Every year, GMWEA honors operators, facilities, organizations, and companies that have demonstrated exceptional service to Vermont’s water quality industry. The 2017 awards were presented by outgoing president Rick Kenney at our 2018 Spring Meeting & Conference at the Killington Grand Hotel and Conference Center.
We’d love to publish all the winners’ photos, but due to space limitations, we need to select just a few. Nevertheless, congratulations to every one of the awardees, who are truly the best in the business!
- Michael Garofono Water Operator Excellence: George Donovan,
operator, Fair Haven Water Dept. (see photo, right); Mike Barsotti, director of water quality and production, Champlain Water District - Operator Excellence, Wastewater: Timothy Kingston, operator, Town of Brandon
- Facility Excellence Award, Water: Grand Isle Consolidated Water District (SOS)
- Facility Excellence Award, Wastewater: Town of Richford WWTF
- Andrew D. Fish Laboratory Excellence Award: Mike Swindell, operator, City of Burlington Main Wastewater Plant
- Outstanding Industrial Operator Award: Gary Audy, contract chief operator for The Alchemist Brewery, Trapp Lager Brewery, and Swan Valley Cheese (see photo, right)
- Bob Wood Young Professional Award: Nick Giannetti, Vermont DEC Wastewater Management Program
- Stormwater Award (Individual): Annie Costandi, stormwater coordinator, Essex Town (see photo, right)
- Corporate Sponsor Award: Clean Waters, Inc.
- Outstanding Industrial Facility Award: Stone Corral Brewery, Richmond
- Elizabeth A. Walker Meritorious Service Award: Mark Simon, principal, Simon Operation Services (posthumous)(see photo, below)
- GMWEA President’s Award: Eileen Toomey, customer service specialist, Endyne Labs; Town of Hartford
Two Vermont facilities and one individual also won U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awards, which were presented by NEWEA’s Ray Vermette:
- U.S. EPA Operations & Mantenance Award: Town of Milton
- U.S. EPA Operator of the Year Award: Nate Lavallee, chief operator, Burlington North and East Plants
- U.S. EPA Energy Efficiency Award: Village of Essex Junction
Who do you think deserves recognition? GMWEA award winners are considered based on nominations received from our membership! We invite you to put forward names of colleagues, facilities, or organizations you think have made exceptional contributions to the industry.
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