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Spring in Nebraska
Spring in Nebraska is like riding a rollercoaster – one moment you’re basking in sunshine and calm skies, the next you’re holding onto your hat as gusts and rainstorms roll in. It’s unpredictable, often intense, and at times beautiful. In many ways, it mirrors both our personal and professional lives: filled with unexpected challenges but also moments of clarity and momentum.
Fortunately, our industry is built on being ready. Whether we’re master planning for future growth, designing resilient treatment systems, or executing critical O&M programs, we understand the value of preparation. That same mindset has been guiding the work within the association.
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE FUTURE
At our recent Board Retreat, one of the key outcomes was launching an effort to review and update our Policies & Procedures Document. Like a well-maintained facility, our internal framework needs routine attention to stay aligned with current times and where we’re headed. With strong support from the Board and input across committees, we’ve set a goal to complete this update by year’s end, ensuring our practices are transparent, consistent, and built to support our growing organization.
GET INVOLVED –ENGAGEMENT TAKES MANY FORMS
Engagement doesn’t always mean taking on a major role – sometimes it starts with something as simple as reading this newsletter, attending a conference session that sparks an idea, or striking up a conversation with a peer. For those ready to dive deeper, joining a committee or volunteering at an event is a great way to contribute to the sustainability and growth of our organization.
No matter how you choose to engage, remember: you often get back what you put in. So make the most of your involvement. Follow your interests, pursue your passions, and stay open to new opportunities. I promise – it will take you places.
LOOKING AHEAD
With the Snowball and Great Plains conferences behind us, we now turn our attention to the Heartland Operators Conference, coming up on July 17–18, and several wastewater operator certification training courses taking place throughout the spring and summer. These events are a great way to grow professionally, build connections, and stay current with our evolving industry. Visit nebwea.org for more details and a full list of upcoming events and committee opportunities.
Thank you for your continued dedication to Nebraska’s water environment. Let’s keep riding the ups and downs together –and find joy in the journey.
“ NO MATTER HOW YOU CHOOSE TO ENGAGE, REMEMBER: YOU OFTEN GET BACK WHAT YOU PUT IN. SO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT.
FOLLOW YOUR INTERESTS, PURSUE YOUR PASSIONS, AND STAY OPEN TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES. I PROMISE – IT WILL TAKE YOU PLACES.”
Blake Birkel, PE NWEA President
MEET
YOUR 2025 2025
NWEA COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Stephens Public Communications and Outreach Committee
Garrett Lane Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Marc Rosso Program Committee
Sarah Espinosa Construction Committee
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH COMMITTEE
City of Papillion
City of Lincoln
McCarthy Building Companies
Scott Seelhoff Public Education and Nebraska Wastewater Operators Committee City of Fremont
Brittni Stephens
Olsson
Phone: 402-430-1610
Email: bstephens@olsson.com
Brittni is a results-driven Professional Engineer (PE) and teamfocused Project Management Professional (PMP) with a lot of passion for living life on purpose! With 15+ years expertise in the water/wastewater industry, she is passionate about leadership, mentorship, and driving innovation to shape the future of the industry. A South Dakota State University Jackrabbit and a proud landlocked Navy brat....she loves to contribute to building better communities through projects or people who make them happen. When I’m not working, you’ll find me traveling with my family, tending to my garden, or driving my kids to their endless number of activities and sports. One of our favorite destinations is Gulf Shores, Alabama, a place that takes me back to my childhood days spent by the beach. It was a huge achievement (and a special moment) to introduce my kids – Emma Jay (12), Gwenhyvar (9), and Kirby (5) – and my fiance Justin to the freedom and healing powers of the waves. Whether it’s on the beach, in the garden, or cheering from the sidelines, these moments remind me why connection, reflection, and storytelling are so important in everything we do.
“ OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL: TO SHARE THE STORY OF NWEA, TO CELEBRATE THE INCREDIBLE WORK BEING DONE BY OUR MEMBERS, AND TO ENGAGE AND INSPIRE NEW AUDIENCES TO GET INVOLVED.”
The Public Communications and Outreach Committee serves as the megaphone of the organization and the president. Our mission is simple but powerful: to share the story of NWEA, to celebrate the incredible work being done by our members, and to engage and inspire new audiences to get involved. We develop newsletters, update the website, manage social media outreach, create public education initiatives, and strengthen internal communications to make sure the president’s message – and the organization’s work –reaches as many people as possible.
Our committee brings together a wide range of expertise –from technical writing and creative design to event planning and strategic communications. Everyone brings a unique skill set that makes our efforts stronger, and together we work to amplify the voices and achievements of our membership.
