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Value of an AWWA Membership

We all should be familiar with the numerous benefits provided by the American Water Works Association once we join their membership ranks. Technical publications, industry notifi cations, standards of the industry, the Journal, training events and conferences…. there are a lot of first-rate items that we can appreciate for our membership dues.

Some of the other items that we can obtain with our membership are harder to wrap our heads around, but when we think about them, are the most valuable of all. I’m talking about building a network of industry contacts that you can interact with and rely on throughout our careers or even our lifetimes. While AWWA can assist in this development of a network, it also takes effort on all of our parts.

“We face daily challenges in our work, and knowing that I can get an answer within a matter of two or three calls within my network is very valuable to me, as well as my employer. With the knowledge base within our section, you can almost be guaranteed that someone has dealt with the same issue you may be struggling with.”

While there is some effort and investment on our parts, this boosts our individual careers and employers by many times more than what we put into the organization. There are many ways to start off building this network. The best way I have found is to join a committee or council in the Minnesota Section. And I don’t mean just join and have your name on the roster; I’m talking about becoming an active member.

The MN section is broken into many smaller districts, each with their own leadership group representing their local communities and utilities. In the SE District, we plan two training events each year: our three-day school in March, and our one-day school in the fall. For each of these training events, there is a core team of volunteers made up of cities, utilities, vendors, manufacturers, consultants and regulatory agencies. During our planning group meetings, we discuss training needs of our members along with who may be good choices to present at our events on the specifi c training needs. There are many opportunities for additional people to get involved at this level. You can start off by reaching out to your district trustee

Doug Klamerus

and fi nding our when they hold their planning meetings, and how you can become involved. In my experience, these districts are always actively looking for water operators to become involved, as it’s you who know which topics of interest would benefi t our members the most. If you don’t know who your district trustee is, reach out to any member of the MN Section Board, or fi nd me at the next event and I’ll help to get you involved.

Another great way to help build your network is to help plan a charitable event. The spring golf outing or any of the conference Tuesday events (golf, fi shing sporting clays, Bags Tournament) come to mind. Find an event that you enjoy and become a part of it. Our charitable events provide a signifi cant source of revenue to the Water Equation that benefi ts a variety of needs.

Finally, you can become part of a committee or council at the Section level. There are a variety of committees are always looking for active members to help keep the section functioning string. These committees are listed on our section website, and hold meetings throughout the year.

I rely on this network on a daily basis during my role at Rochester Public Utilities. We face daily challenges in our work, and knowing that I can get an answer within a matter of two or three calls within my network is very valuable to me, as well as my employer. With the knowledge base within our section, you can almost be guaranteed that someone has dealt with the same issue you may be struggling with. The challenge is normally in fi guring out who has dealt with it and how they fi xed it. With the value of your AWWA membership, and the network that you build, these answers should be at your fi ngertips. Enjoy and I look forward to seeing you out and about at our next event. •

Harnessing the Power of Connection

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran with a string of Minnesota AWWA events under your belt or a newcomer just beginning to dip your toes into the water profession, one thing becomes abundantly clear: the power of connection is unparalleled. Within the AWWA community, these connections serve as the lifeblood that propels us forward in our mission to deliver safe drinking water to all Minnesotans.

Recently, I had a firsthand experience that underscored the profound impact of these connections. It revolved around the thorny issue of the taxability of lead service line replacements—a hurdle that threatened to impede our progress in ensuring clean water for our communities. With federal and state funding becoming available, it seemed inevitable that any work done on private property using these funds would be subject to taxation, adding a significant financial burden to property owners and stalling much-needed lead pipe replacement projects.

Enter the power of connection. Members of the MN AWWA community joined forces with Legislative staff at AWWA to tackle this challenge head-on. Through collaborative efforts involving representatives from Duluth, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, as well as key contacts within the League of Minnesota Cities and the Minnesota Department of Health, we mobilized to push for federal action. These connections, forged through years of volunteering and engagement with MN AWWA, proved instrumental in our advocacy efforts.

Patrick Shea

In February 2024, our persistence paid off when Senators Amy Klobuchar and Deb Fischer submitted a bipartisan letter to the IRS, urging clarity on the tax status of lead service line replacement grants. Thanks to their actions and the groundwork laid by our collective advocacy, the IRS provided the necessary clarifi cation, ensuring that property owners would not face undue tax burdens for essential infrastructure improvements.

This success story serves as a powerful testament to the impact of connection within our community. It reminds us that every interaction, every committee meeting, and every volunteer opportunity has the potential to ripple outward, effecting real change and shaping the future of our profession.

So, the next time you’re called upon to volunteer for a subcommittee, committee, or council within the MN AWWA community, consider not only the value you can bring to the table but also the connections you’ll forge along the way. These connections are not just professional acquaintances; they’re the building blocks of lasting partnerships, friendships, and a stronger, more resilient water profession.

Let’s continue to harness the power of connection to drive positive change within our Association, our Section, and our communities. Together, we can achieve great things and ensure that safe drinking water remains a cornerstone of Minnesota’s future. •

AWWA Testifies on Water Cybersecurity Before U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security

Source: AWWA Connections

“In a hearing on cybersecurity before the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, the AWWA testified in about the importance of a collaborative approach to cybersecurity oversight in the water sector.”

December 2023 – in a hearing on cybersecurity before the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, the AWWA testifi ed in about the importance of a collaborative approach to cybersecurity oversight in the water sector.

The hearing was titled ‘Securing Operational Technology: A Deep Dive into the Water Sector’ and included cybersecurity experts from across the country. AWWA Federal Relations Manager Kevin Morley testifi ed on behalf of the Association, which represents 50,000 water professionals throughout the United States and beyond.

Morley highlighted AWWA’s recommendation for congressional action to develop a new cybersecurity governance framework in the water sector that leverages technical knowledge from water utilities and cybersecurity experts and provides oversight from the U.S. EPA. EPA already regulates drinking water and wastewater utility operations.

“Morley also stressed the need for a coordinated outreach program among EPA, CISA and sector partners to raise the visibility and awareness of CISA’s Vulnerability Scanning service.”

This collaborative approach builds on a similar model that has already been successfully applied in the electric sector and refl ects the public-private collaboration called for in the National Cyber Strategy. The value of consistent public-private collaboration was emphasized based on recent engagements with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), including a stakeholder engagement process facilitated by the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC) which published Incident Response Guide: Water and Wastewater Systems (WWS) Sector. Morley also stressed the need for a coordinated outreach program among EPA, CISA and sector partners to raise the visibility and awareness of CISA’s Vulnerability Scanning service.

In addition to collaborating with trusted partners, Morley said five additional action items should be considered to improve cybersecurity through the water sector. These areas include:

• Unifi ed Messaging

• Inform and Enable

• Technology Transformation

• Improve Threat Information Sharing

• Research and Development •

EPA Announces $22 Million to Help Restore St. Louis River in Minnesota

Source: awwa.org

In December 2023, the U.S. EPA announced the investment of $22,370,662 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for its new partnership with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and PotlatchDeltic to clean up contaminated sediment in the Thomson Reservoir on the St. Louis River in Carlton, Minnesota.

“Today’s funding marks a crucial step toward the delisting of the St. Louis River Area of Concern, and ultimately its restoration as a healthy ecosystem,” said EPA Great Lakes National Program Offi ce Director Teresa Seidel. “Thanks to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, EPA is able to gain real ground on our longstanding commitment to environmental justice and clean water in Minnesota, and indeed throughout the Great Lakes Basin.”

Cleanup at the 330-acre Thomson Reservoir will protect human health, wildlife and the environment from legacy contaminants left behind by historical activities. EPA, MPCA and PotlatchDeltic will work together under a Great Lakes Legacy Act voluntary partnership to apply a thin layer of activated carbon pellets over 225,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment. The activated carbon rapidly binds to contaminants in the sediment, preventing accumulation in bottom-dwelling organisms and safeguarding the aquatic food chain.

The project is part of the larger effort to restore and delist the St. Louis River as a Great Lakes Area of Concern (AOC). This is the seventh and final project agreement between MPCA and EPA to complete sediment remediation work in the St. Louis River AOC. Under the agreement, EPA is responsible for 62.5% of the total project cost of approximately $36 million. The other 37.5% will be funded by MPCA and PotlatchDeltic.

