Young Professionals are the future of the water works industry

Recently, young professionals from the Michigan and Ohio American Water Works Association (AWWA) sections visited McWane Ductile – Ohio for a facility tour and lunch & learn session. 

Each state section of AWWA has its own young professionals committee to organize events focused on professional development, including opportunities for continued education, networking and leadership growth. Their mission is to support career development by offering a space for idea sharing, encouraging interaction across all experience levels and promoting active participation in AWWA.

Through these efforts, AWWA Young Professionals play a key role in shaping the future of the water industry.

McWane Ductile has a history of supporting AWWA Young Professionals and has been a platinum sponsor for the national AWWA YP conference in the past. As a member of the Michigan section committee, Sales Representative Kate Alexakos, worked with the committee's Vice-Chair Zanna Leciejewski to plan the tour for the two groups. 

McWane Ductile – Ohio Sales Representative CJ Fowler lead the tour which began with a detailed safety orientation followed by an overview of the foundry's operations. Attendees then visited several key areas of the facility, including fabrication, testing and the production floor. This visit provided a valuable opportunity for the group—composed of consulting and utility engineers and scientists—to gain firsthand knowledge of the ductile iron pipe manufacturing process.

Following the tour, Senior Regional Product Engineer Roy Mundy presented a Lunch & Learn session on “Generational Attitudes in the Utility Workplace.”