Brittni
Olsson
MEET THE 2025 2025
NWEA COMMITTEE CHAIRS
We are actively looking for more volunteers!
Here are just a few ways you can get involved:
• Help update and manage the NWEA website.
• Assist with a potential joint NWEA/AWWA webinar.
• Partner with the Membership Committee on joint initiatives.
• Collaborate with various authors and provide technical editing to showcase various features.
within our membership in which professional growth is the priority. Connection is our core motivation, in which we foster relationships and allow people to bring themselves authentically to the table regardless of their attributes or beliefs.
• Support the Welcome Committee by printing badges, assisting at registration tables, and encouraging new member engagement.
• Organize engagement efforts such as a “$500 gift card raffle.”
• Write content for newsletters and articles.
• Support project-based tasks related to social media and content creation.
• Take event photos.
• Follow up with authors for article contributions or sections.
• Step into new roles managing the website’s evolving needs.
• Assist with promoting training opportunities.
• Add some humor – help incorporate clean jokes into communications!
• Create calls-to-action that promote activities and encourage member engagement.
If you have skills or just a desire to connect and contribute, there’s a place for you on our committee! Whether you’re interested in a one-time project or ongoing involvement, we’d love to have you.
If you’re interested or want to learn more, please reach out –we would be thrilled to welcome you aboard!
Thanks for being part of our story – and for helping us tell it even better.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR
Garrett Lane
City of Papillion
Phone: 402-829-1328
Email: glane@papillion.org
We currently have three sub-committees that focus on writing articles, giving conference presentations, and planning our signature Women-in-Water events. We’ve had many great achievements over the years by providing our voices to other member associations across the nation, including WEF, and providing social critique and education to our own state’s member associations, NWEA. Currently, we are focusing on internal needs of the MA and working to close gaps between different age groups, genders, and professions within the water industry.
“ WE’VE HAD MANY GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE YEARS BY PROVIDING OUR VOICES TO OTHER MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS THE NATION, INCLUDING WEF, AND PROVIDING SOCIAL CRITIQUE AND EDUCATION TO OUR OWN STATE’S MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS, NWEA.”
If you’d like to learn about how we can provide for different groups or individuals within our community, please join us! We are looking for other members to join and take the committee to the next level. I encourage anyone who has a passion for learning and wants better for others to grab a friend or colleague and sit in on our monthly committee meetings to get involved.
My name is Garrett Lane, and I work for the City of Papillion, Public Works Department as a Staff Engineer. I handle a number of different private reviews and small public projects in our ETJ. My wife and I love to work on DIY home projects and take our spoiled animals for walks after a long day. I also just received my PE Licensure as of 2025, yay!
This will be my sixth year in the public sector and my third and final year as Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DE&I), where we are striving to create connections
PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIR
Marc Rosso
City of Lincoln
Phone: 402-441-7711
Email: mrosso@lincoln.ne.gov
The 2025 Joint Fall Conference aims to be an event that encompasses education, networking, and fun. The Program Committee’s goals include producing a fun and
educational event, where participants can learn about projects, planning, and programming of municipal infrastructure. This learning will be facilitated through technical sessions and presentations, for which a call for papers has been made. Suggested presentation topics include Water Resource Recovery Facilities, Wastewater Collection Systems, Stormwater/Water Quality Technology Innovation, and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Management. The conference is designed to foster networking as well. It is highlighted as an event “like none other in the region” with participation from four Associations: NWEA, NSAWWA, APWA, and SWANA. This unique gathering allows attendees to meet with industry professionals all in one place over the course of a few days. In addition to the educational and networking opportunities, the conference will also include social activities, supporting the goal of being a fun event. The move to the Younes Conference Center North is also notable as it will allow for an expansion of the floor area and an outdoor exhibitors opportunity. This move was prompted by a lack of space for exhibitors in 2024. The larger venue suggests the potential for more engaging and enjoyable experiences for the attendees. The Program Committee, an allvolunteer group with broad representation across the industry, is dedicated to planning and executing these conference activities.
CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE CHAIR
Sarah Espinosa
McCarthy Building Companies
Phone: 402-770-0141
Email: shespinosa@mccarthy.com
My name is Sarah Espinosa, and I am the Chair of the newly formed Construction Committee. I have been in the Water Industry as a Civil Engineer for over 13 years. I started my career at an engineering firm, where I stayed for the first 10 years of my career before switching to construction at McCarthy Building Companies. In my role now, I help to facilitate collaboration, increase innovation, and reduce risk on collaborative delivery projects. While I spent some time hopping between Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City, I am a Nebraska native and happy to be back in my home state with my husband (Frank), daughters (Ava and Libby), and dog (Walter).
