Hydraulic Institute Names S&L's Mrkvicka Member Of The Year

The Hydraulic Institute (HI) bestowed its highest individual honor on Smith & Loveless Inc. vice president of engineering Rodney Mrkvicka, P.E., when he was named HI’s 2021 Member of the Year. The award was conferred to Mrkvicka at HI’s Annual Meeting in Orlando in March.

The Hydraulic Institute is North America’s largest pump association and operates as a global technical authority on pumps and pumping systems. According to the Institute’s Technical Director, Peter Gaydon, Mrkvicka earned this special distinction by his skillful and relentless guidance of numerous pump standards committees and resulting standards development.  

“Rod distinguishes himself by the level and extent of his leadership to advance the technical work of HI on many levels,” Gaydon said. “His dedication to standards development, volunteerism, his leadership with HI over the past 15 years and his many significant technical and professional contributions to the industry sets him apart.”

Mrkvicka’s contributions include serving as chairman of HI’s extensive Systems Section, which addresses application guidelines, white papers, and educational literature for the entire Institute. He also has served as chair or co-chair for six other technical committees and has provided consultation on pump design and operation to the U.S. Department of Energy. Additionally, his committee work has benefitted the water industry directly with the development of two separate standards publications: Pump Application Guideline in Wastewater Plant Pumps and Pump Application Guideline in Water Plant Pumps.

Smith & Loveless president Frank J. Rebori also noted Mrkvicka’s achievement.

“Rod has been a great contributor to the Hydraulic Institute over the years. None of this would be possible without his great dedication and work ethic,” Rebori said. “He is without a doubt an indispensable part of S&L and the water industry.”

As the chief technical officer of Smith & Loveless Inc., Mrkvicka holds more than a dozen U.S. Patents and a half-dozen professional licensures in multiple states while overseeing the research and development of more than 50 different S&L products for the water and mining industries.