Scaling UP! H2O

Venture beyond the confines of your comfort zone and embark on an exhilarating journey of personal growth and discovery, all through the power of public speaking. Are you prepared to embrace a challenge that promises to elevate both your professional path and life's trajectory? Our latest podcast episode is a resounding call to action, inviting you to step out of the ordinary and conquer the obstacles that hinder your progress. Picture this: a group of visionaries from The Rising Tide Mastermind, driven by their thirst for excellence, tuned in to the wisdom of Chris Anderson's masterpiece, TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking.  But they didn't stop at absorbing knowledge; they transformed Chris' words into action. Fast forward to May 2023. Imagine a room filled with dozens of Mastermind Members ready to put their public speaking prowess to the ultimate test. Each Member presented on a topic they selected because it was important to themselves, and having that personal connection to the materials being presented shone through in their voices as they took the stage. Within this space, water professionals, much like you, embraced the TED Talk public speaking format, revealing their insights to an audience of peers and professionals. This dynamic event wasn't just about sharing ideas; it was a celebration of pushing boundaries, fostering camaraderie, and nurturing growth. This special episode serves as a testament to what's attainable when you confront a fresh challenge, surrounded by kindred spirits who champion your triumphs. As a water treatment professional, you're no stranger to the transformative potential of processes, and this scenario is no exception. While you listen, keep in mind that the avenue to advancement often meanders outside of your comfort zone. Would you like to nominate a speaker from this episode for the illustrious TED stage? Your path to scaling up the water treatment industry begins below. ⬇️ Discover firsthand the heights achievable when determination meets unwavering support. It's an ode to what can be achieved when you set your intentions and lean on a supportive community to cheer you on toward greatness.   Timestamps Introducing this year's Rising Tide Mastermind Live Event challenge [1:00] James Courtney The Importance of Global Fish Sustainability [22:00]  Mindy Petrocy Embracing Individuality and the Invisible Diagnosis [31:20]  Jill Cavano What are You Waiting For; Start Your Bucket List Today [38:20] Thomas Hardy It is never the right time to Volunteer [44:50] Brett Glenna Seeing The World with Chartreuse Colored Glasses [51:00] Connor Hanrahan Memento Mullet: The Story of Two Fish Learning to Swim [58:28] Closing Thoughts with Trace [1:08:00] Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals [1:14:00] Periodic Water Table With James McDonald [1:15:30]   Nominate a Speaker from this episode to appear on the TED stage. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3: Follow the instructions in THIS link to Nominate a Speaker to TED  Copy the Speaker's professional profile, see links below, and paste the link into the "Please share a brief biography that includes information about this potential future TED speaker's connection to their talk topic" section Copy this podcast episode link (scalinguph2o.com/325) in the "Please provide links to online video or audio featuring the proposed speaker" section *Don't forget to click the "Submit" button in the bottom right once you've completed your Nomination.    Speakers professional profiles: James Courtney: in/james-courtney-cwt-leed-ap-379a6877 Mindy Petrocy: in/mindy-petrocy-71b84599 Jill Cavano: scrantonassociates.com/about_the_owner.html Thomas Hardy: in/thomas-hardy-3410b728 Brett Glenna: in/brettglenna Connor Hanrahan: in/connor-hanrahan-6a19021b   Connect with Scaling UP! H2O Email Producer: corrine@blackmore-enterprises.com Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/ Facebook: @H2OScalingUP YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O   Links Mentioned mulletparty.com The Rising Tide Mastermind Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses Submit a Show Idea AWT (Association of Water Technologies)   2023 Events for Water Professionals Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE or using the dropdown menu.   Books Mentioned The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson   Periodic Water Table With James McDonald Some of these words are fun to say and impress your family and friends.  But back to the subject at hand, EDTA.  What is it used for?  What's its chemical formula?  What does EDTA typically react with?  It's called a chelant, but does the word chelant mean?  What are the advantages of using EDTA in a boiler water system?  What are some warnings and precautions with using EDTA in a boiler system?  What are the dangers of overfeeding EDTA?  What about underfeeding?  Does EDTA react stoichiometrically with cations?  What does this mean?  Is EDTA synergistic with any other water treatment chemistries, such as polymers and phosphates?  How do you test for EDTA?  What do the phrases free chelant, combined chelant, and total chelant mean?  Are there any other chelant alternatives to EDTA?  Do you use any treatment products that contain EDTA?  

Welcome to the Scaling UP! H2O Podcast. As water treaters, we have a multitude of tools at our disposal, but it's crucial to understand what we're testing for and how our tests work on a basic level. In this week's episode of Pinks and Blues, we're delving into the intricacies of water treatment by focusing on the difference between two important measurements: Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Conductivity. TDS and Conductivity are crucial metrics in water treatment, as they provide key information about the quality and purity of the water we're treating. However, many water treaters don't fully understand the nuances of these measurements, which can limit the effectiveness of their treatment methods. On this episode of Pinks and Blues, we'll explore the science behind TDS and Conductivity, and how these measurements can be used to optimize water treatment processes. Whether you're a seasoned water treatment professional or just starting out, you'll gain valuable insights and knowledge that will help you scale up your water treatment expertise. Bottom line: Get ready to expand your understanding of water treatment and join us as we explore the critical difference between TDS and Conductivity.   Timestamps Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals [1:00] Periodic Water Table With James McDonald [4:30] Trace Blackmore answers your Pinks and Blues questions about the difference between TDS and Conductivity [6:00]   Quotes "Where you take the temperature really does matter." - Trace Blackmore "The solution to pollution is dilution…or said another way 'The solution to concentration is dilution'." - Trace Blackmore "Calcium Carbonate (equation) - a water treater's nemesis, because it impedes heat most often."  - Trace Blackmore   Connect with Scaling UP! H2O Email Producer: corrine@blackmore-enterprises.com Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/ Facebook: @H2OScalingUP YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O   Links Mentioned The Rising Tide Mastermind Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses Submit a Show Idea   2023 Events for Water Professionals Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE or using the dropdown menu.   Periodic Water Table With James McDonald You might already know that HEDP is a phosphonate, but what does that mean?  What does HEDP stand for?  What is its molecular formula? What percentage of HEDP is phosphate?  Is HEDP used for scale control, corrosion control, or both?  Is HEDP synergistic with anything else?  Does pH have an impact?  Can HEDP precipitate with anything?  If so, how might this be controlled?  Do oxidizing biocides, such as chlorine, have an impact upon HEDP?  How does this impact compare to that of other phosphonates?  Do you use any products with HEDP?  