The vision of the Construction Committee is to create a place where Owners, Engineers, and Contractors can come together to collaborate on items associated with construction on
“ THE VISION OF THE CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE IS TO CREATE A PLACE WHERE OWNERS, ENGINEERS, AND CONTRACTORS CAN COME TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE ON ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTION ON ANY WATER-RELATED PROJECTS.”
any water-related projects. Our proposed focuses will revolve around quality, education and awareness, lessons learned/best practices, owner operability/maintenance, funding/government/contract requirements, delivery methods, membership, and the construction experience. I look forward to working with the NWEA community to make the Construction Committee a success! If you are interested in joining the committee, please reach out to me
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND NEBRASKA WASTEWATER OPERATORS COMMITTEE CHAIR
Scott Seelhoff
City of Fremont
Email: scott.seelhoff@fremontne.gov
My name is Scott Seelhoff, and I am the Assistant Superintendent at the Fremont Wastewater Treatment Plant. I have been there since 2014 was initially hired as an operator and eventually moved into the Laboratory Technician. In 2018, I moved into a supervisory role that I still have today. Recently, I had the opportunity to give a tour of the Fremont plant to Leadership Fremont, a group of community members who are engaged in leadership roles within the community and city government. I graduated from Midland University in 2007 with a Psychology degree. Currently, I am the chair of the Public Education and NWOC (Nebraska Wastewater Operators Committee). When I am not working, I am currently the assistant coach for my daughter’s 12U select softball team. In the other small-time frames, other than those two roles, I enjoy spending time with my family out on the golf course or taking mini staycations in the surrounding communities.
Our concern for the environment is more than just talk
Constitution and Bylaws Committee
Darren Jack, Chair
The NWEA’s new bylaws officially went into effect on August 23, 2024, marking an important milestone in the organization’s governance. Following this update, the Constitution & Bylaws Committee is actively working on revisions to the NWEA Policies and Procedures to align with the new framework.
DE&I Committee
Garrett Lane, Chair
At the Women in Water lunch, held during the 2025 Great Plains Conference, a brief video titled “Where DEI Falls Short – and How to Rethink It” by Y-Vonne Hutchinson was played for the attendees.
In summary, the video discusses that while the intent of DEI is to prevent discrimination and to help create welcoming environments for those who come from marginalized communities, many times, the DEI exercises used by organizations can feel performative or superficial. These performative types of exercises are what come to mind when people think about DEI. This has led to a backlash of sorts against DEI that takes away from its original intent.
However, with a more updated or modern approach, organizations can implement DEI practices that focus on individual’s real-life concerns. This can include not only race and gender, but also topics such as dealing with elder care, severe weather or climate chaos, and even political instability. Having a detailed focus on what should be included within DEI practices can help us connect and bring our communities closer to each other.
As part of this effort, templates outlining Committee roles and responsibilities have been distributed to each respective Committee Chair for review and suggested edits. The NWEA Executive Board will consider all feedback and proposed changes during the upcoming annual retreat.
Members are encouraged to engage in this important process by reaching out to their Committee Chairs if they have not already been involved. Open discussion and feedback are welcome to help ensure the updated policies and procedures best reflect the needs and goals of the organization.
Jennifer Baldwin was a first-time attendee at the Great Plains Lunch Event:
“I was really impressed with the Women in Water lunch event. I liked that the video was played to start discussion topics, and each table had plenty of time to discuss what DEI means to us and how it can be improved…We have come a long
way with respect to Women in Water and how we treat each other more fairly, not just related to gender, but we could benefit from additional changes (and more) education on the subject. My table focused on training as a way to improve diversity in the Water sector. All-in-all, I learned a lot and had a good time!”
“ EACH TABLE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO DISCUSS WHAT DEI MEANS TO US AND HOW IT CAN BE IMPROVED…”
Public Education and Nebraska Wastewater Operator (NWOC) Committee
Scott Seelhoff, Chair
The Public Education Committee has been busy as usual this spring. Some of the main goals of the committee are to participate in Children’s Groundwater festivals, Judge science fairs, and help select a state winner for the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. One of our main events is the Elkhorn Water Daze in Norfolk, where volunteers help to organize a Wastewater Jeopardy Game for fifth-grade students. However, this year Mother Nature decided otherwise, and the event was cancelled for wind chill temps of -30. This year, the committee was able to participate in four Science Fairs across the state. North Platte, Kearny, Nebraska City, and NJAS at UNL East campus were
the sites for these fairs. While judging these fairs, our committee members used WEF scoring sheets in accordance with the Stockholm Junior Water Prize to award students cash prizes for their research projects within the water industry. Those students were then encouraged to apply for the SWJP to compete to become the national representative for the State of Nebraska. The committee members met on April 28 and were able to declare a state winner! They will represent Nebraska at the National SJWP that is to be held in St. Louis, Missouri, in June of this year. We look forward to our state winner sharing their experience and feedback with the NWEA. Lastly, the committee will
participate in the World O! Water again this year in September in Omaha. This will be the third year of our involvement, and I hope to continue to contribute for years to come. If you are interested in helping with the Public Education Committee, please reach out, as we are always looking for volunteers to help with these events.
