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IN THIS ISSUE:
President's Message
Conference Updates
Spring Summit
Boise Women of Water Symposium
Building a Bigger Tent: RSJ Webinar
Portland WAVE Welcome Event
Award Nominatations
Scholarship Applications Open
Meet the 2026 WAVE Cohort
Committee Webinars
Pacific Northwest Jobs
Upcoming Events
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One thing my family tries to do on a regular basis is to have family game nights. We take turns who gets to pick the game (we each have our favorites) and it’s an excellent way to unplug and just hang out together (and maybe have a bit of good healthy competition). One game, which some of you may have played, is called “Pandemic” and is a cooperative board game. What that means is that you play as a team and try to beat the game by working together. A common feature of these games is that each player has a slightly different strength or “superpower” they can leverage to help the team win. And what we’ve found over the years is that if you’re not planning ahead and thinking about how each player can contribute uniquely to the common goal, we often think we’re doing awesome, until we’re not, and then we suddenly lose!
This is a great lesson for my kids, and frankly for all of us. If you spend the whole game thinking about what you’re going to do next and not trying to find ways to use the collective strengths of each player, you’ll miss critical opportunities. You need to get outside of your own mindset and look at the problem from different perspectives and plan a course of action that moves efficiently towards the win. In our work, it’s very easy to assume that we all bring the same strengths or, even worse, start trying to do it all ourselves. We get caught up doing things the same way we always do, and we forget to listen to other ideas or encourage diverse input.
I see examples of excellent collaboration all the time through my engagement with PNCWA. As I meet with committees, meet with the Board, and take part in PNCWA events, I’m astounded at the variety of strengths and skills that we each bring to our jobs and this organization. We need planners, and doers, and speakers, and cheer leaders. We need deep thinkers, early adopters, people in the weeds, people in the clouds, and those who just aren’t satisfied with the status quo. While we sometimes find ourselves doing things that are outside our comfort zone (and that can be a good thing), we often find that when we bring together a diverse team, we can find people with varied strengths to make this work easier. As I sit here, six months into my term as President of the Board, I’m continually thankful for all the talent around me at PNCWA. It’s hard to not feel overwhelmed sometimes and start to worry that I’m not getting enough accomplished in this role, but then I step back and think about all the work this association is doing as a group, and I’m humbled and grateful. When my term is up, there will no doubt be things left unaccomplished, but there will be extremely talented folks on our team ready to pick up the work and continue to move it forward. They will bring new ideas and perspectives, and our work will be all the better for it. Let’s keep working together and make sure to support each other’s strengths. There is so much we want to do, and so much can do, when we work together to achieve those goals. Thanks for all you do!
Jeff Schmidt
PNCWA President
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Abstract submissions are now being ranked and evaluated, and we are thrilled to share that we have received another outstanding collection of submissions this year! Our dedicated reviewers are working diligently through the evaluation process. The quality and depth of submissions this year reflect the incredible expertise within our community, and we are grateful for everyone who took the time to submit. Notifications for successful abstracts will go out shortly following completion of the review process (wrapping up about now).
Thank you to all of our abstract reviewers — your time, expertise, and careful consideration are what make this process meaningful. You are nearly done, and your efforts will directly shape what promises to be an exceptional program this fall. We can't wait to begin filling up the sessions with the outstanding content you've helped us identify.
On the sponsorship and exhibition front, the response this year has been remarkable. The Exhibit Hall is completely full, and we haven't even turned the calendar past April. This level of enthusiasm from our sponsors and exhibitors means attendees can look forward to an engaging exhibit experience.
Behind the scenes, our conference committees have been hard at work creating activities and experiences for all attendees this fall.
More to come!
Andrew Staples, HDR
PNCWA2026 Conference Chair
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Don't miss your chance to join PNCWA for the Spring Summit in Boise next week, featuring a series of interactive training workshops coordinated by PNCWA Committees:
- Empowering Strategies to Take Your Career to the Next Level
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Hosted by the Students and Young Professionals Committee
- Learn how to strengthen your resume, write abstracts, and present at conferences, while making a good impression and fostering collaboration- and enjoy a free professional headshot photo session!
