Business

NASSCO Standard Bearers: Brad Dutruch

EDITOR’S NOTE: NASSCO just completed its 43nd year and continues to set standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As the association experiences remarkable growth, this series profiles those who have made significant contributions, and impacted the continued ac..

LAN to Design Major East Texas Utility Project

The City of Tyler, Texas, selected civil engineering firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) to design improvements to two of its major sanitary sewer basins. The East Texas city’s wastewater collection system includes more than 690 miles of sewer mains ranging in sizes from 6-inches to 54-inch..

NASSCO Standard Bearers: Steve Mortensen, P.E.

EDITOR’S NOTE: NASSCO just completed its 42nd year and continues to set standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As the association experiences remarkable growth, this series profiles those who have made significant contributions, and impacted the continued ac..

Oilfield Water Logistics Completes Delaware Basin Project

Oilfield Water Logistics (OWL) said it has completed its Hat Connection pipeline project and broken ground on an 11-mile extension of its Red Hills Water Gathering System pipeline into Loving County, Texas.  The projects will enhance disposal capacity and re-use capabilities across its network of pi..

Vermeer Restores Operations after Tornado Strike

Robert Carpenter  |  Editor-in-Chief Vermeer Corporation, a major manufacturer in the underground utility and pipelines markets, was struck by an EF3 tornado about 4 p.m. on July 19 at its headquarters just outside of Pella, Iowa.  Company officials reported only minor injuries with seven people t..

NASSCO Convention Addresses Industry Needs, Concerns

A large number National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) members, spouses and guests converged at the La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas, April 11-13, for the association’s 42nd annual convention. As always, the attendees tackled many important issues and needs of the sewe..

Tech Tips: Keeping Your Field Measurements Current

The need for current and accurate asset data is as real in our industry as emojis are to American teenagers! For over a hundred reasons, owners, engineers, and contractors require accurate measurements of their collection system assets to properly manage and maintain them. This includes pipe inverts..

Southern Company to Sell Florida Assets to NextEra Energy

Southern Company has entered into agreements to sell Gulf Power Company, Florida City Gas and the entities holding Southern Power’s interests in Plant Oleander and Plant Stanton to NextEra Energy for approximately $6.475 billion. “This sale provides Southern Company the opportunity to d..

NineStar Connect to Acquire Gem Water Utility, Expand Fiber Service

NineStar Connect, a smart utility providing water, sewer, electric and high speed fiber services, has entered into an agreement with the town of Cumberland to acquire Gem Water Utility, which the town has owned since 2010. Gem Water serves approximately 500 water customers in a territory that lies b..

NW Natural to Acquire Two Water Utilities in Washington State

NW Natural Water, a subsidiary of NW Natural, has entered into agreements to acquire Lehman Enterprises and Sea View Water. The assets and operations of Lehman and Sea View, which are both based out of Whidbey Island near Seattle, Wash., will be combined under a newly-formed subsidiary of NW Natura..

Sheila Joy Named NASSCO Executive Director

The National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) has appointed Sheila Joy as its new executive director. In this role, she leads NASSCO in its ongoing mission to set standards for the assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure, and to assure the continued ac..

Business People: Felling Trailers (1)

LeRoy Larson joined Felling Trailers Inc., as OEM sales consultant, managing existing accounts, and assisting in developing and improving the technical and marketing aspects of the company’s Power Gen and OEM product lines. He has more than 20 years of related experience and knowledge, including wor..

Business People: Westech

Ben Schmitt is the general manager at Westech Vac Systems, a part of Federal Signal. Schmitt provides organizational leadership and day-to-day management of Westech’s Nisku location, as well as business development, recruiting and overall growth. He has nearly 20 years of sales, engineering, and pro..

PPI Creates New Geothermal Steering Committee

The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI) has created a new group within its Building and Construction Division, which represents plastic pipe manufacturers that produce various types of (pressure) piping systems used within buildings and on their premises. Those activities are now focused, through the..

CIGMAT 2018 Highlights Growth, Challenges, Changes of Major Cities

The University of Houston’s Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology (CIGMAT), and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering hosted its 23rd-annual conference and exhibition. “Infrastructure, Energy, Geotechnical, Flooding and Sustainable Issues Related to Houston and Other Ma..

