4. Clean Water Careers: A Review and Discussion of the Opportunities in Maine

Morning Session (Piscataquis Room, 2nd Floor)

* This session have been approved for 2 training contact hours (TCH) through Maine’s Wastewater Operator Certification Program.

Chair: Paula Drouin, Maine Water Environment Association

A review of the careers available in Maine (wastewater, stormwater, drinking water), including the changing nature/new career opportunities associated with protecting Maine’s waters, particularly those involving newer technologies and data systems. Session will include a panel discussion with Young Professionals who are new to the industry and more veteran water professionals.

8:30AM – 8:55AM
Curtis Bohlen
Director, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership

In 2017, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) convened the Casco Bay Nutrient Council to provide a forum for examining the impact of nutrient pollution on Casco Bay, and identifying effective and cost-effective strategies to address the problem.  The Council has met six times over two years to review the state of the science, identify innovative approaches to reducing nutrient pollution, or inventory existing efforts, and develop recommendations. Join this session to learn about what has been learned and what questions, challenges and work we still face moving forward.

9:00AM – 9:25AM
Emily Zimmerman
Biologist, Marine Unit, Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Travel! Adventure! Making a difference! No. It’s not the military! Join us in an overview of opportunities working with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Charged with the responsibility of enforcing the state’s environmental laws and protecting and restoring Maine’s natural resources, the DEP engages in a wide range of activities across the entire state of Maine. Focus will be on the Bureau of Water Quality’s Division of Environmental Assessment. Responsible for most of DEP’s scientific monitoring and assessment, our biologists, geologists, and water specialists conduct extensive field work in, on, over and even under all water body types, including groundwater. This talk will share the wide variety of activities in which the staff engages, all for the purpose of protecting or restoring Maine’s water resources.

9:30AM – 10:25AM

Panel Discussion
This session will be a panel discussion with Maine Water Environment Association (MEWEA) Young Professionals and those who have been in the water industry long-term. What has changed over the years and what new opportunities exist in Maine?

Panelists:

• Jordon Heath, Asset Management Technician, City of Portland
• Scott Firmin, Director of Operations – Wastewater, Portland Water District
• Gretchen Anderson, Environmental & Sustainability Coordinator, Town of Windham
• Maxwell Kenney, Engineer, Woodard & Curran
• Cassidy Wallitsch, Engineer, Woodard & Curran