Learning Opportunities Await

The education offerings at WWETT 2015 provide the latest information on technology, safety and business for the liquid waste industry.

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The Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show in Indianapolis features the newest equipment in the industry and opportunities to network with peers, but you’ll also find an unmatched focus on continuing education. The 2015 show will host a series of valuable seminars to help wastewater professionals enhance their knowledge base and in turn help their businesses.

WWETT 2015 kicks off Monday, Feb. 23, with Education Day. Tracks of workshops are sponsored by a variety of professional organizations, including the National Association of Wastewater Technicians (NAWT), National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), Southern Section Collection Systems Committee (SSCSC), National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO), National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA), Waterjet Technology Association/Industrial & Municipal Cleaning Association (WJTA-IMCA) and the Sump and Sewage Pump Manufacturers Association (SSPMA).

The following days will feature a variety of additional workshops and roundtable-type discussions covering a range of topics from truck inspections to grease hauling to small-business branding.

All workshops will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in meeting rooms adjacent to the exhibit hall. For more information on seminar times, locations and speakers, visit www.wwett.com.

Seminars of interest to liquid waste industry professionals include:

Education Day, Monday, Feb. 23:

Environmental Impact Study: Effects of Water Softener on Septic Tank Performance, by Eric Yeggy, director of technical affairs for the Water Quality Association in Lisle, Ill. The seminar will cover recent research being conducted through the Water Quality Association on the impact of water softeners on septic tank performance.

A Study of Microbiological Induced Corrosion, by Claude Goguen, the National Precast Concrete Association’s director of sustainability and technical education. Purdue University’s two-year study on microbiologically induced corrosion will be discussed. Participants will look at the next steps of this initiative and what NPCA members are doing to build tanks that will withstand MIC.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Create Your Personal Brand and Strategic Network for Success in 5 Easy Steps, by Suzan Chin, founder and chief marketing officer of Creative Raven. This session is designed for seasoned business pros and startups alike. It will cover five key elements for personal branding and creating a circle of influence to build business and develop useful and mutually beneficial relationships.

Effective Website Design and Engaging Customers in the Digital Age, by Suzan Chin. Review elements to implement when designing and building a website to meet the needs of today’s demanding online audience, such as developing a budget, a plan of action, strategy, timelines and content development.

Tapping into the Power of Social Media and Content Marketing, by Suzan Chin. Review the pros and cons of various social media to help department leaders perform due diligence and make good decisions for online marketing initiatives. The discussion will cover content marketing, how it works, when it should and can be used, and how to utilize it to maximize advantage.

Protecting Private Enterprise, by Gil Longwell, a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Community Affairs certified environmental trainer and a Kellogg Fellow. Discuss public policy issues associated with the wastewater management industry. Recognizing the players, becoming your legislator’s behind-the-scenes expert and making your voice heard will round out the discussion.

Been There, Done That, Got The T-Shirt (Small Business From a Hands-On Perspective), by Jim Aanderud, president and owner of Innerline Engineering. Look at the financial challenges in business and discuss ways to increase volume, profit and cash flow. Also discuss the challenges of family-owned businesses, and look at ways to inspire and challenge employees to be key players in the organization.

New Technologies for Non-Potable Water Use, Part 1, by Albert Robert Rubin, senior environmental consultant and principal with A. R. Rubin and Associates. Explore standards and requirements for onsite residential and commercial water reuse treatment systems; water-quality requirements for non-potable water use; competency of personnel managing reuse systems; and using evidence-based information to communicate with the public.

New Technologies for Non-Potable Water Use, Part 2, by Albert Robert Rubin. This presentation will expand on Part 1, exploring water reuse and advanced technologies for difficult situations and retrofitting existing systems, including homes with onsite wastewater systems.

Rules and Regulations with New Technologies and Working with Regulators, by Anthony Smithson, consultant and former director of environmental health in Lake County, Ill. This session will focus on working with regulators and regulations that are outdated, inflexible and built on unfounded assumptions.

OSHA Regulations and Smart Business, by Doug Lassiter, executive director and lobbyist for the North Carolina Septic Tank Association. Learn the basics about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), what to keep in mind and what to keep on hand in the field.

