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To
Brittni Stephens | Public Communications Outreach Committee (PCOC)
Office: (402) 938-2463 | Cell: (402) 430-1610 | Email: bstephens@olsson.com
Craig Kelman & Associates is both honored and thrilled that we have been selected as the new official publishing partner of NWEA for Effluent Line magazine, commencing Spring 2025.
As a publishing partner to nearly 100 professional associations across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, our organization brings extensive experience in publishing print and digital content across various industries on a multitude of platforms. Since our inception in 1980, we have been dedicated to delivering high-quality association communications including magazines, newsletters, directories, websites, and helping manage dynamic and robust social media presences.
Our expertise spans a diverse array of industries such as water and wastewater, healthcare, public works, education, transportation, and real estate, among others. We are excited to apply this breadth of experience to enhance the communication efforts of the Nebraska Water Environment Association (NWEA) and its members.
The dedicated team here at Kelman, led by Managing Editor Mathias Leiendecker (mathias@kelman.ca) and Marketing Manager Megan Stanley (megan@kelman.ca), is committed to meeting the evolving communication needs of NWEA. We are eager to engage with the companies and individuals who will utilize the pages of Effluent Line to disseminate their vital messages and reach you, their target audience.
We invite you to experience the refreshed look of Effluent Line magazine in its latest edition and appreciate your warm welcome to the communications team. Thank you for allowing us to play a significant role in your ongoing engagement and outreach efforts.
am humbled and honored to write to you as your new President. Since taking on these responsibilities at the Fall Conference in Kearney last November, I have been inspired by the passion, expertise, and camaraderie that our members continuously demonstrate. The Fall Conference was once again a powerful reminder of the importance of coming together – sharing knowledge, building relationships, and strengthening our professional network and industry.
I’d also like to take a moment to thank our Past President, Brittany Travers, for her dedication and leadership to the association. She led us through many great accomplishments this past year including the successful merger of the Constitution and Bylaws. I’m proud to call her a friend and greatly appreciate her thoughtfulness and sense of humor when working on initiatives together.
As we set our sights on a dynamic 2025, I have some exciting updates I’d like to share:
• New Effluent Line Newsletter: I am pleased to announce the launch of our Effluent Line newsletter, now produced in partnership with Kelman & Associates. With an impressive publishing history dating back to the 1980s and collaborations with more than 30 other WEF Member Associations nationwide, Kelman & Associates is poised to enrich our content with additional and highly relevant industry insights. Many thanks are due to the Public Communication and Outreach Committee (PCOC) for their hard work in developing this valuable partnership.
“ OUR COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING NEBRASKA’S WATER ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY REMAINS STEADFAST, AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR SUCCESS.”
• Badge Printing and Scanning Technology: During the 2024 Fall Conference, we implemented a new badge printing and scanning system to make check-in faster and improve the attendee experience. This system will be used at the upcoming Great Plains Conference in Omaha and again at the Joint Fall Conference in Kearney. We are committed to learning from our experiences and feedback to ensure future events are even more efficient and enjoyable.
• Annual Board Retreat: Mark your calendars for our annual Board Retreat on April 15 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Olsson’s Omaha office. This retreat will focus on key topics including member engagement and recruitment strategies, updates to our Policies & Procedures document, ideas for MA grant applications, and more. We welcome all members to join, and I especially encourage Committee Chairs to attend and contribute their expertise.
As we look ahead to the year, I am filled with enthusiasm for the opportunities before us. Our commitment to advancing Nebraska’s water environment industry remains steadfast, and your continued support and active participation are crucial to our success. I eagerly anticipate meeting many of you at our upcoming events and working together to forge an even stronger association.
Thank you for your dedication and for the privilege of serving as your President. Here’s to a remarkable year ahead!
Lucas Billesbach
Blake Birkel
Marc Rosso
Jeremy Walker
Brittany Travers
Darren Jack
Ryan Hurst
Doug Glaze
Daria Sakharova
Shawn Ovenden
Lee Dunn
Scott Seelhoff
Kylie Wilmes
FEDERATION DELEGATE
Federation Delegate Embris Group
President
President-Elect
Past President
Secretary
JEO Consulting Group
City of Lincoln
Vice President Olsson
Engineered Equipment Solutions
HDR
Treasurer Wahoo Utilities
Director At Large City of Lexington
Director At Large GBA
Director At Large
HDR
At Large Member Gurney
At Large Member
City of Fremont
At Large Member Embris Group
Lucas Billesbach
Embris Group
Phone: 402-319-5951
Email: lucasbillesbach@embrisgroup.com
Lucas is an owner/Principal at Embris Group having helped form the company in 2022. He has over 15+ years of experience in assisting local governments with their water and engineering challenges. Lucas graduated from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2005 and completed his Master of Business Administration from Creighton University in 2010. He is married to his wife Sarah and together they have three kids (Quinn, Lucy, and Vita). When not bouncing between sporting events, the family enjoys time on the lake and wake surfing. Lucas began with NWEA as Chair of the Great Plains Committee and continued his service through the board positions completing his term as President in 2021. In addition to his role as a delegate, he continues to assist NWEA on the Finance Committee, Scholarship Committee, and the Conference Planning Committees.
PRESIDENT
Blake Birkel
JEO Consulting Group
Phone: 402-934-3680
Email: bbirkel@jeo.com
Blake is a Principal at JEO Consulting Group with more than 17-years of experience working on a variety of drinking water and clean water projects throughout the Midwest. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (2006) and Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (2012). He is a registered professional engineer in the states of Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas. Since joining the NWEA in 2007, he has served on multiple committees for the association including the Great Plains Conference, Membership, Publications, Scott Wilbur Award and Young Professionals. He joined the NWEA Executive Board in 2021.
Blake is a life-long Nebraska resident (born in Columbus) and currently resides in Omaha with his wife (Andrea) and three schoolaged children (Hannah, Halle and Mason). He and his family enjoy spending their time together outdoors – swimming/boating in the summer months and skiing the Rocky Mountains in the winter.
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Marc Rosso
City of Lincoln
Senior Construction Engineer
Phone: 402-441-7711
Email: mrosso@lincoln.ne.gov
Marc Rosso currently serves as President Elect for the NWEA. Marc is a 1990 graduate of the University of Colorado with Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering. He has 34 years of experience in civil engineering work in many disciplines. Marc has been heavily involved in association work for NWEA, AWWA and APWA since coming to Lincoln in 2005. He was inducted into the NWEA 5S society in 2017. On the water side he serves as the Vice Chair for the Nebraska Section of AWWA and is also a member of the NSAWWA Membership Engagement and Development Committee.
VICE PRESIDENT
Jeremy Walker
Olsson
Phone: 402-458-5657
Email: jwalker@olsson.com
Jeremy has actively served on many NWEA committees and the Executive Board since joining the organization 11 years ago. He is a 2018 alumnus of WEF’s Water Leadership Institute. Jeremy received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and is a registered professional engineer in Nebraska and Iowa. He joined Olsson in 2005 where he is currently a Vice President, leading a wide range of water resource recovery projects. A lifelong Nebraska resident, Jeremy resides in Lincoln with his wife Melissa and sons Sullivan and Carson.