Is there a magic plan to prepare for the CWT Exam? Can you sign up for the CWT exam and have enough time to study for it in as little as 12 weeks? Connor Hanrahan, the Technical Manager at IWE Industrial Water Engineering found a way that worked for him and his team to feel prepared for the CWT Exam, and all it took was a little planning. If you are looking for a strategy for studying for the CWT Exam, tips for taking the exam at the testing facility, ways you can mentally prepare for a 200-question exam, want to know what to expect prior to having the test in front of you, and numerous resources to help you study, this podcast episode is for you. Bottom line: Connor Hanrahan is going to give you the 12-week strategy for taking the CWT Exam.   Timestamps Trace Blackmore invites all water treaters around the world to scale up on knowledge together [1:00] Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals [5:30] Interview with Connor Hanrahan, Technical Manager at IWE [10:00] Lightning round questions [1:04:00] Are you intentionally putting yourself in environments and situations that help you to get better? [1:08:00] Periodic Water Table With James McDonald [1:21:00]   Quotes "Water is where my passion, my source of living, and something the world needs intersects." - Connor Hanrahan "I love water chemistry. The more I learn, the less I know. I'm always opening new fields of questions." Connor Hanrahan  "Water is endlessly complex, in a beautiful way." Connor Hanrahan "I'll be honest, the CWT Exam was harder than I expected. It is pretty tough, they do not joke around." Connor Hanrahan "Training maintains an excellent organization." Connor Hanrahan "The CWT does such a good job of setting a bar right for water treatment excellence." Connor Hanrahan "My CWT experience was challenging and extremely worthwhile."- Connor Hanrahan   Connect with Connor Hanrahan Phone: 505-280-0561 Email: connorphanrahan@gmail.com Website:  Industrial Water Engineering Website: mulletparty.com LinkedIn: in/connor-hanrahan-6a19021b/ Read or Download Connor Hanrahan's Press Release HERE   Links Mentioned The Rising Tide Mastermind Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses Submit a Show Idea AWT (Association of Water Technologies)   2023 Events for Water Professionals Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE or using the dropdown menu.   Books Mentioned Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Martian by Andy Weir Three-Body Problem Boxed Set by Cixin Liu and Ken Liu The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington Traction by Gino Wickman  The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni I Said This, You Heard That Workbook by Kathleen Edelman I Said This, You Heard That (2nd Edition) by Kathleen Edelman The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey   Periodic Water Table With James McDonald The building blocks of polymers. What is a monomer? What are the various forms of monomers used in industrial water treatment? What functionality can each of these monomers bring? Are there synergies between them? How are monomers used to make polymers? When monomers are combined to form polymers, do all the polymers in a batch have the exact same discrete composition of monomers, or is the batch of polymer described more as an average of what the molecules are estimated to be when examined together? How can supply-chain shortages of a monomer impact industrial water treatment?  

Everyone is looking for new ways to increase employee engagement and employee retention, which is why we brought back podcast guest Reid Hutchison of HOH Water Technology in Palatine, IL to talk about the best ways he has found to entice Millennials and Gen Zs to his company. What is your company known for? What reputation does your company have in the professional sphere? Why does top talent opt to apply to your company or remain at your company? If you are looking for the secret sauce to entice the next generation of water professionals to your company, then this episode is for you. Bottom line: Reid Hutchison is going to share how companies that give back create better employee engagement.   Timestamps:  Merry Christmas and Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals [1:01] Thinking On Water With James [08:13]  Interview with Reid Hutchison of HOH Water about his involvement with AWT [10:00]   Why everyone needs to consider joining The Rising Tide Mastermind [22:00] Inspire employee engagement and solve the Global Water Crisis with The Global 6K [32:00]   Thinking On Water With James:  In this week's episode, we're thinking about something a little different. We're thinking about Santa Claus and all the gifts he brings. Assuming you have been a good industrial water treatment professional if Santa Claus could leave you a new piece of water-testing equipment in your stocking, what would it be? Would it be a replacement for something you already have? Would it be something you've always wanted, instead? If either of these, why haven't you already replaced it or why haven't you already gotten it? Could you make it a goal to get it in the new year? What if Santa Claus could bring you a piece of water-testing equipment that doesn't even exist yet? What would that be? Take this week to think about what you carry around for water testing every day and how you might just be your own Santa Claus this year.    Quotes: "It's a challenge, for all of us collectively, to continue to attract talented people." - Reid Hutchison "I would love to be a part of a company that makes a difference, to be a part of an industry that makes a difference in the world." - Reid Hutchison "Ending the global water crisis is a team effort." - Reid Hutchison "It costs about $50 to deliver water to one person." - Reid Hutchison "I am always looking to learn and improve." - Reid Hutchison "By 2030, it is possible that the global water crisis will be solved or ended. The only way to reach that goal is to mobilize more people to engage in the effort to help millions of people." - Reid Hutchison   Connect with Reid Hutchison: Email: ​​rhutchison@hohwatertechnology.com Website: www.hohwatertechnology.com LinkedIn: in/reid-h-3a329431 Press Release   Links Mentioned:  Watch this video as Reid Hutchison shares how you as an individual or as a company owner can participate in this year's Global 6K for Water scalinguph2o.com/ReidGlobal6K Make a donation or Join Team Scaling UP! Nation's Global 6K scalinguph2o.com/6K Team World Vision  The Rising Tide Mastermind   Events:  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE or using the dropdown menu.   Episodes Mentioned:  122 The One with Reid Hutchison  123 The Other One with Reid Hutchison 236 The One Where We Talk About Waters Treaters Changing The World 284 The One About The AWT Convention Experience  

What do you do when you encounter an issue you've never seen before in the field? What is the process you work through to figure out what is wrong? Where do you go to look for the information you need? What do you test for? How do you know if your treatments are working? How do you communicate and collaborate with your customers when there is a problem with one of their systems?  If you want to know the Secret 6 Steps you need to take today to resolve a new problem you encounter in the field, Adam Sites has the solution you are looking for. 1.) Identify the problem  2.) Think through what could be going on in your memory banks  3.) Reach out to others who might have more experience with your problem (the client, fellow Mastermind Members, professionals in your network, mentors, your suppliers)   4.) Test what you think the issue is until you've narrowed it down  5.) After testing and you've figured out what the issue is, treat and observe  6.) Document what you did and learned, and share what you learned with others Adam Sites, CWT has worked with Capital Technologies for over 15 years and, like many smaller water treatment companies, he wears many hats, including service manager and sales manager. Working with his team and finding new opportunities to grow their business are equally rewarding to him. In short, Adam is always up for new opportunities to grow and learn. Podcast host and CWT, Trace Blackmore reminds us that when we educate ourselves, we get better; and when we learn individually, the entire water industry benefits. Trace Blackmore interviews Adam Sites about what Adam did when he was up against a new  Bottom line: Adam Sites shares the 6 steps you need to do in the field when you come up against unexpected challenges.   Timestamps:  Trace Blackmore shares Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals [01:00]   Thinking On Water With James [7:45] The career journey of Adam Sites CWT, Service Manager and Sales Manager of Capitol Technologies [9:00] The Purple Goo Mystery: AKA working a problem until it is solved [18:11] Sales, new business, PSA take care of your Mental Health, Lightning Round questions with Adam Sites [38:00]   Thinking On Water With James:  In this week's episode, we're thinking about the Heat Exchanger Fouling Factor. What is a Fouling Factor? What does it tell about the efficiency of heat transfer across a heat exchanger? How is a Fouling Factor calculated? What assumptions do design engineers make about Fouling Factors when designing a new heat exchanger, and how might these assumptions impact the water flow rate? What can impact a Fouling Factor over time? Why is understanding Fouling Factors important? Take this week to think about and learn more about the heat exchanger Fouling Factor.   Quotes: "I used the Pandemic to work on my messaging, and what I wanted to say. I built up my knowledge in new areas and established a better plan to figure out 'What is the right kind of business and who do I want to talk to?' Now I'm better prepared to talk to new customers." - Adam Sites "One of the cool things about water treatment is the mysteries, and things that are new to us." - Adam Sites "If you don't know the answer, ask and find it out. It's okay to ask." - Adam Sites "PSA - take care of your mental health. There are so many resources out there. Check out the National Suicide & Crisis Hotline - call 988 if you need help." - Adam Sites   Connect with Adam Sites: Phone: 724-747-7446  Email: adam@captec.us Website: captec.us  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adam-sites-cwt-64a14265  Press Release   Events:  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE  or using the dropdown menu.   Links Mentioned:  The Rising Tide Mastermind Submit a Show Idea National Suicide & Crisis Hotline  - call 988 Audible   Episodes  Mentioned:  Episode 110 about Boiler Surging (episode question provided by Adam Sites) Episode 257 with TED Talk speaker and author, Drew Dudley  Episode 117 Part 1 with Kathleen Edelman Episode 179 Part 2 with Kathleen Edelman Episode 281 Part 3 with Kathleen Edelman   Books Mentioned:  This is Day One by Drew Dudley  The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.  The Walking Dead: Invasion by Jay Bonansinga and Robert Kirkman I Said This, You Heard That – Workbook by Kathleen Edelman I Said This, You Heard That 2nd Edition by Kathleen Edelman A Grown-Up's Guide To Kids' Wiring by Kathleen Edelman  