Today’s funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $1 billion investment to accelerate cleanup and restoration of the Great Lakes. EPA is leveraging this funding with annual Great Lakes Restoration Initiative appropriations and funding from other sources for partnership projects to finish cleanups at 22 of the

25 remaining AOCs. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding directly supports 11 of these cleanups including those in the St. Louis River AOC.

More information about the St. Louis River AOC is available here: tinyurl.com/5yj4jvnz •

you be fully-integrated in the

process and

what truly works for your

ead BIM/Revit Specialist

who are “good enough.”

Source: AWWA Connections

AAWWA Launches Process to Develop First-Of-Its-Kind DEI Standard

s a first for the water sector and a meaningful step forward for water professionals, the AWWA is initiating development of a management standard for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Practices.

At AWWA’s 2023 Council Summit last October, the Standards Council launched the process by voting to establish a committee to move forward on developing a standard. About 20 people are on the committee, and they recently met to initiate their work.

“It’s exciting that we’re writing a management standard on this topic, and it’s been great to see the enthusiasm and support from the Standards Council, the AWWA Board, other councils, members, committees and sections,” said Paul Olson, AWWA’s senior manager of standards. “This new standard will provide guidance to utilities that want to implement better or more standardized practices, as well as other members from consulting agencies and manufacturers.”

The action comes two years after the Standards Council set out to incorporate more DEI initiatives into its programs to increase the involvement of underrepresented groups in standards work so they are responsive to all end users. The council invited a member of the Association’s Diversity and Member Inclusion Committee (DMIC) to serve as a liaison, resulting in the appointment of Brianna Huber, director of water filtration with the City of East Moline, Illinois.

FROM DISCUSSION TO DEVELOPMENT

Huber provided information about DEI practices to the council, which led to discussions about developing a management standard. Huber

and six other AWWA members submitted a proposal to address topics such as culture, leadership, accountability, workspace, recruitment, workforce, affordability, and others.

The proposal included this statement:

“Standards provide common language to create, measure and evaluate performance, make interoperability of DEI programs possible, and protect people by ensuring the equity, quality, consistency, reliability and safety of DEI initiatives.”

Huber said the new standard is coming at a pivotal point in the water sector. “It will support the efforts of water and wastewater systems, as well as other AWWA member organizations, to build and sustain their workforces, more effectively engage with their workforce and

communities, address environmental justice, and increase financial viability,” she added.

AWWA has notified the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) that it is initiating a project to create a new G415 standard titled, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practices.”

Olson noted that the process for developing a standard is “based on committee consensus, along with public review to reflect a true industry consensus.”

“There’s a very deliberate and defined process for how we develop a management standard like this,” he added. “We follow AWWA and ANSI procedures to ensure the process is open and fair and all interested parties can contribute and have their positions considered.” •

Minnesota’s PFAS BLUEPRINT

Source: www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/minnesotas-pfas-blueprint

PSome PFAS are toxic.

er- and polyfl uoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, are a family of nearly 5,000 chemicals now pervasive in the environment. They are commonly called ‘forever chemicals’ as they do not break down and can bioaccumulate in both humans and other living organisms.

Minnesota requires a strategic, coordinated approach to protecting families and communities from these ubiquitous substances.

In Minnesota, PFAS contamination was first measured in the eastern Twin Cities in the early 2000s. Since then, PFAS have been detected in water, sediment, soil, and fish all across Minnesota. PFAS are in air emissions from industrial facilities, wastewater from industrial and municipal sources, soil and water surrounding firefi ghting training sites, groundwater surrounding landfills, and are sometimes found with no obvious source at all.

Scientists and environmental regulators have reached an overwhelming consensus that signifi cant actions are needed to prevent adverse impacts from PFAS. While management and mitigation actions have signifi cant positive effects, ultimately Minnesota cannot clean our way out of the PFAS problem. Instead, the pollution must be prevented from the outset through restrictions or bans on PFAS uses and assistance and financial support for reformulation.

Minnesota’s Strategy For PFAS

• Prevent PFAS pollution wherever possible.

