I’ve met some great people in this industry, and I always appreciate any chance to catch up face-to-face.

I just got back from the Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show in Indianapolis, and what stood out wasn’t the equipment — although some impressive trucks and technology filled the show floor — or anything about the show itself. It was the people.

I got to see some of the first friends I made in this industry, contractors whose stories I’ve told, and others who I was lucky enough to meet for the first time.

I got to have breakfast with Ben Smith of Minnesota-based Marvel Sewer and Drain, a contractor we profiled earlier this year. Later, he took me around and introduced me to a few people he’s worked with — good people with good stories to tell.

One of those people was Ken Beyer of Clog Squad. Beyer is a Michigan-based contractor who wanted tools to better serve his business, so he started making his own sewer and drain equipment. I got to see his gear and hear about some of the jobs it’s helped him tackle. You’ll probably be hearing more about him in these pages in the future.

Smith also introduced me to Matt Benton from Famhost Apps - RealTime Forms. Anyone who’s ever shopped for anything online knows the value of reviews, and drain cleaners can benefit just as much as any manufacturer whose goods are for sale on Amazon.

And I can’t talk about people at the WWETT Show without mentioning Mike Williams from Just Drains in Philadelphia. Anyone who’s seen Williams even from a distance knows how much energy he brings to everything he does. I’ve known him for quite a while. He sometimes calls just to talk. He always has insight and ideas, and we spent some time at the show talking about some ways he might contribute to the magazine. I’m always looking for new angles and storylines, and I’m hoping to get him involved.

Fittingly, my last conversation in Indianapolis was with Reinhart Laimer, the very first person I ever met in this industry. I went to my first Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo (now the WWETT Show) about five months after I started working at COLE Publishing. When I got to Indy, before the show even opened, one of our sales reps walked me around the show floor to see the setup. As soon as we walked through the doors, we ran into Laimer. The rep introduced us, and ever since, I’ve always made it a point to make some time to talk with him whenever I have the chance.

In many ways, this magazine is like a monthly trade show. It’s an opportunity to find out what’s new, learn about the latest equipment and get to know other contractors. Your monthly attendance is always appreciated. I hope we get a chance to talk.

Enjoy this month’s issue.