PCCA Convention Provides Education, Memorable Times

Power & Communication Contractors Association (PCCA) President Jim Dillahunty recently welcomed more than 330 association members, family and friends to the 73rd annual convention in Kauai, Hawaii. Dillahunty, president and chief operating officer of Henkels & McCoy, in Blue Bell, Penn., told the o..

NASSCO Standard Bearer: Ed Kampbell, P.E.

I’m a product of Little Rock, Ark. Even though the year was 1971 when I graduated from Little Rock Central High School, there was still some residual turmoil from when the school became integrated in 1957. After Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus surrounded the school with National Guard troops to preve..

Washington Water Service’s Schlender Receives Drinking Water Week Commitment to Excellence Award

Washington Water Service’s (Washington Water) Water Quality Manager Carol Schlender has received the Drinking Water Week Commitment to Excellence award from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). The Drinking Water Week Commitment to Excellence award is given to an individual water system..

Middlesex Water Breaks Ground on $52 Million Western Transmission Main

Middlesex Water Company has commenced construction on the $52 million Western Transmission Main project, which includes the installation of a 42-inch water transmission main from the Township of Edison to the Borough of Metuchen, N.J.  The project will provide critical backup water supply and ensure..

Carmichael Water District General Manager Receives ACWA Leadership Award

The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has recognized Carmichael Water District General Manager Steve Nugent with its 2018 Excellence in Water Leadership Award – Building a World of Difference for his leadership and commitment to collaborative regional integrated water management throug..

Brown and Caldwell Strengthens Water Reuse Team

Brown and Caldwell has expanded its water reuse practice with four new hires: Dr. Kati Bell, managing director of water strategy; Melanie Holmer, national water reuse leader; Dr. Allegra da Silva, regional water reuse leader; Melissa Meeker, Rocky Mountain area leader. Bell has over 20 years of pro..

NRTC Names Bartolomei President, Utility Solutions

The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) has named Greg Bartolomei President, Utility Solutions, effective May 14. Bartolomei will lead NRTC’s portfolio of smart grid solutions, which includes metering and metering networks, analytics, demand management, smart energy (including sola..

Seaborn Adds Industry Veterans to Lead Sales and Corporate Development Teams

Seaborn Networks has appointed David Zimmer Chief Sales Officer (CSO) and Jim Olson Vice President, Corporate Development. As CSO, Zimmer will be responsible for all of Seaborn’s direct sales, channel strategies and inside sales. He has also been named to the company’s board of directors. Zimmer m..

Fiber Installation Contract Awarded for Lake Ontario Project

Crosslake Fibre has selected IT International Telecom Canada to complete the fiber installation for its Lake Ontario submarine cable project.  The 58-km system across Lake Ontario is part of a 131-km system connecting Toronto, Ontario and Buffalo, N.Y. with critical telecommunications infrastruc..

Vortex Companies Promotes Collier to Sr. Business Development Manager, Northeast

The Vortex Companies has promoted Connor Collier to Sr. Business Development Manager, Northeast. In his new role, Collier will manage the company’s sales team in the region, which now consists of two new members. Kelly Bailey has been named Business Development Manager with Matthew Richards join..

API Names New CEO

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has elected Mike Sommers President and CEO. Sommers will succeed Jack Gerard, who is stepping down in August. Known for bipartisan collaboration and visionary strategic planning, Sommers brings two decades of political experience to API, including his current r..

Pennsylvania American Water to Acquire Sadsbury Township’s Wastewater System

Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water has signed an agreement to acquire the wastewater assets of Sadsbury Township in Chester County. The total value of the transaction is approximately $9.25 million. The Sadsbury wastewater system serves approximately 1,000 customers. “Our c..

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Celebrates 100 Years of Service

In celebration of its 100th year of service, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) is hosting a regional symposium, A Century of Innovation, tomorrow, May 1, at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. The symposium brings together wa..

Aqua America Announces Leadership Changes

Aqua America announced EVP and CFO David P. Smeltzer will retire from his position in October after a 32-year career with the company. As part of the company’s succession plan, Daniel Schuller, who is currently serving as EVP, strategy and corporate development, will succeed Smeltzer as CFO and has ..

Gulf Publishing Rebrands to Gulf Energy Information

Gulf Publishing Company, a leading provider of media, marketing and market intelligence services, today announced the business’ transition to Gulf Energy Information (Gulf). The new corporate identity better reflects the scope of Gulf’s offerings across the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors..