September 7, 2023 |
Photo – Meet the Speaker Poster – Courtesy City of Rawlins
The Rawlins Water and Wastewater Supervisor has been selected to speak at a women’s empowerment conference in Cheyenne.
During Tuesday night’s Rawlins city council meeting, City Manager Tom Sarvey said the city’s Water and Wastewater Supervisor, Stevie Osborn, was chosen to be a panelist at the 8th annual Connect2Women conference. Sarvey said he values Osborn’s dedication and contribution to the city of Rawlins.
Connect2Women is the largest of all women’s conference in the state of Wyoming. The annual Connect2Women conference is designed to develop women’s skills and confidence and promote unity among women in the Cowboy State. The 2023 Connect2Women conference will feature a panel discussion with 16 professional women who will talk about their experiences with apprentice programs within the state.
Osborn said the Connect2Women conference organizers were looking for women in the rural water industry to be on the 2023 discussion panel. Osborn said Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems Apprenticeship Coordinator Riata Walker recommended her to the Connect2Women organizers.
Osborn explained how she got involved in the water and wastewater industry. Osborn said she was convinced to take an open treatment plant operator position by city employee, Carly Brown. Osborn said she found her calling in water treatment.
Osborn said she had no treatment plant operator experience before being selected for the position. Osborn said she discovered that water treatment was her passion after being offered a chance to participate in the Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems, or WARWS, apprenticeship program.
Osborn said Rawlins has a unique water delivery system. The water and wastewater supervisor said she really enjoys the fact that the city of Rawlins draws its water from natural sources.
Osborn said she needed to obtain certifications through the state to be a water and wastewater operator. Osborn said Rawlins has two different systems, one for water treatment and another for wastewater, each requiring a different license. The water supervisor said the water treatment plant requires her to hold the second highest license offered in Wyoming. Osborn said becoming qualified for a level 3 water treatment certification was very difficult.
Osborn said she was extremely honored to have been chosen to speak at the 2023 Connect2Women conference. However, Osborn said she isn’t a one woman show. Osborn said the city’s utilities and water treatment staff allowed her to perform her job to the best of her abilities.
The 8th Annual Connect2Women conference is September 14th and 15th at the Little America Hotel and Resort in Cheyenne. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.connect2women.org. Tickets cost $100 for a single day pass or $180 to attend the entire two-day event.
