this program is to support and enable research and innovation that advances the utility by improving treatment processes, optimizing operations, meeting and anticipating regulatory requirements, leveraging technology, enhancing strategic planning, and finding new and more sustainable and resilient ways to better serve OCU customers and engage the community. My time is split among many different tasks, but I probably spend the most time coordinating research activities with academicians and industry professionals.

What education and training have you had?

I started my academic journey at the University of Central Florida (UCF) where I studied biology and environmental engineering. As an undergraduate I was fascinated with population genetics and water treatment technologies. After I finished my undergraduate degree, I traveled down I-4 and enrolled at the University of South Florida (USF) where I continued my environmental engineering studies. At USF I entered a program where I completed all of my coursework in two semesters and then performed my master’s research while in the Peace Corps. During my two years there, I served as a water and sanitation specialist where I worked on gravityfed water systems and piloted sanitation infrastructure in a rural community.

After the Peace Corps I went back to UCF and received what I hope is my terminal degree, a Ph.D. in environmental engineering. During this time I was honored to receive the Roy W. Likins Scholarship from FSAWWA to help support my doctoral studies. Prior to my current position at OCU, I was employed at an environmental consulting firm in Maitland and worked as a project engineer on water and wastewater projects.

What do you like best about your job?

I like the variety. The OCU provides water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and solid waste management services and my job gets to touch each division in the utility. In addition, I get to work with a wide variety of people—vendors, consultants, researchers, and colleagues at other utilities.

What professional organizations do you belong to?

I’m an active member and volunteer in FSAWWA and have been the Region III Technical and Education chair for the past two years. I’m also an FWEA and National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) member.

How have these organizations helped your career?

They’ve provided me a venue to network within the industry and expand my knowledge base.

What do you like best about the industry?

The industry’s breadth and constant advancement. There is always something new and exciting being developed that can be implemented to improve our services.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I enjoy playing and fixing pinball machines. The confluence of art, engineering, chaos, and tactile fun is blissful. I also enjoy organizing regional FSAWWA events like Oktoberfest. S

Having a good time at the FSAWWA Region III Oktoberfest 2022.

Sitting in front of a composting latrine with my counterpart Paulino in the village of Kuite located in the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé, Panama. Working on a 1975 Abra Ca Dabra pinball machine.