WEF Highlights

Growing up in Beaumont, Calif., then a relatively small town in the mountains, Bryan Wilfley didn’t expect to pursue a career in the water sector. But he also remembers shadowing his father, Jay Wilfley, who spent 30 years at the small Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District working as an operator, foreman, superintendent, and self-taught engineer. Bryan […]

After years of logging and sheep farming, Cody Snyder entered the wastewater sector. He may have started the career with simple expectations, but he developed a commitment to water that he has passed down to his oldest daughter, Jade. “Truthfully, when I was 21, I was just looking for a job with good benefits,” Cody […]

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) video, Invest in the Future: Work in Water, has received two separate gold awards. The double-award-winning video was produced by WEF staff members Lori Harrison and Jon Harrison for the WEFTEC® 2017 Opening General Session. It showcases the essential services that the water sector workforce performs and encourages […]

The third phase of the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) #MyWaterLegacy challenge began July 1. During the next 3 months, WEF invites water sector professionals to share stories about their efforts to protect and preserve water resources in local communities. Share your acts of community service on social media. Whether it’s building and installing […]

In high school, many students can become overwhelmed with career options and second-guess their choices. Not Vernon Azevedo. In 1970, as a senior at Lafayette High School in Lexington, Ky., Vernon found answers to those big life questions in less than 10 minutes. During a meeting with his guidance counselor, Mrs. Markley, Vernon admitted that […]

A sale starts with a knock on the door and a firm handshake. This was the guiding business philosophy in 1946 when J.T. and Tom Guthrie launched J.T. Guthrie and Son, a water and wastewater treatment equipment business in Brentwood, Tenn. At that time, growing a successful father-son business took considerable dedication, equipment knowledge, and […]

The #MyWaterLegacy Challenge has entered its second phase. During the next 3 months, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) invites you to become a water advocate. WEF is helping those in the water sector become leaders through advocacy. Use WEF’s online tool to write to your elected officials about the importance of clean water […]

Patty Chesebrough’s love of water can be traced to the childhood weekends she spent at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. “I can still hear the sound of the twin Mercury motors on our boat and remember dad teaching me to listen to their harmonies to set the throttles,” Patty said. Patty learned the importance of water stewardship as she watched her […]