Sales and Marketing with New Technologies, by Doug Lassiter. Learn what to keep in mind for your sales and marketing plan. Special consideration will be given to integrating new technologies and services into existing sales and marketing plans and strategies.

Sizing Guidelines for New or Replacement Sewage Pumps, by Deron Oberkorn, corporate product development manager for the Zoeller Company. This session will discuss general and technical information on the selection and sizing of effluent pumps in onsite waste treatment systems.

Backup Battery and Combination Pump Systems Evaluation and Installation, by Alan Schulman, founder and CEO of Glentronics. This presentation focuses on the value of having a backup unit for the primary sump pump. It will answer the questions associated with the available options such as battery-operated, inverter-operated or water-powered pumps.

Specifying Pumps: Why Do Pumps Fail? by Jeff Hawks, president at Champion Pump Company. Review the differences between sump, effluent and sewage pump applications, discussing various types of construction and design used such as motors, bearings, impellers, seals and cord entrances, and touch on the different types of switches used in pumping applications.

Grow or Go! Why Most Companies Fail to Grow Effectively and What You Can Do to Keep Your Company From Failing, by J. Kelly Newcomb, principal/owner of i.e.Brand and Newcomb Consulting Group. Participants will understand why 90 percent of organizations fail to realize their growth plans. By utilizing the power of the 80/20 principle and other organizational practices, companies will learn to identify and overcome obstacles to growth.

Target Marketing: How to Effectively and Efficiently Grow Your Sales, by J. Kelly Newcomb. This session will provide participants with a proven process and tools to grow sales.

Effective Branding and How It Can Help Your Business, by J. Kelly Newcomb. Participants will understand the basics of branding and how effective branding can help companies grow their sales and improve profitability.

Business Basics 101, by Ellen Rohr, business-building author and consultant. Learn how to lay claim to your financial power, and how to read and use financial reports to keep score in the game of business.

Build the Business You Really Want, by Ellen Rohr. Learn how to develop a simple strategy for a powerful business plan that will drive you toward your goals.

Women in Wastewater Roundtable Discussion, featuring Lara Mottolo, Therese E. Wheaton, Shanna Sands and Joyce Gresh. The panel of professionals from different facets of the industry will address product and service questions, the future of the industry, as well as general managerial and career building advice for those starting out in environmental services.

Lobbying, by Eric Casey, executive director of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association. Participants will learn why it’s important to be politically active and some of the ways to become involved.

Field Inspections, Part 1, by Scott Hetrick, vice president of sales at Norweco. This presentation will look at field testing for advanced wastewater treatment units from the manufacturer’s point of view.

Field Inspections, Part 2, by James A. Bell, executive vice president of Bio-Microbics. This session continues the discussion of field testing in Part 1.

Septic Tank Safety – Lethal Lids, by Pat Mulhall, vice president of sales at Polylok. This session will focus on the often-overlooked safety component of septic tank installation and maintenance, including a discussion of available safety measures and the benefits of putting safety first.

Time Dosing, by Tom W. Ashton, an environmental health specialist, soils scientist, onsite evaluator and alternative onsite system operator in Virginia. With a concentration on smaller flows, application of system tools to mitigate various facilities, use and soil/site conditions will be reviewed, including preliminary design calculations and treatment/dispersal train configurations.

Tuesday, Feb. 24:

Soils, Design, O&M: What Every Installer Should Know, by Brendan Cory, owner of BSC Environmental. Explore soil evaluation and water tables and how those evaluations play a role in the sizing and siting of onsite wastewater treatment systems.

Best Installation Practices for Trouble-Free Pump Controls, by Brett Wilfong, distributor sales manager, and Mark McCollum, regional sales manager for the western United States for SJE-Rhombus. This presentation will discuss the best methods for installing wastewater pump control panels and float switches, factors that can lead to premature pump system failures and troubleshooting pump systems when problems do occur.

Introduction To Effluent Filters, by Bob Smith, a systems engineer for Orenco Systems. Comparing and contrasting the four methodologies for providing sewer service: conventional gravity sewer, grinder sewer, vacuum sewer and effluent-only sewer. Advantages and disadvantages, capabilities and limitations will be discussed, as well as implications for selection of appropriate treatment technologies.

