Tom Talsma was awarded the AWWA Life Member Award
March 14, 2007 – Tom Talsma, Senior Project Manager, Engineering Enterprises, Inc. was honored at the 98th Annual American Water Works Association, Illinois Section Conference held recently in Springfield, Illinois where he was awarded the AWWA Life Member Award.
The AWWA is an international nonprofit scientific and educational society dedicated to the improvement of drinking water quality and supply. Founded in 1881, AWWA is the largest organization of water supply professionals in the world. Its more than 60,000 members represent the full spectrum of the water community including treatment plant operators and managers, scientists, environmentalists, manufacturers, academicians, regulators and others who hold a genuine interest in water supply and public health. Membership includes more than 4,700 utilities that supply water to roughly 180 million people in North America.
Tom has been a member of AWWA for 30 years and during that time he has been involved in a variety of committees and taken advantage of several volunteer opportunities.
Tom holds a BS from Northern Illinois University and is a certified State of Illinois Class A Public Water Supply Operator. Prior to joining EEI in 2005, Talsma served as the Director of Public Works for the City of Geneva where he was employed for 30 years. In this capacity he supervised a staff of 65 employees and held responsibility for a $29.3 million operating budget and a $15 million capital budget in FY 2005.
His experience covers infrastructure rehabilitation related to water works systems, stormwater management, wastewater treatment facilities and electrical distribution systems. Additionally, he has experience in spearheading referenda for major infrastructure improvements as well as for the acquisition of open space.
In addition to his long-standing membership in AWWA, Tom is an active member of the American Public Works Association and has served as president of its Chicago Metro Chapter. He was recipient of the APWA Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year Award in 1994. He is also a member of the Water Environment Federation, the Illinois Potable Water Operators Association and the Kane County Water Association.
Tom has served as a member of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Groundwater Protection Planning Committee, as chairman of the Kane County Council of Mayors Transportation Committee, as vice-chair of the Kane County Storm Water Management Planning Technical Advisory Committee and as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Kane County Transportation Planning Study.