Libsyn Directory

494 Preparing for AWT 2026: Leadership, Change, and CWT Growth with Matt Coffindaffer, Part 2

Release Date: 09/14/2026

503 Pinks and Blues: Beyond Industrial Water Week 2026

Scaling UP! H2O

Industrial Water Week 2026 has ended, and Trace Blackmore, CWT, challenges listeners to carry its focus on learning and mentorship into the rest of the year. This Pinks and Blues episode combines reflections on IWW26 and the AWT convention with listener questions about AI and professional development. Give continued learning a place on your calendar Trace proposes a specific challenge: choose one of Industrial Water Week’s five focus areas and schedule 30 minutes to improve your understanding. Those areas are pretreatment, boilers, cooling, wastewater, and careers. ...

502 Industrial Water Week 2026: Careers Friday

Scaling UP! H2O

Experienced water treaters carry knowledge that the next generation needs. For Careers Friday, Trace Blackmore, CWT asks them to pass it on. The Industrial Water Week 2026 finale connects industrial water treatment careers with mentorship, practical training, and curiosity. Pass on the reasoning behind the work Trace describes a mentor as someone you can call when a system presents a problem you cannot explain. Learning from another professional’s challenges, mistakes, and experience helped him solve problems and later mentor others. He also addresses professionals preparing to retire....

501 Industrial Water Week 2026: Wastewater Thursday

Scaling UP! H2O

A wastewater inspection appeared to expose a failed treatment program—until Trace checked where the sample had been collected. For Industrial Water Week 2026: Wastewater Thursday, Trace Blackmore, CWT, connects correct sampling, water reuse, and careful troubleshooting with the decisions water treaters make every day. Check the sample location before drawing conclusions In an early-career account, a plant operator faced a threatened shutdown after an inspector’s sample produced out-of-spec results. Trace reviewed logs, spoke with the engineer, and tested two locations. The...

500 Industrial Water Week 2026: Cooling Wednesday

Scaling UP! H2O

Cooling Wednesday brings a practical reminder: correcting a treatment problem requires understanding what caused it. For Industrial Water Week 2026, Trace Blackmore, CWT, celebrates Episode 500 with lessons on cooling tower foam, biocide feed verification, Legionella risk, and unexplained chilled water loss. Start with the feed history When a cooling tower produces enough foam to spread across the property and trigger low water shutdowns, Trace begins with the biocide feed logs. He compares the chemical remaining in the tank with calculated consumption and finds evidence of...

499 Industrial Water Week 2026: Boiler Tuesday

Scaling UP! H2O

Boiler Tuesday is a reminder that industrial water treatment exists to protect heat transfer efficiency. For day two of Industrial Water Week 2026, Trace Blackmore, CWT, connects feedwater preparation, condensate quality, and treatment distribution to the everyday decisions that keep steam systems working. Feedwater quality sets the stage Trace starts with a practical measure of boiler performance: how much heat from the flame reaches the steam? Feedwater conditions directly affect that work. He links inadequate feedwater heating with higher chemical demand,...

498 Industrial Water Week 2026: Pretreatment Monday

Scaling UP! H2O

is here—and Day 1 is Pretreatment Monday. In Episode 498, Trace Blackmore, CWT, opens the 2026 celebration with troubleshooting stories, returning guest greetings, and a new Detective H2O case that brings pretreatment performance into focus. Celebrate with purpose Take a photo with your favorite pretreatment equipment—a softener, RO, or filter housing—and post it with #IWW26. Then search the hashtag to connect with others doing the same work. Trace’s invitation makes the week visible and recognizes the people who keep downstream systems operating. Start with the pretreatment train At...

497 Pinks & Blues: From Sample to Solution

Scaling UP! H2O

A controller and a handheld meter give you different readings. Before you adjust blowdown or chemical feed, how do you determine which result deserves your confidence? Reliable water treatment testing starts with understanding the sample, the system, and the equipment behind the number. In Episode 497, “Pinks and Blues: From Sample to Solution,” Trace Blackmore, CWT, answers listener questions that build on Episodes 397 and 408. He connects testing with repeatable procedures so technicians can interpret results, make informed adjustments, and explain their decisions to...

496 Growing Through Change in Water Treatment with Mark Lewis, Part 2

Scaling UP! H2O

When a water treater can run a test but cannot yet diagnose a failing system, the next training decision matters. In Growing Through Change with Mark Lewis, Part 2, Mark Lewis of CRB Water joins Trace Blackmore, CWT, to connect training choices with work in the field. Match Training to Experience Mark sees the space between AWT’s March and November training sessions as a chance to revise material instead of repeating the same presentation. He explains how Fundamentals and Applications, Program Designs and Operations, and Technical Training serve different levels of readiness....

495 Growing Through Change in Water Treatment with Mark Lewis, Part 1

Scaling UP! H2O

Change is unavoidable, but uncertainty does not have to control how water treatment professionals respond to it. Mark Lewis returns to share what he learned when Southeastern Laboratories was acquired by CRB Water—and how employees can remain valuable, informed, and open to opportunity during a business transition. Navigating an Acquisition from the Employee’s Perspective Southeastern Laboratories began exploring a buyer because its owners wanted to protect the company and approximately 30 employees. When CRB Water entered the picture, employees naturally wondered what...