New Trends and Technology in Equipment for Excavation Safety, by Mike Ross, shoring specialist and national training director at Efficiency Production Inc. The presentation will cover current and emerging trends for excavation safety in urban, residential and congested environments; options and requirements for excavation safety, including OSHA standards; and specific new techniques, technology and safety equipment.

How to Position Your Company in the Market Today, by Mike Agugliaro, co-owner of Gold Medal Service and owner of the service-business mentoring firm, ServiceKey. Discuss how identifying a target audience, finding a unique selling proposition and establishing an effective marketing strategy can help strongly position a company in the market.

Six Proven Tactics to Generate Leads and Turn Them Into Revenue, by Heather McLeod, brand manager, and Dianna Worthington, franchise consultant and training manager for Mr. Rooter. This session gives straightforward advice on making the phone ring with qualified leads and tactics to turn those phone calls into viable, consistent sales dollars.

Growth by Acquisition or Exiting Gracefully: Buying or Selling a Septic or Sewer Business, by A. Rhodes Wilson, a business consultant. This session will help identify prospective buyers or sellers and make a successful approach; apply appropriate valuation factors; understand potential pitfalls of the sale and identify and understand typical sales terms and conditions; structure the deal; and know what to expect at closing and during the transition.

How to Manage Septic Systems using Remote Monitoring, by Scott Robinson, managing director of RH2O North America. Learn how advances in control systems and remote monitoring solutions can save customers and maintenance providers time and money, and protect environmental health.

True Crime Scene Stories: How to Inspect and Troubleshoot Suspect Onsite Systems, by Dawn Long, owner of American Septic Service. Through photographs, this presentation will examine crucial components of point-of-sale inspection forms that will aid inspectors and maintenance providers in correctly identifying “who done it.”

Wednesday, Feb. 25:

Analyzing Common Onsite Septic System Malfunctions and the Options for Prevention and Correction, by Dennis Hallahan, technical director at Infiltrator Systems. This presentation will review some malfunctions/challenges and present emerging technologies and system design strategies to address them. It will draw on two specific cases to illustrate solutions/approaches to meet the challenge of installing high-functioning systems in difficult soils.

Team Building for Profit, by Don Daub, electrical engineer, technology trainer and consultant. This seminar coaches contractors on the importance of unifying the team to meet goals. Topics include time management skills, personality types, basic group dynamics and team cohesiveness.

Ten Common-Sense Ways to Grow and Improve Your Business, by Lane Post, president and founder of Pacific Drain Service and Arrow Pipeline Repair. This talk stresses intangibles of small-business ownership, such as passion, personality and perseverance, and suggests a return to old-fashioned values aided by electronic technology.

Setting Expectations – The Key to Sales and Customer Satisfaction, by Matthew Sutton, a founder and vice president of sales and marketing at RapidView IBAK. Effectively manage expectations to build your business, make customers much happier and avoid unnecessary conflict.

Introduction and Site Evaluation, by Jim Anderson, Ph.D., Department of Soil, Water and Climate at the University of Minnesota, and Dave Gustafson, P.E., a civil engineer and trainer in the Minnesota licensing program. This session will briefly review site planning and preparation, including soils evaluation, factoring in setbacks and easements, lot elevations, lot size and system configurations and placement.

System Sizing and Basic Design Principles, by Jim Anderson, Ph.D., and Dave Gustafson, P.E. Look at the basics of design and what goes into determining system sizes and types.

Pumping to Systems, by Jim Anderson, Ph.D., and Dave Gustafson, P.E. One of the first steps to installing advanced technologies is understanding pump basics and how to pump to elevations and to pressure distribution systems. Learn to understand potential problems with pump systems, such as freezing or plugging, and how to deal with them.

Installations of ATUs, by Jim Anderson, Ph.D., and Dave Gustafson, P.E. Discuss how to approach installing an aerobic treatment unit or tank, how it is different from a septic tank and what you need to know.

Installing for Management, by Jim Anderson, Ph.D., and Dave Gustafson, P.E. With today’s focus on taking care of systems for the long term, installers need to understand their role in effective operation and maintenance or system management.

Troubleshooting Systems, by Jim Anderson, Ph.D., and Dave Gustafson, P.E. Installers are often asked to inspect and repair a system that is not working properly. This session will discuss troubleshooting and working toward solutions. 



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