The National Association of Wastewater Transporters Inc. delivered its major industry awards during a meeting of the group during the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International in Louisville Feb. 28.
Rick Howe of the Cape Cod Biochemical Co. in Pocasset, Mass., received the 2007 Ralph Macchio Lifetime Achievement Award. Tom Frank, president of NAWT and an organizer of the association’s annual Septage and Grease Trap Waste Treatment Symposiums, received the Man of the Year Award.
Hollis Warren received the Past President’s Award for his dedicated service to NAWT and the Industry. And Todd Frank received the $1,000 William H. Hapchuk Scholarship. The award is given in memory of Hapchuk, one of the founding members of the Pennsylvania Septage Management Association.
The awards were presented by Tom Ferrero, executive director of NAWT, Bob Kendall, co-founder of COLE Publishing, and Ralph Macchio, the namesake of the industry’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Man of the year
Tom Frank was recognized for his tireless efforts on behalf of the Septage & Grease Trap Waste Treatment Symposium, participation in NAWT Inspector training courses and other efforts to help the association. Tom and his father, Tim Frank, hosted the first Septage Symposium at their Ohio treatment facility in 2006.
“In true Frank tradition, Tom steps up and ‘gets the job done.’ Tom really showed his true colors during the last two NAWT treatment symposiums,’’ said Ferrero. “He just puts his shoulder to the task and gets it done! Without his input and help these two events would have been of lesser value to the participants.
“In the NAWT administration, he has become a true leader with insight and creative thinking. We cherish his input as he is probably the youngest of the board members.’’ Ferrero said Frank’s wife, Carol, should also win an award for pitching in and helping with all of her husband’s assignments.
“The award was unexpected. I don’t know I’m deserving of it,’’ Frank responded after receiving the award. “It’s a group effort that makes all of these things happen. It’s not just me. I’m just me who kinds of rants and raves a little bit to make sure things got done.’’
Frank continues to work on a variety of NAWT initiatives, including the third Symposium, to be held later this year in the St. Louis area.
Lifetime achievement award
Howe has long been an advocate for continuing education for pumping professionals and consumers alike, and he’s helped the liquid waste industry mature for nearly 30 years, according to Kendall. Howe was selling bacteria tank additives in the late 1970s when he advertised in the first issue of Pumper® magazine. He used the publication to educate pumpers and encourage them to educate customers.
“In addition, Rick has written countless articles and presented many seminars, mostly on customer education, which has always been an important tool for septic pumpers,’’ Kendall remarked. “An educated customer will be a happier customer, will understand why you need to maintain a system, what should be put into the system and what shouldn't.’’
When Howe started in the industry, it was uncommon for makers of chemical treatment products to explain how they worked, Kendall said. Many sold products through hardware stores and claimed users would never have to have their tanks pumped. This just isn’t the case, Kendall said.
“Rick placed his first ad in our very first issue and, true to his word, he has never missed an issue of Pumper,’’ Kendall said. “I have met many of Rick’s customers over the years, and I have never met any that did not like working with him. He has enhanced our industry through his efforts and he is a worthy recipient of the Ralph Macchio Lifetime Achievement Award.’’
“I’m so humbled by it,’’ Howe said of the award. “It’s been fun, fun, fun to grow the industry the way we have. It’s also an honor for our segment of the industry, which has never been honored before.’’
Howe said he is amazed with the growing sophistication of the industry from an unorganized group of pumpers who once had nowhere to turn to learn about products and professional standards. Now he is impressed with the growth in Pumper, as well as the size and scope of the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo.
“The industry had a huge thirst for information. Obviously it’s grown quite nicely,’’ Howe said. Howe has attended every Pumper & Cleaner Expo.
Past president’s award
Warren received the Past President’s Award for his dedicated service to NAWT and the industry, according to Ferrero. “Hollis served a two-year term early in the 2000s and stepped up to cover a gap during the past year,’’ Ferrero said. “In his earlier presidency, he was instrumental in getting the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) to work with and include NAWT in the Onsite Management Guidelines.’’
William H. Hapchuk Scholarship
Todd Frank, 18, is the son of Tom and Carol Frank, and a senior in high school. He plans to seek a business degree from Ashland University in Ohio. The award was given from a field of entries on the written essay question: “How can the pumping industry help communities (customers, politicians, and regulators) understand that use and management of onsite systems provides a long-term solution for their sewage disposal needs while helping to strengthen the community?”