/*! elementor - v3.7.4 - 31-08-2022 */ .elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=".svg"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block} Trace Blackmore brings back Jim Lauria, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the Mazzei Injector Company, and Adam Tank, Chief Customer Officer at Transcend H2O, to the Scaling UP! H2O Podcast. This time, the hosts of the Water Online sponsored podcast Water We Talking About? will discuss how mindmapping, creative storytelling, and teamwork allowed their podcast to elevate the water industry. The Water We Talking About? podcast started during the pandemic as a way to tell water stories in a meaningful way. Now, 30 episodes in, Jim and Adam have plenty of experience hosting a podcast about water stories, and today we are fortunate enough to hear the things they've learned along the way. Water We Talking About in this episode: Why did Jim and Adam decide to do the podcast, and how do they feel now that they have 30 episodes under their belt? What benefits did they get working with Water Online and vice versa? Why did they decide to join forces rather than have their own individual podcasts? How do Jim and Adam keep up with their engaging and cohesive banter? What have they learned since starting the podcast? What is writing to Jim and Adam, and what is their advice to those hesitant to write? What do they wish people in the water industry would STOP doing? Why should people in the water sector tell water stories? Bottom line: Jim Lauria and Adam Tank share how they educate everyone, both those in and outside of the water industry, by telling water stories. Timestamps: Happy Halloween to the Scaling UP! Nation and Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals [01:00] Thinking On Water With James [08:56] Inspiring interview with the hosts of the Water We Talking About? podcast, Jim Lauria, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the Mazzei Injector Company, and Adam Tank, Chief Customer Officer at Transcend H2O [09:52] Closing thoughts on podcasts about the water industry [39:18] Thinking On Water With James: In this week's episode, we're thinking about resin traps. First, what is a resin trap? Why would resin need to be caught in a trap? What can cause resin to even make it to such a trap? Are resin traps only for capturing resin, or can they be installed on other water treatment equipment with other types of media? What are the various designs for resin traps? How are they cleaned? Do any of your systems have resin traps installed? Take this week to think about resin traps and the benefits they may provide. Quotes: "In the beginning, I was very intent that if we are going to do the podcast, people are gonna learn actual tactics on how to tell water stories in a meaningful way." - Adam Tank "The podcast is a partnership." - Jim Lauria "Jim and I both appreciated the way each other presented our story." - Adam Tank "Talk about general trends in the water industry, and you will get more engagement." - Jim Lauria "If our industry could tell better stories, we could radically elevate the conversation about water globally." - Adam Tank Connect with Jim Lauria: Email: jimlauria@teamchem.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimlauria Website: www.mazzei.net Newsletter: To Know Water Is To Love Water Connect with Adam Tank: Email: atank@transcendh2o.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamtank/ Website: www.transcendh2o.com Newsletter: At Water's Edge Listen to 'Water We Talking About?' on all major podcast streaming platforms, or on Water Online, where you can watch all 30 of Jim and Adam's episodes! Links Mentioned: 166 Reading The Raven and Haunted Boilers 181 The One Where Water Geeks Talk About Social Media 047 The One with the Guy Who Writes About Water   Water Online Megan Casey Glover of 120 Water Creating A Customer Ecosystem With Megan Glover, Founder Of 120Water Events: Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE or using the dropdown menu. Books and videos Mentioned: The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson The Control of Nature by John McPhee Brave Blue World (2020 film) Halloween (Franchise)

Trace Blackmore invites Antoine Walter, host of the (don't!) Waste Water Podcast and Senior Business Development Manager at Georg Fisher, on the show to discuss their mutual love of hosting podcasts about water.  What started as a way for Antoine to connect with others during the COVID-19 lockdown has transformed into an inspirational podcast show where water professionals share their fields of expertise and explore the latest water technologies with the (don't) Waste Water listeners. In this Episode Trace asks Antoine: What are the lessons we can learn from Jean-Claude Van Damme when it comes to hosting a podcast? Who is Antoine's dream podcast guest, AKA, the White Whale? What will the future of water look like in 30 years? How have sales changed since the pandemic, and are those changes here to stay? Why start a water treatment podcast?  Where to go for podcast topic inspiration?  What did he wish he knew on his first day as a podcast host? Do podcasts transcend borders? Why does Antoine love wastewater? Bottom line: Antoine Walter shares how he educates, entertains, and inspires water professionals globally weekly with his globally-reaching podcast.   Timestamps:  October's Scaling UP! H2O theme is Water Podcasts and Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals [01:00] Inspiring interview with (don't!) Waste Water podcast host and Senior Business Development Manager, Antoine Walter [08:00] Lightning round questions [46:00]  Thinking On Water With James [01:00:00]   Thinking On Water With James:  In this week's episode, we're thinking about how water quality varies within your area. How do parameters such as hardness, alkalinity, silica, and conductivity vary around your area? How do they change between surface water and groundwater sources? Does the city water quality vary according to the water source they may be using at that time? How does this impact the water treatment programs you are managing? How can it impact the pretreatment, chemistry, and water efficiency? Is the end user aware of these potential impacts? Take this week to think about how water quality varies within your area and the impacts it may have.    Quotes: "A conference is a way to take the temperature of the industry." - Antoine Walter "If you build storytelling into your podcast episode you'll catch people and have key take-home messages." - Antoine Walter "I want to be in wastewater. You can do so many rewarding things in this specialty" - Antoine Walter "Water is essential and the bedrock of all other industries." - Antoine Walter   Connect with Antoine Walter:  Email: antoine.walter@georgfischer.com LinkedIn: in/antoinewalter1 Website: www.georgfischer.com Don't Waste Water Podcast: dww.show  The Water Show with Björn Otto: company/the-water-show/about Subscribe to the (Don't) Waste Water Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/don-t-waste-water-6884833968848474112/    Events:  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE  or using the dropdown menu.    Links Mentioned:  Trace's interview on the (don't) Waste Water Podcast Shure SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone International Water Association (IWA) SUEZ Water  Sustainable Development Goals - Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Veolia   253 The One About Biofilms 3 Paths to Reach SDG 6 by 2050: All Our Hopes are on #3! (DWW episode with David Lloyd Owen) What would it Empower, if Water Actually Became a Non Fungible Token? (DWW episode with Katrina Donaghy) Listen Notes: The best podcast search engine The Rising Tide Mastermind Submit a Show Idea   Books Mentioned:  Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River by David Owen The Worth of Water by Gary White & Matt Damon Global Water Funding by David Lloyd Owen SPIN Selling by Neil Rackham Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge by Erica Gies The Sustainability Puzzle by Alice Schmidt and Claudia Winkler  