• Manage PFAS pollution when prevention is not feasible or pollution has already occurred.

• Clean up PFAS pollution at contaminated sites.

Ten Priorities to Protect Communities and Families

Working together, Minnesota state agencies developed Minnesota’s PFAS Blueprint to support a holistic and systematic approach to address PFAS concerns in ten key issue areas. The signifi cant interconnections and overlaps between different areas illustrate the complexity and diffi culty of managing PFAS.

MEASURING PFAS EFFECTIVELY AND CONSISTENTLY

State agencies have developed multiple efforts to ensure consistent and accurate PFAS analytical results. Despite this important work, it is currently impossible to quantitatively measure the vast majority of PFAS in the environment. Visit tinyurl.com/5n99bb7x to learn more.

UNDERSTANDING RISKS FROM PFAS AIR EMISSIONS

Federal and state governments have not developed PFAS health screening value for air as there is limited research about the toxicity of PFAS from air exposure. Minnesota also has limited information on which facilities emit PFAS to the air.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

QUANTIFYING PFAS RISK TO HUMAN HEALTH

Risk assessments are needed to ensure that levels of contaminants in the environment are protective of the community’s health.

PREVENTING PFAS POLLUTION

Pollution prevention approaches are designed to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals and prevent the need for expensive treatment and remediation efforts. More work is required to prevent non-essential uses and releases of PFAS.

LIMITING PFAS EXPOSURE FROM DRINKING WATER

Minnesotans value safe and suffi cient drinking water. MDH has planned for, and has ongoing monitoring efforts in place, that will cover at least 90 percent of people served by community water systems by 2025. Visit tinyurl.com/bzatf774 to learn more.

LIMITING PFAS EXPOSURE FROM FOOD

Minnesotans should have confi dence that their food is safe from harmful toxins. Research has shown that PFAS can accumulate into produce and livestock from contaminated water, air, soil, and animal feed or migrate into food from PFAS-coated cookware and food packaging.

REDUCING PFAS EXPOSURE FROM FISH AND GAME CONSUMPTION

Hunting and fi shing are a way of life in Minnesota. Continued research of PFAS in fi sh and wildlife has indicated that some compounds can

“Working together, Minnesota state agencies developed Minnesota’s PFAS Blueprint to support a holistic and systematic approach to address PFAS concerns in ten key issue areas.”

accumulate in commonly consumed fi sh and game tissue. More work is required to ensure safe consumption of fi sh and game is maintained for future generations.

Learn more about PFAS monitoring plan here: tinyurl.com/4zv65bak

Learn more about developing water quality criteria for PFAS here: tinyurl.com/25ynpzyj

Learn more about PFAS in fi sh here: tinyurl.com/z544u4nf

8 9 10

PROTECTING ECOSYSTEM HEALTH

New research models and tools for ecological risk assessments are being designed for the unique physical and chemical properties of PFAS. Using new data and research, Minnesota can ensure its ecosystems are healthy and diverse.

REMEDIATING PFAS-CONTAMINATED SITES

Future needs and opportunities are complex and resourceintensive. State agencies and community partners will need to work together to undertake projects that most strategically advance the collective goal to protect human health and the environment from the impacts of PFAS.

SHORT TERM (< TWO YEARS)

• Making progress on statewide water quality standards for PFASClass 1 drinking water. (Ongoing, request for comments published)

• Creating a plan for monitoring PFAS in groundwater at active landfills. (March 2022)

• Generating a plan for monitoring PFAS at NPDES permitted facilities. (March 2022)

• Compiling information on inhalation PFAS toxicity. (Ongoing)

• Developing a plan for performance testing for PFAS at permitted air sources. (March 2022)

While state agencies have developed several health-based clean-up values, Minnesota does not have a comprehensive list of PFAS uses in manufacturing and industrial processes and a comprehensive understanding of risks to human health. More information is needed to determine the locations of and risks posed by possible releases of PFAS into the environment.

