CSWEA President's Message

November 2025

Creating Connections

Part of my day-to-day work includes management of connections to our regional interceptor system. Our Connection Permit Team reviews requests to ensure that the proposed connections meet our standards. These connections are an important part of serving the region; helping it grow and develop while ensuring the health and safety of the public.

Similarly, the connections that we make throughout our lives are instrumental in our own growth and development. The people that we interact with throughout our career
show us new ways to think about our work, providing us with new insights that we carry into future projects. This is frequently a two-way street, as we present our perspectives and skills to others, influencing the way that they approach their day-to-day activities. These connections that we form are important parts of our work, helping us grow and develop as professionals and leaders.

One of our goals at CSWEA is to provide opportunities to make and foster those connections with professionals throughout the association. To introduce members to others with different backgrounds, with different jobs, and with different outlooks to encourage the formation of these connections. This not only helps our members grow and develop, but also helps the association as members with different skill sets and perspectives help the association grow.
Part of that effort includes providing opportunities to connect with other members throughout the year. The YP Committees plan numerous activities throughout the year, including Trivia Nights, attending baseball games, WRRF tours, and other activities that provide an opportunity for members to connect with others in the industry. The Stormwater Committee holds bike tours to learn about improvements to stormwater management systems, finishing with a happy hour outing at a nearby restaurant or brewery. Many of our events include a social hour where you can get to know more about the other attendees. You might leave the next event with a new book to read, a new musician to listen to, or a new trail to hike!
The connections that we make with our coworkers, clients, and other CSWEA members contribute to our personal and professional growth. Forming those connections can be challenging and rewarding, requiring us to step our of our comfort zones to interact with people who we are unfamiliar with. CSWEA events and activities can help you break the ice and more easily create those connections.