Today, I invited Aaron Walker AKA "Big A" back on the podcast to talk about his experience when he went on a two-month Sabbatical in 2021.  As a business owner, Big A founded 14 companies over the past 42 years, and going on a Sabbatical was a difficult thing to consider. But with the persuasion of many of his Mastermind group members and his doctor, he went on a Sabbatical on November 1st, 2021, completely unplugging from everyone except his family for the rest of the year. Aaron has credited his wonderful team and his executive assistant to whom he delegated tasks for keeping his business on the right track while he stepped away for two months. I've always thought that a Sabbatical is just a fancy word for rich people to take an extended vacation, but it was so much more. Aaron Walker opened my eyes to what Sabbaticals are truly about. More than that, I learned that the strength of the business isn't due to the strength of the business owner; the strength of the business lies with the team that the business owner has developed. Bottom line: Aaron Walker will talk about his two-month Sabbatical and how it changed his life. Your roadside friend, as you travel from client to client.  -Trace    Timestamps:  Goal Setting with The "12-Week Year" [02:00] Events in Water Treatment [04:31] Welcoming Aaron Walker AKA "Big A" back to the podcast [08:00] Aaron's Superpower: Giving hard advice in a caring and tactful way [10:33] Deciding to take a Sabbatical and talking to the staff [15:15] Dealing with the struggles of being a business owner stepping away from their business [18:45] What is a good Sabbatical objective [24:36] Aaron's day-to-day while on Sabbatical [26:50] Aaron's advice to those who want to go on a Sabbatical [31:04] How did Aaron's life, work, and relationships change post-Sabbatical [36:03] Thinking On Water With James [47:21]   Thinking On Water With James:  In this week's episode, we're thinking about how sodium hypochlorite, or bleach, controls microbiological growth? What's happening outside the microbiological cell? What's happening inside? What are the chemical species causing this? How much time is required to get effective microbiological control? How does pH impact these chemical species? Does the "reservoir effect" soften the impact of pH? Take this week to learn more about sodium hypochlorite and its impact on microbiological growth.    Quotes: "I help ordinary men become extraordinary."  - Aaron Walker  "My life's vision is motivation. Helping other people achieve their goals and dreams." - Aaron Walker  "You've gotta say hard things often, (even though) these are things you don't wanna say." - Aaron Walker  "I think we're designed to be in a community. Humanity is designed to have other parts around you that can supplement where you are possibly weak."  - Aaron Walker  "I went into business to be able to have a lifestyle that I wanted to live. I didn't go into business to be a slave to the job." - Aaron Walker  "It was very telling of me, as an individual, taking a Sabbatical, because I'm really having time now to reevaluate things that I was doing, that I wasn't really aware of." - Aaron Walker  "Because we're so busy and clouded with activities, we can't get to a point where we can really think through what we want to accomplish" - Aaron Walker "You have to experience a Sabbatical on your own. No one can convince or talk anybody into doing it. It's a leap of faith." - Aaron Walker "At the end of six weeks [the Sabbatical], I was fired up, I was rested, I had a plan, and I was ready to come back." - Aaron Walker "Everybody can't do a Sabbatical initially, but you can set a target date to get yourself in a position to be able to do it." - Aaron Walker "What I really learned out of the Sabbatical is really doing a deep dive with myself." - Aaron Walker "I'm not where I want to be, but I'm a lot better off than I was." - Aaron Walker "I was amazed by the depth of my thinking. I was able to think through what I wanted to accomplish."  - Aaron Walker "We're so busy and so clouded with activities we cannot get to that level."  - Aaron Walker "My Sabbatical in one word would be 'Energizing."  - Aaron Walker "We're a lot better off being an inch wide and a mile deep because the riches are in the niches." - Aaron Walker   Connect with Aaron Walker: Phone: (615) 207-3018 Email: aaron@viewfromthetop.com Website: ironsharpensironmastermind.com LinkedIn: in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop TuesdayNoon.Live with Aaron Walker ( Streaming Every Tuesday at 12 PM CST) Iron Sharpens Iron Mastermind View From the Top   The Mastermind Playbook    Links Mentioned: CWT Prep Course The Rising Tide Mastermind 244 The One About Water Treaters For Clean Water (with Steve Spear of Team World Vision) 184 The One Where I Interview My Mastermind Mentor (with Aaron Walker)   Events: International Conference on Biological Wastewater Treatment Technologies and Systems – June 2 to 3 in New York, NY NRWA In-Service Training – June 7 to 9 in Anaheim, CA World Vision Global 6K  Join Team Scaling UP! Nation or make a donation HERE   Books Mentioned: The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington Atomic Habits by James Clear

Today is a special treat because today I have a friend and trusted colleague, Janet E. Stout PhD, president of Special Pathogens Laboratory and research associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. An infectious disease microbiologist, Dr. Stout is recognized worldwide for seminal discoveries and pioneering research in Legionella. Her expertise includes prevention and control strategies for Legionnaires' disease in building water systems. Dr. Stout's more than thirty years of research is published in peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals. She also has authored textbook chapters on Legionella and Legionnaires' disease, including the Legionella chapter in the APIC Text. An advocate for prevention, Dr. Stout assisted in developing the first Legionella prevention guideline (1993) in the United States, which continues to serve as a model for national and global health agencies and organizations. Additionally, she serves on the ASHRAE Legionella standard committee for Legionella Guideline 12 and the SPC 188 committee for ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2015 Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems, the first U.S. standard for Legionella risk management. She is the first instructor of the ASSE 12080 Legionella water Safety and Management Specialist Certification training, and TODAY she has agreed to come on the show and share some key updates that our entire industry should be aware of. Bottom line: Dr. Janet E. Stout is on a mission to end Legionnaires' disease by using science and education to prevent future outbreaks.  Your roadside friend, as you travel from client to client.   -Trace    Timestamps:  James' Challenge: "Perform condensate survey throughout a facility."  [2:02] Re-introducing my friend and trusted colleague, Legionella Expert, the accomplished Dr. Janet E. Stout [6:00] Why join a peer to peer groups for business solutions and professional growth [13:30] ASHRAE 188 updates  [18:40]  Legislation regulation for Legionella updates [23:22] 12080 Certification [29:55] CDC updates [31:20] Understanding "Percent Positivity" [34:30] The Joint Commission updates [36:37] What does a CWT need to know? [40:20] Staying on top of industry changes [43:15] Standard 514 [45:05] Talking to our clients about changes [47:00] How to stay in the know about local and state changes? [50:33] Lightning round questions [54:00]   Quotes: "I'm on a mission to end Legionnaires' disease." - Dr. Janet E. Stout "It frustrates me that someone has to die in order for changes to be made." - Dr. Janet E. Stout "Change is coming. Some through standards and guidance, and some by regulatory authorities and joint commission." - Dr. Janet E. Stout "We need to raise the bar so that everybody is at the same level of basic understanding of Legionella and Legionnaires disease water management." - Dr. Janet E. Stout "We advance because we say to ourselves 'There are things we don't know' and we seek out the knowledge for those that do and thereby get better at our jobs." - Dr. Janet E. Stout "A water treatment professional needs to be an educator of their client."  - Dr. Janet E. Stout   Connect with Janet Stout PhD: Phone: 412.281.5335 Email: jstout@specialpathogenslab.com  Website: www.specialpathogenslab.com    Links Mentioned: Episode 121 with Dr. Janet Stout Standard 188-2021 -- Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems (ANSI Approved) Special Pathogens Laboratory - Education  Puzzled By Legionella Wednesday webinar series The Rising Tide Mastermind Submit a Show Idea AWT (Association of Water Technologies)   Events: The Hang Networking Event- @6pm 11.11.21 Michael Warady's Business Webinar -@11am 10.29.21 Smart Water Utilities, Europe (Netherlands) -1.26.22-1.27.22   Books Mentioned: Puzzled By Legionella - Janet E Stout PhD From Good To Great - Jim Collins  Traction - Gino Wickman   