PAST PRESIDENT
Brittany Travers
Engineered Equipment Solutions
Phone: 402-880-0321
Email: brittany@e-equipmentsolutions.com
and currently lives in Elkhorn with her husband, Matt, and sons, Hudson and Sullivan. In her free time, she enjoys going to her kid’s activities and traveling as much as possible! Brittany started her NWEA journey by joining and eventually chairing the Young Professionals Committee. She has also chaired the Public Education Committee for numerous years and has been an active member of the Safety and Membership Committees. She joined the board in 2016 and is excited to serve as this year’s Past President.
Darren Jack
HDR
Phone: 402-742-2941
Email: darren.jack@hdrinc.com
Darren is a Project Manager at HDR with over 20 years of engineering experience for a wide variety of municipal and industrial projects. He has experience in the study, design and construction of pump stations, municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facility studies and designs, water distribution systems, wastewater collection systems and construction management. Darren received his Bachelor’s degree in Biological Systems Engineering from the University of Nebraska in 1997 and his Master’s degree in Biosystems Engineering from the University of Arizona in 1999. Darren served as the Great Plains Conference Chair from 2021 to 2023. Darren lives in Lincoln with his wife Kim, son Dillon and daughter Ashley. Darren is a Certified Personal Trainer and in his free time enjoys training members at Madonna ProActive.
Ryan Hurst
Wahoo Utilites
Phone: 402-443-3222
Email: hurst@wahoo.ne.us
Brittany joined Engineered Equipment Solutions (EES) in early 2011 and is the Regional Sales Manager of the Nebraska and Western Iowa territory. EES is a manufacturer’s representative company focusing on water and wastewater process equipment. Brittany earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University in 2007. Brittany grew up in Columbus, NE
Ryan has a bachelor’s degree in Water Resource Management and an associate degree in Environmental Science both from Florida Gateway College.
Ryan started his career with the City of Seward (his hometown) as a water operator and spent 8.5 years there acquiring his water and wastewater treatment certifications and working his way up to facilities maintenance supervisor before taking a position in Minden Nebraska as Utilities Superintendent. Ryan spent four years with the City of Minden managing Electric Distribution, Water Treatment and Distribution and Wastewater Collections and Treatment.
In 2019 he took on the role of General Manager for the City of Wahoo Utilities, where he has been responsible for the development, coordination, direction and administration of the utility system including natural gas distribution, electric generation and distribution, water production and distribution and wastewater collection and treatment. With his team, he ensures that all utility systems operate in a safe and efficient manner in order to provide efficient service to the community in accordance with state and federal regulations and industry standards. Ryan also currently helps Southeast Community College as an Adjunct Instructor in the Energy Generations Operations program focused on teaching Water and Wastewater treatment electives.
Over the past 15 years Ryan has been extensively involved in statewide and national organizations providing training and networking for professionals in the Utilities industries. Ryan is on the Board of Directors for the Advanced Nuclear Coalition and currently is the Vice-Chair of the Nebraska Section American Water Works Association (AWWA), and is a Director At Large on the Nebraska Water Environmental Associations Executive Board (NWEA). Ryan is also the Chair of the Nebraska Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (NEWARN). Ryan is a past Chair of the NWEA Young Professionals Committee and served on the Water Environmental Federation Students and Young Professionals Committee.
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Daria Sakharova
GBA
Phone: 402-513-3154
Email: dsakharova@gbateam.com
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Doug Glaze
City of Lexington
Phone: 308-324-3902
Email: dglaze@cityoflex.com
Doug is the Superintendent of the Wastewater Treatment Facility for the City of Lexington, NE. In 1991 Doug graduate of Lexington High School and is a 2000 graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center with a Bachlor of Science in Medical Technology.
Doug’s professional experience includes six years on the Laboratory staff at Tri-County Hospital, six years as the Laboratory, Safety & Environmental Compliance Manager at Cornhusker Energy Ethanol and 11 years with the City of Lexington in his current position. He is also a 13-year Rescue Chief and 18-year member of the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department with certifications as an EMT, Firefighter I, Hazmat Operations & SCUBA emergency dive and rescue.
Doug is a small-town Nebraska farm boy that married his high school sweetheart and moved back to his hometown to raise their family. Doug and his wife Kim currently live in Lexington where we enjoy remodeling projects, golf, travel, and volunteering for local community activities.
Daria joined GBA in 2015 and is now the Lead Engineer and Omaha Office Manager. She specializes in SSES and I&I reduction and thoroughly enjoys helping her clients figure out how to best improve and extend the lifespans of their sanitary and storm sewer collection systems. Daria graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Systems Engineering in 2013 and from Florida State University with a master’s degree in Civil Engineering in 2014.
Outside of work Daria spends a lot of time volunteering with various organizations like SAME, Engineers Club of Omaha, ACEC, and NWEA. She enjoys living the quiet Iowa farm life with her boyfriend, 2 dogs, 2 mini donkeys, and soon to be other farm animals. She also enjoys experimenting in the garden and somehow keeps 150+ houseplants alive year-round. Traveling the world and trying ALL the food is her favorite way to spend her time off.
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Shawn Ovenden
HDR
Phone: 402-399-4896
Email: shawn.ovenden@hdrinc.com
Shawn graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1993 and earned his PE in Nebraska in 2001. His got his start in Palatine, Illinois doing projects in the suburbs of Chicago, moved to Denver, and ultimately landed in Omaha in 2000. His experience includes residential, commercial, and industrial site design on private, public, and federal projects. He has been with HDR for the past 15 years and is currently serving as a Senior Civil Engineer working on various conveyance, site civil, and sewer inspection/rehabilitation projects. Shawn has been a member of the NWEA since 2011 starting out serving as the website developer and administrator and continues to lead this effort. Serving in this position has allowed him to work closely with several committees, help support the conference planning and execution efforts, and work with the executive board. He was recently nominated to join the executive board as a Director-atLarge and is currently serving as the Chair of the Conveyance Systems Committee. He is also a member of the APWA helping with website updates and volunteering at the committee level.
Shawn is married to his beautiful bride Nancy and has two sons, Eric working toward a dual degree in mathematics/ computer science and Adam working toward an associates/ certification in welding. Shawn enjoys power lifting, kayak fishing, wilderness adventures, and serving the community.
Lee Dunn
Gurney
Phone: 402-709-3646
Email: lee@bgagurney.com
AT LARGE MEMBER
Scott Seelhoff
City of Fremont
Phone: 402-269-5278
Email: scott.seelhoff@fremontne.gov
Lee joined Gurney and Associates in 2016 as an Outside Sales Engineer. Gurney and Associates is a manufacturer’s representative company focusing on water and wastewater processing equipment. Lee’s past work experience includes 13 years in the Utility Industry as a power plant electrician, substation technician and substation redesign lead, 26 years in the Electromechanical Sales and Service industry as Branch Manager, Operations Manager, Sales Manager and General Manager, and three years as a manager in the Electrical Wholesale Distribution.