The Nebraska Wastewater Operator Committee is currently planning this year’s Heartland Operator Conference. This process started at the beginning of March of this year and meets every other Friday morning. During these meetings, the committee is compiling the presentations that are to be on the agenda for the conference. The conference this year will be July 16 to 18. The afternoon of July 16 will be an ice breaker where appetizers are served and allow conference attendees to network with other operators from around the state and connect with the vendors that sponsor the conference. During the conference, there will also be a one-day exam refresher course that will be offered for operators wanting to revisit some training material in preparation for taking a certification exam. NDEE will be offering exams on Friday at the conference, but people taking the exam need to register with the state 30 days before the exam date. On Thursday of the conference, there will be a golf event for those interested in Gibbon. Overall, the conference focuses on the operators of Nebraska and providing them with information that can be used in their careers. If you would like to be a part of the committee and help plan the Heartland Conference, please reach out. We always want more input to make sure we are providing content that benefits our operators.
Young Professionals Committee
On Friday, April 25, the NWEA & NSAWWA Young Professional (YP) Committee hosted a Student Plant Tour for students at the Theresa Street Water Resource Recovery Facility. About 20 UNL students and three young professionals attended the tour. The students were able to enjoy an hour-long tour of the plant with the opportunity to engage with plant staff as they explained different processes throughout the tour. Afterwards, a social hour was hosted at Spikes. The students had the opportunity to join in networking with Young Professionals. The photo depicts Tyler Cruthers, the Facilities Operations Coordinator of Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities at the City of Lincoln, teaching students about primary clarification.
Ideas Transform Communities
Jake Rink, Chair
Public Communications and Outreach Committee
Brittni Stephens, PE, PMP, Chair
CALL FOR NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTIONS!
We invite all NWEA members to submit articles, case studies, and industry insights for the upcoming issues of The Effluent Line. Below are the publication dates and deadlines for 2025:
• Vol 56 | Number 3 | Fall 2025 – Publishes September 19, 2025, Content Due August 8, 2025
• Vol 56 | Number 4 | Winter 2025 – Publishes December 19, 2025, Content Due November 14, 2025
If you are interested in contributing, please contact Brittni Stephens at bstephens@olsson.com and Mathias Leiendecker at mathias@kelman.ca, our Managing Editor.
69th ANNUAL GREAT PLAINS CONFERENCE
RECAP
This year, the conference was held April 16 and 17 at the Embassy Suites in La Vista, a venue we have called home for many years. This was my second year as Conference Chair, and I have been very fortunate to have Sean Bell of HDR as my co-chair for those two years!
Sean has been instrumental in helping me make sure all the dozens of tasks that had to be checked off got completed.
Aside from Sean and me, we have a wonderful committee of volunteers that help us make this conference a success. HDR administrative staff members –Jamie Bausback, Miranda Mulinix, and Justin Schillerberg – helped us with everything from name badge design and sponsor posters to conference center walk-throughs and registration tracking (no small feat in itself!). We are also lucky to have Darren Jack, Chris Johnson, Blake Birkel, Scott Aurit, and Shawn Ovendenas part of the committee.
These folks provided vital feedback and help with decision making, shared lessons learned from Fall Conference (Blake) and past Great Plains Conferences (Darren), encouraged Sean and I to explore new ideas, and even ran the entire NWEA website (Shawn) which sent out conference reminders, collected registrations, and provided sponsorship opportunities to folks for this conference. This truly could not have happened without every single one of these individuals, and we are incredibly grateful they were willing
to sacrifice what little “free” time they already had in their days to meet with us.
This conference is also a joint venture with two other wonderful Nebraska organizations – Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and American Public Works Association (APWA). These organizations have been our partners for a long time and have provided crucial conference content, tours, training, and expertise to really make the conference something everyone can enjoy.