AWT's in‑person technical training is a keystone for developing competent water treaters. Yet classroom knowledge only matters when it survives the drive home and emerges later in the field. In this second conversation with Dan Merritt, CWT—National Sales Manager at CH2O Inc. and head of AWT's education committee—Trace Blackmore uncovers how stories, math, and memorable mistakes turn theory into intuition.  Why training keeps evolving  Dan explains that the Association of Water Technologies rewrites courses every year. Instructors refine content, delivery and demonstrations, not for novelty's sake, but because boilers and cooling towers rarely behave like textbook examples. Recognizing that multiple chemical reactions operate simultaneously helps prevent chasing the wrong problem. Updated program design and operations classes now bridge the gap between fundamentals and advanced topics. Specialized modules for sales, membrane/softener maintenance, ASSE 1280 compliance, and a two‑tier wastewater curriculum ensure that attendees can match coursework to their experience and role.  Lessons from experience: paperwork, PPE and people  Anecdotes ground the theory. Dan recounts losing his Certified Water Technologist status for five years after assuming an office manager filed his recertification paperwork. He re‑sat the exam in 2016 and now tells every candidate: verify your own paperwork. Another incident involved a sulfuric acid injection line that still held pressure; a line blew while he was replacing a fitting, covering his jeans in acid—his apron protected his torso, but he still had six‑inch holes in his pants. "Wear your PPE" is his first piece of advice to new technicians. Beyond safety, Dan highlights that water treatment careers demand communication and management skills. Technical strengths don't automatically translate into leadership; becoming a mentor and training others brings lasting fulfillment.    Developing a growth mindset For new practitioners, Dan recommends learning from whoever will teach you and embracing the "nerdy" parts of the job—math, chemistry and calculations translate directly into customer value. After the first year it's easy to plateau, so he urges veterans to intentionally take on new technologies such as wastewater treatment or chlorine dioxide and to share knowledge with younger colleagues. This industry can't be automated or offshored; field troubleshooting will always require hands‑on expertise. Even in sales roles, success comes from offering solutions grounded in a deep technical foundation.  Looking ahead  The episode closes with a call to prepare for AWT's upcoming training seminars (March 10–13 and November 11–14). Attendees should bring system data and be ready to teach one takeaway to their teams when they return. Scaling Up! H2O encourages listeners to invest in their careers, meet peers and instructors, and approach each technical challenge as an opportunity to raise the bar for the entire industry. Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  01:35 - Trace Blackmore shares a reminder for listeners about the AWT Technical Training on March 10-13   04:12 – Words of Water with James  09:20 - Transition to Interview Recap 11:24 - Second part Interview with Dan Merritt, CWT  12:40 - Losing CWT Certification 20:49 - ASSE 12080 Training 22:49 - Wastewater Training Expansion 38:22 - Sulfuric Acid Incident   Quotes "Failure is not the failure. Quitting is the failure."  "The water treatment industry is not something that you can do remotely. There is always going to be the need for people to troubleshoot water systems."  "Being a mentor is a great way to take that experience that we have and translate it—to give it away to those in our company."  "Don't worry about making mistakes. We all make mistakes, and that's how you learn."  "I swore up and down that I would never be a salesman. Now I'm the sales manager because I realized that selling solutions grounded in technical knowledge isn't about pushing products—it's about helping people."    Connect with Dan Merritt, CWT  Email: dmerritt@ch2o.com   Website: .https://www.ch2o.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-merritt-cwt-18413819/.    Guest Resources Mentioned   Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't by Simon Sinek (Paperback)    The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions by Geoff Woods, AI Thought Leadership   The Accidental Superpower: Ten Years On by Peter Zeihan (Narrator, Author)   The Shattering Peace: Old Man's War, Book 7 by John Scalzi (Author), Tavia Gilbert (Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher)  Education Offerings – AWT  Become Certified – AWT    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  AWT Technical Training - Registration  2026 AWT Technical Training Schedule  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind    Words of Water with James McDonald  Today's definition is a quantitative chemical analysis method to find the unknown concentration of a substance by gradually adding a solution with a known concentration until the reaction is complete, often signaled by an indicator's color change. Can you guess the word?       2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

Industrial water training only works when the knowledge transfers. That means the material lands with the audience, survives the drive home, and shows up later in the field when decisions get made.  Dan Merritt, CWT, Sales Manager at CH2O, brings a rare perspective to that problem. He started as a teacher (chemistry, calculus, physics), entered industrial water treatment on February 5, 2002, and later became part of the AWT training team. This conversation follows the path from classroom instruction to boiler rooms and cooling towers, then uses that journey to examine what makes technical training "stick" for working professionals.  From educator to water treater, then back to educator  Dan shares how leaving graduate study, teaching high school and community college, and stepping into service work shaped his approach to explaining technical concepts. The throughline is simple: the instructor owns the clarity. When someone in the room does not understand, the response is not frustration. The response is translation.  Bridging the knowledge gap without dumbing it down  Trace and Dan describe a common failure mode in technical instruction: experts answering correctly, but not helpfully. They frame the goal as closing the gap between what the instructor knows and what the audience can realistically absorb in the moment, especially for attendees building competence over time.  Stories and demonstrations as tools for retention  The episode highlights why AWT trainers lean on stories and physical demonstrations, from an Archimedes fountain to static electricity experiments. Dan explains how the "light bulb moment" is the reward of teaching, and why trainers adapt when a method fails (including what humidity can do to a demo in a room full of people).  Keeping the CWT exam in proper context  The conversation also draws a firm boundary: training supports growth, but it does not replace the CWT experience requirement and recommendations. Dan and Trace emphasize accurate language around the credential and reinforce what the training can and cannot do.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  01:38 — Setup for a two-part series to help listeners prepare for AWT Technical Training 02:24 — AWT Technical Training logistics: March 10–13 in Frisco, Texas (near Dallas) 03:10 — Trace shares why AWT Technical Training matters personally (mentorship, community, support) 05:51 — "Desert Pete" story: why instructors "fill the bottle" by giving back through training 11:53 — Words of Water with James McDonald: definition + answer ("flow rate") 14:13 — Events mentioned for water professionals  18:42 — Trace introduces the guest: Dan Merritt (CH2O) and their history through AWT 19:39 — Dan's background: 24 years in water treatment; former teacher (chemistry, calculus, physics). 22:44 — Dan's entry into water treatment: Industrial Water Engineering ride-alongs + first field impressions 26:49 — Move to Pacific Northwest + start at CH2O (service tech) and why that timing mattered 31:40 — How Dan and Trace connected through AWT training; Dan begins teaching (service tech reporting). 34:17 — Dan's AWT involvement expands: education committee + Intro to Water Treatment online course task force 35:31 — Dan asked to teach the chemistry class; Trace frames "know your audience" and confidence gap 36:50 — Teaching tools and learning from misses: demos (Archimedes fountain, static electricity + humidity issue) 37:49 — The key teaching principle: "you're the instructor; it's your job to explain it clearly" (adult learners) 41:31 — Bridging the knowledge gap: why brilliance can miss the audience, and why training must translate 44:48 — Why a math/calculations class helps: making the "bang, there's your answer" steps teachable 50:19 — Troubleshooting reality: many forces in boilers/cooling towers; deeper understanding improves diagnosis 52:00 — Field story lesson: softener cleaning foam incident (why stories stick and prevent repeat mistakes) 56:19 — CWT clarification: training helps, but it cannot replace required experience and recommendations 58:31 — CWT wording matters: it's an "exam," not a "test" (Trace mentions Angela Pike's correction)   Quotes  "It's your job to explain the material in a way that we can understand it."  "It's our responsibility to take this information, to package it in a way so you, not me, you can understand it." "Math is the only known axiom that we have. And it kind of quiets the chaos." "And again, it's not a test. Do not say that it's a test. It is an exam."    Connect with Dan Merritt, CWT  Email: dmerritt@ch2o.com   Website: .https://www.ch2o.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-merritt-cwt-18413819/ CH2O, inc.: Overview | LinkedIn    Guest Resources Mentioned   Education Offerings – AWT  Become Certified – AWT   I Said This, You Heard That 2nd Edition by Kathleen Edelman    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  AWT Technical Training - Registration  2026 AWT Technical Training Schedule Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind    Words of Water with James McDonald  Today's definition is a measure of the volume or mass of a fluid (liquid or gas) that passes through a certain point or cross-section over a unit of time.  Can you guess the word or phrase?    2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