Lee has been involved in association work with NOWD, NWEA, NEAWWA and IAWEA since 2016. He is a member of the AWWA and WEF on the national level. He currently serves as a member at Large on the NWEA Executive Board, the Chairman of the AWWA MAC Committee, and the Chairman of the NWEA MARC Committee. He is also a member of the NWEA Bylaw Committee, NWEA Scott Wilber Committee, NWEA Maintenance Training Committee, and the IAWEA Maintenance Training Committee. He received the IAWEA 5 W’s Maintenance Award in 2020.
Lee graduated with a two-year degree in electrical study from Northwest Kansas Technical College, he has multiple college credit hours in Management and Sales courses over his career. He has a master’s certification in Biblical Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminar, Biblical Study Certification from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary/ Surgeon College, and he is currently studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Counseling at the Newburgh Theological Seminary.
Outside of work Lee enjoys traveling with his wife, spending time with his six children and 12 grandchildren. He fills his spare time volunteering at church and other organizations. On a part time basis, his does Counseling for couples, individuals, and addiction recovery. Lee is also a licensed Minister doing weddings, and funerals.
Scott Seelhoff is the Assistant Superintendent for the Fremont Wastewater Treatment Plant. He began his water journey in September of 2014 as a Wastewater Operator. In the spring of 2015, he was hired as the Laboratory Technician for the Wastewater Plant. He worked in that position for several years learning laboratory testing and process control within an activated sludge system. In late 2018 he moved into the supervisory role that he has today. While in the industry he began getting involved with the NWOC. There he has been the secretary, vice chair, and currently is the Committee Chair. He is also the current Public Education Committee Chair, past Scott Wilber Chair, and Training committee member. He really enjoys connecting with operators around the state and connecting with fellow water industry professionals while attending conferences. Outside of the NWEA he enjoys camping and playing golf with his family. He hopes to be a good representative for Wastewater Operators while serving on the NWEA Executive Board.
AT LARGE MEMBER
Kylie Wilmes
Embris Group
Phone: 402-253-4950
Email: kyliewilmes@embrisgroup.com
Kylie Wilmes is a Principal at Embris Group with 19 years of experience in civil engineering consulting. From designing sewer separation projects to tackling complex levee and stormwater issues, Kylie enjoys working on projects and being a trusted partner for her clients. Outside of work, you can find Kylie working around the house, spending time with her family (which includes her husband, four children, one dog, one cat, nine chickens, two guinea pigs, and three koi fish), and making every effort to get outside for a walk, hike, bike ride, or camping trip.
Kylie started out with NWEA as the Membership Committee Chair and later worked with others to start up the DE&I Committee. She joined the NWEA Board because she appreciates the presence of NWEA and WEF as a place for everyone to come together. Kylie hopes to learn more about the needs of the NWEA members, to learn more about the WEF resources and how they can help our members, and to contribute and be a part of this Community.
Public Communications and Outreach Committee
Brittni
Stephens, P.E., PMP, Chair
The Public Communications and Outreach Committee (PCOC) is dedicated to strengthening engagement, amplifying our message, and ensuring transparent communication within NWEA. Our mission remains to share valuable industry insights, from regulatory updates and technical advancements to educational opportunities and member recognition.
During a recent committee meeting, members came together to discuss priorities for 2025. A key focus is to expand our reach and diversify voices, ensuring our work reflects the broad expertise of NWEA members. This year, we aim to enhance collaboration with leadership, refine our outreach strategies, and strengthen engagement with our membership. Our committee wants to stress the importance of delegation and shared responsibility moving forward. As the committee grows, each volunteer will play a vital role in shaping and executing our outreach initiatives. Every participant can provide value in their unique way.
The Effluent Line Newsletter remains one of our core communication tools, and we are committed to maintaining high-quality content and timely publications. Thanks to the dedication of Mike Milius and Marc Rosso, who are leading our QA/QC efforts, we ensure that each issue continues to be a valuable resource for members.
“ AS THE COMMITTEE GROWS, EACH VOLUNTEER WILL PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING AND EXECUTING OUR OUTREACH INITIATIVES.”
In addition, discussions are underway as led by Shawn Ovenden regarding updates to the NWEA website to improve functionality and accessibility.
As part of our ongoing commitment to growth and sustainability, the committee is focusing on recruiting new members and young professionals. By bringing fresh perspectives into the conversation, we can ensure long-term engagement and innovation within the committee. Special outreach efforts are being made and we encourage all professionals, industry operators, and other potential contributors who can bring valuable insight to our work.
Recognizing industry achievements is an essential part of our mission. The committee is working to increase awareness and accessibility of NWEA grants and awards through targeted promotion and streamlined application processes.
Ensuring that members have the opportunity to apply and be recognized for their contributions remains a top priority.
We invite all NWEA members to submit articles, case studies, and industry insights for upcoming issues of the Effluent Line Newsletter. Below are the remaining publication dates and deadlines for 2025: Vol 56Q2 –
Content Due: May 2, 2025 Vol 56Q3 –
Content Due: August 8, 2025 Vol 56Q4 –
Content Due: November 14, 2025
If you would like to contribute, please reach out to Brittni Stephens (bstephens@olsson.com) or Mathias Leiendecker (mathias@kelman.ca), our Managing Editor.
Thank you for your continued support –we look forward to another year of meaningful engagement and collaboration!
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee Garret Lane, PE, Chair
Conferences are valuable opportunities for learning and networking, but for those new to a conference, unfamiliar with the process, or still figuring out the space, it can feel overwhelming.
It’s essential to know how to advocate for yourself and recognize your needs to make the most of your conference experience.
1. SPEAKING UP ABOUT YOUR NEEDS (EVEN WHEN YOU’RE NOT SURE WHAT THEY ARE)
Remember that it’s okay not to have everything figured out before a conference. Often, our needs become clearer only once we’re in the environment. Speaking up about them, whether it’s your first conference or your fifth, is a critical part of creating a supportive experience.
“ BY PREPARING AHEAD OF TIME, SEEKING OUT SUPPORTIVE NETWORKS, AND SPEAKING UP, WHEN NECESSARY, YOU CAN MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE.”
What You Can Do:
• Know Your Resources: Many conferences have systems in place to accommodate attendees. Don’t hesitate to reach out to conference organizers and the DEI Committee beforehand and ask about available accommodations, whether it’s quiet spaces, language interpreters, or alternative formats for materials.
If you don’t know exactly what you need, that’s okay – speak to us about your concerns or any specific needs that may arise.
2. UNDERSTANDING THE INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE
Individuals may experience conferences differently – be it through sensory sensitivities, processing large amounts of information, dietary needs, mobility restrictions, and challenges with social interactions to name a few. Understanding this experience is critical for fostering an inclusive environment.
What You Can Do:
• Plan for Sensory Overload: Conferences can be noisy, crowded, and filled with lots of stimuli.