Daria Sakharova, 69th Annual Great Plains Conference Chair
RECAP
Thank you to Clayton Engelman, Lori Calub, Mike Miller, Michelle Hilding, Mitch Doht, and Morgan Sykes for all of your time and effort this year. Despite having so many wonderful folks helping out each year, we are always looking for new volunteers to join the committee. I do not think a time will ever come when a GP Chair will say, “oh no, we’re good, we don’t need any more help.” There is always room for improvement, it is why we ask attendees to please fill out the conference review forms, after all! But we all do have our day jobs that we still have to attend to 40 (at least) hours a week. So, the more helping hands and minds we have, the better we can make future conferences.
The 2025 Conference brought together 290 attendees who listened to 64 speakers present on topics ranging from WRRFs and Collection Systems to Stormwater Construction Methods and EPA regulations. APWA offered a wonderful half-day Ethics Training Session on the first day of the conference and SWANA held a highly interesting four-stop tour around facilities in Omaha and Lincoln.
We got fantastic feedback on both events, and we hope to be able to offer similar opportunities at future conferences!
As always, a heartfelt thank you to all of our 15 sponsors this year. We truly couldn’t do this conference without your support!
Please mark your calendars for the 2026 Great Plains Conference, tentatively scheduled for April 8 and 9, 2026!
2025 WEFMax OKC Recap
Building Bonds: Cultivating Community and Culture in Member Associations
Edie Gana, Water/Wastewater EIT, HDR
Each year the Water Environment Federation (WEF) allows three Member Associations (MAs) to host a WEFMax Conference. WEFMax means Water Environment Federation Member Association Exchange. This conference “provides a forum for members from across the Federation to build synergy, energy, and momentum for a better water future.” This allows members to learn what is new from WEF and learn from members of many MAs regarding successes, lessons learned, and gather resources to take back to their local MAs for implementation in local initiatives.
This April 2-4, 2025, Scott Aurit, Edie Gana, and Jeremy Walker attended WEFMax in Oklahoma City, OK. This event was held at a historic downtown hotel, The Skirvin, and began with a storytelling lesson and performance by the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers, and ended after many engaging conversations about recent ongoings of MAs from Texas, Virginia, Utah, Florida, Central States, Indiana, California, and many more across the United States. As a part of this conference, there was a service project with a local YMCA chapter to clean up an area of tow, an optional donation of books for kids in partnership
with the OKC Rescue Mission, a tour of a Kayaking facility, Riversport, that is going to be used in the 2028 Olympics. Not only did we all get to learn a lot about WEF and MA activities going on across the United States, but we also got to learn a lot about Oklahoma History, including about Native American Culture from the Fancy Dancers, and also about the culture of water in Oklahoma.
To leave our lasting impact on the other WEFMax OKC participants, we also led a discussion about the NWEA Mentoring Program, Student and YP Initiatives and Engagement at our local conferences, and
more, that inspired other MAs to engage their YPs and students similarly across the country.
The theme of the OKC WEFMax was “Building Bonds: Cultivating Community and Culture in Member Associations.”
Key Takeaways from this event are summarized below:
• Keep in consistent communication with your local association membership.
Members stay engaged with MAs who stay engaged with them. Share your MA story and let your members know what you are doing and how they can be involved.
• Volunteers like to have jobs! Finding a volunteer is step one, giving a volunteer a purpose and a role and a task keeps them engaged as a participant and will lead to their long-term commitment to an organization. If you are losing volunteers, it’s likely that they didn’t feel a purpose in their role, rather than that they did not want to help.
• We all practice Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion every single day, whether or not we mean to. Having children is a great example that just because children may be raised in the same home or environment, they likely will have different needs that parents have to adapt to raise them for their success. These children may have different personalities that bring diversity to our homes, rely on different emotional responses for learning lessons, and parents may have to try new things to make everyone feel included. It needs to be re-introduced that DE&I is not about giving the wrong people opportunities others may be more qualified for; it’s about making sure anyone qualified has the opportunity to have their place in an organization or have their voice heard.
• Look into WEF Grants, and don’t be afraid to apply for one to aid an MA initiative! The next grant requests are
due in June 2025. If you have an idea, let someone on the NWEA board know, and we will work to complete the application together.
• Consider having a local MA branding document for consistency in your organization and a clear vision for your mission.
• Become a “Water Advocate” on the WEF website. WEF sends 1-2 emails a quarter on key legislative issues. More information found at www.wef.org/ water-advocates.
• Share your story! Tell people about your job, teach the public about the world of water, and be an educator and advocate for the water industry at large.
• Join a WEF Committee! www.wef.org/membership--community/ communities/communities.