"Don't be afraid to say I don't know. - Will Ritter"  Corrosion is expensive, relentless, and easy to underestimate—until a "lasagna battery" turns aluminum foil green and reminds you what electrochemistry can do in the real world. This conversation reframes corrosion coupons as what they actually are: a repeatable field test that can sharpen your decisions—if you treat the process with consistency.  Respect the coupon, protect the data  Trace breaks down why coupons became non-negotiable in his systems: they turn guesswork into usable corrosion-rate intelligence. Will Ritter of MetaSpec (formerly Pacific Sensor) explains the fundamentals—pre-weighed coupons, exposure time, cleaning, and calculating corrosion rate in MPY (mils per year). The point isn't that the coupon is your pipe; it's that the coupon becomes a reliable, relative gauge over time when variables are controlled.  The "five things" that make results repeatable  Will outlines practical failure points that quietly ruin comparisons quarter to quarter: alloy selection (and staying consistent), surface area (and what happens when hardware covers the coupon), surface finish (including why scratches and pits matter), weight accuracy (and why kitchen/postage scales don't belong in the workflow), and protective VCI packaging that prevents premature corrosion in storage and transit.  Brand building, trade shows, and getting comfortable saying "I don't know"  Will shares his path from Pacific Sensor to MetaSpec and what it looks like to merge brands intentionally heading into 2026. The discussion also moves into trade show presence and digital marketing, plus a simple confidence framework: get comfortable saying "I don't know, but I can find out," and build communication reps—he points to Toastmasters as a low-stakes way to do that.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:20 — Trace sets the stage: why corrosion coupons matter as diagnostic data 04:05 — What a coupon is (size, pre-weighed precision) and why tiny changes matter 06:14 — Trace's "four things" water treaters manage (and what microbial control is not)  07:07 — The "lasagna battery": anode/cathode/electrolyte/path in a real-life example 08:50 — Defining corrosion (ISO 8044 and NACE definitions referenced) 09:50 — Corrosion cost perspective: "2.5 trillion" and "3.5% of global GDP" (as cited)  10:53 – Words of Water with James   12:38 – Events for Water Professionals  14:56 — Will Ritter introduction and why the podcast helped him understand the industry 18:30 — How Will got into coupons: Pacific Sensor, mentors, and early AWT exposure 24:36 — Trade show mindset: don't be afraid to say "I don't know" 27:50 — Toastmasters as a practical system for better speaking and confidence 31:25 — Pacific Sensor → MetaSpec; co-branding and planned transition "starting in 2026" 34:06 — Coupon basics and MPY explained in clear operational terms 36:51 — The big misunderstanding: coupons as a relative gauge (not "the pipe") 40:06 — The "five key characteristics" behind usable coupon data 58:10 — Best-practice takeaway: treat coupons like a lab test brought into the field 01:06:35 — Close: why Trace "owes a lot" to that "little slip of metal"    Quotes "Use the coupon as a relative gauge of the corrosivity of the system." - Will Ritter "Surface finish is critical… a change in surface finish is going to impact corrosion results." - Will "Treat your coupons… like you are taking a laboratory test and bringing it into the field." "It's not a piece of metal. It's very special. Treat it as such." "Digital marketing is free… small businesses need to take advantage of free resources."   Connect with Will Ritter   Phone: (713) 882- 1427  Email: williamrritter@gmail.com   Website: Pacific Sensor - Buy Corrosion Coupons and Test Specimens   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamryanritter/   https://www.linkedin.com/company/pacific-sensor/about/      Guest Resources Mentioned   Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization by Ed Conway (Audiobook)  Steel Isn't Hard (To Learn) by Shane Turcott (Paperback)  The Goal: 40th Anniversary Edition: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Eliyahu M Goldratt (Author), Jeff Cox (Author)  Toastmasters International  Pacific Sensor Corrosion Coupon Installation Guide  Water Treatment Flyer- Pacific Sensor  Metaspec Capabilities Presentation NACE SP0775-2023 Preparation, Installation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Corrosion Coupons in Hydrocarbon Operations  ASTM-G1-25 Standard Practice for Preparing, Cleaning, and Evaluating Corrosion Test Specimens  TP25-18 The Impact of Metal Surface Roughness on Corrosion Monitoring Water Treatment    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Submit a Show Idea  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  The Rising Tide Mastermind 304 Pinks and Blues: Corrosion Coupons  075 The One that's All About Corrosion Coupons  AWT Guidelines on Corrosion Coupons   Corrosion cost perspective: "2.5 trillion" and "3.5% of global GDP"    Words of Water with James McDonald Today's definition is any of the elements found in Group VIIA, also known as Group 17, of the Periodic Table, including fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine, characterized by the ability to disinfect water.   2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

