They say that when one door closes, another opens, and Rey Davila is living proof. An unexpected layoff from the City of Dallas’ Transportation Department opened the door to a successful water sector career for him and, eventually, two other relatives – his daughter, Jessica Davila, and nephew, Christian Mendez.
Rey had served the city for 3 years as a traffic-light technician when he learned in 1989 that his job was being eliminated, and he would need to transfer to a different city agency.
“I was curious about water treatment and took a tour of a plant to see how everything worked,” Rey said. “Something inside of me said, ‘This is for you.’”
Rey moved to Dallas Water Utilities (DWU). He worked his way up the ladder from apprentice operator to operator to facility supervisor at DWU’s water resource recovery facilities. Fourteen years later, he accepted a position as a chief operator at the North Texas Municipal Water District (Wylie).
Finding a family through Operations Challenge
Rey joined the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) and the Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT) in 2004, so he would be eligible to participate in Operations Challenge. But being a member has given him much more, he said.
In 2005, Rey joined the Aqua Techs, an Operations Challenge team formed by Dallas Water Utilities, as team captain. He has taken his team to nine national competitions where they have finished first in several different events.
WEAT awarded Rey the David Barber Competitive Spirit award in 2012. Fellow Operations Challenge competitors voted for Rey to receive the distinction, which recognizes a participant’s spirit and drive. Also in 2012, WEF selected Rey to join a team representing the U.S. at an Operations Challenge-inspired competition called the Olimpiadas Sanitarias in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“It was an honor to represent WEF and the whole nation,” Rey said. “Some people call it WEFTEC or Operations Challenge, but I call it a big family reunion. I get to see my friends from other states and meet other people who love what they are doing.”
In 2013, WEAT selected Rey to join an all-star team to attend a regional Operations Challenge competition in New Jersey. He has remained involved in Operations Challenge, currently coaching the new North Texas team, The South Mesquite Rangers.
“[Operations Challenge] gives you so much information on how people in the industry overcome their challenges, including what equipment was used and how long it took to fix something,” Rey said. Preparing for the competition helps Rey train his staff on new processes needed to improve their facilities.
The Operations Challenge network introduced Rey to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Water Utility Operator Licensing Advisory Committee, to which he was elected a member. Through this position, he advocates for educating operators about the water sector’s continually changing technologies and strategies and coordinates special training events on new equipment.
Family shares love for water sector work and Operations Challenge
Christian Mendez and Jessica Davila also have found a love for the water sector and share Rey’s affinity for competition.
Mendez works for Dallas Southside Water Treatment Plant. In 2017, he joined the Aqua Techs, Rey’s original Operations Challenge team. As a team member, Mendez helped the Aqua Tech finish first in Division 2 during WEFTEC 2017.
Growing up, Jessica expressed a love for science and the environment, but her sights originally were set on becoming a doctor. Rey recalls the heart-to-heart talk that he believes changed her mind. The pair discussed a Reader’s Digest survey that listed water and wastewater professionals as the third most important job in the nation, behind doctors at number one. “I told her, ‘Look, I don’t care what people say, . . . we are really number one because you need water to run a hospital, which allows doctors to be doctors,’” Rey said. “She liked that I was so proud of my career.”
Jessica has been a chemist for Dallas Water Utilities since April 2014. She works in the analytical laboratory at Central Wastewater Treatment Plant (Dallas) where she analyzes the quality of water samples to monitor how well pretreatment processes are functioning.
Jessica adopts her father’s two main principles for success: work ethic and networking. She credits him with inspiring her to work in the water sector and participating in the American Water Works Association (Denver) National Tapping Competition. She has competed on the city’s first female pipe-tapping team, the Big D Lady Tappers, since 2016. The team won first place at the annual North Texas Invitational Competition in 2017.
“It was always exciting to hear about how a pump would go down and how they worked as a team to fix it, both in real life and during his competitions,” Jessica said. “It is an honor to follow in my father’s footsteps, and I wish to one day leave a legacy like he did, though they are really big shoes to fill.”
— Mary Bufe, WEF Highlights
My Water Legacy Showcases Passing Along Tradition of Working for WaterThe Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) shares stories about working in the water sector through the #MyWaterLegacy campaign. Launched at WEFTEC 2016, this effort brings attention to the value of membership, water sector leadership and innovation, and workforce development. My Water Legacy articles in WEF Highlights feature the members who have passed down the tradition of actively participating in WEF and working in the water sector. Do you know a WEF member who has mentored others in the water sector or a family with multiple generations of WEF members and water sector professionals? Contact Jennifer Fulcher, WEF Highlights editor, at jfulcher@wef.org. |
March 20, 2018
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