Reflections from Project Engineer, Lauren Takitch, on her first time at WEFTEC:

Last week I attended my first WEFTEC at McCormick Place in Chicago. It was fascinating to attend this event as a young project engineer. With so much to see and experience, WEFTEC gave me the opportunity to gain a more holistic understanding of the water and wastewater industry.

I was immediately blown away by the size of the show. By the number of booths (over 1,000!) and the magnitude of the displays, I knew I was surrounded by a wide range of technologies and industry specialists. While exhibiting at the Entex booth, I had the opportunity to speak with people from various roles and places. I was especially surprised by the number of people who had traveled internationally for WEFTEC.

Despite the show being so large (over 22,000 attendees and exhibitors), I found that the industry felt connected. It seemed as though everyone knew each other. Growing up in an era where emailing and internet searching is second nature, it can be easy to get stuck behind your computer during day-to-day tasks. I believe that even in a technologically driven society, WEFTEC will continue to serve as a critical forum for gathering water and wastewater professionals.

Not only did WEFTEC give me the opportunity to put faces to names, but I also had the opportunity to form new relationships. I particularly enjoyed the Young Professionals reception, where I got to make connections with my peers and learn what other professionals my age are working on. I was happy to see so many other driven and interesting women at this event.

Finally, I continued learning about other facets of the industry through the technical sessions. As a project engineer for Entex, I focus mostly on secondary fixed-film biological treatment. The technical sessions provided me with the opportunity to learn about other parts of the process and other areas of research, including nutrient recovery, equipment design and optimization, and plant case studies to name a few.

My first WEFTEC showed me how much the professionals in the industry care about what they do. It’s for this reason that I am proud to have chosen a career in wastewater. As I reflect on last week, I look forward to further developing the connections I made and to continue to develop as an engineer at Entex. Looking forward to seeing everyone in New Orleans next year!