BJWSA’s Saxon to retire; Joe Mantua selected as new General Manager
OKATIE, SC (November 15, 2018)—Beaufort–Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA) announces that long-time General Manager Ed Saxon will retire in February 2019. Saxon, who has served at the authority since February of 1989, leaves a legacy of environmental and fiscal responsibility, as well as extensive community voluntarism.
Joe Mantua, currently the Deputy General Manager for Operations at Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) in Laurel, Maryland, begins working alongside Saxon November 26. A utility management professional with more than three decades of experience in both the public and private sector, Mantua previously served as a regional manager at Black & Veatch Corporation, and as past president of the American Water Works Association (AWWA.)
The extensive search for a new general manager was conducted nationwide by Cabot Associates and vetted by the BJWSA Board of Directors. Board chair Donna Altman offered, “After a thorough and thoughtful search process, the board is excited to have Joe join and lead BJWSA. Joe brings a stellar leadership reputation, a wealth of water and wastewater industry experience and an impressive work history – which makes him well positioned to lead us going forward.”
Saxon added, “It has been a distinct pleasure to live in the Lowcountry and an honor to serve the citizens of Beaufort and Jasper Counties for 30 years. I’m confident that Joe will be a great leader for our wonderful group of BJWSA employees.”
Reached at his current office, Mantua expressed his eagerness to continue the work that BJWSA has done to earn its place in local prominence, “I look forward to leading this great organization and carrying on the tradition of providing excellent service to our customers and community.”
In his role as General Manager, Mantua will oversee 190 employees at two water treatment plants and eight wastewater plants. For more information about BJWSA, go to www.bjwsa.org.
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BJWSA honors Employee of the Quarter
Congratulations to Diane Thames, human resources specialist, who was chosen as Employee of the Second Quarter 2018,
and to Mike Carter, field operator III, who was chosen as Employee of the Third Quarter 2018!
National Safety Council awards Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority with the 2018 Industry Leader Award
The National Safety Council (NSC) has honored Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) with a 2018 Industry Leader Award. The award is a component of the NSC’s member-exclusive Safety Awards Program. The Industry Leader Award benchmarks outstanding safety achievements among member companies based on self-reported data.
Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority is one of 65 companies chosen nationwide for the award, which recognizes the top five percent of member companies, units and facilities meeting the criteria and qualifications for the 2018 Occupational Excellence Achievement Award (based on 2017 calendar year data) from NSC. Winners are selected based on NAICS code, lowest total incidence rate and employee work hours. As of the end of FY18, BJWSA had sustained a record 1,163 days to accumulate 1,047,540 hours without an injury resulting in a lost workday.
BJWSA General Manager Ed Saxon credits Safety Specialist Steve Lee, along with management staff, for ensuring that employees identify all hazards and the appropriate personal protection equipment is provided and implemented before any work begins.
“This remarkable record,” says Saxon, “is the result of every employee’s commitment to safety and compliance with our robust safety program. We are further committing ourselves to the two million hour goal with a renewed vigilance for recognizing and avoiding safety risks.”
BJWSA holds contests to promote source water protection
Imagine a Day without Water! Imagine no sweet tea, boiled peanuts or Lowcountry Boil. We’re giving local students the opportunity to help us tell our story. For complete details and rules, e-mail Lou.Brown@bjwsa.org!
Kilgore pens article on Cherry Point Water Reclamation Facility for national industry magazine
Director of Treatment Operations Tricia Kilgore, P.E., has published an article on BJWSA’s Cherry Point Water Reclamation Facility in the Water Environment Federation’s July edition of WE&T Magazine. Read more on our press page here.
BJWSA GM Ed Saxon talks about Savannah River Clean Water Fund on SC Business Review
Learn more about our involvement in the Savannah River Clean Water Fund from Ed Saxon’s interview with Mike Switzer on the South Carolina Business Review.
Lady’s Island Middle School visits Port Royal facility
Last week Lady’s Island Middle School visited BJWSA for tours of the Chelsea water treatment plant and Port Royal Reclamation facility. They also viewed some videos before the tours showing the treatment processes at these plants.These videos can be found at www.youtube.com/bjwsa.