Consider bringing items that help manage sensory overload, like noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, or a sensory fidget. Look for quiet spaces in advance where you can retreat if needed. Take a trip back to your hotel room in between presentations or to take a break from the main floor commotion.
• Break Down the Schedule: Conferences can be long, with back-to-back sessions. Review the conference agenda ahead of time on our website (https://nebwea.org/ index.php) and identify which sessions you’re most interested in. The front desk will also have staff and agendas set out for each profession and each organization.
• Ask someone how they are doing: If you’re a conference veteran, be sure to reach out to younger conference attendees, especially if they are standing or sitting by themselves. Ask them how the conference is going and introduce them to other fellow NWEA and Board members.
Sometimes it can feel isolating when you are new to the scene. It’s important to recognize that there are ways to connect with others who share your experiences. Everyone had a first conference at some point.
• Seek Out Supportive Networks: Many conferences have groups or meet-ups specifically designed for individuals who are new to the conference.
• Take a co-worker or partner-up with someone: Plan the trip together with your coworkers and ask them which sessions they will be at. There’s nothing better than seeing a friendly face in a room full of strangers. Take the time to check in with someone after a session either by text or in person if you have a minute.
• Start Small and Pace Yourself: It can be tempting to attend every session, but remember that conferences are marathon events, not sprints. Pace yourself by selecting a few key sessions and leaving room for self-care.
Attending a conference requires planning, self-advocacy, and a commitment to ensuring that your needs are met. By preparing ahead of time, seeking out supportive networks, and speaking up, when
necessary, you can make the most of your conference experience and contribute to a more inclusive environment for everyone.
Remember, there is no one “right” way to navigate a conference. If you have questions or concerns about conference experiences don’t hesitate to reach out to your many supportive committees.
Screen design and fabrication is an art.
From the engineering of our equipment and their electrical components, to their manufacturing and testing,
dozens of hands work to craft the most durable and reliable screening and headworks equipment
under one roof in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Represented locally by
Resource Recovery and Biosolids Committee
Keegan Bell,
Chair
Irecently reached out to 374Water, which is an emerging technology company specializing in the destruction of PFAS compounds in biosolids through their Super Critical Water Oxidation (SCWO) process. For more information, you can visit their website at https://374water.com. Currently, 374Water operates a small pilot unit in Orlando, FL, which has been running since November. Early feedback indicates that the system is working as expected, though the specific tests and results
are still unclear. In addition to PFAS destruction, the company claims a variety of other benefits, which will need further verification through additional testing.I’ve broken down their claims into five key categories, essentially representing hypotheses that will require validation to confirm or disprove:
Claim: SCWO destroys (“mineralizes”) PFAS in all outgoing process streams. Proof: Test incoming and outgoing
streams for PFAS, precursors, organic F, and inorganic F to “close the F balance”.
Claim: SCWO creates a distilled water stream that can be sent back to the head of the plant or could be sold.
Proof: Analyze distilled water and do a market analysis.
Claim: The inorganics oxidized during the SCWO process create a mineral residue that could be used as fertilizer.
Proof: Analyze mineral residue/water and do side-by-side agronomic testing to see how it compares to commercial fertilizer.
Claim: If processing undigested biosolids, the SCWO process actually generates more electricity than it requires due to the intrinsic energy in biosolids.
Proof: Analyze power draw and generation, including any fuel needed to start/stop the process.
Claim: Even with high CapEx, SCWO presents a better lifecycle cost than other biosolids management technology.
Proof: Scale up economic data gathered from a pilot to form a techno-economic model that shows what the tech would cost long-term.
Location: Houston, TX
Contractors:
Pate Garver LP (Trenchless)
Design Firm: Arcadis
Ground Conditions: Sandy
Installation Method:
Pilot Tube Method of Guided Boring
Pipe: 1- and 2-meter lengths of 12" & 15" NO-DIG Pipe
Equipment: Akkerman 4800
Jacking Frame and Guidance system
Total Length: 1391'
Project Depth: 30'
Contractor chooses Pilot Tube Guided Boring Method (PTGBM) to install a new sewer on perfect line and grade.
The 30' deep new sewer eliminated a lift station, avoided a high voltage transmission line serving the airport, and prevented disruption of airport traffic flow.
The Guided Boring method was the best option for the various challenges presented on this project:
• the depth of the installation,
• the number of other utilities in the area (including high voltage lines to the communication center at the airport), and
• the small construction footprint.
“Ahead of schedule and under budget is always a great result,” according to Chris Pate of Pate Garver.
Ahead of schedule and under budget is always a great result.
– Chris Pate, Director of Heavy Civil Operations for Pate Garver
Location: Houston, TX
Contractors: Boyer, Inc.
Design Firm: IDS Engineering Group
Ground Conditions:
Wet sand, fat clay, lean clay & silt
Installation Method: Pilot Tube Method of Guided Boring
Pipe: 15" & 21" Vitrified Clay
Jacking Pipe in 2-meter lengths
Equipment: Akkerman 4800
Jacking Frame and Guidance system
Houston eliminates 3 lift stations using PTM trenchless method!
This solution required installation of new 15" and 21" sewer lines 30' deep. Due to the depth, heavily trafficked, congested area, existing utilities, and variable soils, open-cut installation was impractical. The trenchless “rifle barrel straight” method using the Pilot Tube Guided Boring Method (PTM) proved to be the right solution. The jacking and receiving shafts were limited to eighteen (18) feet in diameter making continuous access by area residents and emergency responders practical.
“Once they have experience with this installation method, owners and contractors readily adopt it for the unmatched accuracy of the drives, the small project footprint and the limited surface disruption,” according to Jeff Boschert, President of the National Clay Pipe Institute.
The reduced power usage and reduced maintenance needs created by fewer lift stations are a great benefit to the community. They make the pipeline more environmentally and fiscally responsible over the long term.
… unmatched accuracy of the drives, the small project footprint and the limited surface disruption.
– Jeff Boschert, President of the National Clay Pipe Institute
The 34th Annual Snowball Wastewater Conference took place on January 22-23, 2025, at the Kearney Holiday Inn. This event was jointly organized by the League of Nebraska Municipalities-Utilities Section and the Nebraska Water Operators Committee (NWOC) of the Nebraska Water Environment Association (NWEA), which is part of the National Water Federation (WEF).
This year’s conference saw a strong turnout, with approximately 217 attendees, including 161 wastewater operators. Over the past 34 years, more than 7,900 operators, engineers, and wastewater industry professionals have participated in this event, accumulating over 344 hours of wastewater recertification credit. For 2025, licensed wastewater operators earned 10 hours toward their relicensing, while water operators could receive up to 6.0 hours for grades 1-4 and 0.5 hours for grade 6, depending on the sessions attended. Eight of this year’s sessions were eligible for water credit. While certificates were not issued this year, hours were recorded on the League’s website (lonm.org) and submitted to the state for inclusion in operators’ portal records. The League maintains Snowball attendance records with hours for the past two years on its website. Operators are responsible for tracking their own continuing education credits. Those with questions regarding their hours should contact the League office.
The conference agenda covered a range of topics relevant to wastewater professionals. The January 22 morning sessions included discussions on CIPP lining and manhole rehabilitation, valve and gate inspection and maintenance, low-pressure sewer systems, a Q&A roundtable with the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE), sewer backup liability, aeration performance under cold
conditions, and backflow prevention. Afternoon sessions featured presentations on cybersecurity (CISA 101), general collection system maintenance, oxidation ditch operations with low dissolved oxygen, pumping applications, NPDES support services, and pump maintenance strategies.
On January 23, topics included utility disconnection and reconnection procedures, as well as PFAS treatment strategies. The morning wrapped up with program updates from the NWEA and NWOC, presented by Scott Seelhoff of Fremont, followed by an overview of the Wastewater Certification Program and NDEE initiatives led by Mike McBride of NDEE.
• Core & Main
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency (CISA)
• DJ Gongol & Associates
• Dutton-Lainson Company
• EES (A UFT Company)
• EXPRO Controls
• FirstNet Built by AT&T
• Gurney and Associates
• HOA Solutions, INC.
• Iowa Pump Works
• JCI Industries
• JEO Consulting Group
• Johnson Service Company
• League Association of Risk Management
• Lincoln Winwater
The conference featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including Monte Dakan (Johnson Service), Lee Dunn and Chris Johnson (Gurney & Associates), Ryan Turnbull (Iowa Pump Works), Fred Wiebelhaus (League Association of Risk Management), Brian Gongol (DJ Gongol & Associates), Warren Hagelstien (CISA), Jake Rink and Nolan Groff (Olsson), Mark Pomajzl (JEO Consulting), Scott Seelhoff (City of Fremont), Lash Chaffin (League of Nebraska Municipalities), and NDEE representatives Mike McBride, Phillip Halstead, Grace Dana, Randol Wehrbein, Jason Windhorst, and Jeff Sittle.
A big thank-you goes out to the Holiday Inn for once again providing outstanding facilities and catering. Appreciation is also extended to the companies that contributed through exhibits, presentations, or sponsorship, ensuring another successful event.
• MacQueen
• Mellen & Associates
• Microfilm Imaging Systems
• Miller & Associates
Consulting Engineers, P.C.
• Modern Coating Solutions/Tnemec
• Mongan Painting
• Municipal Supply
• Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy
• Nebraska Generator Service
• Northwest Electric
• Olsson
• Rose Equipment
• USDA Rural Development
Looking ahead, the next four Snowball Wastewater Conferences are scheduled at the Kearney Holiday Inn:
• January 28–29, 2026
• January 27–28, 2027
• January 26–27, 2028
• January 31 – February 1, 2029
Companies Supporting the 2025 Snowball Conference:
• Armor Equipment
• Atlas Automation LLC
• Automatic Systems Co.
We look forward to seeing everyone again next year for another great event!
Source: WEF
Anaerobic co-digestion involves combining two or more organic waste streams in an anaerobic digestion system to augment biogas production. In water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs), the wastewater residuals (i.e., primary and secondary sludge) are the main anaerobic digester feed, while other high-strength organic wastes added to the digester are known as co-substrates. These cosubstrates typically have high organic content and high biodegradability, and can help to increase biogas yield, which makes them desirable for energy recovery. However, the co-substrates could also be more heterogeneous compared to wastewater residuals, or have highly variable characteristics that, when not properly managed, could destabilize the digestion process, hinder biogas production and process upsets. For instance, addition of co-substrates can rapidly increase acid accumulation in the digester and decrease pH due to their high degradability. The characterization of co-substrates enables WRRF utility managers and operators to properly manage the digestion process and make informed decisions about receiving, handling, and introducing these wastes into anaerobic digesters. It also enables WRRF operators and engineers to assess how co-digestion may impact the existing WRRF unit processes due to potential anticipated changes in quality of liquids and solids streams produced at the facility. Likewise, understanding the current or prospective co-substrates entering the WRRF allows engineers to make informed process design decisions, such as necessary unit processes, their capacities and throughputs, layout and configuration and optimal equipment materials of construction. That in turn enables engineers and decision makers to better evaluate capital, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, and lifecycle cost for any given co-digestion project. There has been a rapidly growing interest in co-digestion projects in North America resulting in availability of new co-substrate (or feedstock)
Renewable natural gas facility in Iowa, the Sioux City Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Source: dmt-cgs.com
processing technologies. However, there is not enough documentation on the methods for handling, sampling and characterization of co-substrates. This fact sheet provides basic considerations for co-substrate handling, sampling, and characterization for an optimized co-digestion process at a WRRF. It should be noted that this fact sheet mainly focuses on readily available high-strength organic wastes such as source separated organics, food waste, fats, oils and grease (FOG) that are commonly co-digested with wastewater residuals.
Wastewater residuals are largely more homogenous in their physical and chemical properties, and are well described and characterized in the literature compared to the high-strength organic wastes that are used as co-substrates in anaerobic co-digestion. Co-substrates such as food waste, FOG, or mixed organic wastes (or source separated organics) are heterogeneous and depending upon the collection method, could carry physical contaminants (e.g., glass, metal,
grit, plastic), chemical contaminants (e.g., per- and polyfluorinated substances, siloxanes), or have low biodegradability (e.g., lignocellulose-rich).
As a result, co-substrates typically require additional handling and homogenization prior to sampling, characterization and introduction into digesters. Some wastewater utilities own feedstock de-packaging and homogenization equipment at their facilities, while others receive pre-processed co-substrates (or feedstock) in the form of high-strength organic slurries. Further evaluation of existing feedstock pre-processing and homogenization technologies is covered in the Water Research Foundation project #5037 report (Blate et al., 2023). Some popular feedstock pre-processing and homogenization technologies available are presented below:
(e.g DODA Bioseparator, Turbo Separator, WM CORe):
• separates co-mingled wastes, particularly pre-consumer packaged organic wastes, and produces an organic slurry for digestion. This process is currently used by municipalities such as Muscatine.organic recycle center in Iowa and Hermitage municipal authority in Pennsylvania.
B. Waste Separation Press (e.g Anaergia’s Organic Extrusion System (OREX) with Organic Polishing System:
• Extracts the organic fraction as wet cake from mixed solid waste using an OREX. The wet cake is further polished into a slurry by dilution and removal of any additional contaminants such as grit before feeding to an anaerobic digester. Anaergia’s OREX is used at facilities such as Sun Valley Recycling Center in California, Rialto Bioenergy facility in California, and Ulu Pandan Co-digestion facility in Singapore.
C. Pulper Technology (e.g BTA Waste Pulper):
• Pulper technology such as the BTA waste pulper is a hydromechanical process that uses process water and hydrodynamic forces to homogenize source separated organics and organic fraction of municipal solid waste into an organic pulp. Light fraction (i.e., plastics) and heavy fraction (i.e., stones, glass) are removed mechanically and the pulp is sent to a surge tank for grit removal before it is fed to digesters. The BTA process is used at facilities such as Dufferin Organics processing facility, and the Disco Road Waste Management facility, both in Toronto, Canada.
