The Illinois Section AWWA celebrates the accomplishments of our past awardees. Thank you to all for your contributions to our industry and organization. The year listed reflects when they were honored with the award at WATERCON.
George Warren Fuller Award
2025 Carolyn Grieves, Baxter & Woodman
2018 Mike Ramsey, Village of Westmont
2024 Bill Brown, CMT
2017 Greg Swanson, Water Advocate
2023 Kevin Lookis
2016 Terry McGhee, DuPage Water Commission
2022 William J. Soucie, CLCJAWA
2015 John Van Arsdel, ME Simpson Company
2021 Mary Reed, IEPA
2014Dennis Ross, Otter Lake Water Commission
2020 Theresa O'Grady, Crawford, Murphy, & Tilly
2019 Ted Meckes, CWLP
Water Professional of the Year
2025 Catharine Richardson, Tylin
2018 Robyn Doescher, Village of Glenview
2024 Randy Lusk, M.E. Simpson Co., Inc.
2017 Carolyn Grieves, Baxter & Woodman, Inc.
2023 Darrel King, City of Evanston
2016 Brett Hanson, IEPA
2022 Matt Ottersen, Lake County Public Works
2015 Mary Reed, IEPA
2021 Peter Wallers, Engineering Enterprises, Inc.
2014 Mike Ramsey, Village of Westmont
2020 Jeff Freeman, Engineering Enterprises, Inc.
2013Greg Swanson, City of Moline
2019 Dave McMillan, IRWA
2012 Esther Dundore, Illinois American Water
Clifford H. Fore Award
2025Robert Madura, CDM Smith
2019 Nick Gornick, City of Joliet
2024Kyle Saunders, Fehr Graham
2018 Ted Meckes, City Water, Light, & Power
2023 Carolyn Grieves, Baxter & Woodman, Inc.
2017 Mike Ramsey, Village of Westmont
2022 None
2016 Greg Swanson, City of Moline
2021 Allison Swisher, City of Joliet
2015 John Van Arsdel, ME Simpson Company
2020 John Donohue, North Park Public Water
2014 Terry McGhee, DuPage Water Commission
Robert T Sasman Volunteer Appreciation Award
2025 Brett Fritzler, Village of Gurnee
2018 Elisa Bonkowski, Baxter & Woodman
2024 Jeremy Henning, Glenbard Wastewater Authority
2017 Kevin Culver, AQUA Illinois
2023Megan Taylor, Illinois American Water
2016 Robert Madura, CLCJAWA
2022Chris Sosnowski, Waterly
2015 Randy Lusk, ME Simpson
2021Nadine Miller, Rockford City Water Division
2014 Jeff Freeman, Engineering Enterprises, Inc.
2020Dave Vavrek, Village of Park Forest
2013 Wayne Nelson, IRWA
2019Brian Jack, Village of Lombard
2012 City Water, Light, & Power
Operator Meritorious Service Award
2025 Jeff Wolfgram, Village of Wheeling
2018 Robert Madura, CLCJAWA
2024 David Landshof, Lake County Public Works
2017 Nick Gornick, City of Joliet
2023 Paul Cacioppo, Village of Mundelein
2016 Todd LaFountain, City Water, Light, & Power
2022David Vavrek, Baxter & Woodman, Inc.
2015 Joe Spain, Village of Norridge
2021Robert Leible, City of Aurora - Water Treatment Plant
2014 Chris Drey, Village of Shorewood
2020Thomas Barrett, City of Chicago
2013 Mike Martens, City of Geneva
2019 Jay Henderson, City of Evanston
2012 Mike Whitington, Carbon Cliff
John Lechner Award of Excellence
2025 Meghan Foresman, Baxter & Woodman
2018 Michelle Harrod, Midwest Water Group
2024Carlos Covarrubias, M.E. Simpson Co., Inc.
