2025 Spring Conference Recap
French Lick Resort - French Lick, Indiana
A massive THANK YOU to everyone who attended the Spring Conference at the stunning French Lick Resort this March! We once again saw record-breaking attendance, and we couldn't be more appreciative of our exhibitors, speakers, sponsors, volunteers, staff, and board members for their tireless efforts in making this event an overwhelming success! We sincerely thank our attendees for making this event a priority despite their hectic schedules. Your dedication continues to strengthen and advance our vital industry!
This year, we kicked things off with a specialized one-day exam training led by Scott Ham. Scott delivered an engaging and insightful session that energized early-bird attendees and prepared them for an action-packed week of learning. In the afternoon, AIRW staff facilitated dynamic roundtable discussions covering crucial topics such as Emergency Preparedness & Resilience, Women in Water, Workforce Development & Retention, Lessons from the Field: Operator Stories & Best Practices, Legislative & Regulatory Challenges, and Member Feedback & Future Priorities. A massive shoutout to our Pre-Conference Hospitality Kick-Off Event Hosts, National Water Services, and Advanced Rehabilitation Technology, whose sponsorship provided an exceptional welcome party to launch the conference!
We hit the ground running Wednesday morning as attendees jumped into their chosen educational tracks—administrative, water, or wastewater. Based on rave reviews from last year's staggered session format, we brought back the strategic schedule this year and expanded our class offerings to accommodate the conference's growing attendance.
On Wednesday afternoon, we took a moment to honor and celebrate the best of the best during our prestigious Awards of Excellence Luncheon. We also recognized five outstanding Indiana high school students, each awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Alliance apprentices were acknowledged collectively, and multiple scholarships were presented to recognize hardworking individuals. After an afternoon packed with valuable sessions, attendees gathered in the exhibit hall for a lively reception, where we debuted the first-ever Water Games, featuring a hilarious watermelon-eating contest! The energy carried into the night as conference-goers headed to 33 Brick Street for the first hospitality night, hosted by Utility Supply Company.
Thursday morning started off with two thrilling competitions. First up was the second round of the Regional Water Taste Test, where Hammond Water Works claimed first place and will advance to the Best Tasting Water in Indiana Contest at the Grand Wayne Convention Center. Next, the Zenner Ultimate Meter Challenge took center stage. After an intense weekly competition, four finalists competed for a cash prize and a trip to WaterPro in Savannah, GA, where they will vie for the ultimate reward—an all-expense-paid trip to Hawaii! Daniel Blackwell with North Lawrence Water had the fastest hands and secured the win!
This year, the inaugural Women in Rural Water Luncheon was a new and exciting addition. The incredible Toni Glymph-Martin captivated attendees with her presentation. Meanwhile, for those opting for an independent lunch, a selection of delicious food trucks offered a fresh and exciting dining experience.
We closed out the conference with the highly anticipated WaterPAC raffle prize announcements. Over $4,500 in tickets were sold this year, with proceeds supporting the Water PAC Fund—ensuring rural water and wastewater voices are heard in Washington, DC! This year's grand prize winner, Alan Esqueda with Indiana Pickling, walked away with $2,000 in cash! Other big winners included Ben Knight from the Town of Chalmers Waterworks, who won the shotgun raffle, and Bruce Hamlin from BBP Water Corp., who secured an all-inclusive trip for two to the NRWA Conference in Savannah, GA, courtesy of Covalen & Midwestern Engineers, Inc.
Thank you all for making this another extraordinary Alliance event! We can't wait to see you again next year!