17290_Authority_February_2024

38 The Authority | FEBRUARY 2024 circle exposure that I have gained throughout our industry by learning not just from installers, but from the engineers, manufacturers and municipal authorities who work tirelessly to keep our resources ‘flowing’. What does it mean to be a female in this industry? If you were to ask me this question my first day in a hard hat, my answer would have likely been surrounding “toughness” that I perceived as a requirement to excel in a field where I was the only woman I knew. Those feelings of isolation for me, I now know, were partly related to the company I worked for and the position that I held, which gave me very little exposure to other women in the field. Twenty plus years later things have changed, but part of that for me was being more aware of networking opportunities, such as PMAA’s WIN Conference, that helped me to expand my circle. There are women in top leadership positions in all facets of our industry, many of whom I am honored to call my friends. One thing I think about a lot now is how much pressure I put on myself when I was a young woman to prove that I could ‘check the boxes’ or be as qualified as my colleagues even though I did not have the same experience or mechanical abilities. It is easy to develop a chip on your shoulder when you believe that you earned stripes through the struggles of your journey and expect others to do the same. I think about this now in terms of our aging workforce. With advancements in technology and the unknowns surrounding the impact of AI, it is critical that we expand our views of the positions that we will have available, to include skillsets that we may not even fully grasp yet how to apply. As someone who worked so hard to blend in, I think that organizations that find ways to successfully mentor, and be mentored by those who stand out, will find themselves with a competitive advantage as our industry evolves. S Josephine Hall, Manager South Middleton Township Municipal Authority My journey into this industry started with a fortunate conversation that resulted in an internship at an authority going into my senior year at Marywood University. At that time, I was unsure of what direction I wanted to go but had a passion for the sciences. Truthfully, I did not know that this industry existed when I was trying to plan my future. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and Microbiology. Typically my degree is applied in research or pharmaceuticals but after realizing that I could apply my background to a career that was constantly evolving, I jumped at the chance. When I began as an intern, I worked at the Brodhead Creek Regional Authority’s (BCRA) Water Treatment Facility, and returned for a part- time position/internship at their Wastewater Treatment Facility the spring of my senior year. I was immensely fortunate that they thought as much of me as I did of them, and upon my graduation went on full time as an operator, obtaining both my water and wastewater treatment licensing. As I continued working for (BCRA) I evolved as an operator, working alongside incredible mentors of their trades. All good things though must come to an end, as my family grew, I relocated to Central PA and once again leaned on the professional relationships I had developed to contact local authorities. I was not sure, at the time, if I wanted a role in leadership because I thought I was “too young,” but those around me saw something in me that I did not see in myself. Yes, I was young, but I had skills that would help not only myself grow, but the authority grow. It is okay to have a little reservation in your future but take a leap! I have been blessed to work in the places I have, and I can sincerely say that I would not be the person I was if it were not for all the individuals I have worked with along the way. One of my favorite quotes that I like to remember that has helped me along my path is from John Quincy Adams, “if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” As a woman, in a new manager role, what advice can you give? The best advice I can give is to be firm in your convictions. If you ascend into a role of leadership, of any kind, it was your abilities that led you to secure that role. I have personally experienced being somewhat dismissed, as I became a leader at a young age (relative to the industry) and, let’s be honest, this is still a very blue-collar male dominate industry – but it was my ability and knowledge that made me the right choice. Additionally, it is OK to not have all the answers. Lean on those who may have skills that complement your own, learn from them. I have found that respect is earned not by what you know but also by what you do not and being transparent in that – ask questions, lots and lots of questions, never stop learning and growing! S