Environmental Finance Center Network

Host: Jenelle C. Booker, Syracuse UniversityEnvironmental Finance Center
Guest: Chris Judd, Water Systems Instructor atWest-MEC in Surprise, Arizona
In this two-part podcast series, The Emerging Role ofCareer and Technical Education Schools in Certifying the Next Generation of Water and Wastewater Operators, you’ll explore how the Water Systems Training program, offered by West Maricopa Education Center in Surprise, Arizona, is building the next generation of water professionals through career and technical education. The program introduces high school students to careers in water through a combination of hands-on learning, work-based learning and leadership training. In this episode, host Jenelle Booker speaks with the instructor of the Water Systems Training program, Chris Judd, about how the program got started. They walk through his curriculum and discuss how his teaching style supports learning and demonstrates the value of blue careers to high-school junior and seniors.
Learn more about how Chris Judd responds to regional waterworkforce needs through work-based learning in part two, Can High Schoolers Become Qualified Water Treatment Operators? Lessons from Surprise, AZ. See you there.
Additional Resources:
EFCN Blog | How’s the Weather Today? Wastewater Workforce Forecasting
EFCN Podcast | Preparing Water Utilities For An Aging Workforce
EFCN | Future Water Leaders Program

In this episode James Markham from the Southwest Environmental Finance Center, Michael Gilmore, Rural / Frontier Equity Ombud in the Infrastructure Planning Division of the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration, and Karen Pereira, Assistant Field Manager at RCAC have a roundtable discussion about preparing to request funding for utility capital projects. They discuss the kinds of funding that are available, timelines, and the actions utilities, particularly small ones, need to take to get a piece of the funding pie.
Additional Resources:
EFCN Blog | What Funding Is Available for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects?
EFCN | Funding Tables

Hosts: Anthony Craven, Eric Williams, & Dr. Jason Barrett, Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute (MWRRI)
Guest: David Karr of Mitchell Technical Services
Following their discussion on workforce challenges and opportunities, hosts Anthony Craven, Eric Williams, and Dr. Jason Barrett continue the conversation with wastewater veteran David Karr by exploring the personal side of career development in the industry. David shares practical advice for those entering the profession and offers insights on building a meaningful and successful career in wastewater.
 
  Additional Resources:
EFCN Blog | How’s the Weather Today?Wastewater Workforce Forecasting
EFCN Podcast | Preparing WaterUtilities For An Aging Workforce
EFCN | Future Water Leaders Program
EFCN Podcast | Wastewater WorkforceWisdom

Hosts: Anthony Craven, Eric Williams, & Dr. JasonBarrett of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute (MWRRI)
Guest: David Karr of Mitchell Technical Services
 In "Wastewater Workforce Wisdom," hosts AnthonyCraven, Eric Williams, and Dr. Jason Barrett welcome wastewater veteran David Karr for a conversation about the people behind the profession. From recruiting and retaining operators to developing future leaders, this episode offers valuable insights for anyone committed to strengthening the wastewater workforce.
 
Additional Resources:
EFCN Blog | How’s the Weather Today? Wastewater Workforce Forecasting
EFCN Podcast | Preparing Water Utilities For An Aging Workforce
EFCN | Future Water Leaders Program

Hosts: Anthony Craven & Eric Williams, Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute
Guest: David Karr of Mitchell Technical Services
Water utilities nation wide are facing a critical workforce challenge as experienced operators, managers, and technicians approach retirement. In this episode of the Environmental Finance Center Network Podcast, Anthony Craven and Eric Williams of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute are joined by David Carr of Mitchell Technical Services to discuss how utilities can prepare for an aging workforce. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience in the public utility sector, including service as Public Works Director for the City of Batesville, Mississippi, Carr shares practical insights on succession planning, workforce development, knowledge transfer, and building a strong pipeline of future utility professionals.
 
Timestamps:
·        Introductions: 00:40
·        Introduction of the “Aging Workforce” Problem:  03:00
·        How Significant Is The Workforce Issue for Water Utilities & What Are The Trends? 3:45
·        Do You See More People Coming Into The Sector From The Public or Private Side? 5:15
·        How Much of an Issue is an Aging Workforce Nationally? 8:00
·        What Risks and Challenges Does This Problem Pose? 10:00
·        Sharing Water Operator Knowledge with the Next Generation: 11:50
·        Barriers to Attracting and Retaining Talent: 13:55
·        How to Combat Negative Connotations Around Water and Wastewater Operator Jobs: 17:15
·        What Should Utilities Do to Prepare for the Next Generation of the Workforce? 20:00
·        Final Takeaways: 21:10
 
Additional Resources:
·        EFCN Blog | Building the Future of Small Water Systems: Workforce Challenges, Potential, and Opportunities
·        EFCN Blog | How’s the Weather Today? Wastewater Workforce Forecasting
·        EFCN Webinar | Tips for Retaining a Happy, Healthy Water Workforce