Association Awards Info & Recipients - Wisconsin Wastewater Operators' Association

Annual Awards

George F Bernauer

Criteria include successful plant performance, and/or successful solution of important or complicated operational problems, and/or outstanding contributions in the field of wastewater technology in the State of Wisconsin. The nominee may be a municipal, industrial, or institutional operator, administrator, or educator in Wisconsin. It is not limited to WWOA members. Members currently serving on the Board of Directors are not eligible to receive this award.

Award includes a plaque, framed certificate, and complimentary banquet dinner ticket and hotel accommodations for the evening of the banquet (if needed).

NOTE: The person who nominated the award recipient is responsible for letting the Executive Secretary know if the award winner needs a hotel room for the evening of the banquet.

Listing of Past Bernauer Award Recipients

2024 Jeff Mayou
2023 Jeffery Bratz
2022 Autumn Fischer;
2021 Bill Marten; Donohue Associates
2020 Aaron Dose; Madison Metropolitan SD
2019 Jim Smith; Applied Technologies
2018 Rusty Schroedel; AECOM
2017 Harry “Ari” Mathos; City of Beloit
2016 Gary Hanson, SEH
2015 Daniel Brady; Sheboygan WWTP
2014 Dennis Holtz; New Richmond
2013 Dale Doerr; Sheboygan WWTP (Former)
2012 Aga Razvi; UW Stevens Point (retired)
2011 LaMont Albers; West Bend
2010 Ken Johnson; Rib Mountain MSD
2009 Charles (Randy) Case; DNR
2008 Daniel J. Landis; Milwaukee
2007 Aurelene (Toni) Glymph; DNR
2006 Greg Kester; DNR
2005 Dan Busch; GBMSD
2004 Wally Thom; Rice Lake
2003 Dennis Harmer; Kenosha
2002 Don Ceplina; Stevens Point
2001 John Leonhard; Fond du Lac
2000 George Bowman; Madison
1998 Don Lythjohan; Madison MSD
1997 Dean Falkner; Sheboygan
1996 Richard Birner; Milwaukee MSD
1995 Arthur E. Peterson; UW Madison
1994 J. Willard Debauche; Jr. Green Bay MSD
1993 Dr. Koby Crabtree; U.W. Wausau
1992 Pete Albers; Kewaskum
1991 Gerald G. Selin; Kenosha
1990 Carl J. Blabaum; WDNR Madison
1989 Paul Nehm; Madison, MSD
1988 James Kohl; WDNR Milwaukee
1987 Roger Sherman; Fort Atkinson
1986 Robert Thompson; Green Bay MSD
1985 Larry Ernest; Milwaukee MSD
1984 Beverlee Thivierge; Iron River
1982 Clyde Lehman; Chippewa Falls
1981 Henry Tork; Stevens Point
1980 Stan Budrys; Racine
1979 Tom O’Keefe; Hudson
1978 John Wagner; Waukesha
1977 Karl Zuehlke; Eau Claire
1976 Leo Templeton; Manitowoc
1975 Al Winter; Kaukauna
1974 Ralph Hanson; Antigo
1973 John Allen; Chippewa Falls
1969 Philip Cieslek; Mosinee
1963 Virgil Hammond; Fennimore
1961 Henry Hesig; Milwaukee
1960 John Wallendahl; Waupun

Koby Crabtree Research & Education Award

Awarded to a WWOA member for excellence in technical support provided to others in the field of wastewater treatment. The individual should be a recognized authority in wastewater, share knowledge through presentations, contribute to problem solving, and provide service regardless of compensation. Members currently serving on the Board of Directors are not eligible to receive this award.

Award includes a plaque, framed certificate, and complimentary banquet dinner ticket and hotel accommodations for the evening of the banquet.

NOTE: The person who nominated the award recipient is responsible for letting the Executive Secretary know if the award winner needs a hotel room for the evening of the banquet.

Listing of Past Crabtree Award Recipients

2024 Tom Crouse
2023 Tom Steinbach
2022 Tom Fitzwilliams;
2021 Dan Tomaro; Wastewater Training Solutions
2020 Ryan Hennessy; Midwest Contract Operators
2019 Bruce Bartel; NEW Water
2018 Jim Miller; MWOA (Wenck)
2017 Kathy Bates; Milwaukee Area Technology College (MATC)
2016 Troy Larson; Strand Associates
2015 Torell Geffers; Fontana –Walworth Water Pollution Control Commission
2012 Gary Hanson; AECOM
2011 Chris Groh; Wisconsin Rural Water
2010 George Bowman; WI State Laboratory of Hygiene
2009 Kay Curtin; MNWPC
2008 Rick Mealy; DNR
2007 Paul Lange; Watertown
2006 Paul Harris; Davy Laboratories
2005 Bill Marten; Donohue & Associates
2004 Glenn R. Smeaton; Madison MSD
2002 Mike Humcke; Environmental Resources
2001 Dan Busch; Green Bay
2000 Roy Lembke; WDNR Madison
1999 Mike Raynovic; North Central Labs
1998 Pat Gomez; Fond du Lac
1997 James G. Shaw; Germantown
1996 Don Voigt; Cedarburg
1995 Kenneth L. Sedmak; Sheboygan

Albers-Templeton Service Award

Presented to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the WWOA in the areas of promotion, operation, management, program participation, or education. The nominee must be an active member of WWOA for a period of at least ten years. Members currently serving on the Board of Directors are not eligible to receive this award.