• If you’re going to Sooner Territory, you can certainly wear a Huskers jacket, but you might endure light heckling…
Building the Future
The NWEA/NSAWWA Mentor-Mentee Program featuring Mentor-Mentee Pair Nicole Martindale and Anna Dvorak
Tessa Lancaster, NWEA/NSAWWA Mentor Program Coordinator
The NWEA/NSAWWA Mentor Program offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between education and the professional world by connecting civil and environmental engineering students from UNO and UNL with experienced professionals in the water industry. Designed to support students during their academic journey, the program provides insights into career paths, fosters personal and professional growth, and strengthens the future of the water industry.
This year, 21 dedicated mentors generously volunteered their time to encourage and guide students as they explore their future careers. Mentor-mentee relationships are built around open communication, trust, and mutual learning, helping both parties grow personally and professionally.
Tips for a Successful Mentor-Mentee Relationship
Drawing from the experiences of 2024–2025 mentor-mentee pair Nicole Martindale and Anna Dvorak, as pictured, here are some key tips for making the most of the program:
• Prioritize In-Person Meetings: Whenever possible, meeting face-toface creates stronger connections and more meaningful conversations.
• Schedule Meetings Early: Plan meeting dates and times in advance and use calendar invites to stay organized.
Designed to support students during their academic journey, the program provides insights into career paths, fosters personal and professional growth, and strengthens the future of the water industry.
This year, 21 dedicated mentors generously volunteered their time to encourage and guide students as they explore their future careers. Mentor-mentee relationships are built around open communication, trust, and mutual learning, helping both parties grow personally and professionally.
• Discuss Expectations Upfront: During your first meeting, decide together on the frequency and format of future meetings.
• Focus on Communication: Clearly communicate about topics to discuss, scheduling changes, and general questions to keep the relationship on track.
• Choose a Preferred Communication Method: Whether you prefer email, text, or phone calls, align on the best way to stay in touch.
• Keep Meetings Informal: While academic and professional topics are important, taking time to talk about hobbies, interests, and personal stories strengthens the connection.
• Come Prepared: Both mentors and mentees should bring questions and discussion topics to each meeting. Mentees can ask about school, career paths, and seek advice on professional development. Mentors can share stories about real-world projects, lessons learned, and encourage involvement in professional organizations.
The Benefits of Mentorship
Participating in the Mentor Program offers countless benefits:
• For mentees, it’s a chance to gain real-world advice, build professional networks early, and develop confidence as they step into the industry.
• For mentors, it’s an opportunity to give back, reflect on their career journeys, and help shape the next generation of water professionals.
• For both, it fosters leadership skills, fresh perspectives, and a sense of community within the organization.
Get Involved!
New members and students are strongly encouraged to participate in the Mentor Program, which typically runs from
October through May. Whether you are seeking guidance or looking to inspire the next generation, mentorship is a powerful tool for personal and career development – and a rewarding way to contribute to the future of the
water industry. Be on the lookout for signups this September!
For more information on how to get involved, reach out to the NWEA/NSAWWA Mentor Program coordinator Tessa Lancaster at tlancaster@olson.com today!
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
NWEA Board Retreat 2025
On Tuesday, April 15, NWEA Board members and key contributors gathered at Olsson’s Omaha office for the annual Board Retreat. The session began with a focus on enhancing member connections. Highlights included the imminent release of the Effluent Line
newsletter and review of a proposal from Craig Kelman & Associates (our new publisher) for comprehensive website redevelopment that would improve communication abilities as well as provide more tools for membership databases and event management for committee members.
Work on Policies & Procedures (P&P) emerged as the centerpiece of the retreat. With recent updates to the NWEA Bylaws as background, the board is now actively crafting a detailed P&P framework that aligns with revised governance requirements and day-to-day organizational practices. While the Bylaws serve as the highlevel constitution – defining mission, membership eligibility, and officer roles – the P&P document functions like an operating manual with specific policies (like travel rules, attendance expectations, electronic voting guidelines, document storage, and committee term limits) and outlining clear responsibilities for board liaisons and committee chairs. The board weighed in on a variety of topics to include: and in the months ahead, committee chairs and other members will receive a call to take action to help fill in the details and bring this update to life. The conversation then shifted to documenting NWEA’s story through imagery. With longtime photographer Darryl Kottwitz planning to step away at the end of 2025, the Publications, Communications, and Outreach Committee (PCOC) will soon seek someone enthusiastic about photography to capture events like the Fall Conference, Great Plains Conference, and the annual golf outing. If photography is your passion and you’d like to get involved, please reach out –we’d welcome your support.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the retreat; your passion and collaboration drive NWEA forward. If you’d like to contribute content to the next Effluent Line, dream up a photography role, or explore a grant idea, please reach out. We look forward to building on this momentum together!
