2026 Fall Conference Recap

The 2026 Fall Conference brought water and wastewater professionals from across Indiana to Fort Wayne’s Grand Wayne Convention Center October 13–15 for three days of training, networking, and recognition.

A special thank-you to Covalen, our Presenting Sponsor, for supporting this year’s conference and helping us bring Indiana’s rural water community together.

Expanded Tuesday programming gave attendees more opportunities to participate from the start, with technical sessions and concurrent tracks for operators, utility managers, board members, and administrative staff. Attendees could earn up to 11 contact hours, with additional training available through the Wastewater Operator Certification Exam Review and First Aid & CPR certification.

Roundtable conversations brought Alliance staff, utility representatives, and associate members together to share experiences, ask questions, and discuss challenges facing their communities.

Tours of Camp Scott Wetlands, the Fort Wayne Filtration Plant, and the Fort Wayne Pollution Control Plant offered opportunities to learn outside the classroom and see local operations firsthand.

Throughout the conference, the Exhibit Hall gave attendees time to explore equipment and technology, meet with vendors, and reconnect with colleagues. Tuesday’s kickoff party, sponsored by Carson Law, and Wednesday’s hospitality event provided more time to visit with friends and make new connections.

Wednesday evening’s Football Tailgate Party: Exhibitors’ Reception was a huge hit. Attendees arrived in their favorite football gear, enjoyed drinks and appetizers, tried the 360-degree photo booth, and played football games in a giant inflatable.

A special thank you to Commonwealth Engineers for donating the Exhibitors’ Reception grand giveaway: a signed Indianapolis Colts football, a highlight of our Tailgate Party! We also appreciate all the generous sponsors who donated prizes and contributed funds toward the purchase of raffle prizes. Your support helped make the raffle a success and raise funds for WaterPAC!

Award and Contest Highlights

Wednesday’s luncheon included updates on AIRW’s 2027 Board Training Program, instructor opportunities, and the Apprenticeship Program, followed by scholarship presentations.

NRWA Scholarship Recipients

• Kyle Clark — Town of Fowler
• Emily Loveall — Town of Knightstown
• Abigale Goble — Hazleton Water Utility
• Brandon Oakley — Town of Paragon

Hawkins Apprenticeship Scholarship Recipients

• Grayson Gallway — Town of Converse
• Kris Funk — City of Ligonier
• Joseph Brook — Town of Ossian
• Jordan Beebe — North Vernon Water
• Caleb Young — Town of Bargersville

Indiana Pump Works presented its first $1,000 scholarship for veterans to Avery Ferguson with the Town of Millersburg Utilities. Thank you to each scholarship provider for supporting our industry's workforce education and professional development.

The luncheon also celebrated four AIRW employee milestones:

• Dave Atkins — 5 years
• Lorean Johnston — 5 years
• Pete Crowl — 5 years
• Kelly Strain — 10 years

Richard Burch received the Gene & Sharon Eaton Rural Excellence Award. Congratulations, Richard, on this well-deserved honor.

Hammond Water Works won the Best Tasting Water in Indiana competition presented by Wessler Engineering for the second consecutive year. Hammond will represent Indiana at the Great American Water Taste Test in Washington, D.C. Congratulations to the Hammond team!

Behind the Flow Photo Contest Winners

The 2026 Behind the Flow Photo Contest winners were announced Thursday:

• Rural Indiana Water — Dustin Courtney
• Water Infrastructure — Sandy Gates, Town of Thorntown
• Workers in Action — William Jones, Town of Edinburgh

Thank you to everyone who submitted photos and voted. Your entries help us share the work, people, and places behind Indiana’s water and wastewater utilities.

Noteworthy prize winners:

• Raffle Grand Prize — Kurt Clement
• Shotgun Raffle — Avery Ferguson, Town of Millersburg Utilities

Leadership Announcements

Thursday’s breakfast hosted AIRW’s Annual Membership Meeting, including a review of the 2025 financial statements and audit information, followed by elections and appointments.

The following representatives were elected to the Utility Board:

• Josh Hawley — Cordry-Sweetwater Conservancy District
• Tyler Steury — City of Bloomington Utilities
• Chris Martin — City of Winchester Wastewater Treatment Plant, returning to the board.
• Jon Craig with CHA Consulting was reelected to the Associate Board.
• Darren Sluder with Pace Analytical LLC and Brandon Butrum with Layne Christensen were appointed to the Advisory Council.

Thank you to these members for sharing their time and experience to help guide the Alliance.

Appreciation

Thank you to our sponsors, presenters, exhibitors, tour hosts, and attendees for making this year’s Fall Conference a success. We appreciate the time you spent with us and the experiences you shared, from Tuesday’s opening sessions through Thursday’s final classes.

Strong Utilities. Stronger Communities.