McGowan is known for being the “first in and out of the mud,” according to a release from SAM announcing the award. He was chosen from a select group of colleagues from across California.
He was recognized by Darren Greenwood, president of CWEA, who travelled to Half Moon Bay to present this prestigious award to Pat as a special order of the day during a Feb. 22 SAM Board of Directors meeting.
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Criteria evaluated to present the award to McGowan included education, industry certification, experience, significant accomplishments, industry association and community involvement. The award is given at the regional level, and recipients of this honor advance as contenders at the state level, to be awarded on April 23 in Sacramento.
The CWEA award is one in 20 categories bestowed annually to recognize exceptional California wastewater professionals, facilities and/or agencies. In addition to acknowledging outstanding achievements within the wastewater field, the recognition program also seeks to improve the professional status of all wastewater and related industry personnel, and elevate public awareness of the importance of wastewater treatment to public health and the water environment.
McGowan began his career at SAM in September of 1983 and currently holds the position of Lead Collections Maintenance Worker. During his 26-year tenure, he has trained more than 16 collection systems team members employed by SAM.
“Pat has successfully mentored each of them through a steep learning curve, and has been a positive hard-working role model for the less-tenured in our operation,” said Tony Pullin, technical services supervisor. “Pat’s a steady rock that many on the SAM staff rely upon for motivation and support when the days get long and the weather is not cooperating,” adds fellow colleague and plant operator Tim Costello.
Coastsiders can usually see Pat behind the wheel of SAM’s flusher truck, which he uses to find blockages in hard-to-reach easement lines to prevent overflows.
McGowan’s keen and extensive knowledge of the coastside’s pipeline collection system has led to many intelligent solutions to current operations at the plant, according to the wastewater agency.
-- from staff reports
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