BOYNE FALLS (June 29, 2016) – Fleis & VandenBrink’s (F&V) process group manager , and F&V Operations and Resource Management’s (FVOP) regional manager Catherine Garnham recently received honors from the Michigan Water Environment Association (MWEA).
Pugh received the Outstanding Environmental Consultant award on June 21 from the state association of water quality professionals. Garnham was named Public Utility Management Professional of the Year at the same awards luncheon held during the 91st annual conference at Boyne Mount Resort.
Pugh, who received the MWEA’s “Baron of Solids” award and was inducted into the association’s 5-S Society (Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers) a year ago, has been active within MWEA for over 34 years. He has been involved in a number of MWEA committees including Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP), Process, Maintenance, Biosolids, Awards and Local Sections.The Outstanding Environmental Consultant award honors an individual who is dedicated to his employer and the MWEA. The recipient must also have excelled professionally in the environmental consulting field and has publicly promoted the water environment profession.
Pugh lives in Alto and has been with F&V for five years. Named the process group manager in 2015, he oversees nearly 20 employees at the Grand Rapids office.
Garnham was recognized as an individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to an employer and to the MWEA, excelled in public utilities management and publicly promoted the water environment profession. Criteria includes five years of experience in public utility management and contributions to the advancement and understanding of water environment issues.
Garnham, who joined FVOP in 2012, received the MWEA’s inaugural executive director’s award in 2015.
Garnham, who resides in Au Sable Township, manages 10 FVOP employees and three facilities in northeast Michigan. She has been involved in water and wastewater operations now for 26 years. Earlier this year she was named an associate with F&V, the first woman to receive that honor since the principal and associate program was initiated in 2006.
Garnham, who has been a member of the MWEA for two decades, helped develop the MWEA’s Purpose & Fundamentals of Wastewater Treatment course. She is chairperson for the MWEA’s Wastewater Administrators Conference committee.
The MWEA is one of Michigan’s oldest organizations. It was established in 1925 and represents more than 2,000 water quality professionals who are dedicated to preserving, restoring and enhancing Michigan’s water resources. The MWEA is a member association of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), an international organization with more than 34,000 members worldwide.