Sampling of co-substrates is an important step for successful co-digestion programs. The goals of a sampling plan are to:
• attain representative characteristics of co-substrates
• assess the quality of co-substrates
• inform the acceptance or rejection of co-substrates
• gain firsthand insights into the potential impacts of co-substrates on the co-digestion process
Sampling should be carried carefully to ensure representative aliquots are taken as explained in the Water Research Foundation project #4915 report C (Puente et al., 2023).
Below are some considerations to achieve representative samples:
• Sampling plan should be developed to make sure that variability in waste depending on the collection sources is addressed.
• Samples should be collected as grab samples of the resulting pulp/slurry after the homogenization process.
• Collected samples should be stored in a 4°C refrigerator and analyzed within 24 hours. Many organic waste samples will begin to ferment when stored beyond 24 hours (Ohemeng-Ntiamoah & Datta, 2018).
• If after homogenization process the samples are stored or transported for extended period of time, additional samples should be collected downstream.
• FOG is a high-strength waste that needs less or no preprocessing and homogenization, however, due its immiscibility with water, it is challenging to get representative samples. Samples should be slightly preheated to liquify FOG and agitated strongly just before sampling and characterization. In addition, FOG typically carries less contamination than food waste and may only need to focus on analyzing selected few parameters compared to other high strength waste.
Laboratory protocols specific for food waste, FOG, or other organic waste streams have not been clearly defined. To date, these waste streams have been analyzed by adapting analytical methods for wastewater, wastewater sludge, compost, and soil. Most existing colorimetric methods (chemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, and phosphorus) are currently used at WRRFs since they are standardized for wastewater residuals but could be adapted for high-strength organic wastes. To apply these methods, the samples have to be homogenized and diluted several times prior to testing to stay within the detection range of the measuring instrument. These dilutions introduce a high probability of incorrect characterization results.
Though there are many benefits to implementing a co-digestion program, it is not without risk to the WRRF. Risks can include variability in co-substrate quality or quantity, anaerobic digestion process upsets that could require re-seeding digesters, temporarily reduced process capacity and the higher disposal fees often associated with alternative, secondary disposal methods, additional expense for chemical feed, and increased corrosion to process equipment. The addition of co-substrates may also affect processes downstream of digestion, such as dewaterability, thermal processing operating conditions and performance, or the ability to meet process exhaust air quality permit standards. These potential risks can be better understood and mitigated as a result of co-substrate characterization. Proper planning, design, and close monitoring of both co-substrate quality over time and digester operation ensure the long-term success of a co-digestion program.
By diverting high-strength organic cosubstrates from the traditional means of disposal (e.g., landfill) or treatment (e.g., through outdated practice of secondary treatment at the WRRF), the benefits of a co-digestion program are readily apparent. Among the many benefits are reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased WRRF tipping fee revenue, generation of renewable energy and reduced reliance on grid power and lower WRRF energy costs. However, such a program is not without risk to the utility. Detailed characterization of potential co-substrates – followed by informed planning, proper design, and regular monitoring – can mitigate these risks significantly. For large-scale co-substrate receiving programs, WRRFs may be required to allocate additional resources to routinely sample and characterize the hauled co-substrates, monitor quantities received, as well as regularly communicate with industries to track any process modifications that might impact the co-substrate received. With this information in hand, managers, O&M staff, and design professionals can
evaluate the equipment, operational adjustments, and organizational focus necessary to make that initial investment into a sustainable solution.
American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation. (2022) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 24th ed. American Public Health Association
Blate, M., Abu-Orf, M., Dursun, D., Landy, K., Murray, C., & Sharp, R. (2023). Evaluation of existing source separated organic feedstock pre-treatment and management practices. (Project #5037). Water Research Foundation.
British Standards Institution. (2000). Characterization of sludgesdetermination of dry residue and water content. British Standard European Norm (BS EN) 12880:2000.
Dursun, D., Blate, M., Landry, K., Abu-Orf, M., Sharp, R., & Kaiser, N. (2022, May 24-27). Technologies and processes for pretreatment and management of source separated organics [Paper Presentation]. Water Environment Federation Residuals and Biosolids Conference, Columbus, OH, United States.
Hach Company. (2021). Method 8000: Oxygen Demand, Chemical. 12th ed. Hach Company
Hach Company. (2015a). Method 10072: Nitrogen, Total. 11th ed. Hach Company. Hach Company. (2015b). Method 10031: Nitrogen, Ammonia. 10th ed. Hach Company.
Hach Company. (2014). Method 10127: Phosphorus, Total. 9th ed. Hach Company.
Ngwenya, Z., Higgins, M., & Beightol, S. (2018, May). Effect of potassium and sodium cations on the dewatering of mesophilic anaerobic digestate. Proceedings of the 2018 Water Environment Federation Residuals and Biosolids Specialty Conference. Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Ohemeng-Ntiamoah, J. (2020). Anaerobic co-digestion of waste activated sludge
with food waste and fats, oils and grease: effects on digester performance, microbial community structure and activity. [Dissertation].
Ohemeng-Ntiamoah, J. & Datta, T. (2018). Evaluating analytical methods for characterizing lipids, proteins and carbohydrates in organic substrates for anaerobic co-digestion. Bioresource Technology.
Puente, P., Rauch-Williams, T., Van Steendam, C.,Raskin, L., Schwinghammer, L., & Schaum, C. (2023). Analytical method guidance for the characterization of source separated food waste for co-digestion in water resource recovery facilities. (Project 4915C). The Water Research Foundation.
Rauch-Williams, T., Gupta, R., Appleton, R., Puente, P., Raskin, L., Schaum, C., & Bettina, S. (2023). The relevance of food waste quality for co-digestion facility planning, design, and operation. (Project 4915B). The Water Research Foundation.
Rauch-Williams, T., Van Steendam, C., Puente, P., Raskin, L., Bettina, S., Schwinghammer, L., & Schaum, C. (2023). Characterization of source separated food waste for co-digestion in water resource recovery facilities. (Project 4915A).
US. Environmental Protection Agency. (2022). Anaerobic digester/biogas system operator guidebook: a guidebook for operating anaerobic digestion/biogas systems on farms in the United States (EPA 430-B-20-003) AgSTAR Program.
US. Environmental Protection Agency. (2014). Food waste to energy: how six water resource recovery facilities are boosting biogas production and the bottom line (EPA/600/R-14/240). National Risk Management Research Laboratory. Water Environment Federation. (2018). Design of water resource recovery facilities (6th ed., Manual of Practice No. 8). Water Environment Federation. Water Environment Federation. (2020). Odor emissions and control for collection systems and water resource recovery facilities (2nd ed., Manual of Practice No. 25). Water Environment Federation.
Congratulations to our newly certified WW operators! This achievement marks a significant milestone in their professional journeys and is a testament to their dedication, skill, and commitment to excellence. As certified operators, they are now equipped with the knowledge and expertise to contribute to the continued growth and innovation within our industry. This not only strengthens our workforce but also enhances the quality, safety, and efficiency of operations across the board. We look forward to seeing their impact as they help lead the way toward a brighter, more sustainable future in the WW sector!
