Professional Operator

We are officially 18 days out from our PO Pinning Ceremony at ACE26! We can't wait to see you there to celebrate our incredibly talented operators.

We hope to see you there! This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about our program and celebrate the operators who are committed to excellence in their field!

WPI is thrilled to announce we will be hosting a PO Pinning Ceremony at ACE26 in Washington D.C.! Mark your calendars for June 22 from 3-4 pm, and join us to celebrate the pinning of our newest Professional Operators! Thank you American Water Works Association for helping our vision come to life!

We are thrilled to spotlight an incredible operator!

This month, we have the privilege of showcasing one of the original Professional Operators in the PO program, Gregory Stephens! WPI is proud of the work DC Water does in operator training and readiness. Gregory Stephens, PO, has worked hard to lead efforts at DC Water to ensure all operators have an opportunity to succeed. He is a true example of what excellence looks like in this industry. Read more about Gregory's journey here: https://immerse.gowpi.org/2026/02/gregory-stephens-leading-as-one-of-the-original-6-professional-operators/

Congrats to PO, Andrew Houlihan!

Congratulations to our C2EP Water Treatment Operations Commissioner and Professional Operator, Andrew Houlihan! Andrew was awarded the 2025 Silent Hero Award by ACWWA. According to ACWWA, this award recognizes the "outstanding contributions of water and wastewater operators in each of the four Atlantic Canada provinces." Way to go, Andrew!

Check out this article on the amazing operators who were selected as the first 9/15 winners of the PO Campaign! https://immerse.gowpi.org/2025/09/in-celebration-of-wpis-summer-po-campaign/

We are so proud of the winners of our summer PO campaign! Our Certification Program Manager, Malorie Hendrix, and our Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, Abby Bishop, reflect on the campaign's achievements so far and share the testimonials that led to the selection of our nine winners on IMMERSE. Read now: https://immerse.gowpi.org/2025/09/in-celebration-of-wpis-summer-po-campaign/

There are two months left of the Campaign, meaning you may still be selected as one of our six remaining winners! To nominate an operator, visit https://www.professionaloperator.org/po-program/nominate-an-operator/

Congratulations to our August winners! Make sure you submit your nomination in the next two months (by October 31st): https://www.professionaloperator.org/po-program/nominate-an-operator/

Congratulations to our August PO Campaign Winners! If you were selected, make sure to check your email for more information on how to claim :) Want to nominate a deserving operator? Visit this link and fill out the form today! https://www.professionaloperator.org/po-program/nominate-an-operator/

WPI wants to issue a special congratulations to our first six winners of the PO campaign! Our June winners are: Eric Hurley, Larry Quattlebaum, and Cleo-Jerome Watson. Our July winners are: Ann Bibolet, Tyson Ernst, and Delen Tusing. Stay tuned for a special issue on IMMERSE dedicated to their accomplishments in the field! Remember, our campaign is open through October 31. Nominate an operator now at this link: https://www.professionaloperator.org/po-program/nominate-an-o perator/.

Check out our article on Mike Firlotte and Water Professional International's professional operator certification from our July/August issue.

Water Professionals International - WPI is a well-established water industry certification authority that helps maintain industry standards across the globe. Among its certification programs is the prestigious Professional Operator (PO) program. In this interview with water professional, PO recipient, and WPI Board Chair Mike Firlotte, we learn more about the benefits of being certified and about the attractions of a career in this great sector.

https://bit.ly/458CFDY

It's been an exciting few months! Don't forget to nominate an outstanding operator at the link below!