494 Preparing for AWT 2026: Leadership, Change, and CWT Growth with Matt Coffindaffer, Part 2

Scaling UP! H2O

A strong convention outcome starts before the first session and continues long after the exhibit hall closes. Association of Water Technologies Executive Director Matt Coffindaffer explains how deliberate preparation, wider professional relationships, and volunteer service can turn AWT 2026 into practical value for an industrial water treatment career or business. Find the Right Place to Volunteer AWT offers yearlong committee service, shorter task-force assignments, and opportunities across technical research, marketing, membership, regulatory affairs, business resources, young...

More Episodes

Find the Right Place to Volunteer

AWT offers yearlong committee service, shorter task-force assignments, and opportunities across technical research, marketing, membership, regulatory affairs, business resources, young professionals, Women of Water, legislative work, and charity. Matt emphasizes that there is no single ideal volunteer: owners, technical directors, sales and service professionals, field technicians, suppliers, and newcomers can contribute according to their time, experience, and interests.

For business owners, committee work can strengthen peer relationships and provide access to practical operating resources. Newer professionals can also use the Young Professionals Committee to understand the organization, explore career paths, and learn about different specialties within industrial water treatment.

Turn Convention Attendance into Business Value

AWT 2026 in Oklahoma City brings together more than 1,000 industry peers and about 130 exhibitors. The program prioritizes technical content, while the September 15 Business Owners Meeting gives owners and management-team members a focused setting for business education, networking, and market insights from AWT’s benchmarking survey.

Matt frames the convention’s value in operational terms: practitioners share lessons shaped by field experience, suppliers can support the full water treatment service chain, and one useful insight or connection may help a company solve problems more efficiently. The strongest return comes from engaging beyond familiar contacts.

Prepare, Connect, and Divide the Learning

Before arriving, review the schedule, select sessions, read available papers, and prepare questions. Because several technical tracks run simultaneously, coordinate with peers, attend different presentations, and compare notes afterward. First-time attendees can use the first-timer ribbon—and the Scaling UP! H2O “magic button”—to begin conversations more naturally.

Trace adds a practical exhibit-hall strategy: review the exhibitor list and map, note vendors connected to specific questions, walk the full floor once for orientation, then return for focused conversations. If attending alone, approach the event as a “faithful translator” responsible for bringing useful information back to the team.

Strong professional communities grow when people contribute, remain curious, and share what they learn. AWT 2026 offers a concentrated opportunity to strengthen all three habits.

Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!

Timestamps

05:00 — Trace introduces the Scaling UP! H2O “magic button” as a simple icebreaker for starting conversations and expanding a professional network.

09:50 — Matt outlines AWT’s committee and task-force opportunities, showing how members can contribute through technical, business, membership, regulatory, and community-focused work.

11:40 — Matt explains why AWT does not have one ideal volunteer and why bringing your complete experience and perspective strengthens the organization.

13:20 — Business owners, sales and service professionals, suppliers, field technicians, and industry newcomers learn how volunteering can expand their knowledge and professional relationships.

19:00 — Matt provides clear next steps for getting involved by contacting a committee chair, the AWT president, Matt, or an AWT staff member.

19:30 — The AWT Annual Convention preview covers Oklahoma City, technical education, networking opportunities, suppliers, and activities planned for attendees.

23:10 — Matt explains what business owners can expect from the September 15 meeting, including benchmarking insights and structured peer collaboration.

26:40 — Matt describes why the convention attracts highly invested practitioners and gives attendees access to experienced peers and about 130 exhibitors.

28:50 — Convention costs are considered against the potential value of one useful lesson, relationship, or solution that improves business performance.

30:10 — First-time attendees receive practical guidance on reviewing the schedule, planning sessions, and using identification ribbons to connect with the AWT community.

32:20 — Matt identifies staying within an existing social circle as a major convention mistake and encourages attendees to approach unfamiliar professionals.

34:00 — Thematic tracks and peer recommendations can help attendees choose between technical presentations scheduled at the same time.

35:40 — Prospective presenters learn how AWT’s annual call for papers and abstracts creates opportunities to contribute technical content.

42:50 — Trace explains how badges, ribbons, and Scaling UP! H2O buttons can help attendees identify board members and start productive conversations.

46:50 — Trace shares a structured exhibit-hall strategy based on reviewing the map, preparing questions, surveying the floor, and returning for focused discussions.

50:50 — Trace previews his Working Genius presentation with Tom Hutchison and directs listeners to Episodes 127 and 426 for related conversations.

52:40 — Industrial Water Week 2026 is scheduled for October 5–9, with daily themes and new podcast episodes covering major industrial water applications.

55:00 — Trace recognizes Angela Pike’s years of service to AWT and reflects on the association’s transition to Momentum Association Management.

Quotes

"AWT is what it is today because a group of people showed up for this industry, for this community, for this beautiful profession, and they gave of their time and talents.”

“This organization works best; volunteerism works best when you’re bringing your full self to that role.”

“There is no wrong answer in how to get involved.”

“Just be true to yourself. Bring your full and authentic self to the experience and every day will feel like a joy, even the days where you’re deep in the trenches.”

“If you’re attending by yourself, I want you to have the mindset that you’re now going to be the faithful translator to bring that information back to your company so your company can truly benefit from you being at the convention this week.”

Connect with Matt Coffindaffer