Making Ideas Work
NWEA Gears Up to Host WEFMAX in Spring 2027!
The Nebraska Water Environment Association (NWEA) is thrilled to announce that we’re in the early stages of planning to host WEFMAX in Spring 2027. An adhoc committee has been formed to begin brainstorming potential hotel and meeting venues as well as activities that will highlight the best of our state.
WHAT IS WEFMAX?
WEFMAX (or the WEF Member Association Exchange) is an annual, national-level program crafted by the WEF. Each year, three to four different Member Associations across the country rotate hosting duties. The event provides:
• A forum for WEF and MA leaders to share updates and innovations.
• Dedicated sessions where associations present best practices.
• Opportunities for feedback to shape future WEF initiatives.
• Social events designed to foster collaboration and relationships.
WHY DOES NWEA HOSTING A WEFMAX MATTER?
• Engage Locally, Shine Nationally As hosts, we’ll spotlight Nebraska as a vibrant center for environmental stewardship – welcoming water professionals from across the US to experience our resources, culture, and hospitality.
• Training & Networking Opportunities
WEFMAX consists of a 1-1/2-day training workshop, in addition to networking dinners and receptions. Hosting this event offers NWEA members a unique chance to participate in highlevel professional development and connect with peers nationwide.
• Celebrate Our 75th Anniversary In 2027, NWEA marks 75 years of service
to Nebraska’s water and wastewater community. Hosting WEFMAX aligns perfectly with our milestone – making it an ideal time to gather, learn, and celebrate together!
We believe WEFMAX Nebraska in 2027 will be more than a workshop – it will be a
celebration of growth, collaboration, and our collective mission of protecting and enhancing water resources. We look forward to engaging with you to make this a standout experience and an unforgettable celebration of NWEA’s legacy!
98th Annual Technical Exhibition & Conference
McCormick Place Convention Center | Chicago, Illinois
Conference: September 27 - October 1,
Exhibition: September 29 - October 1, 2025
leaders at WEFTEC!
WEFTEC, the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference, is the largest annual water quality exhibition in North America and offers water quality professionals the best water quality education and training available.
Discover the Power of Networking and Making New Connections
From the Opening General Session to rooting for your favorite team during the Operations Challenge, experience the unique ways WEFTEC brings water quality leaders together to form valuable and supportive relationships.
Meet water sector experts and suppliers, connect with water sector colleagues, and join the important conversations to help drive the future of water quality.
Who will you meet at WEFTEC?
WEFTEC attracts a wide cross-section of the global water sector each year, allowing you to exchange ideas, knowledge, and experiences that will broaden your perspectives and deepen your understanding of the sector. For more information, please visit www.weftec.org/reg-and-hotel/registration/ conference-registration-and-policies.
As an attendee, you’ll have access to...
EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
Whether you’re looking to drill down into specific topics in wastewater treatment, find solutions around zero liquid discharge, or stay updated on collection system trends, WEFTEC offers valuable learning opportunities for anyone working in the water sector. Check out the Schedule at a Glance, Technical Sessions, Workshops, and Facility Tours.
INNOVATIONS AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
With 1,000 exhibitors on site, WEFTEC showcases the latest innovations, technologies, and solutions in water quality management. In the nearly sold-out exhibit hall, you’ll get hands-on experience with the latest technologies and engage in a directory with the supplier teams to solve your most challenging issues. Explore the Exhibition.
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING
With over 21,000 water professionals converging in New Orleans, you’ll find your professional home at WEFTEC. Connect with sector leaders, experts, and peers from around the globe and exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and expand your professional network.
EXPERIENCE UNIQUE EVENTS
From the exhilarating Operations Challenge Competition to the prestigious WEF Awards Ceremony, WEFTEC offers a diverse range of unique events that entertain, inspire, and educate.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
From Continuing Education Credits to our Affinity groups, you’ll immerse yourself in a dynamic environment where creativity thrives, and collaboration flourishes. Attendees also earn continuing education credits, gain insights into career advancement opportunities, and stay informed about the latest job trends in the water sector.
2025 WEFMAX Salem Recap
Our recent trip to Salem, MA, for WEFMAX was filled with exciting experiences and valuable insights. A tradition at the WEFMAX events is for the MAs to bring something that is unique to their state to share with the conference participants. The Nebraska participants brought Rick’s Beef Jerky packets, which received positive feedback from attendees. Special thanks to Nancy Ovenden for her creative “Nice to Meat You” slogan on the package tag that added a fun touch to the experience.
