February is here, and the water and wastewater industry is making its annual pilgrimage to Indianapolis.

The Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show returns to the Indiana Convention Center Feb. 20-23. It’s a great opportunity to see everything that’s new in the industry, from hydroexcavators to pipe rehab systems. Just as important, it’s a chance to connect with your colleagues, as well as the contractors and manufacturers who serve this industry. The learning opportunities are endless.

It might not be a full escape from winter, but the WWETT Show is a chance to get away from the day-to-day and do something that will pay dividends in the long run. Plus, you can move around a lot of downtown Indy without ever going outside, and there are plenty of good restaurants and other establishments to keep you warm at night.

This year’s show gets underway with Education Day on Wednesday, Feb. 20. The exhibit hall opens the following day and gives you three days’ worth of opportunity to see and discuss all the tools that can help you do your work more efficiently.

And of course, there’s no bigger gathering of your peers and no greater opportunity to compare notes and gain the perspective of other successful operators. Think of it as four fun days of training and education to make your utility stronger. You’re in the field every day and have plenty of perspective on the work you do. But how often do you talk to other utility operators, contractors or equipment manufacturers to gain their perspective?

I’ve met a lot of people at the show who have given me a better understanding of the jobs you do every day, and what it takes to be successful in this industry. I’m always appreciative of that.

When COLE Publishing ran the show I was always busy, but my work on the floor brought me in contact with a lot of great people. Unfortunately I didn’t always have as much time as I would have liked to stop and talk. Now that I don’t have daily deadlines and responsibilities at the show, I have more time for the most important part of the show: talking to you and all the great people who keep pushing this industry forward.

If you see me out on the floor, feel free to introduce yourself. I’m always interested in hearing your stories. And if I don’t see you, I appreciate your calls and emails as well. Your stories are what make this magazine work, and they help others do their work better.

Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to talk about your utilities and the work you’re doing, or anything else.

Have fun at the show, and enjoy this month’s issue.