Now Online: Safety and Technical Training
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To ensure compliance with Safety and Environmental training standards during the COVID-19 pandemic, Metropolitan's Safety and Technical Training Team has converted 95% of all scheduled training to on-demand or instructor-led webinars.
That accomplishment is thanks to
Dave Koehler
, the Safety Regulatory Technical Training Team Manager and his talented team:
Richard Cortez
,
Yvette Hadloc
,
Lupe Nava
,
Chuck Schroeder
,
Judy Turner
,
Jose Victoria
, and
Andrew Williams
.
This effort also required new equipment and additional training for instructors to conform to new delivery methods.
Since launching, 31 sessions have been held in April with many more planned for May. So far, 343 Metropolitan employees attended a webinar, 336 employees took an online training class, and an additional 470 participated in a safety toolbox training session.
One of the participants,
Greg Williams
complimented the new process. “This is definitely different from the norm but it’s really good and the instructors are awesome.” Most believe the online training classes will have a lasting benefit.
And what about those few rare classes that can’t be completed online?
Dave
has a solution for that as well. He’s gotten creative, with a portion done online and plans to have the employee report to a designated time and location with four or fewer people in the room to maintain social distancing
Now that’s what we call SAFE
-
ty training.
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Owner of the Year Award Given to Metropolitan
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Engineering News Record, a major source of information for the construction and engineering industry, has named Metropolitan as its 2020 Owner of the Year.
The award acknowledges the launch of the Regional Recycled Water Program with the operation of a 500,000-gallon-per-day, $17-million Advanced Purification Center that marks the beginning of a full-scale recycled water program to help meet Southern California’s need for a local, sustainable water source.
“ENR California and Northwest is pleased to recognize Metropolitan as this year’s Owner of the Year for its innovation and efficiency,” according to the announcement.
At the Engineering and Operations Committee in March,
Bruce Chalmers
reported on current progress at the facility, including testing being done to produce recycled water from secondary effluent, collaborations with potential partner agencies, and grant funding from the state and federal governments.
The Program also recently won the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists grand prize for environmental and communications outreach - including the demonstration facility tours, Learning Center and exhibits, presentations, fact sheets, social media and videos.
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Singing a New Song of Adventure
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Laura Garcia
enjoys the thrill of weekend motorcycle riding, including navigating the mountainous Crest Highway with her brother and uncle, but she notes it’s now time to move onto another adventure as she transitions to a new hobby - vocal lessons.
That calmness has come in handy as she adjusts to working from home during the COVID-19 crisis.
Laura
says, "I am calm by nature, but this has been even more calming for me. I get to work in mere seconds and the coffee pot is only a few feet away. But I do miss office conversation.”
Laura
has served as president, vice-president and acting treasurer for AFSCME Group 1, the Hispanic Employee Association's board secretary, and sings in the Black Employee Association’s gospel choir.
It only takes a minute to realize that, whether it’s work or play,
Laura
has a full plate of professional and personal activities. “Some friends have so much drama at work, but it’s such a professional atmosphere here at Met,” says
Laura
as she nears her eighth year, now as an administrative analyst with the business management team in Water Resources Management. “I am learning something new every day.”
After spending her early years in Chihuahua, Mexico,
Laura
arrived in California when she was eight years old and spent most of her childhood in Highland Park. She earned a full-ride scholarship to Grinnell College in Iowa and later earned her Master’s in Leadership and Management from La Verne University.
“Life’s short,”
Laura
says, and “if you have the time and energy, try new things.”
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