Another memorable moment was receiving a Utah 5S pine from James McGill, who traveled from Salt Lake City. This thoughtful gift showcased his appreciation and connection to our event. We also gained significant insights into the workings of WEF’s BOT (Board of Trustees), HOD (House of Delegates), and the CLC Committee. These insights will surely benefit our future endeavors and enhance our understanding of organizational structures.
During a brainstorming session, we were tasked with identifying ways we could MAs? Our group discussed achieving a better connection between the MA and WEF through improving communication between the Committees and the Community Leadership Council (CLC). The CLC is one of the least understood groups within. The CLC is comprised of the Chairs and Vice Chairs of WEF’s Communities and the Directors of the Communities of Practice. Basically, where the discrimination of information rubber meets the MA communication road. To improve this collaboration, the Delegates at large serve as the CLC liaison for the committees that are not already assigned to the other board members. This role would include the responsibility of connecting the committee chairs with the regular WEF Committee meetings, participating in these meetings with the committee Chairs, and assisting with reporting meeting summaries to the Executive Board. The goal being to help the committees understand the WEF Committee initiatives and goals and inspire ongoing and regularly scheduled MA committee activities and improved participation.
We also had time to explore Salem, known for its numerous commercialized witch attractions (the police cars have a logo with a witch riding a broom). October is particularly crowded, making it the perfect time to experience the city’s lively atmosphere.
Lastly, we visited the famous Fenway Park for a Red Sox game, which was highly recommended. The Red Sox did win the game, and the celebration in the streets around Fenway was electric. The historic stadium provided a nostalgic glimpse into the world of baseball and left us with lasting memories. Overall, the trip was both enriching and enjoyable, offering a blend of professional growth and cultural exploration. If you get the opportunity, I would highly recommend participating in a WEFMAX.
Photo of entire WEFMAX Salem attendees.
Daria Sarakova, Shawn Ovenden, Marc Rosso
View of Fenway Park from our seats.
Call for Articles: Help Us Celebrate a Special Retirement!
Do you know a beloved team member who is preparing to retire soon? Help us surprise them with a special tribute! We’re inviting you to share a favorite memory, a meaningful moment, or just a few words about the impact they’ve had on you or the team.
Your contribution doesn’t have to be long or formal – just something heartfelt, funny, or genuine. Whether it’s a quick thank-you, a light-hearted story, or a warm farewell, your words will help us celebrate them in a way only you can. Photos are also encouraged –the older and more nostalgic, the better!
Please send your reflections and any photos to bstephens@olsson.com to be compiled into a draft article for your review.
Let’s come together to make their send-off unforgettable!
Upcoming NWEA Events
June
23-25 Certification Training – Grade 1+2 Central Community College Hastings, NE
26 One Day Maintenance Training North Fire Station Columbus, NE
July
17-18 Heartland Conference Kearney Holiday Inn Kearney, NE
August 25-27 Certification 3-Day Training – Grade 1+2 Therea Street Wastewater Facility Lincoln, NE
November 3 Wastewater Certification Training –Grade 1+2, some Grade 3 Northeast College Lifelong Learning Center Norfolk, NE
4-6 Joint Fall Conference Younes Conference Center North Kearney, 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.
and its
— W. H. Auden
This quote powerfully conveys water’s fundamental and irreplaceable role in sustaining life, making its availability and quality a constant, vital concern. In Nebraska, this extends beyond just fresh water to how we manage and reuse our wastewater.Nebraska, while rich in groundwater, increasingly focuses on sustainable wastewater management and resource recovery:- Protecting Water Quality: Modern wastewater facilities are vital for safeguarding Nebraska’s surface and groundwater from pollutants like nitrates, crucial for drinking water and ecosystem health.- Biosolids for Agriculture: A key resource recovery effort involves converting treated wastewater solids into nutrient-rich biosolids, providing sustainable fertilizer for Nebraska’s farms. Energy Recovery: Some Nebraska facilities are advancing by converting methane gas from treatment into renewable energy (RNG), reducing emissions and operational costs.- Infrastructure Needs: Many smaller communities require significant investment in upgrading aging wastewater systems to meet environmental standards and enable resource recovery.- Resilience & Planning: Recent events, like the 2019 floods affecting facilities, highlight the critical need for robust, climate-resilient wastewater infrastructure to ensure continuous service and resource recovery.In Nebraska, “not one without water” encompasses responsible wastewater treatment and resource recovery, closing the water cycle loop for environmental and economic benefit.
www.facebook.com/NebraskaWEA
www.linkedin.com/company/nebraska-water-environment-association
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