Not a week goes by where I don’t think how lucky I am to be in this position. As executive director of NASSCO, the leading trade organization for the sewer and water pipeline maintenance and rehabilitation industry, I can help my industry grow and simultaneously give back to my profession.
I call myself a sewer rat, having spent many years working in the field, learning the trade and getting my hands and the rest of me dirty. That firsthand knowledge was essential in helping me see and understand the technical part of rehabilitation.
Back then, we didn’t have the procedures and extensive documentations that we do today. A lot of learning happened on the spot. One not so technical lesson I learned the hard way was that it is dangerous to focus so intently on working on a lateral in a large-diameter sewer that is directly opposite another. The unexpected flow down my neck and back was an unforgettable lesson.
Looking back on my career experience has guided my efforts to move our industry forward. The trenchless technology industry is fairly young, but boy have we grown in the past few decades.
For example, when NASSCO was formed in 1976 it was primarily a contractor-based organization. In the past five years alone our membership has doubled and includes a diverse group of contractors, manufacturers, engineers, municipal managers, and academics. We’re on course to double our membership again in a few years, bringing our total to more than 600 members.
Today’s sewer rats have all kinds of technical information at their fingertips, largely due to NASSCO’s efforts in training, education and networking opportunities. Here are just a few examples of the technical information NASSCO provides:
• Specifications guidelines
• Sewer Jetting Code of Practices
• MACP/PACP/LACP reference manuals with training
• Manual of Sewer Condition Classifications
NASSCO also offers an array of training opportunities, such as PACP, MACP, and Inspector Training for CIPP.
What does this all mean to today’s budding and experienced sewer industry professionals? It means you can embrace this information and use it to grow in your career and build your business.
The PACP program is now recognized in North America as the standard for assessing the condition of pipelines. Our new Inspector Training for CIPP is the first of its kind, and I expect it to be embraced like PACP or even more. I know this because I still have my eyes and ears in the field.
If you’re a seasoned professional, you still have more to learn. A wise man said, “You can never step in the same river twice,” and that is true of our industry. The best way to keep up with it is to embrace the training and education that are at your fingertips.
2008 is an exciting year at NASSCO with a record-number of training and education opportunities, new office space, and much more. If you’re not already a member, I welcome you to join us. Members tell me over and over that the networking alone is worth the membership fee.
Many others tell how being a member of NASSCO has helped their careers and their businesses. I invite you to reflect on your experience, invest in your education, and propel yourself into a successful future. I’m proof that it works.
Irv Gemora is executive director of NASSCO. He can be reached at director@nassco.org. The new NASSCO headquarters is at 11521 Cronridge Drive, Suite J, Owings Mills, MD, 21117. Call 410/486-3500.