"If you say something over and over often and enough, it becomes true because perception is reality."  Paul O'Callaghan has built a career at the intersection of water science, wastewater realities, and the practical question every operator and executive eventually faces; what actually moves innovation from idea to adoption.  As Founder and CEO of BlueTech Research, Paul explains how his team helps decision-makers put capital to work more efficiently in water by reducing uncertainty and separating signal from noise. He describes patterns he's watched repeat across water entrepreneurs, pilots, and product market fit, and why "innovation" often breaks down simply because utilities, investors, and founders are using the same word to mean different things.    Capital, fit, and the language gap Paul unpacks what it takes to align an investor's expectations with a technology's true pathway to scale. He contrasts different "types" of innovation and why matching the right investor, entrepreneur, market, and timeline matters as much as the technology itself. The conversation also highlights why solving a problem someone has today is often a safer starting point than betting everything on a problem that might arrive tomorrow.  Regulations as a driver and a risk  Regulation matters in water and wastewater, but Paul cautions against building an entire business on the hope that rules will create a market on schedule. He walks through timing risk, enforcement uncertainty, and why tracking policy momentum matters as much as tracking the text of the regulation itself. He also notes a shift toward more "aspirational" regulation focused on reuse, regeneration, and systems-level outcomes.  Storytelling that changes adoption  From Brave Blue World to Our Blue World, Paul shares what he learned about making water personal and compelling without reducing it to doom-and-gloom narratives. The stories he tells connect to a core professional challenge: technologies enable outcomes, but adoption accelerates when people can see and want the "better" future those outcomes create.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    02:33 - Trace's message on finding "your next love" through learning  09:25 - Words of Water with James McDonald  11:25 - AWT connection and the importance of being challenged by community  13:06 - Industrial Water Week dates for "this year" (Oct 5–9)  14:02 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   19:15 - Interview with Founder & CEO of BlueTech Research, author of The Dynamics of Water Innovation, Executive Producer of Brave Blue World and Our Blue World  22:20 - Pivot moment into water as a career (Malaysia, Edinburgh course, "living machines")  25:15 - What BlueTech Research does (reducing uncertainty, helping capital work efficiently)  27:50 - How startups connect with BlueTech and why storytelling matters  30:09 - Matching investors, entrepreneurs, and markets (alignment and "different languages")  33:00 - The role of regulations (timing risk and market realities)  35:15 - How BlueTech keeps up (themes, emerging areas, and using AI for tracking legislation)  36:30 - Paul's book: The Dynamics of Water Innovation (why he wrote it and who it's for)  40:49 - Documentary storytelling origin and Discovery Channel experience  44:22 - How celebrities got involved and why the outreach worked  45:30 - Why they made a second film and the goal of making water personal  48:03 - Viewer feedback, education impact, and grassroots screening stories  50:08 - "Water 2050" video game inspired by the films  51:21 - Additional ripple effects and "halo" projects (curriculum, photography competition, water walks)  53:06 - Where water innovation is going (desirability, storytelling, and "leaving water")  56:07- Advice for people with ideas (talk to people, generosity of the sector, ikigai, long-term view)  58:08 - Ostara / Crystal Green story (finding the operator's "today problem")  59:54 - One point Paul wants to leave: "It's a journey, enjoy it."    Quotes "We do our best to help people put capital to work more efficiently to solve water challenges."  "Try and find a problem that someone has today, ideally."    Connect with Paul O'Callaghan Email: paul.ocallaghan@bluetechresearch.com   Website: BlueTech Research – Actionable Water Technology Market Intelligence   braveblueworldstudios | Instagram | Linktree   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/o2environmental/     Guest Resources Mentioned   The Dynamics of Water Innovation: A Guide to Water Technology Commercialization by Lakshmi M. Adapa (Author), Paul O'Callaghan (Author), Cees Buisman (Author)   Watch Brave Blue World: Racing to Solve Our Water Crisis | Netflix   Braveblueworldstudios | Instagram | Linktree   "Dynamics of water innovation: Insights into the rate of adoption, diffusion and success of emerging water technologies globally" – Wageningen University & Research  "Wastewater Technology Fact Sheet: The Living Machine" – U.S. EPA  "Brave Blue World" film – Science on Screen synopsis  "Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey" – IMDb overview  "Water Reuse for Industrial Applications Resources" – U.S. EPA  "ANSI/AAMI ST108:2023—Water for the Processing of Medical Devices" – ANSI Blog   "Key EPA Actions to Address PFAS" – U.S. EPA  "The Philosophy of Ikigai: 3 Examples About Finding Purpose" – PositivePsychology.com   Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters Paperback by Brian Klaas   Rivers of Power: How a Natural Force Raised Kingdoms, Destroyed Civilizations, and Shapes Our World Paperback by Laurence C. Smith    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind 415 Green Building Updates: What You Need to Know  004 It's Not Easy Being Green!  032.5 The One That Takes You to AWT's 2018 Technical Training]  022 The One with Tim Fulton  280 The One About Retaining Top Talent  368 Adapting to the New Workforce: Attracting Top Talent 413 Charting the Future: Mastering the Art of Strategic Planning    Words of Water with James McDonald  Today's definition is a single, reactive molecule, usually an organic compound, having the ability to join with a number of similarly defined molecules to form a polymer.    2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE. 

Industrial water work rewards people who can move between precision and practicality. Katie Holliday brings both. She started as a lab chemist, then transitioned into field service with Apex Water and Process, where much of her work supports healthcare facilities and high-accountability programs.   Lab habits that protect your tools and your data  Katie describes the first surprise of field work: a central plant is "very dirty," and the job demands good technique without chasing lab-level perfection. She shares a couple of simple practices that prevent expensive problems. Use proper lab wipes on glassware instead of shirts or paper towels, which can scratch surfaces and compromise readings. Keep pH probes wet with the correct storage solution, because once they dry out, they often stop working.     Healthcare water: SPD work and Legionella prevention  About 90% of Katie's accounts are healthcare. She defines SPD as the sterile processing department and explains why expectations shift compared to boilers and cooling towers. SPD work is cleaner, more controlled, and typically includes additional components such as endotoxin filtration and UV. It also involves more testing and stricter standards that tie directly to patient safety. Alongside SPD, she emphasizes Legionella prevention as a constant priority, from cooling towers (including secondary disinfection) to domestic water, because facilities want to reduce risk to patients.    Water chemistry reality check: Phoenix versus "everywhere else"  Katie explains how Arizona water changes the operating window. She notes high hardness and high chlorides, which can limit cycles of concentration and force conservative targets compared with places like Atlanta, where Trace describes running much higher cycles. The takeaway for experienced pros is familiar: operating limits are local, and "what good looks like" depends on the incoming water and the constraints that matter most at that site.    Mentorship, representation, and field readiness systems  Katie shares what it meant to be the first woman account manager hire in a long-running operation, and her advice is practical: recruit intentionally, then train people in the field, not from the sidelines. She credits her mentor, Bernie Peacock, for accelerating her learning curve, and she now passes that on by responding fast, following through, and providing steady backup to newer teammates. She also describes how she built mechanical confidence, using manuals, YouTube, phone video, and a OneNote playbook that captures account contacts, access details, sampling points, and "where things are" notes for clean coverage when someone else is on-site.   Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:14 - Trace Blackmore shares "first day" intimidation and learning curve in water treatment  08:55 - Words of Water with James McDonald  12:30 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   14:48 - Interview begins: Katie Holliday introduced (Apex Water and Process)   15:55 – Lab to Field transition and technique  20:27 – Representation and Mentorship  26:42 – Culture and Water Stewardship   33:31 – Healthcare work, SPD, and Legionella   35:56 – Mentoring and "give it back"  39:22 – Mechanical Confidence, Tools, and Documentation Systems     Quotes and Key Takeaways "What do I not know that I don't know?"  "Everyone needs a Bernie Peacock" "Field accuracy doesn't require lab perfection, but it does require clean technique." "The most effective mentoring is responsive and practical."  "Documentation scales your value"    Connect with Katie Holliday Email: k.nativeamericanbeadwork@gmail.com   Website https://teamapex.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-holliday-9b6977246/   https://www.linkedin.com/company/apex-water-process/     Guest Resources Mentioned   The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey   AAMI ST108 Compliance in Sterile Processing  High hardness in Phoenix  ASSE 12080 Legionella Water Safety certification  Navajo Nation water access    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea   The Rising Tide Mastermind Fearless Pricing: Ignite Your Team, Own Your Value, and Command What You Deserve by Casey Brown     Words of Water with James McDonald  Today's definition is the upward flow of water through a resin bed to clean, expand, and reclassify the bed.  Can you guess the word?    2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.     

