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IN THIS ISSUE:
President's Message
Conference Registration Open
Join the PNCWA Board of Directors
Young Professionals Networking Event
Western WA Short School
Award Nominations
Scholarship Applications Open
WFP Baseball Bash
Sustainability and Biosolids Committee Webinars
Meet the 2026 WAVE Cohort
Pacific Northwest Jobs
Upcoming Events
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April was busy. No doubt about it we have a lot going on at PNCWA, and it’s not likely to let up till we get through the Annual Conference. So, what have we been up to? Well, let me fill you in!
On April 15 and 16 we had our third annual Spring Summit in Boise, ID. This was the first opportunity to hold the summit east of the Cascade Mountains, and our friends in Idaho did an excellent job of welcoming 75 attendees (including 6 students from the Boise State) and providing two days of workshops on Watershed Planning, Nutrient Management, and Biosolids Management. There were field visits, panel discussions, presentations, and collaboration from a diverse group of engineers, planners, operators, regulators, and academics. Thanks so much to the committees who sponsored these workshops, the many speakers who gave their time, and a special thanks to Haley Goddard and Jessica Rinner for their program coordination, and Marie Schmidt (our Managing Director) for making sure everything came together smoothly. We plan to be back in Portland again next year, so please plan to join us for some in-depth learning and partnership across a wide range of topics.
In addition, we’re also in the midst of planning for the 2026 WEFMAX in Bend Oregon, planned for the end of May. This is a specialty conference geared towards Board Members from Member Associations across the US (like PNCWA) to get together and collaborate on ideas and best practices to make sure we’re providing the greatest benefits to our members. Thanks again to our WEF Delegates (Candice Au-Yeung and Joe Kernkamp) for leading the charge and the WEFMAX committee for pulling this all together.
Then in July, WEF will host the Collection Systems and Stormwater Conference right here in Portland OR. It’s a great chance for our local PNCWA membership to engage with the larger WEF community and a chance to spotlight some of the amazing work we’re doing in the region through presentations and site visits. If you’re interested in collections or stormwater topics, come check it out!
And finally, we’re deep in planning for the PNCWA2026 Annual Conference in Spokane WA, over September 13-16. Once again, we’ve received a record number of abstracts for the conference, and we’re excited to finalize our schedule for the conference soon. As always, we’ll have a full slate of technical presentations, a packed exhibit hall with our manufacturers and vendors, networking events, Ops Challenge, awards, and hopefully a few surprises. This event basically takes all year to plan, and I’m thrilled to say that the details are starting to take shape for an excellent event. Registration is now open and you can check out the general schedule at our PNCWA2026 website. And a special shout out to Andrew Staples and Kathleen Mannion for their leadership as our Conference Chair and Technical Chair!
And speaking of our website – have you checked our new look at PNCWA.org? The new website went live back in January, and it was one of our goals for the year to refresh the site both in terms of look and feel, and also content and usability. Take a look and let us know what you think! More improvements are forthcoming, but in the meantime this provides a slick new entry point to PNCWA members to learn about upcoming activities and opportunities to engage.
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And while those are the big events that most impact our membership, the Board is also busy at work on a number of “behind the scenes” activities. This includes supporting our committees with charter reviews, an upcoming evaluation and revision of our Constitution and Bylaws (and associated Policies and Procedures Manual), collaboration with our local Regions and Sections, and assistance with countless committee led events.
Hopefully this get’s you excited for PNCWA! We’re looking forward to seeing you at these upcoming events, and remember, the more you engage the more you’ll get out of your membership. Come share your ideas and leave feeling personally and professionally recharged!
Jeff Schmidt
PNCWA President
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Conference Registration is OPEN! | |
Join operators, engineers, utility leaders, regulators, and partners from across Idaho, Oregon, and Washington for three days of technical sessions, hands-on learning, and regional networking. Earn CEUs/PDHs, explore the exhibit hall, and connect with your Pacific Northwest clean water community.
Whether you’re looking to expand your technical knowledge, discover innovative solutions, or strengthen industry connections, the PNCWA Conference offers valuable opportunities for professionals across the water sector.
The full technical program, tour details, and additional conference updates will be available soon. In the meantime, visit the conference website for a schedule at a glance, important registration information, and FAQs.
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Join the PNCWA Board of Directors
Call for Nominations
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Hello friends! One of the last duties assigned to the Past President is to Chair the PNCWA Futures Committee to help fill Board openings. We are currently accepting nominations for five positions that will commence at the conclusion of our 2026 Annual Conference in Portland.
If you are even the slightest bit interested and want to find out more, please consider self- nomination. The Futures Committee is more than happy to talk though specific roles and commitment.
Positions Open:
- Vice President
- The Presidential rotation is a four-year commitment, with positions on the Board in the following order: Vice President, President-Elect, President, Past President. We try to rotate the “home state” of this position so that the President is in their home state for the conference each year. This year, we are looking for nominations for someone based in Washington.