Award includes a plaque, framed certificate, and complimentary banquet dinner ticket and hotel accommodations for the evening of the banquet.

NOTE: The person who nominated the award recipient is responsible for letting the Executive Secretary know if the award winner needs a hotel room for the evening of the banquet.

Listing of Past Service Award Recipients

2024 Troy Larson
2023 Tom Crouse
2022 Jon Butt, Doralee Piering, Ron Dickrell
2021 Jeff Bratz; Western Racine Co. Sanitation District
2020 Kevin Freber; City of Oconomowoc
2019 Marc Zimmerman; City of Janesville
2018 Dean Falkner; Wastewater Resources
2017 George Bowman; Retired-Lab of Hygiene
2016 Wade Peterson; City of Baraboo
2015 Pete Albers; Applied Technologies
2014 Tom Mulcahy; Mulcahy-Shaw
2013 Daniel Busch; Green Bay MSD
2011 Jack Saltes; Wisconsin DNR, Madison
2010 Kay Curtin; Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
2009 Jean Van Sistine; GBMSD
2008 Judy Tholen; Watertown
2007 Dale Neis; Dickeyville
2006 Randy Herwig; Lodi
2005 Jeff Haack; DNR, Green Bay
2003 Peg O’Donnell; DNR, Madison
2002 Bill DeBauche; Green Bay
2001 Gary Hanson; Earth Tech Union Grove
2000 Scott Thompson; Green Bay
1999 Carol Strackbein; Sanitaire
1998 Vern Handick; Minocqua
1997 LaMont Albers; West Bend
1996 Tom Nelson; Milwaukee
1995 Hubert Jensen; Elkhorn
1994 Georgia Williamson; Milwaukee
1992 Leo Templeton; Manitowoc
1991 John F. Budde; Brookfield
1990 Joe Gehin; Wausau
1988 Gary K Coates; Donohue
1987 Lynda Bentley; Green Bay /Carol Townsend; Green Bay
1986 Paul Nehm; Madison
1984 Roger Sherman; Fort Atkinson 1985 Robert & Barb Thompson; Green Bay
1983 Robert Deering; Green Bay
1982 Ken Maki; Rothschild
1980 Ward Holz; Rothschild / Joe Homel; DePere
1979 Bill Lammers; Plymouth /A.E. Becher; Jr. Schofield
1978 Gene Allen; Madison
1977 Victor Pfeiffer; Milwaukee
1976 A. E. Becher Jr.; Schofield
1975 Robert Thompson; Green Bay

Newcomer of the Year

Recognizes an operator, support staffer, or environmental technician with less than three years of experience as of August 1st of the year nominated. The nominee should demonstrate higher than average growth in their place of employment, a willingness to learn, innovation on the job, and exceptional enthusiasm for their profession. The nominator should be a supervisor, manager, peer, co-worker, or DNR personnel familiar with the day-to-day efforts of the nominee. WWOA membership is not required, and a two-year membership or renewal is included in the award. Members currently serving on the Board of Directors are not eligible to receive this award.

Award includes a plaque, framed certificate, and complimentary two-year membership to WWOA.

Listing of Past Newcomer Award Recipients

2024 Andrew Zabel and Dennis Largent
2023 Adam Freitag
2022 Savanna Haygood
2021 Ethan Perrine; Village of Spencer
2020 Matt Bottlemey
2019 Alex Zenner; Medford 2020 Matt Bottlemy; Owen
2018 Matt Seib; Madison Metropolitan Sewer District
2017 McKala Kiessling; City of Ripon
2016 Tyler Hoffman; Sheboygan WWTP
2015 Dana LePage; Sheboygan WWTP
2014 Aaron Dose; Madison / Daniel Grunewald; Northern Moraine Utility Commission
2013 Andy Resch / Brian Willadsen; Sheboygan WWTP
2012 Jacob Becken; GBMSD
2010 Zach Montagne; Madeline SD
2009 Jeff Duda; Sheboygan
2008 Steve Skinner; New Richmond

Membership Award

Given to the person who sponsored the most new members joining WWOA for the year. This is determined by the website database. There is a report that we run every year called the Annual Membership Award Report

Award includes a certificate

Lifetime Members

A Life Member shall be one who has been an Active Member for 25 years or more in the WWOA and its predecessor organizations (Wisconsin Wastewater Works Operators Conference and Wisconsin Wastewater Works Operators Conference Incorporated,, or a total of 25 years in all. Life Members shall have the same voting privileges as Active Members and Honorary Members. Life Members shall receive a 20% discount on current active membership dues. A Life Member wishing to hold an office in the Organization may do so only if they are paying full active membership dues.

Award includes a certificate and complimentary banquet dinner ticket.

Honorary Members

Any active member can be elected to an Honorary Membership through special recognition and approval procedures. An Honorary Member is not required to pay dues.

Listing of Honorary Members

2023 John Leonhard
2021 Gary Hanson
2011 Carol Strackbein; Mequon
2008 Dan Busch; Green Bay MSD
2006 Pete Albers; Kewaskum
2005 Leo Templeton; Manitowoc
2003 Vern Handrick; Minocqua
1991 Ward Holz; Rothschild
1986 Dr. Koby Crabtree; Wausau