SIUE’s Rick Lallish Wins IWEA Kenneth Meredith Award
Rick Lallish, program director of Water Pollution Control at the Environmental Resources Training Center (ERTC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has received the Illinois Water Environment Association’s (IWEA) Kenneth Meredith Award.
The award acknowledges an individual who has performed duties above and beyond the usual employment requirements, so as to elevate the status of the wastewater plant operator and promote operator professionalism within the state.
“This award reflects the work done by all of us at the ERTC,” Lallish said. “We all go above and beyond for our students and operators throughout the state. One of my early mentors told me to always think of the operators, and I can honestly say this award reflects our commitment to every one of them.”
The IWEA is a community of dedicated professionals working to advance fundamental knowledge of the water environment. Its members are engineers, scientists, plant operators and students. They are employed at wastewater treatment plants, engineering firms and manufacturers of water treatment equipment.
Lallish was chosen by the IWEA for his outstanding efforts in assisting the many wastewater operators and professionals in the state. He is responsible for the training of hundreds of these operators each year. He is a member of various local and state environmental organizations, and serves on committees in each. He is currently the first vice president in the Illinois Association for Water Pollution Control Operators Association.
Lallish has over 23 years of experience in the wastewater field. He was employed by the city of Greenville before assuming his ERTC position in 2008. He also serves as the operator in charge of the SIUE Wastewater Treatment Facility.
About the Environmental Resources Training Center
Photo: Rick Lallish, program director of Water Pollution Control at SIUE’s Environmental Resources Training Center.