MANAGING PFAS IN WASTE

Because widespread use in products, PFAS are entering Minnesota’s waste streams and going to solid waste facilities and wastewater treatment plants where it is diffi cult and expensive to address. The most strategic approach to managing PFAS is preventing them from entering waste streams in the first place. To learn more about the evaluation of emerging contaminant data at solid waste facilities, visit tinyurl.com/z544u4nf

Opportunities for Action

The Minnesota PFAS Blueprint identifi es short- and long-term opportunities, as well as legislative actions, to manage PFAS in our environment and protect families and communities. Over the coming months and years, state agencies will further develop these strategies and engage Minnesotans on how best to implement them.

• Issuing guidance on the collection and disposal of PFAS-containing firefi ghting foam concentrate and wastewater. (Ongoing)

• Researching cutting-edge risk assessment techniques for data-poor PFAS. (Ongoing)

• Updating guidance for recommended compound testing at cleanup sites to include PFAS. (March 2022)

LONG TERM (> TWO YEARS)

• Assessing the need for acute wildlife risk assessment from exposure to PFAS-containing foam.

• Requiring mandatory air toxics, including PFAS, reporting from facilities.

• Providing financial and technical assistance to businesses for switching from PFAS-containing products.

• Developing soil to groundwater leaching values for PFAS to be used in cleanups and disposal guidance.

• Developing an epidemiological study of residents exposed to PFAS through drinking water.

• Requiring labeling of PFAS-containing products.

• Assessing the need for developing statewide water quality standards for PFAS-Class 2 aquatic consumption, aquatic life.

• Limiting or banning PFAS in known non-essential uses. •

How Does Your Utility Track Performance?

AWWA 2024 Benchmarking Survey Now Open

Benchmarking utility performance indicators are an essential element of continuous improvement, allowing utilities to track their own performance, compare their results to peers, and identify areas that could be strengthened or improved. The AWWA Utility Benchmarking Program provides objective performance measures for utility leaders to track their organizational performance.

AWWA’s Utility Benchmarking Program is a valuable tool for utilities of all sizes to track their performance to identify areas for improvements. Responding to the complete list of more than 110 individual metrics, and resulting 58 performance indicators, can be time-consuming for small systems or new participating utilities. Therefore, the following list was identified as an abbreviated set of performance measures to focus utility’s efforts and serve as a starting point for participation.

The Key Utility Measures represent those performance indicators tracked by a well-run utility. Provide performance data for the highlighted survey questions Key Utility Measure to participate in this subset of data. Additional guidance is provided in the User Instructions document.

Likewise, new utility participants can opt to start with the AWWA Utility Benchmarking Program by completing the Key Utility Measures during their initial year of participation, with the goal of adding more performance measures in subsequent years of participation.

If your utility is interested in participating in the 2024 Utility Benchmarking Survey, please visit www.awwa.org/resources-tools/ programs/benchmarking to learn more, review instructions, and get access •

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Michael Novitzki

Let’s give Michael Novitzki a big MN AWWA congratulations for being nominated and selected as the Section’s Spotlight Member for the month of February! Mike has been an AWWA member for 6 years and works with ISG, Inc. He has experience as a former member of the MN AWWA Young Professionals Committee (YPC) and the former Young Professional Liaison for the Manufacturers & Associates Council (MAC). He is a current member of MAC and the current Golf Chair for the MAC-hosted MN AWWA Annual Conference Golf Tournament in Duluth.

Why did you decide to go into the field of water?

My decision to go into the water fi eld is a lesson on the benefits of relationshipbuilding and saying “yes” to the opportunities presented to you. Before entering the industry, I was in finance, and one of the accounts I worked with was owned by a water-focused engineering firm, KLM Engineering, Inc. The company was looking for someone to help grow their business. Knowing I was looking for a change and committed to building trusting relationships, one of the owners reached out to me and offered me a position.

Before I made my decision, I attended a water conference where I observed the excitement and sense of service and community that surrounds those who protect our nation’s water quality and accessibility. I appreciated the quality of people, their mission, and various networking opportunities. That led me to say “yes”, which resulted in me finding a great place to start the next journey of my career. This brought me to my current role as ISG’s Development Strategist, where I work to bring innovative and right-sized water solutions to communities across the nation. I am proud of the people in this industry, and the work we do to support healthy, happy communities

Who or what influenced you in your career?

I like this question because there are many people to whom I owe gratitude for influencing and helping me get to where I am today. One person in my mind stands above the rest. That person is my grandpa, Charles Mertensotto.