- Cybersecurity with a Boots-on-the-Ground Approach
- Hosted by the Utility Management Committee
- Explore a case study highlighting Eagle Sewer District's partnership with Boise State University's Cyber Operations and Resilience Program.
- Unlocking Your Potential: A Comprehensive Guide to Your Strengths and How to Apply Them
- Hosted by the Leadership Development Committee
- Take the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Skills assessment and receive personalized guidance on applying your natural talents.
- Watershed Planning for Clean Waters
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Hosted by the Stormwater Committee
- A two-part workshop on watershed planning for healthy, sustainable waters and communities, including a tour of the University of Idaho Ecohydraulics Lab.
- Award-Winning Biosolids: Twenty Mile South Farm Tour
- Hosted by the Sustainability and Biosolids Committee
- Visit one of the Pacific Northwest's most successful biosolids recycling programs at the City of Boise-operated farm producing human-grade food crops.
- Nutrient Management in the Pacific Northwest
- Hosted by the Government Affairs Committee
- A two-part workshop examining policies, practices, and collaborative partnerships to achieve regulatory compliance and sustainable system optimization.
- Biosolids Management in Idaho
- Hosted by the Sustainability and Biosolids Committee
- Tour the City of Meridian Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility and its innovative biosolids solar dryer.
- What We Wish Engineers Knew
- Hosted by the Collection Systems and Utility Management Committees
- Hear from utility owners, O&M staff, and construction professionals sharing real-world lessons, field frustrations, and practical tips.
Earn PDHs or Idaho wastewater CEUs while connecting with the PNCWA community! Plus, enjoy a PNCWA social at TopGolf Boise, a Water For People raffle, networking lunches, and a tour of the West Boise Water Reclamation Facility.
| PNCWA Spring Summit Raffle | |
Get ready for an exciting raffle at the 2026 PNCWA Spring Summit on April 16! The raffle will take place on the evening of Wednesday, April 16th, during the Summit Social at Top Golf Boise. Tickets will be sold all day Wednesday, so be sure to get yours at registration!
Here's your chance to win big while supporting Water For People’s mission to provide lasting access to clean water and sanitation for communities in need.
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Registration is nearly full for the Women of Water Leadership Symposium in Boise next week!
Join us for an inspiring program featuring an outstanding lineup of speakers, including Cherie Hoeger, Co-Founder and CEO of Saalt. Explore the agenda and speaker bios- and register soon before space runs out!
| Building a Bigger Tent Webinar | |
Join Brian Mickelson and Christina Kapoi from Seattle Public Utilities in this interactive webinar to hear how capital project teams are leading nature-based, community infrastructure projects rooted in environmental justice through long term partnerships and co-design processes. A case study will highlight multiple approaches for collaborative, community centered planning that help embed principles of equity and environmental stewardship into capital investment decision making. Hear stories of how community leaders have shaped and influenced opportunities for deep community inclusion, capacity building, and advocacy in capital projects. Discuss steps that project teams can take to embed equity into a variety of types and sizes of projects.
Hosted by the Racial Social Justice Subcommittee.
| | Portland WAVE Welcome Event | | April 29, 2026 | 5:30PM | Lazy Days Brewing, Portland | | Join us for the Portland WAVE Welcome Event, hosted by the Students & Young Professionals (S&YP) Committee! Come hang out, grab a drink, and connect with active members, program alumni, and fellow local S&YP and PNCWA members. Whether you’re new or returning, it’s a great chance to build your network and get to know the community. | | PNCWA Award Nominations Open | | |
Do you know a person, project or organization that has done something exceptional this past year? Do you want to be sure they are recognized for their amazing work at this year's annual conference? You're in luck! PNCWA is now accepting award nominations. The nomination process has been streamlined and is easier than ever.
Award nominations are due June 1st.
