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BUSINESS NEWS ISG ASSISTS IOWA CITIES IN PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH WATER/WASTEWATER SERVICES While water conservation practices are much more prevalent than in past years, many Iowans do not have direct visibility into the constant efforts needed to maintain clean water. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, “Qualified and well-trained drinking water and wastewater operators play a vital role in drinking water quality.” With four ISG professionals, in Iowa alone, who hold DNR Certified Operator status’ in drinking water treatment, drinking water distribution, and wastewater treatment, ISG’s Des Moines, Storm Lake, and Algona offices are directly dialed into the water quality of surrounding communities. ISG certified water/wastewater specialist Jason Butler was awarded the 2015 Operator of the Year award from the Iowa Rural Water Association during its annual conference in February. Jason was nominated for this award by 9 local communities and industry representatives, and was the sole recipient of this annual statewide award. “The best part about being an operator is helping towns identify issues and being a part of the solution. It’s different every day, and each

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town that I serve has faith and trust I will do the right thing, and that support, and drive to make the best decision for the community, is what makes my role so fulfilling,” stated Jason. ISG civil engineering designer Kelly Evans recently joined the list of professionals who are able to serve Iowa communities with operations of their water and wastewater facilities passing certifications for Grade 2 Water Distribution, Grade 2 Water Treatment, and Grade 2 Wastewater Treatment. As part of the operator certification process, Kelly was tasked with gaining the needed knowledge and experience to properly operate the systems and in turn, protect public health and safety, and the environment while being better equipped to design water/wastewater treatment systems. Accumulating more than 3,600 hours of service annually, ISG’s water/wastewater professionals, which include Evans and Butler, provide sludge judging, valve exercising, and routine operations for 32 municipal and industrial clients across the state. Among the four ISG Iowa professionals, they provide more than 55 years of experience in the field and hold a combined eight Grade 2, three Grade 3, and one Grade 4 certifications.

MARK ZWEIG, from page 1

3)Whatever you wear, make sure it fits! I see so many guys – have been one myself – with suit coats or jackets that are too small. We get older – we live the “good” life and our gut expands – and clothes don’t always fit. I see it with women, too. Sometimes it’s embarrassing for you (and them). Make sure whatever you wear you get something that fits properly – not too big or too small. 4)Fabric – natural is better than poly or synthetic – at least for men. That means wool and cotton and silk, and maybe bamboo. Slick fabrics are bad. Stretchy fabrics – not for men. My suits and sport coats are 100 percent wool or wool/silk blends. And shirts – send them out to the cleaner. For $1.50 to $3.00, depending on where you live, you’ll look so much better. A nice, starchy cotton shirt, properly pressed – to me, it’s comfortable and looks like you care about yourself. I also like to wear jeans for work sometimes. I send mine out to the cleaner along with my shirts. Cotton rules. You’ll never see James Bond wearing polyester! 5)Belts and other accessories. Don’t have a worn out belt! They get old and tired and look bad as your waistline goes up and down. Buy some new ones every once in a while! Ditto for your ties. Old ties look dated. IF you wear a tie get some new ones every so often from a good store (not Wal-Mart). And obviously, today there are a lot of people who don’t wear ties. If you are one of them, buy new T-shirts, please! We don’t want to see your worn, stretched, frayed, and nasty T-shirts. New ones cost about $10 each. You can afford it! And get a new wallet. You don’t want to be pulling yours out to pay your and your client’s lunch bill and have one that looks like you first got it 20 years ago. They wear out – like everything else! 6)Laptop bags and luggage. Get quality ones. I like leather. It looks classier. Nylon is OK but don’t get a color that looks like it could be used by a college student. I’m not fond of backpacks because I’m an old man. A lot of younger, hipper folks are using them these days. I don’t wheel a bag, either. My leather duffle will stuff in any bin or under any seat and I never have that last minute, “Where’d my bag go?” drama that some of these wheeled bag users seem to generate. Other thoughts? Send them to me at mzweig@zweiggroup.com. We may help make you famous and print them in a future issue! MARK ZWEIG is Zweig Group’s founder and CEO. Contact him at mzweig@zweiggroup.com.

1200 North College Ave. Fayetteville, AR 72703 Mark Zweig | Publisher mzweig@zweiggroup.com Richard Massey | Managing Editor rmassey@zweiggroup.com Christina Zweig | Contributing Editor christinaz@zweiggroup.com Sara Parkman | Editor and Designer sparkman@zweiggroup.com Megan Halbert | Design Assistant mhalbert@zweiggroup.com Liisa Andreassen | Correspondent landreassen@zweiggroup.com Tel: 800-466-6275 Fax: 800-842-1560 Email: info@zweiggroup.com Online: www.thezweigletter.com Twitter: twitter.com/zweigletter Blog: blog.zweiggroup.com

Published continuously since 1992 by Zweig Group, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. ISSN 1068-1310. Issued weekly (48 issues/yr.). $475 for one-year subscription, $775 for two-year subscription. Article reprints: For high-quality reprints, including Eprints and NXTprints, please contact The YGS Group at 717-399- 1900, ext. 139, or email TheZweigLetter@ TheYGSGroup.com. © Copyright 2016, Zweig Group. All rights reserved.

THE ZWEIG LETTER April 25, 2016, ISSUE 1149

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