CLASS I
Neil J. Ariano
Shaun C. Bach
David G. Bienhoff
Matthew S. Bower
Dustin L. Burns
Derrick Cox
Kyle W. Gentrup
Justin M. Getzfred
Dustin M. Gushard
Nathaniel J. Hitchins
Alex M. Kuhl
Kaleb Kuhlmann
Jebb W. Linner
Chad E. Mackling
George M. Miramontes
Eric Peterson
Arturo Prado Reyes
Jake G. Reeson
Kenley J. Reimers
Diego Reyes
Steven Rodriguez
Shane A. Schukei
James E. Scott
Troy D. Sonnenfeld
Terry G. Stueben
Brandon T. Vega
CLASS II
Jordan Anderson
Travis Ayala
William C. Benson
Jason Brandt
Jeremy C. Bruning
Patrick J. Callaway
Terrance J. Chesnut
Bryan P. Christensen
Mitchell T. Clark
Franklin J. Cummins
Craig A. Degenhardt
Rick D. Dolan
Brandan F. Erdman
Gonzalo Faudoa
Ryan J. Fettig
Kenny F. Furrow
Zachery W. Fry
Caleb M. Gardner
Tristan Gerla
Caleb R. Greenfield
Jose L. Gomez
Deantwon Harrell
Tom D. Heesacker
Kevin Hosch
Kevin K. Huxhold
Matthew M. Johnson
Erik M. Johnston
Skyler A. Joyce
Conner J. Klausmeyer
Heath D. Korb
Kaleb A. Korth
Darren J. Kuester Sr.
Robert W. Lewis
Joshua R. Magee
Kevin M. Mullins
Douglas Q. Petty
Gunner R. Pike
Lavi N. Potter
Cody A. Reifsteck
Matthew Richman
Kevin L. Rogers
Jason Saar
Sabri H. Salih
Baldemar Sanchez
David R. Schick
Chad M. Shuda
Joseph Thomas
Mark D. Vanek
Dallas C. Waggoner
CLASS III
Scottie A. Sherman
Tyler J. Urbanec
Daniel J. Wescott
CLASS IV
Robert J. Hall Jr.
Kevin A. Lutz
Matthew J. Shoop
Michael A. Wieduwilt
CLASS L
Brandon S. Achtemeier
Troy J. Barnes
Timothy J. Barry
Carter L. Boden
Christopher R. Briggs
Jonathan D. Brown
Cody M. Cardin
Zachary B. Crouch
Kelly W. Daughenbaugh
Ernest J. DeGunia III
Carol E. Ellis
John M. Evans
Jason S. Foster
Dale Hays
Seth M. Heitz
Jeremy D. Hill
Kyle J. Hilpipre
Kyle Lussetto
Gerald B. Jackson
Bowde J. Johnson
Kaden L. Kratke
Danny J. Patterson
Benjamin I. Ramirez
James A. Rau
Nathaniel J. Sheehan
Derek T. Shultz
Joseph J. Svasek
Peyton R. Watts
Michael R. Weeder
Phil Wemhoff
CLASS IND-1
Hunter A. Brown
Joseph A. Epp
Levi J. Mueller
Matthew L. Scheel
CLASS
Craig R. Dubbs
Jared D. Michaels
Resul Orazov
Dustin M. Poynor
Kenny R. Wineman
Contact Us! We want to remind all members that you are always welcome to reach out to any member of the board or our committee chairs. We are here to listen, assist, and collaborate with you on any questions, concerns, or ideas you may have. Your input is invaluable, and we encourage open communication to help strengthen our community and ensure we are all working towards shared goals. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch – we’re here to help!
Arthur Sidney Bedell Award
Awards
Collection System
Bylaws
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Finance and Audit
Great Plains Waste Management
Manufacturers and Representatives Committee (MARC)
Membership
Nominating
NWEA Executive Board
NWOC Advisory/Training
Pretreatment/Industrial Waste
Program
Dave Sykora Chair
Darren Jack Board Liasion
Aaron Dressel Vice Chair
Aaron Dressel Chair
City of Omaha Public Works david.sykora@cityofomaha.org
HDR Engineering Inc. darren.jack@hdrinc.com
City of Lincoln adressel@lincoln.ne.gov
City of Lincoln adressel@lincoln.ne.gov
Daryl Kottwitz Vice Chair Retired dkottwit@gmail.com
Darren Jack Board Liasion
HDR Engineering Inc. darren.jack@hdrinc.com
Adam Wilmes Chair Embris Group adamwilmes@embrisgroup.com
Edie Gana Vice Chair
Shawn Ovenden Board Liasion
Darren Jack Chair
HDR Engineering Inc. edie.gana@hdrinc.com
HDR Engineering Inc. shawn.ovenden@hdrinc.com
HDR Engineering Inc. darren.jack@hdrinc.com
Brittany Travers Board Liasion EES brittany@e-equipmentsolutions.com
Garrett Lane Chair
City of Papillion glane@papillion.org
Kylie Wilmes Board Liasion Embris Group kyliewilmes@embrisgroup.com
Derek Gardels Chair
HDR Engineering Inc. derek.gardels@hdrinc.com
Daria Sakharova Board Liasion GBA dsakharova@gbateam.com
Daria Sakharova Chair GBA dsakharova@gbateam.com
Sean Bell Vice Chair
Darren Jack Board Liasion
Montee Dackan Chair
Lee Dunn Vice Chair
Jeff Saltzman Chair
HDR Engineering Inc. sean.bell@hdrinc.com
HDR Engineering Inc. darren.jack@hdrinc.com
Johnson Services monte@midlandscontracting.com
Bert Gurney Associates Inc lee@bgagurney.com
City of Omaha Public Works jeff.saltzman@cityofomaha.org
Keegan Bell Vice Chair City of Omaha Public Works keegan.bell@cityofomaha.org
Jeremy Walker Board Liasion Olsson jwalker@olsson.com
Amit Shrivastava Chair
HDR Engineering Inc. amit.shrivastava@hdrinc.com
George Hunt Vice Chair University of Nebraska ghunt2@unl.edu
Blake Birkel Board Liasion JEO Consulting Group Inc. bbirkel@jeo.com
Brittany Travers Past President EES brittany@e-equipmentsolutions.com
Blake Birkel President JEO Consulting Group Inc. bbirkel@jeo.com
Marc Rosso President Elect City of Lincoln mrosso@lincoln.ne.gov
Jeremy Walker Vice President Olsson jwalker@olsson.com
Lucas Billesbach Federation Delegate Embris Group lucasbillesbach@embris.com
Ryan Hurst Treasurer City of Wahoo hurst@wahoo.ne.us
Darren Jack Secretary HDR Engineering Inc. darren.jack@hdrinc.com
Doug Glaze Director-at-Large City of Lexington dglaze@cityoflex.com
Daria Sakharova Director-at-Large GBA dsakharova@gbateam.com
Shawn Ovenden Director-at-Large HDR Engineering Inc. shawn.ovenden@hdrinc.com
Lee Dunn At-Large Member Bert Gurney Associates Inc. lee@bgagurney.com
Scott Seelhoff At-Large Member City of Fremont scott.seelhoff@fremontne.gov
Kylie Wilmes At-Large Member Embris Group kyliewilmes@embrisgroup.com
Scott Seelhoff Chair City of Fremont scott.seelhoff@fremontne.gov
Joel Jirak Vice Chair Olsson jjirak@olsson.com
Doug Glaze Board Liasion City of Lexington dglaze@cityoflex.com
Abhijeet Saraf Chair
HDR Engineering Inc. abhijeet.saraf@hdrinc.com
Lee Dunn Board Liasion Bert Gurney Associates Inc. lee@bgagurney.com
Marc Rosso Chair City of Lincoln mrosso@lincoln.ne.gov
Jeremy Walker Vice Chair Olsson jwalker@olsson.com
Blake Birkel Board Liasion JEO Consulting Group Inc. bbirkel@jeo.com
Committee
Public Communications and Outreach Committee (PCOC)
