Awards Book

BEST CITIES
FOR
DRINKING
WATER
2015
Training Top 125 Award Ranked 95th -
BWWB Leadership Development Program (LDP) participants
tackle actual organizational challenges by completing a workrelated
team project that is approved by executive management.
Employees devote many hours to research and other activities to
provide management with solid recommendations for improving
operational procedures, policies, and processes. The outcomes
of each team’s project are presented to BWWB management
with their recommendation. Of the 13 participants in the
2007-2008 LDP, 7 were promoted to management, and in
2008-2009, 3 of the 11 participants were similarly promoted.
Training Top 125 Award Ranked 75th -
BWWB developed and implemented leadership programs
to support the organization’s commitment to fostering an
environment that facilitates training to enhance the skills of
its employees to prepare the organization for the future. Some
117 employees have enrolled in BWWB’s leadership programs,
and 60 of them have graduated. Of these graduates, 37 have
been promoted (62%) year to date. The quality of BWWB’s
leadership programs is represented by the high percentage of
graduate promotions. The development and implementation
of these leadership programs successfully demonstrates
BWWB’s commitment to its strategic goal/objective to “train
the workforce to enhance innovative knowledge, skills, and
abilities to improve system operations.”
Training Top 125 Award Ranked 24th -
Safety is equal with production and quality at the BWWB.
The organization’s Safety First mantra is communicated,
practiced, and observed daily. Safety training is not only
conducted for compliance requirements, it’s also conducted to
help employees be successful. In FY’13, BWWB focused on
safety performance rather than compliance. This disruptive
e thinking approach resulted in making a positive impact on
BWWB’s overall safety culture. Safety training became more
relevant, job performance increased, and hazard assessments
improved. This also changed how employees viewed safety
training. Employee engagement in safety training increased;
coaching became more positive and less disciplinary; injuries
decreased; and employee safety moral improved.
Young Professional of the Year –
BWWB Lorenzo Clay received this award from the AWWA’s
Alabama/Mississippi Section.
AWWA Alabama Operator of the Year –
BWWB Operator Wendell Cox received this award from the
AWWA’s Alabama/Mississippi Section.
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