Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Advisory Committee
Straub, Keith
Keith Straub is the Director of Operations for the Town of High Level with 35 years experience as certified operator in the water and wastewater. Keith’s devotion to the Water North Coalition, exhibits his love of the industry, northern communities and the challenges they present. He has been a member of the AWWOA for 34 years and received the Gerald Samuel, Operator of the Year Award in 2008.
Moore, Chad
Chad Moore is a certified water and wastewater operator with experience in field operations, project management and emergency incident response. He currently works as a Drinking Water Operations Specialist for Alberta Environment and Parks. Previously, Chad worked for more than a decade as a certified water and wastewater operator and supervisor in a mid-sized municipality. As a water treatment plant supervisor, Chad managed recovery and mitigation projects at a municipal water and wastewater system following the 2013 floods. He has received commendations for the technical support he provided to water systems involving wildfire, overland flooding, and mitigation of the impact of COVID-19 on operations.
Donovan, Christine
Vis, Nathan
Nathan Vis is the Foreman/Supervising Operator who manages the level 4 BNR WWTP for the Town of Banff. Nathan is currently serving the role of Director on the AWWOA board and has been an active member with the AWWOA for over 10 years. Nathan is an Alberta certified operator holding a level in both water and wastewater disciplines. He has formal post-secondary training in the field of Water & Wastewater Operations, Environmental Management, and OH&S.
Wenzel, Darrin
Darrin Wenzel is Manager of Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection with Strathcona County, Utilities. He is certified in Water Distribution Level 4, Wastewater Collection Level 4, Wastewater Treatment Level 1, and Water Treatment Level 1. He also is a certified engineering technologist and a journeyman welder. Darrin sits on the AWWOA Executive as the Finance Chair representative for populations serving 50,000 to 150,000.
Tooth, Shawn
Shawn Tooth is currently the Manager of Utility Services with the City of Leduc. Shawn has been the Chair of NAIT's Water and Wastewater Technician Program Advisory Committee since 2018. He is a certified level four water distribution and wastewater collection operator with Alberta Environment and Parks. Shawn graduated from NAIT's Water and Wastewater Technician Program in 2005.
Hohner, Theodore
Theodore Hohner is a Utility Operator who currently works for Northern Sunrise County in Peace River, AB. Theo has completed his Level 3 Water Treatment, Level 2 Water Distribution, Level 2 Waste Water Collection, and Level 1 Waste Water Treatment in his last 10 years in the industry. As a previous Alberta Water and Wastewater Operators Association Executive Member, Theo was provided with the unique opportunity of working with Operators throughout the province.
Michalopoulos, John
John Michalopoulos is Manager of Water Treatment who works with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. John has board member and committee experiences with South East Alberta Watershed Alliance, NAIT Water and Wastewater Advisory Committee, South Saskatchewan River Intrabasin Water Coordinating Committee. John holds AEP certifications in WTIV, WWTIII, WDI and WWCI. John has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Practice from Royal Roads University.
Mascaluk, Sean
Sean is currently the Executive Manager of Operations for the Western Irrigation District in Rocky View County, Wheatland County, City of Chestermere and the Town of Strathmore. Sean has worked for over 24 years in various municipalities operating Water Distribution and Treatment System, Wastewater Treatment and Collection, Storm Water Collection and Treatment. Sean is a graduate of the NAIT Water & Wastewater Technician Program and the Mount Royal College Administration Diploma Program. Sean is currently a Certified Level IV Water Treatment, IV Water Distribution, IV Wastewater Collection and Level I Wastewater Treatment operator.
Demchuk, Darren
Darren Demchuk has been working in the industry since 1994. A graduate of NAIT’s Water and Wastewater Technician program, and an ASET Certified Technician, he currently holds Level IV AB Env. WWW Operator certification. His industry experience spans over all four disciplines of the industry. This includes working for public works/utilities departments in small town Alberta, working in treatment plants in work camps in northern Alberta, to medium to large municipalities/counties in Western Canada. In 2008 Darren joined NAIT’s Water and Wastewater Technician Program as an Instructor delivering/developing/reviewing curriculum to students (future operators) with a focus on hands on training. He is currently appointed Program Chair working with a team of instructors who are also certified operators as well as support staff delivering the program to approximately 70 students each year. Over his career he has volunteered for many industry organizations such as ASET, AWWOA, WCW and NTWWA.