2017 Todd Shaefer, ME Simpson
2023 Edward Kalina, Engineering Solutions Team
2016 Michael D Simpson, ME Simpson Company
2022 Tony Cuzzone
2015 Mike Dunn, Drydon Equipment
2021 Paul Shumi, Suez
2014 John Calan, American Infrastructure Technologies
2020 Todd Kerry, Water Well Solutions
2013 Terry Locke, Flolo Corporation
2019 Larry Thomas, Stanley Consultants
2012 Ralph Gross, ATS
Veteran Award for Excellence
2025 Michael Morris, Langetech
2023Chris Rebone, Village of Hanover Park
2024 Joel Sensenig, Lake County Public Works
Women in Water - Outstanding Woman Award
2025 Hanting Wang, Donohue & Associates
2021 Carolyn Grieves, Baxter & Woodman, Inc.
2024 Diane Moeller, Robinson Engineering
2020 Brianna Huber, City of East Moline
2023 Melissa Olenick, CLCJAWA
2019 Lori Stenzel, Illinois American Water
2022 Elisa Bonkowski, Baxter & Woodman, Inc.
Young Professional Excellence Award
2025 Emily Conti, Engineering Enterprises, Inc.
2024 Kiran Udayakumar, AECOM
2017 Carolyn Grieves, Baxter & Woodman, Inc.
2023 Michael Fontanez, Village of Northbrook
2017 Brianna Huber, City of East Moline
2022 Chris Walton, Engineering Enterprises, Inc.
2016 None
2021 Lauren Schuld, Baxter & Woodman, Inc.
2015 None
2020 Hanting Wang, Greely & Hansen
2014 Brian Kooistra, Exp Services
2019 Andrew Dow, Donohue & Associates
2013 Dough Strempek, Village of Norridge
2018Carlos Covarrubias, ME Simpson Company
2012 Andrea Putz, City of Chicago
ISAWWA Water Industry Hall of Fame
2023
Capt. Michael Curry
2020
John W. Alvord
Harold E. Babbit
John R. Baylis
Arthur M. Buswell
Hardy Cross
James J. Doland
Clifford H. Fore
Louis R. Howson
Herbert E. Hudson
Omar H. Jewell
Thurston E. Larson
William Richardson
Robert T. Sasman
Charles H. Spaulding
Outreach Recognition
2025 Tyler Dewar, Lockwood Andrews & Newman Inc.
2018 Engineering Enterprises, Inc.
2024 Megan Fox, Baxter & Woodman
2017 Organizational: Robinson Engineering
2023 Kiran Udayakumar, AECOM Technical Services
Individual: Randy Vandrwerf
2022 Katie Richardson, Greeley and Hansen
2016 AQUA Illinois; Kankakee, Illinois
2021Paul May, NSMJAWA
2015 Kyla Jacobsen, City of Elgin
2020Elizabeth Doellman, Illinois American Water
2014Kristin Rehg, City of Evanston
2019None
2013 Greg Swanson, City of Moline
E.D.U.C.A.T.E Award
2025 Gordon Eden, Edenbros, LLC
2024 Tim Holdeman, Engineering Enterprises, Inc.
2023 Robert Rick, Village of Naplate - GLCLP
2022 Mike Giglio, Calumet City Plumbing Jim Sullivan,
Prospan Shoring
2021 Darin Skutt, Carus Corporation Randy Patchett, Burns & McDonnell
2020 2019 In Person Seminar - Control Valves | Andy Caselli, Cla-Val Company
2019 In Person Seminar - Breakpoint Chlorination/Lead & Copper - Water Treatment & Corrosion Control | Bob Spon, Spon Water Consulting 2019 Webinar - Social
Media 101 & Public Water Systems | Jennifer Wilson, IL Water Resource Center
2019  2018 In Person Seminar - Lead & Copper/ Understanding Electrical
Drawings | Harry Harman, Baxter & Woodman, Inc. 2018 In Person Seminar - Pumps & Pumping Workshop | Robert Madura, CLCJAWA 2019 Commendation - Outstanding Contributions to Educating the Drinking Water Industry - For continuing efforts in furthering the opportunities for Section members to become more knowledgeable with current events in the ever-changing water industry. | John Donahue, North Park Public Water
2018  2017 In Person Seminar - SCADA Series | Brent Studnicka, Strand Associates 2017 In Person Seminar - Water Operator Refresher Courses | Kyla Jacobsen, City of Elgin (retired) 2017 Webinar - Safety Series | Brian Jack, Village of Lombard 2017 Committee Commendation - Sewer Collection Committee |
Scott Bernholdt, Chair
2017 2016 In Person Seminar - Science of Jetting & "Evaluating CCTV Videos | Barry Howell, Visu-Sewer of Missouri 2016 Webinar - MACP (Manhole Assessment & Certification Program) | Michelle Harrod, Midwest Water Group
2016 2015 In Person Seminar - Chemical Properties, Safety & Security, Chlorine Properties, Safety & Security | Geza Ehrentreu, Viking Chemical 2015 Webinar - Nitrification/Denitrification Wastewater |
Ryan Hennessy, Midwest Contract Operations
2015 2014 In Person Seminar - Water Distribution System O&M, Utility Management Night Class |
Mike Ramsey, Village of Westmont 2014 Webinar - Introduction to Reflective Chamber UV Technology-Engineering Power Hour, UV Lighting for Potable Water Application |
Debra Kaye, NeoTech Aqua
2014 2013 In Person Seminar - Maintaining Water Quality in the Distribution System | Michelle Harrod, Midwest Water
Group, Randy Lusk, ME Simpson Company, Brad Schotanus, Dixon Engineering, Tim Scholz, Strand Associates, Brian Vorva, Crawford, Murphy & Tilly 2013 Webinar - Dealing with Unexpected Petroleum in Utility Excavation | David Schafer, Shive-Hattery
2013 Mike Eisenhauer, Backflow Solutions
Utility Water Saver Award
2025 Village of Pingree Grove
2024 Village of Oak Park
2018 City of Highland Park
2021Village of Lombard
2017 DuPage Water Commission; Elmhurst, Illinois
2020 City of Elmhurst
2016 City of Water, Light, & Power; Springfield, Illinois
2019 Village of Mt Prospect
2015 City of Chicago, Department of Water Management; Chicago, Illinois
Water Taste Test
2025 City of Paris
2018 City of Moline
2024 City of DeKalb
2017 AQUA Illinois; Kankakee, Illinois
2023 City of Evanston
2016 City of Moline
2022 City of Aurora
2015 North Park Public Water, Machesney Park, Illinois
2021 None
2020 None
2019 City of Batavia
Source Water Protection Award
2025
2014
City Water, Light & Power - Springfield
Medium System: City of Bloomington; Bloomington
2017
Large System: City Water, Light, & Power, Springfield
Small System: City of Rock Falls
Medium System: AQUA Illinois, Danville
2016
None
2015
Medium System: Otter Lake Water Commission; Virden, Illinois
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