Public Education
Name Board Position Company
Brittni Stephens Chair Olsson bstephens@olsson.com
Shawn Ovenden Vice Chair HDR Engineering Inc. shawn.ovenden@hdrinc.com
Jeremy Walker Board Liasion Olsson jwalker@olsson.com
Scott Seelhoff Chair City of Fremont scott.seelhoff@fremontne.gov
Doug Loudon Vice Chair Olsson dloudon@olsson.com
Resource Recovery/Biosolids Keegan Bell Chair City of Omaha Public Works keegan.bell@cityofomaha.org
Safety
Scholarship
Scott Wilber Award
Sponsorship
Student Activities
Training
William D. Hatfield Award
Young Professionals
5S
Ad-hoc WEFMAX Planning
Daria Sakharova Board Liasion GBA dsakharova@gbateam.com
Joel Jirak Chair Olsson jjirak@olsson.com
John Geiser Vice Chair Michael Foods
Scott Seelhoff Board Liasion City of Fremont scott.seelhoff@fremontne.gov
Lucas Billesbach Chair Embris Group lucasbillesbach@embris.com
Kylie Wilmes Board Liasion Embris Group kyliewilmes@embrisgroup.com
Aaron Gustin Chair City of Wahoo gustin@wahoo.ne.us
Scott Seelhoff Vice Chair City of Fremont scott.seelhoff@fremontne.gov
Lee Dunn Chair Bert Gurney Associates Inc. lee@bgagurney.com
Lucas Billesbach Vice Chair Embris Group lucasbillesbach@embris.com
Daria Sakharova Board Liasion GBA dsakharova@gbateam.com
George Hunt Chair University of Nebraska ghunt2@unl.edu
Trevor Breeling Vice Chair JEO Consulting Group Inc. tbreeling@jeo.com
Kylie Wilmes Board Liasion Embris Group kyliewilmes@embrisgroup.com
Ryan Hurst Chair City of Wahoo hurst@wahoo.ne.us
Scott Seelhoff Vice Chair City of Fremont scott.seelhoff@fremontne.gov
Lee Dunn Board Liasion Bert Gurney Associates Inc. lee@bgagurney.com
Jeff Tiemann Chair Cargill, Inc. jeff_tiemann@cargill.com
Ryan Hurst Vice Chair City of Wahoo hurst@wahoo.ne.us
Darren Jack Board Liasion HDR Engineering Inc. darren.jack@hdrinc.com
Abhijeet Saraf Chair HDR Engineering Inc. abhijeet.saraf@hdrinc.com
Jake Rink Vice Chair Olsson jrink@olsson.com
Marc Rosso Board Liasion City of Lincoln mrosso@lincoln.ne.gov
Jon Harger Chair Vessco jharger@vessco.com
Lucas Billesbach Board Liasion Embris Group lucasbillesbach@embris.com
Blake Birkel Chair JEO Consulting Group Inc. bbirkel@jeo.com
Oklahoma WEA – April 2-4, 2025 (Oklahoma City, OK)
New England WEA – April 30-May 2, 2025 (Salem, MA)
California WEA – June 4-6, 2025 (Palm Springs, CA)
The Water Environment Federation Member Association Exchange (WEFMAX) is an annual program of events jointly hosted with Member Associations to provide a forum for members from across the Federation to build synergy, energy, and momentum for a better water future. The events offer MA leaders and volunteers a forum to learn what is new from WEF and provide an ongoing opportunity to share MA successes and lessons learned. This year, WEFMAX will be held in Oklahoma City, OK, Salem, MA, and Palm Springs, CA. Space is limited, so sign up early!
Why attend? Engage with MA Leaders of today and tomorrow! Help chart the future of the Federation! Exchange lessons learned from other MAs! Collaborate and share ideas! Grow your network of water professionals! Help build a life free of water challenges—register today!
SPACE IS LIMITED! For more information visit: https://www.wef.org/membership-community/membership-center/wef-member-associations/Wefmax/
Locations & Dates:
• Oklahoma WEA
April 2-4, 2025 (Oklahoma City, OK) Register: https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/OK2025
• New England WEA
April 30-May 2, 2025 (Salem, MA)
Register: https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/SALEM25
• California WEA
June 4-6, 2025 (Palm Springs, CA)
Register: https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/2025CA
May
19-21 Certification Training – Grade IV Focus Grand Island Wastewater Treatment Facility Grand Island, NE
June
23-25 Certification Training – Grade 1+2 Central Community College Hastings, NE
July
17-18 Heartland Conference Kearney Holiday Inn Kearney, NE
November 5-7 Joint Fall Conference Younes Conference Center Kearney, NE
April 24 NJAS State Science Fair Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE
May 13 Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival Grand Island, NE
September 6 World O! Water
12 pm-4 pm at Chalco Hills Recreation Center Omaha, NE
Effluent Line is made possible by the companies below who convey their important messages on our pages. We thank them for their support of NWEA and its publication and encourage you to contact them when making your purchasing decisions. To make it easier to contact these companies, we have included the page number of their advertisement, their phone number, and, where applicable, their website.
reach professionals through Effluent Line and its targeted
contact Megan at your earliest convenience to discuss
— Albert Szent-Györgyi
This quote emphasizes the essential role water plays in sustaining all life forms. Szent-Györgyi highlights how water is not just a physical substance, but the foundation of life itself, critical to biological functions and ecological systems. In the context of the water industry, this quote is a powerful reminder of why water quality is of paramount importance. The water industry plays a critical role in ensuring clean, safe, and accessible water for communities, industries, and ecosystems. It involves everything from water treatment and distribution to conservation efforts and pollution prevention. This quote also underscores the urgency of responsible water management in an era where pollution, climate change, and population growth are putting increasing pressure on water resources. For the water industry, it serves as a call to action – to prioritize the protection and sustainable use of water, ensuring that future generations can continue to rely on it for survival.
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www.linkedin.com/company/nebraska-water-environment-association
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