My grandpa was my hero. He was a council member for Mendota Heights, Minnesota, for 14 years and their mayor for 16 years. When Mendota Heights built its water tower, which you can see from Interstate-35 East, he was mayor. My grandpa taught me many life lessons, but a few stick out:

1. There is never a job beneath you.

2. Nothing will replace hard work and determination.

3. Failure is a good thing; it provides learning opportunities to become your best self.

4. If you always tell the truth, you never have to remember what you said.

I use these lessons every day and have incorporated them into my role and daily interactions at ISG. I also feel, in my position with ISG, I carry on my grandpa’s legacy helping Minnesota communities improve their water infrastructure.

Mike & Lauren at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy

How did you become a Volunteer for AWWA? What motivates you to be active in the Section?

At my first MN AWWA Annual Conference in Duluth, Minnesota, in the Fall of 2017, I ran into Jim Hauth at Canal Park Brewing. Jim is the Public Works Director for Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. He told me about the Young Professionals (YP) group and said that the organization offered opportunities to get involved in the industry and meet key people. He was and still is right about that. I attended my first YP annual meeting and then quickly progressed to become the YP Liaison to the

Manufacturers & Associates Council (MAC). This then led me to become a member of the MAC Committee, and now I organize the annual Golf Tournament in Duluth every year.

How long have you been an AWWA member and what has your membership given you?

I have been a member since 2017. First and foremost, I wouldn’t have had the necessary connections to land my current position at ISG if it wasn’t for my involvement in AWWA. I owe many incredible personal and professional relationships to being a

member and have built lifelong connections. As a member who regularly attends training sessions and hears case studies at the Annual Conference, I also have learned a lot about water infrastructure. This has been incredibly valuable in developing my career and my understanding of the infrastructure that supports modern living.

What experiences have helped you most in your life or career?

Because I have what may be an atypical background for working in the water industry, coming from finance and not being an engineer, I feel I am able to approach industry challenges differently. My unique experience has allowed me to think creatively and collaborate with my peers to provide the most cost-effective solutions for improving communities’ water infrastructure.

My grandpa’s lessons and taking advantage of mentorship opportunities have also helped me grow tremendously throughout my career, and I know will continue to do so.

One of my mentors encouraged me to form a personal board of directors. He said that this board should be diverse and comprised of individuals who can hold me accountable, challenge me, encourage me, and guide me throughout my professional career. My board of directors has helped me navigate decision-making throughout my professional life.

What are some challenges that you have overcome?

To preface my response, I enjoy challenges and embrace them head-on. I am someone who believes that obstacles are only obstacles if you let them become them.

I have overcome many challenges in my personal and professional life. These opportunities have motivated me and sometimes forced me to become an even better version of myself. This is true of challenges that I have faced in the water industry.

For example, working in this industry can be challenging without a water infrastructure or engineering background. This has forced me to lean into my strengths in business, finance, strategic growth strategies, and management. Ultimately, my unique background has been my greatest differentiator and helped to propel my career in this industry. My ability to look through a

Mike & Lauren on their wedding day

Mike and one of his favorite hobbies: fishing

different lens while relating and listening to others about their water infrastructure challenges have allowed me to build relationships, propel my career, and make a positive difference in communities.

What advice would you give to someone who might be facing the same challenges you did?

I would give them my grandpa’s advice: there is never a job beneath you, and nothing replaces hard work. I would also say that you don’t have to be an engineer to make a difference in the water industry, and obstacles only become obstacles if you let them. Embrace your challenges head-on and use them as motivation to help you break down barriers.

What does it mean to you to be a part of a community that values belonging? What does Diversity, Equity, and/or Inclusion mean to you? In the world we live in today, people can be so polarized. Honestly, it’s exhausting. Being part of a community where people are not alienated by background, race, belief, or political affiliation is important to me. Valuing and seeking difference of opinion has challenged me in ways that have helped me to learn, grow, and enhance my ability to provide better solutions that help more people. That is what diversity, equity, and inclusion is all about – welcoming, acknowledging, and honoring our differences to come up with solutions that we all can live with and feel proud of.