If you want to learn more about our awards and the nomination process, please reach out to Aaron Duke, Awards Committee Chair, at (206) 796-9177 or email him at aduke@hazenandsawyer.com.
| | The WAVE program engages students and emerging professionals from diverse backgrounds with the water industry through a series of workshops and attendance of the 2026 PNCWA conference. The workshops focus on the various paths within the water industry, networking, skills development, employment opportunities, and conference preparation. Each month until the conference, we will highlight our participants. This month, meet Sydney LaForest and Joe Robinson! | | |
Sydney LaForest
Assistant Engineer I, Hazen and Sawyer | Portland, OR
Completed a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Michigan Technological University
Why are you interested in the water industry?
I have discovered that the more experience I gain in the water industry, the more interested I become. There seems to be an endless number of things to learn about and rabbit holes to go down, and it is all so exciting. The passion from the people in this industry for clean water and sustainable practices has blown me away. Water is such a critical part of life, I find it so compelling to take part in such a necessary and valuable industry, especially during a time of increasing water challenges.
What’s one thing you hope to get out of this program?
I am excited to make meaningful connections with my peers in the industry while developing our professional skills alongside each other!
What do you like to do in your free time or a fun fact about you?
I love being outside and have too many hobbies, including skiing, running, backpacking, mountain biking, and recently gravel biking!
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Joe Robinson
Planner/Coordinator, City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services | Portland, OR
Completed a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from University of Michigan-Dearborn
Why are you interested in the water industry?
I am interested in the water industry because I know I can make a positive impact in the fields of science and public health. I grew up in a community with minimal access to health and education and only made it out with scholarships and manufacturing work in the auto and defense industries. Once I was safe enough to take a basic moral stance, I left these destructive industries and committed to working for a positive change. With anthropogenic climate change, water is more threatened than ever. Due to river pollution, Portland takes drinking water from glacier meltwater. However, half of Oregon’s named glaciers have died this century (Carlson et. al., 2025). We will soon suffer the consequences of environmental destruction and our misuse of watersheds. I have the technical background to contribute to resiliency; thus I have an ethical obligation to do so.
What’s one thing you hope to get out of this program?
I hope to learn more about the different career paths in wastewater and some of the principles of our sector.
What do you like to do in your free time or a fun fact about you?
Outside of work, I volunteer with local organizations in the areas of ecological conservation, mountaineering education, avalanche safety, and nature outreach. My goals in 2026 are to implement Circular Water Economy ideas at my home treatment plant, attend more events with WEF, and to summit nine local volcanos.
| | | Sustainability and Biosolids Webinars | |
The Sustainability and Biosolids Committee will be hosting a series of summer webinars. Each webinar will be from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific, and will be eligible for 1 PDH/0.1 wastewater CEUs.
May 27 - WRRF Greenhouse Gas Fundamentals
Presented by Shannon Cavanaugh, PE | Process Engineer at Brown and Caldwell
Learn more and register HERE
June 30 - Introduction to the Biosolids Emissions Assessment Model (BEAM)
Presented by Janine Burke-Wells | Executive Director of the North East Biosolids & Residuals Assoc.
Learn more and register HERE
July 22 - Biosolids Biochar to Concrete
Presented by Garrett Benisch | Chief Development Officer at Bioforcetech Corporation
Learn more and register HERE
| Rising Together: A Benchmarking Journey for PNCWA Webinar | |
Join us for Rising Together: A Benchmarking Journey for the PNCWA, an inviting and energizing look at how wastewater workers across the Pacific Northwest can use the AWWA Benchmarking Program to learn, grow, and showcase the incredible work our industry does every day and contribute to helping each other improve through shared data.
May 12, 12:00-1:00 PM PT
Hosted by the PNCWA Utility Management Committee
Learn more and register HERE
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PNCWA Mission:
Be the premier association in the Northwest dedicated to educating and connecting members to promote a healthy water environment in our region.
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| PNCWA | 5727 Baker Way NW Suite 200 | Gig Harbor, WA 98332 US |
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