Advertise on podcast: The Straight Flush

The Straight Flush's Legacy Series continues with a revisit to an earlier episode we released in January 2022 with Clarke Wallcraft, who passed in March 2026. We are resharing this conversation to reflect on Clarke's professional contributions, his dedication to VWEA, and mentorship to so many water professionals.

This episode wraps up a two-part series focusing on the importance of mentorship in the water industry. The series discussion was developed by the joint Utility Management Committee's Professional Development focus group. In this episode, our series guest host Jen Cobb (Newport News Waterworks) sits down with C.G. Goldizen (Upper Occoquan Service Authority), Liliana Maldonado (Independent Consultant), Molly Sayles (Hazen), and Jack Tigani (Student at George Mason University) to review their time participating in the mentorship program and the lasting benefits for their careers.

This episode kicks off a two-part series focusing on the importance of mentorship in the water industry. The series discussion was developed by the joint Utility Management Committee's Professional Development focus group. In this episode, our series guest host Jen Cobb (Newport News Waterworks) sits down with Rusty Nigro (Hazen), Matt Wisniewski (GFT), and Paul Delphos (Burns & McDonnell) to discuss the importance of professional mentorship in their own careers, and the development of the VWEA / VA AWWA mentorship initiative.

This episode rounds out our three-part "Collaborative Delivery 101" series that details the perspectives, benefits, and experiences of water industry professionals that have taken the plunge into this alternative pathway to project delivery. In this episode, our series guest host Jim Good (Parkview Advisors) sits down with Scott Crowder (Ulliman Schutte Construction) to share the contractor's perspective on collaborative delivery.

This episode continues our three-part "Collaborative Delivery 101" series that details the perspectives, benefits, and experiences of water industry professionals that have taken the plunge into this alternative pathway to project delivery. In this episode, our series guest host Jim Good (Parkview Advisors) sits down with Brian Balchunas (HDR) to share the engineer's perspective on collaborative delivery.

This episode kicks off a three-part "Collaborative Delivery 101" series that details the perspectives, benefits, and experiences of water industry professionals that have taken the plunge into this alternative pathway to project delivery. In this episode, our series guest host Jim Goode (Parkview Advisors) sits down with Bruce Husselbee (HRSD) to share the owner's perspective on collaborative delivery.

Our guest host Matt Van Horne (Hazen) sits down with Jordan Combs (Maury Service Authority) to review the utility's journey through PFAS quantification, action plan development, and communication with public stakeholders.

This special 50th episode of The Straight Flush has our guest hosts Chris Wilson (HRSD) and Evan Bowles (Hazen) sitting down with Dr. John Novak (Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech) to discuss his history in the field of environmental engineering, contributions in teaching and research, and perspectives on the landscape of wastewater treatment.

We continue our Women Impacting Water series with Dana Hargrove (Hazen) and Adrianna Dimperio (Kennedy Jenks) as they sit down with Marcia Degen (Degen Environmental) and Karri Atwood (Virginia Forever) to discuss their path in Virginia's regulatory field and how it shaped the next phases of their water careers.

Our guest host Becky Currall (HRSD) moderates a discussion on the joint Leadership Academy Committee, its origin, program, and long-term benefits for emerging leaders in the water industry. Guests for this discussion include Karlyn Owens (James City Service Authority), Marcello Forehand (Henrico County DPU), and Mike Wooden (Arcadis). Also, a special thanks to Chelsea Bajek (Henrico County DPU) for helping to organize and develop the podcast discussion.

We continue our Women Impacting Water series with Dana Hargrove (Hazen) and Adrianna Dimperio (Kennedy Jenks) as they speak with Sarah Baumgardner and Laura Schirmer (both with Western Virginia Water Authority) to learn more about their passion for innovative communications in the water sector.

We wrap-up the six-part "Career Pipeline" series that chronicles the path from undergraduate student to the student mentor. The intent is to provide students with a snapshot of the water industry, and to give professionals a peek into the mindset and perspectives of students, recent students, and their mentors. In this episode, our series co-hosts Holly Anne Matel (HRSD) and Mark Titcomb (Newport News Waterworks) sit down with Jessica Hou (Gannett Fleming) to hear about her full circle journey from a student to a working professional mentoring students in our industry organizations.

We continue the six-part "Career Pipeline" series that chronicles the path from undergraduate student to the student mentor. The intent is to provide students with a snapshot of the water industry, and to give professionals a peek into the mindset and perspectives of students, recent students, and their mentors. In this episode, our series co-hosts Holly Anne Matel (HRSD) and Mark Titcomb (Newport News Waterworks) sit down with Charles Bott (HRSD) to learn more about his approach to student mentorship, and the long-term benefits to the water industry.

We continue the six-part "Career Pipeline" series that chronicles the path from undergraduate student to the student mentor. The intent is to provide students with a snapshot of the water industry, and to give professionals a peek into the mindset and perspectives of students, recent students, and their mentors. In this episode, our series co-hosts Holly Anne Matel (HRSD) and Mark Titcomb (Newport News Waterworks) sit down with Merritt Ford (Western Virginia Water Authority) to hear his perspectives on the challenges and opportunities associated with returning to college after years of professional experience.

We continue the six-part "Career Pipeline" series that chronicles the path from undergraduate student to the student mentor. The intent is to provide students with a snapshot of the water industry, and to give professionals a peek into the mindset and perspectives of students, recent students, and their mentors. In this episode, our series co-hosts Holly Anne Matel (HRSD) and Mark Titcomb (Newport News Waterworks) chat with Matt Doyle (Fairfax County / George Mason University) to discuss his unique opportunities in preparing students for careers in the water industry.