A Recap of SSR’s KY/TN Water Professionals Conference Experience - 2025

The 2025 Kentucky/Tennessee Water Professionals Conference (WPC) in Knoxville, TN set new records with 2,158 participants and 291 exhibitors, making it the largest in conference history. Hosted by Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) in the heart of East Tennessee, the week was full of learning, networking, competition, and celebration. SSR was proud to play a prominent role throughout the event, contributing leadership, technical expertise, and community engagement across every aspect of the conference.

SSR Brought Its A-Game to Conference

Our strong presence was evident in both the exhibit hall and technical program, with a booth that embraced Knoxville’s basketball pride and was themed after the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Complete with a pop-a-shot competition, the booth drew in attendees for some friendly competition. For every point scored, SSR donated $1 to Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, and our visitors weren’t disappointed. More than 3,000 points were scored, so we rounded the total up to $5,000 to support their mission.

Our client event at Maple Hall was another highlight of the week. Co-hosted with general contractor Reeves-Young, the evening featured bowling, networking, and great food. Over 200 guests joined us, and we’re still hearing rave reviews.

Conference Leadership & Involvement

SSR played a big role behind the scenes to help make WPC 2025 a success:

• Luke Williams served as this year’s KY/TN AWWA Chair, leading the Kentucky and Tennessee Section in its 100th year of supporting utilities, engineers, consultants, and regulators to provide a better community through better water. He passed the gavel to Megan Talley at this year’s conference.

• Brady England served as Students Co-Chair on the Conference Planning Committee, co-leading the Student Poster Competition. The Student Committee hit record numbers in student attendance, poster competitors, scholarship applicants, and scholarship funding.

• I served as Competitions Co-Chair on the Conference Planning Committee, overseeing the Water Taste Test, Tapping Competition, and Top-Ops (a Jeopardy-style operator challenge).

• Josh Bruce served as Transportation Co-Chair on the Conference Planning Committee.

• Serena Hostetter graduated from the Water Professionals Leadership Academy (WPLA) — congratulations!

Sharing Knowledge

SSR’s technical expertise was on full display, with six presentations covering topics from digester rehabilitation to workforce development. Our presenters represented a variety of disciplines beyond water, including colleagues from our MEP and Transportation business units, highlighting the depth and breadth of SSR’s capabilities.

• From Sandblasting to Final Coat – Rehabilitating an Anaerobic Digester – Devin Reins and Kyle Gibson (Currens Construction Services)

• Practical Tips and Tricks for Navigating TDEC ARP Reimbursements, Site Inspections, & More – Ivey Limbaugh and Ellen Kinnane

• Electrical Harmonics 101 for Water Professionals – John Furr and Jim Dolezal

• From Lines to Layers – Modernizing the University of Memphis’s Utility Maps – James Aker & Joe Griffey

• Tapping into Talent: Engaging Future Water Professionals – Brady England & Maci Young (Barge Design Solutions)

• Blueprints for Tomorrow: How STEM Professionals Propel the Next Generation with Future City – Paige Lowe & Olivia Yates (LJA Engineering)

Special Events

The conference offered some unique Knoxville experiences:

• Water for Life engaged the public with hands-on learning about water systems in Knoxville’s historic World’s Fair Park.

• Attendees hopped aboard the Three Rivers Rambler for a Wednesday morning technical session by KUB’s water and wastewater treatment plants — an unforgettable learning-on-the-rails experience.

• The Member Celebration at Kerns Food Hall brought everyone together for local food, drinks, and great conversation.

It was a phenomenal week for SSR and the entire KY/TN water community. We’re proud of the leadership, technical expertise, and community spirit our team brought to WPC 2025, and we can’t wait to do it all again in Lexington next year!