It’s that time of year again; one I think we can justly refer to it as October Madness. Kick-off with some workshops. I participated in the workshop on sustainable design lead by Andrew Shaw. With between 30 and 35 attendees, the presentations were good and the discussion lively. One issue that came up is what do …
Professionals Take Part in Walkway to Wetlands
Approximately 75 volunteers – including four Black & Veatch professionals – took part on Saturday, 15 October, in the Walkway to Wetlands project in conjunction with the kickoff of the Water Environment Federation’s 84th Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC). The fourth annual project, organized by the Water Environment Federation (WEF)’s Students and Young Professionals …
An Amazing Gavel: What WEF is doing
Last night now-past-president Jeanette Brown passed me the ceremonial gavel at WEFTEC here in Los Angeles, and I want to tell you about that amazing gavel. Defying the laws of physics, the gavel is simultaneously light and heavy; it carries an exceptional honor and great promise along with daunting responsibility. The gavel is light—and also …
The future of water: Water leaders’ conversation
Dan McCarthy, President and CEO of Black & Veatch’s global water business, took part on Tuesday, Oct. 18, in a high-powered series on future insights, global issues and sustainability — “Looking Forward: A Conversation with Key Water Leaders About Water in the Next Decade.” The session was an unscripted, conversational format where senior water leaders …
UK Trade and Investment Breakfast Briefing on the role of the water industry
On Tuesday morning, Oct. 18, I had the opportunity to present in an exciting UK Trade and Investment Breakfast briefing, “The Role of the Water Industry in the Transition to a Global Sustainable Economy. ” This program was a nice transition in to the next session in which I appeared, a Water Leader’s Session on …
Community outreach with Echo Park Lake has been key
On Monday, Oct. 17, I arrived at WEFTEC later in the afternoon as I attended a field meeting at the Echo Park Lake Rehabilitation Project. The project has been under construction about three months now, and the neighbors are keeping a watchful eye over everything. One example that was cited is a webcam at http://echoparklake.com/. …
A message resonating throughout the industry
Black & Veatch’s Chairman, President and CEO Len Rodman recently talked about the work that our company does in the field of “critical human infrastructure.” Dan McCarthy, President and CEO of Black & Veatch’s global water business has also carried that torch but targeted the water industry with infrastructure that is largely out-of-sight, out-of-mind. All …
Don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone
Les Lampe’s presentation on Monday, Oct. 17, at WEFTEC 2011, helped me to recall a famous song from my youth — “Don’t Know What You Got Til It’s Gone,” by 1980s heavy-metal hairband Cinderella. Part of Lampe’s presentation on “Adapting to Climate Change,” in Monday’s technical session discussed water use efficiency programs that have been …
Restoring a historic locale in LA
Andy Andrews found a way to tie in Casper the Friendly Ghost, Gilligan’s Island and other former Hollywood favorites into a presentation on Monday, Oct. 17, at WEFTEC 2011. “The things you learn at WEFTEC,” Andrews said. His presentation was on the historic Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles and the work that Black & …
Misquoting Ben Franklin and Other Urban Myths
You can’t believe everything you read on t-shirts in Los Angeles. For that matter, you can’t believe everything you read on the Internet—including this blog—so just think of this as my idea of what’s true. As I wandered around the convention center soon to be filled by WEFTEC attendees, my eyes were drawn to a …