- Secretary
- The Secretary serves as the record keeper for the Association for a two- year term. This role works with our Managing Director to prepare Board of Director agenda, minutes and notify/manage PNCWA members of special meetings and proposed amendments, and/or modifications to Association’s Constitution and Bylaws, and other governance documents.
- WEF Delegate
- The Board has two WEF Delegates that serve three-year terms. WEF Delegates are PNCWA’s connection to the national organization through the WEF House of Delegates. In this role, you can be involved in national committees and initiatives, as well as act as an ambassador for PNCWA with other member associations.
- PNCWA Treasurer- Elect
- Our current Treasurer (Laura Porter) will leave the Board in September, 2027 after her second term ends. We have found that bringing in a non-voting Treasurer-elect for a year to “job shadow” the Treasurer has really helped make a smooth transition for this important role. The Treasurer is a three-year commitment as a voting member of the Board; and often the Treasurer is re-elected for a second term. While this role is a little “behind the curtain,” it is an essential role and one that ultimately involves nearly every issue that the Board takes up.
- Young Professional Representative
- The Young Professional Representative is a voting member with a 2-year term. The role is to represent and coordinate Student and Young Professional (S&YP) activities with the Board and Association management.
To submit a nomination:
Self-nominations are welcome. Nominations require at least one reference and a letter outlining the nominee’s qualifications.
Nominations must be submitted by June 22, 2026
The PNCWA Board of Directors includes the following positions:
President, President-Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Past President, Young Professionals Representative, two WEF Delegates, and four Regional Directors. The Board meets monthly, including at least two in-person meetings per year. See the current PNCWA Board here.
Nominations Process
Board Nominations occur each spring for open positions and remain open for at least 30 days. Self-nominations are welcome. The Futures Committee, chaired by the PNCWA Past President, will interview the top three candidates for each position and present qualified candidates to the PNCWA membership. Elections are held at the Annual Conference Business Meeting and all PNCWA members in attendance have a vote.
To learn more about the Board, nominations, and position roles, contact me or PNCWA.
Amy Dammarell
PNCWA Past President
| | Young Professionals PNCWA/AWWA Portland Networking Event | Contact Nikita Kowal with questions about the event. | | Western Washington Short School | | |
Registration is open for the Western Washington Short School & Trade Show for Water & Wastewater Operators, Engineers & Managers
- Two days - Tuesday & Wednesday June 2 & 3
- Four concurrent tracks, all on the same floor
- 7 sessions on Tuesday & 6 on Wednesday
- Attend in-person or virtually
- Two tracks will be online for those attending virtually
- All speakers will be presenting in-person
- Arlington WTP & WWTP Tour on Tuesday afternoon
- Trade show with manufacturers and local reps on Wednesday
- Operator Scholarships available (application required)
June 2-3, 2026 | Tulalip, WA
| | 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.
| | Water For People Baseball Bash | |
Grab your crew and head to the Tacoma Rainiers Private Deck for a family-friendly afternoon of baseball, bites, and big-hearted fun! We’re serving up fastballs, food, and fantastic company — plus the chance to connect with PNCWA friends — all while raising money for Water For People.
1:30 PM | Sunday, July 19, 2026
Cheney Stadium, Tacoma
Tickets are limited - don’t strike out, snag yours today!
Thank you to our generous sponsors: Hazen and Sawyer, Whitney Equipment, Victaulic, Reiner Pump Systems, BHC, Gray and Osborne, Osborn, Kennedy Jenks, Consor, Blue Cypress, MWA Architects, and AECOM!
| 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
| | 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 Tomi Owolabi and Gabe Veltri! | | |
Tomi Owolabi
Automation Programmer, Brown and Caldwell | Seattle, WA
Completed a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology
Why are you interested in the water industry?
My belief is that everyone should have access to clean drinking water and being able to participate in making that happen.
What’s one thing you hope to get out of this program?
Presentation and public speaking experience
What do you like to do in your free time or a fun fact about you?
Bake, crochet, karaoke
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Gabe Veltri
Field Restoration, Washington Conservation Corps | Seattle, WA
Completed a bachelor's degree in biology from Seattle University
Why are you interested in the water industry?
What has always drawn me to ecology and environmental science is the connection between people and the environment. Nowhere is that relationship more visible or more complex than in the water sector. Clean water is essential for every community and ecosystem, yet human activities continually impact water quality through runoff, pollution, and wastewater. That balancing act creates an industry full of challenges, problem-solving, and innovation.
I thrive in environments where I can engage with real-world problems, think critically, and contribute to meaningful solutions. My recent work in salmon habitat restoration showed me how rewarding it is to improve the health of waterways, even at a local scale. The water industry offers the opportunity to protect ecosystems, support communities, and help solve some of our most pressing environmental issues.
What’s one thing you hope to get out of this program?
Through this program I am excited to deepen my understanding of the water industry, connect with peers and young professionals, and discover where my skills and passion can make the greatest impact.
What do you like to do in your free time or a fun fact about you?
In my free time, you can usually find me outdoors hiking or birdwatching, or in the kitchen trying out new cooking or baking recipes.
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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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