| Hustling for potential water sector professionals
AWWA Articles

Hustling for potential water sector professionals

What better time to promote the importance and career potential of the water sector than while running a 5K?

The “dash and discuss” strategy is working for some enthusiastic members of the Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) who powered through two recent chilly runs to connect with the Minneapolis/St. Paul community.

Carol Kaszynski, one of the AWWA runners and chair of the Section’s STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Committee, said the events are a unique opportunity to recruit people into the water sector and educate the public about AWWA’s commitment to safe, affordable water and wastewater services.

“We’re excited to provide an educational opportunity to the community, recruit job candidates from all cultures and diversity and pay it forward with our excitement and enthusiasm,” she said, noting that they reached about 300 people through the two races.

The Section signed on as a partner for the Minnesota Brewer Running Series and recruited students from St. Cloud Technical College’s water environment technology program to chat about the water sector while handing out water to the runners. After the race, the STEM Committee sponsored a raffle and handed out “No Water No Beer” hats, mugs and t-shirts.

“We discussed the measures taken by professionals on a 24/7 basis to ensure that drinking water is safe, tastes great and is affordable, and mentioned the importance of wastewater collection and treatment,” Kaszynski said.

“We’re also spreading the word that there are numerous jobs in the water/wastewater industry that are interesting, provide value to others and are well-paying, and that there is a need to fill these jobs to continue to serve our communities,” she added. “The Running Series organizers really appreciated our partnership, and everyone was interested in our messages.”

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement