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Diversity Committee Recognizes DARCE Fund Winners |
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Annette Pope, Chair of the Diversity Committee, announced the five
winners of the DARCE Fund for 2001 at the business luncheon of the Ohio
Section Conference. The AWWA Ohio Section has supported the DARCE fund
in an effort to assist employees in the water profession to further
their education and to promote their professional development. The fund
is especially designed to assist women, minorities, and people who work
in non-traditional areas within the water industry. Winners receive
vouchers, ranging from $100 to $600, which can be used to pay for
registration at AWWA or OTCO sponsored training or for materials at the
AWWA Bookstore. This year, there were more than twenty-five applicants
for this fund. Here is a brief look at each of the winners.
First Place Winner, Lawrence J. Jones is the Office Manager for the Jefferson Regional Water Authority of Miamisburg, a position he has held for two years. In addition to his duties as an office manager, he monitors water user agreements, maintains customer accounts, assists with banking, works with the Board of Trustees, supervises and trains the office staff, and updates procedural manuals. He plans to use his voucher in the amount of $600 to obtain his Class I license. Second Place Winner, Katteea Kittrells is a Senior Clerk in the Cleveland Division of Water. In that position, she works in the Meter Reading Section and is responsible for sequencing new accounts and resolving problems with the routes of the meter readers. She processes the information that the meter readers collect each day and prepares their work for the next day. She generates management reports and serves as a troubleshooter when there are problems with the automated meter reading system. She is currently working on a degree in business management and she plans to use her voucher in the amount of $400 to pursue training that will help her advance in the Cleveland Division of Water. Third Place Winner, Sandra Vozar is Assistant Superintendent of Operations for the Elyria Water Works. In addition, Ms. Vozar is a professional engineer and she has been in her current position for less than one year—transferring from the City Engineering Office. Due to aged equipment, improved technology, and new EPA regulations, Elyria’s water plant is in need of upgraded equipment and technology. Ms. Vozar plans to use her voucher in the amount of $300 to attend seminars and to network with other water professionals in order to make the right decisions for future plant improvements. Fourth Place Winner, Erin Moore is an Office Assistant at Operator Training Committee of Ohio. In that position, Ms. Moore is responsible for invoicing and entering class information, preparing mailings, and tracking contact hours on the web site. She plans to use this voucher in the amount of $200 to pursue training that will help her to understand more about water and to improve the quality of her job. Fifth Place Winner, Douglas Crockett has been a Radio Dispatcher for the Cleveland Division of Water for the last two years and has worked in the water industry for the last ten years. Previously, Mr. Crockett has been a machinist helper, a machinist, and a water plant operator. Mr. Crockett plans to use his $100 voucher to expand his knowledge of water. Again, we would like to congratulate the winners of the DARCE Fund this year! Thanks to everyone who applied. If you were not a winner this year, submit your application. Next year, the winner may be you! |
