TWUA PRESIDENT:
Ginger Skipper, Water Treatment Lab Technician - Texarkana Water Utilities CeCe White, President
Educational Excellence Since 1918: The Texas Water Utilities Association is a water utility, member-centered organization. We provide training programs, technical publications, and mutual problem solving opportunities for those employed in, or otherwise interested in, the water utility industry.
My first interview was with Ginger Skipper, Water Treatment Lab Technician for Texarkana Water Utilities. 1.
Public health has always been an issue of utmost importance to me. My position as a Water Treatment Lab Technician allows me to play a major role in meeting TCEQ regulations, thus ensuring the safety of your drinking water – a major player in Public Health.
Our goal is to assist our members in providing improved services to mankind in their public health and environmental endeavors. This is the mission statement of TWUA. At the Opening Session of Annual School this year, I spoke briefly about this mission statement and work ethic. My comments on work ethic were taken from a TML published article called “Becoming a Thinker, A Doer, and an Everyday Player!” written by Mark Towers. In this article, Mr. Towers lists three parts of having a great work ethic – in having a belief in the moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character. The first part is to be a thinker. To work in and be part of an atmosphere that promotes creative ideas and thinking allows people to work together and develop meaningful ways of meeting each day’s job challenges. The second is to be a doer. A doer is busy taking on the day to day challenges and getting them done, whether they are small or large but they do what they need to in order to get the job done. The third part is to be an everyday player a person who enjoys each day and what comes to them, as it comes to them. Many of these everyday players are successful at what they do because they listen and learn. As they listen and learn, as they take on and complete challenges, large and small, they become committed to getting the job done. They love what they do and do whatever it takes to get the job done. As I read Mr. Towers’ article I was reminded of the TWUA mission statement and the organization’s members. Those who are involved in the water utilities industry are people who want to improve the lives of others, who care about the health and safety of mankind and the environment. And they are willing to do whatever it takes to take care of their fellow man and the environment. Because of the people that TWUA has as members, I have decided to continue the pattern for the “President’s Perspective” set by Byron Hardin and interview TWUA members each month. I want to continue to showcase a very small percentage of all of you who “get the job done” each and every day.
6 TEXAS WATER UTILITIES JOURNAL www.twua.org
Why did you choose this industry as your profession?
2.
What about this industry do you find most challenging? Dealing with customers who have taste and odor complaints. Many times it is difficult to convince them that we (the water treatment plant) are doing all we can to eliminate taste and odor problems when there is an active algae bloom in our water source.
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What contributions do you feel that you have made to this industry? I would like to think I have played an important role in keeping our system in compliance with bacteriological regulations.
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How many years have you been in this industry? Almost 11 years
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What challenges do you see facing this industry? Adequate source water supplies.
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What do you want to be remembered for from your involvement in this industry? My attitude toward customer service, which has always been the Golden Rule: Treat others the way I would like to be treated.
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How long have you been a member of TWUA? 10 ½ years
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How has TWUA assisted you in your profession? The many training classes and meetings I have attended have been a great educational tool for me. April 2011