How long have you worked for Easton Utilities?

I have worked for Easton Utilities for 26 years. It seems just like yesterday when Vicki Petro hired me, by the way I was her very first employee she hired.

 

Describe your job history at EU.

I started as a Water Treatment & Wastewater Pumping Operator, promoted to Crew Chief, then to Asst. Supt. of Water Treatment & Wastewater Pumping, and am now Superintendent of Water Supply and Wastewater Pumping.

 

What is your favorite part of your job and working for EU?

The different challenges in the Water & Wastewater field and the technology which has also expanded into our line of work and also working with everyone at Easton Utilities what a great bunch of people!

 

During your service with EU, is there one key moment that stands out as significant or unique?

Eight years ago the Water Treatment & Wastewater Pumping Department merged with the Wastewater Treatment Department. It was a great move because it gave us an opportunity to cross train our operators for both departments. Doug Abbott was a big influence when our departments merged and did a great job with the transition.

 

What EU tradition is your favorite and why?

I love them all!! New one for 2019 was Fishing with Hugh which I won at the picnic. Everyone had a great time, rubbed elbows with the boss and caught plenty of Rock! I hope EUC starts this as a tradition.

 

How do you feel EU positively impacts the community?

Easton Utilities impacts the community deeply. We offer services like no other utility. When a customer has a problem they know it will be taken care of quickly. Easton Utilities also gives back time and resources to the community such as Christmas Lights, Flags for Veterans, Talbot goes Purple, Waterfowl and list goes on. I know the residents of Easton are thankful for all of what Easton Utilities does for the community. One such story is I had a gentlemen tell me one day that the Christmas Lights that we had at Clifton WWPS reminded him of his childhood. He said he could remember looking out of his bedroom window and seeing those candles lighten up the street. So yes I feel Easton Utilities impacts the community greatly.

 

Describe your life outside of work.

I love to go Boating, Camping, Woodworking, and spending time with my family. I am a member of the Ridgely United Methodist Church.

 

Describe the members of your family and any pets.

I have been happily married for 33 years to my High School sweetheart Lynn. We have two children, daughter Courtney which is 27 and is a fourth grade teacher for Kent County Maryland and also just got married in 5/2019, Son Phillip which is 23 and is a rural mail carrier for Denton Post Office.

 

What plans do you have for the future?

I would like to do some traveling across the United States.

 

Anything else interesting you’d like to share?

I have been in the Water & Wastewater field for 27 years but a lot of people may not realize that prior before working at Easton Utilities I was a Commercial Fisherman. I started at a young age of 12 years old with my first workboat. My father and his father and my mother’s father where all Commercial Fisherman so it ran in my family and I am very proud of our heritage. I built my first boat when I was in 8th grade as a school project. I got certified as Scuba Diver when I was 15 years old and was diving for oysters on my days off from school. I was the youngest oyster diver in the Chesapeake Bay at that time. I decided at early age to change careers because the future of the water business was getting bleak. I decided to get into the Water & Wastewater field since I had knowledge and experience with pumps, motors, and was mechanical incline and also I could protect the Chesapeake Bay which I had made a living on.