CH2M People And Projects Distinguished At WEFTEC

CH2M is pleased to announce that several of the company’s employees and water projects received recognition this week by the Water Environment Federation(WEF) at WEFTEC 2015, WEF’s 88th annual technical exhibition and conference, held September 26-30 in Chicago, Illinois.

CH2M’s people and projects receiving award recognition include:

• Rhonda Harris, Terry Krause and Tim Shea named 2015 WEF Fellows for their distinguished achievements, stature and contributions to the global water profession and expertise in design, education, operations, regulation, research, utility management and leadership.

Rhonda Harris, who brings more than 35 years of experience to her role, serves as director of consulting services at CH2M, where she is responsible for business development, client relations and senior review of water and wastewater treatment consulting projects. Ms. Harris has been actively involved on an international level in addressing issues of water and sanitation through leadership and participation in the top water professional organizations in the world, including serving as President of WEF from 1998-1999 and as a member of its Executive Committee for many years prior.

Terry Krause, a Board Certified Environmental Engineer by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and a vice president, program manager and principal technologist at CH2M, has more than 40 years of experience delivering significant wastewater projects, both nationally and internationally—most recently serving as programme manager, overseeing the delivery of the multi-billion dollar Inner Doha Resewerage Implementation Strategy (IDRIS) Program, in Qatar. He is a 30 year member of WEF, chaired the WEF Technical Practices Committee and was the Founder and first Chair of the Municipal Resource Recovery Design Committee (formerly the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Design Committee). He is active on the Program Committee, where he is a member of the Plant Operations and Maintenance Symposium group. He led the development of the 5th Edition of MOP 8, Design of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in 2010, and has held several House of Delegate positions, in addition to sitting on WEF’s Board of Trustees.

Dr. Tim Shea, an expert on the anaerobic digestion projects at municipal and industrial wastes, served as a Technology Fellow with CH2M until retiring in September 2013, and presently serves as a consultant to the firm in the area of biosolids processing and management. He joined the predecessor organization to WEF in 1965 and has served on many WEF committees over the years. Dr. Shea was the Co-Editor of the WEF/WERF/EPA “Solids Processing Design and Management Manual”, published in 2012, is a Past-President of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and is a past Chairperson of the USA National Committee of the International Water Association.

• Roseburg Urban Sanitary Authority’s (RUSA) Natural Treatment System (NTS) earned the2015 Water Quality Improvement Award, which is presented annually to the water quality improvement program that best demonstrates significant, lasting and measurable excellence in water quality improvement or in the prevention of water quality degradation in a region, basin or water body. The NTS polishes treated wastewater effluent from the Roseburg Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility to protect the South Umpqua River, in Roseburg, Oregon. CH2M designed and manages the NTS for RUSA. The NTS operates year round and treats up to 8 mgd of secondary effluent during summer months, significantly reducing total phosphorus and nitrogen discharged to the river. Read CH2M’s Access Water blog, “Natural Treatment System in Oregon receives 2015 Water Quality Improvement Award” for more information on RUSA’s NTS.
• Industrial waste management research and best practices captured in the paper, “Start up and Commissioning of a Membrane Bioreactor Plant Treating a High TDS Refinery Wastewater,” from the Bahrain Petroleum Company’s innovative technical solution to treat complex refinery wastewater, including hazardous spent caustic wastestream, earned the firm the Rudolfs Industrial Waste Management Medal.

“Only 12 individuals were named WEF Fellows, so we are honored to have three CH2M staff earn this prestigious recognition from WEF, in addition to two of our projects receiving awards,” said Greg McIntyre, CH2M’s Global Water Business Group President. “Rhonda, Terry and Tim are recognized leaders within CH2M and the global wastewater industry and are very deserving of this acknowledgement.”

Additionally, CH2M’s Elisa Speranza earned the 2015 Water For People Robert W. Hite Outstanding Leadership Award for her many years of dedicated service, innovative thinking and strong leadership to advance Water For People’s mission of a world where all people have access to safe water and sanitation.

About CH2M
CH2M is a global engineering and project delivery company partnering with public and private clients to tackle the world's most complex infrastructure and natural resource challenges. The firm's work is concentrated in the water, transportation, energy, environment and industrial markets. CH2M has gross revenues of $6.1B, has 25,000 employees and is a specialist in program, construction and operations management and design. The firm earned the 2015 Stockholm Industry Water Award for its leadership in potable water reuse and was named Water Company of the Year at the 2012 Global Water Awards. For more information, visit ch2m.com.