I believe AWWA does a great job promoting diversity and inclusion by encouraging people from all walks of life to participate at events and share their experiences. Their willingness to accept people like me, who had no water infrastructure background, is a testament to that. I also believe those that genuinely value equity or inclusion don’t minimize a person’s impact based on their background or beliefs. This organization does a great job of giving people a platform and voice to promote the greater good for water infrastructure.

Hobbies and outside interests?

I enjoy spending time with my wife, Lauren, and my dog, Chloe. I also enjoy golfing, hiking. Fishing, traveling internationally and around the United States, going to country music and

classic rock concerts, visiting and sharing small-town, hole-in the-wall restaurants, learning other’s stories and building relationships and attending or watching Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Minnesota Wild, and Notre Dame games.

What legacy would you like to leave behind?

I love learning people’s stories; what is important to them and why. Every time I

connect with a person, my hope is that I can understand who they are, where they are coming from, and how I can help make a positive impact in their life. When people think about me, I want them to feel that “whenever I talked with Michael Novitzki, I felt like I mattered. My story was heard, and I can’t wait to run into him again.” With every interaction I have, that’s my goal. That would be the legacy I would want to leave behind. •

SEPTEMBER 17-20

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

MN AWWA Volunteer Appreciation Night 2024

On May 6, 2024 MN AWWA will host its 2nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Night at the Minnesota Twins game.

The Minnesota Section is blessed to have many active volunteers. From its committees, councils and workgroups, up to and including its Board of Directors, these dedicated volunteers give time and effort well beyond their day jobs to help advance the mission of AWWA. Volunteers plan tours and events, promote and review scholarship applications, organize competitions, raise funds for Water for People and the Water Equation, plan and execute an annual conference for more than 600 attendees, and ensure that the organization is fi scally sound and provides great value to its members.

Without our volunteers, we wouldn’t be the strong organization that we are. We look forward to celebrating again with our volunteers and enjoying a night out cheering on the Minnesota Twins. If you are a committee, council, or workgroup member, watch for information about this year’s Appreciation Night.

Want to get involved? We are always looking for more volunteers! Contact us at admin@mnawwa.org or visit us on the web at www.mnawwa.org. •

Challenge Accepted: Section Wins Money for Positive Net Membership Growth in 2023

In January, Member Engagement Council Chair Erinn Kunik, along with our staff members Mona Cavalcoli and Liz Wahlen, participated in AWWA’s Annual Membership Summit.

Each year, AWWA brings volunteers from Sections across North America together to focus on membership recruiting and retention. With a potentially aging workforce, it’s critical that AWWA continues to attract and maintain members. We know potential members are out there, we just need to continue to find ways to show them why it’s important and valuable to be a member of AWWA.

The Challenge

AWWA sets a Membership Challenge each year, and we at the MN Section have always participated and tried our best to meet the goals of the Challenge. Sections are incentivized with cash prizes for meeting membership goals – and in MN we were thrilled to gain an extra $400 for our positive growth. Now to keep up the work and GROW MORE IN ‘24!

If we achieve ANY positive net growth by July 2024, we will earn $250. And if we meet a measurable net growth of 1%, 2% or 3% –we could earn up to $800 more!

However, we need each of you to be a Membership Ambassador. We know you stay a member of AWWA because there is something

in it that you value – something that makes it worthwhile to you. It’s well documented that the main reason that people join AWWA is because… wait for it…someone asked them. So, as we accept AWWA’s Challenge, we also challenge you our members to ask someone to join AWWA by July 2024. Remember:

LET’S GROW MORE IN ’24! •

Unlock More When You Spread the Word!

Empower Colleagues and Grow Your Professional Network

Learn more:

awwa.org/unlock-more24

You already know AWWA provides water professionals with the best technical resources and networking opportunities. Now it’s time to share that value with your colleagues and unlock more benefits—more members means more connections, resources, and support for you!

MN AWWA

Breeze is made possible by the companies below who convey their important messages on our pages. We thank them for their support of The Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association (MN AWWA) and its publication, and encourage you to contact them when making your purchasing decisions. To make it easier to contact these companies, we have included the page number of their advertisement, their phone number, and, where applicable, their website.