New manager of water association named
After filtering through numerous applications and resumes, Bill Thacher and the board at the Great Pine Island Water Association have named a new general manager.
“Searching for a general manager wasn’t really that difficult,” Thacher said. “I really feel we looked carefully at everyone we interviewed, and Laurie Adams is the right person to bring this association forward.”
“I’m originally from Albany, N.Y.,” Adams said. “When I was growing up we moved twice to Arizona and then when I went to college I went to Flagstaff, Ariz. When it was time to get a ‘real’ job, I found one and moved to Burlington, Vt.
“I graduated with degrees in biology and chemistry and thought I wanted to be a veterinarian,” Adams said. “But I didn’t like all the blood and decided against that. My degrees brought me to the lab for the water department in the city of Burlington. The water undergoes extensive testing because the effluent goes into Lake Champlain. So there’s lots of permits and standards that have to be met.”
Adams was in charge of testing the drinking water and as positions came up, she moved upward.
“I always wanted to do new things and as opportunities arose I took them,” Adams said. “When the person in charge of wastewater retired, I suggested combining the two jobs. We use Lake Champlain for our drinking water and we also discharged waste water into the lake.”
Adams spent 33 years with Burlington’s water treatment and felt it was “time to spread my wings and at the same time downsize.”
“The water treatment world is a lot smaller than people realize,” Adams said. “And I was lucky to hear about this opportunity and forwarded a resume. After a while, Bill Thacher (retiring general manager) called and we did a Skype interview.
“I came for an interview and was only here a few days,” Adams said. “But I stayed in St. James City, which was perfect for me. I come from a rural place and really felt like ‘this just fits.’ I just felt very welcome here so when they offered me the job I took it.”
She has already set up residence in the community and soon hopes to become a homeowner.
“We are renting in St. James City but will eventually buy a home here,” Adams said. “Bill officially retires on June 29 and will be here to show me different things until then. We have our first board meeting in a week and I’ve been meeting the staff.
“We’re here for the people we serve… and already I know this is a very special place,” she continued. “It seems like every day there’s something positive … yea, it’s good.”