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Section Spotlight July 2024


Welcome to Section Spotlight!

The newsletter all about our members! Every third Friday of the month we will spotlight an individual member, a member utility, and a committee and highlight the important things they do for both the Section and the industry! To all our members and volunteers: thank you for all that you do, and we can't wait to feature you soon!  Links at the bottom of the page to share your stories with us!

 

Member Spotlight - mark giarrante

Title/Position: President/ Co-owner

Community/Company: Giant Maintenance & Restoration, Inc

What's your primary job? - I work on company expansion into other states and annual growth, to increase revenue and sales. I explore new cutting-edge products and develop innovative new procedures and processes. Always with the customers best interest in mind.

How long have you worked in the total water industry? - Since 1989... 35 years this year.

How did you get involved in the industry? - We saw the need for graffiti removal and tank cleaning along with other pressure-washing needs. So, we filled that void. From there we were told about an even greater need (a shout out to Rob Haley) for a high-quality Hydrant painting service. So, in 2003 we developed and perfected what is now the standard for proper hydrant prep and painting processes. We approach everything with a "can do" attitude and top-notch workmanship, high quality products, and a professional expectation for the highest standards. This is now our #1 service, and we get requests from all over the country for our process and procedure.

What sets you apart in the industry? - To the best of our knowledge. We are the only members of AWWA that Specialize in Fire Hydrant Painting...at least according to the 2024 resource book. We are setting the industry standards for proper hydrant painting. We are serious about the belief, that when a town looks good the residents feel pride in their community, and the town they live in...we like to say, "We're beautifying every town across america one hydrant at a time. When the hydrants look good the entire community looks and feels good!"

What do you enjoy the most about being involved in the industry? - Hands down all the amazing people I've met and continue to meet across the country through AWWA in 35 years of business. Many of whom I consider good friends. Along with the endless smiles we get, as we work through a community making hydrants look nice, bright and new.

What is the best piece of advice you've ever received or have given to another person? Best advice given to me...To read and study the book "Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill"
Advice I give others, to read and study that book. That everything starts with a thought. So pay close attention to your mental diet. In life everything just IS, we determine the outcome by the energy we give it.

What's your idea of a perfect day? -For me, everyday is a perfect day. I make it a point to find the good in situations. Having an attitude of gratitude, along with a positive mental diet, makes every day perfect.

Fun Fact - I'm an investor in "Think Rich Films" I'm a member of the "Inner-Circle" for "Limitless" and "Living the Legacy", aka LTL. I'm a certified mentor and coach for LTL.
I love the "Hydrant Hysteria" contests and try to go to as many as I can at the different shows.

 

 


 
Utility Spotlight - Collinsville water plant

   

City - Collinsville Water Plant

Number of Connections - 12,000 Service Connections

What Type of Facility Are You? - Water

What is Your Water Source? - Ground Water

How Many Employees Work at Your Utility? - 6 Employees

Have you had any significant capital improvements in the last 5 years that you'd like to share? -We built a new power plant.

What is one of your recent accomplishments that you'd like to share? - We won the 2nd annual district 3 water taste test on March 28th of this year.



What's a fun fact about your system? - Collinsville's original water 'plant' still exists. Beneath Collinsville's active city hall is an old cell block from the original city jail. The final cell in corner of the building was repurposed to house simple water treatment and distribution equipment long before the days of the clean water act. Neighboring the old 'water plant' is a line of concrete jail cells with iron doors in their entryways. We still take some of our monthly samples from this location, so a couple times a month I get to visit a part of our utility's history.

                    

             

 
Any other interesting information our members might want to know? - 100% of our staff received their water treatment training from the Environmental Resource Training Center (ERTC) program at SIUE.
It's an important program to the region and beyond helping fill the vacancies of many life-long experienced and knowledgeable operators retiring in great number these last several years.
We make an effort to do our part by hosting interns each and every year from the ERTC program so that they may achieve the required training and hands-on hours to become certified. These well-trained students enter the field at an 87% placement rate and continue the tradition of reliable and safe drinking water for the end user in their respective water systems.


Want to be featured on the next section spotlight? Fill out these forms!

For individual members: https://forms.gle/zfhSHomYeTSk7LTu9

For utility members: https://forms.gle/KqEvYBKphaNEU1WC6

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