Last fall I spoke with a business owner who was new to the industry. He was mere weeks removed from closing on a well-established portable restroom and septic company in Iowa. In time, he was interested in expanding into other services like drain cleaning and hydroexcavation.
We had an introductory chat about a variety of topics. He wanted any insights about the industry that I could provide as editor of Cleaner. And even if there’s plenty I’m still learning myself, I guess I did have a little something to offer to someone completely new to the industry. His background was in finance. He had worked for years on Wall Street, but tired of it and wanted to own and grow a solid small business back in his home state. Thus he found himself getting educated on the water and wastewater industry.
With him being in learning mode, I of course brought up the WWETT Show, which is scheduled for later this month. I’ll be there, and I imagine this Iowa business owner will be in attendance as well. He said he was planning on it. It’s a great education experience no matter where your level of expertise sits at. If you’re a decades-long industry veteran, there’s still new equipment and technologies to check out. If you’re a newbie, it’s a particularly valuable learning environment.
I remember my first WWETT Show in 2015. It was my first real opportunity to see everything in person that, up to that point, I had only been able to read about in my role as a copy editor for COLE Publishing. I had a decent enough understanding of things for copy editing purposes, but it was different to be able to walk around a pumper truck or watch a live CIPP lining demo.
In time, that overwhelming awe of my first WWETT Show where everything was new turned into a routine. Now, especially given my role as Cleaner editor, I approach the WWETT Show like a checklist. Any contractor I meet I think about if they’d be good for a future profile in the magazine. I look for any equipment that would be good to feature in a Money Machines article. Tech Perspective, Safety First, all these regular features that appear in the magazine I look for story leads at the WWETT Show.
I also still try to remember that feeling of being completely new to everything. A dry sponge soaking in every last bit of moisture — or rather wastewater. A couple of this month’s features are tailored more to that side of things. Better Business looks at how to attract the teen demographic to a trades career. And in On the Job, regular contributor Anthony Pacilla provides an overview on how to do a thorough sewer assessment. Nothing groundbreaking for the industry veteran, but I never know who might be picking up Cleaner magazine for the first time needing just a basic rundown on a topic.
And for anyone who would like to connect at the WWETT Show, email me at editor@cleaner.com or just stop me if you happen to see me walking the show floor. I’m always up for talking anything water and wastewater.
Enjoy this month’s issue.