Corrosion rarely announces itself as a "big water problem." It shows up as leaching at the tap, residual loss in the field, premature equipment replacement, and the slow, expensive erosion of decision-quality.  Pat Rosenstiel (CEO) and Wolf Merker (chemist/Chief Science Officer) of Great Water Tech lay out a system-wide view of corrosion control—starting with what changed in Flint from a technical standpoint and moving into why many utilities still struggle to meet expectations when standards and risk assumptions shift.  System-wide corrosion control starts with chemistry and consequences  A source-water change can shift corrosivity fast. If corrosion control does not adjust proactively, the downstream effects show in metal release and public exposure. Wolf stresses the distinction between the technical problem and the political challenges, then points to corrosion control as a solvable technical matter when it is treated as a system condition—not a single asset issue.  Why "phosphate-only" isn't the end of the story  Trace frames what most operators recognize: many municipalities use phosphate inhibitors to form a tenacious film and reduce corrosion. Wolf argues phosphates are "a little bit of old news" in practice and explains the approach Great Water Tech discusses with their German partners—using phosphates and silicates together in the right amounts to create a tighter separation between water and metal.  Barriers, biology, and the disinfection tradeoff  Wolf breaks corrosion drivers into three sources: chemical, biological, and electrochemical (dissimilar metal corrosion). He also ties corrosion to cascading operational decisions—especially disinfectant strategy. If residual loss pushes a system from chlorine to chloramine, Wolf warns that corrosivity can increase dramatically, and that corrosion can amplify the formation of disinfection byproducts as chlorine reacts with what is in the water.  What industrial water treaters should listen for  Pat connects the same barrier logic to industrial priorities—CapEx, OpEx, and lifecycle extension in closed systems (cooling towers, closed chilled loops, boilers). Wolf clarifies that closed systems require different product "flavors," while keeping the core concept consistent: the combined silicate/phosphate approach remains the best path he is aware of.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    02:20 - Trace sets the tone for the episode: decision-quality improves when you "rethink the way that you think you know things," especially around tests and procedures   08:20 - Words of Water with James McDonald  11:00 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   18:22 - Interview with Pat Rosenstiel, CEO of Great Water Tech & Wolf Merker, Chief Science Officer of Great Water Tech  23:00 - Flint technical breakdown  27:30 - Corrosion control options  32:20 - Scale vs. Corrosion   43:40 – Algae Control Pivot    Connect with Pat Rosenstiel  Website: Great Water Tech | Water Treatment Solutions  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-rosenstiel-a148952/   Great Water Tech LLC: Overview | LinkedIn     Connect with Wolf Merker  Website: Great Water Tech | Water Treatment Solutions  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolf-merker-a1b95284/    Great Water Tech LLC: Overview | LinkedIn    Guest Resources Mentioned   NSF/ANSI/CAN 60 — Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals: Health Effect   NSF — Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals Certification (NSF/ANSI/CAN 60) (how certification works)   ANSI Webstore listing (official standard access/purchase)  EPA — Lead and Copper Rule (regulation hub)  EPA — Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) (final rule page)  EPA fact sheet — Tap Monitoring Requirements (LCRI) (sampling protocol changes)  Great Water Tech  Folmar (Great Water Tech) — corrosion inhibitor (phosphate + silicate blend)  Algae Armor (Great Water Tech) — nutrient-binding tool for ponds/lakes  EPA Distribution System Toolbox — Pigging fact sheet (PDF) (removing biofilm/scale/sediment from mains)  U.S. Bureau of Reclamation report page (chlorine vs chloramine impacts incl. corrosion/leaching discussion)  AWWA Opflow article (main cleaning techniques incl. pigging): AWWA's utility-facing perspective on cleaning options  Silicate corrosion inhibitors  Historical context for silicate–phosphate combinations    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)   AWT Technical Training (March 2026)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  Ep 422 Inside the Association of Water Technologies with John Caloritis Hach Water Analysis Handbook      Words of Water with James McDonald Today's definition is the smallest functional unit of a cooling tower that contains its own heat exchange section, fan or air-moving system, water distribution system, and drift eliminators.    2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

Boilers can feel intimidating the first time you step into a boiler room—the heat, the noise, the pressure gauge, and the weight of knowing that mistakes can be costly. Trace Blackmore opens with a reminder that boilers deserve respect, not fear—and that learning fundamentals is how you replace mystique with clarity.  The talent gap behind the boiler room door Eric Johnson, Founder and CEO of Boilearn, explains why boiler expertise is becoming harder to replace. He points to the shrinking pipeline of boiler-trained technicians—historically strengthened by Navy steam training—and why companies can't rely on "tribal knowledge" and informal shadowing alone to develop the next generation.  Training that scales past the 2–3 day class  Eric shares what pushed him to build Boilearn: technicians and operators need structured, repeatable competency systems—not just scattered classes and a "shotgun approach" to on-the-job training. He lays out why fundamentals can be taught effectively online when it's done well, and why travel-heavy training models often spend a large share of the budget on logistics instead of learning.  Troubleshooting that starts with fundamentals  Troubleshooting is where boiler work can feel like a mystery—until you understand fundamentals and sequence of operations. Eric explains how technicians can isolate problems faster by knowing what should be moving (or not moving), testing one theory at a time, and using electrical diagrams as a practical roadmap when formal sequence documentation isn't available.  Better partnerships between boiler techs and water treaters  The conversation closes with practical steps that reduce friction and finger-pointing: take photos during inspections, package observations clearly in service reports, communicate directly when possible, and over-communicate inspection schedules so the water treater can prepare the program before the boiler is opened.  Listen to the full conversation above. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:20 - Trace Blackmore sets the stage on boiler fear vs. Respect, learning boilers from a Navy-Trained mentor  09:20 - Words of Water with James  10:50 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   14:20 - Interview with Eric Johnson of Boilearn  16:30 – Eric's Path: HVAC school – Boiler Service Tech – Founder   19:10 – What Boilearn Does  22:10 – The lost "lifeline" problem  33:20 – Electrical Troubleshooting  44:20 – Coordinating Boiler Openings and Inspections    Quotes  "I've learned that boilers are something you definitely need to respect, but definitely not fear."  "There's a career behind boilers. There's a career behind water treatment and not enough people talk about it."    Connect with Eric Johnson Email: eric.johnson@boilearn.com  Website: Boilearn I The Foundation of Boiler Training  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericjohnson2020/   Boilearn: Overview | LinkedIn     Guest Resources Mentioned   Boilearn Boilearn mission and origins  Boiler operator roles and skills  Common steam‑boiler problems   Safe boiler operation guide  Boiler start‑up and maintenance  Safer operation manual    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  AWT Technical Training Seminars   Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea    Words of Water with James McDonald Today's definition is water lost from a cooling tower as liquid droplets are entrained in the exhaust air.     2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.     

Industrial water professionals are increasingly pulled into conversations about scarcity, resilience, and "where the next gallon comes from."  Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva, CEO and Co-founder of Waterloop Solutions frames water reuse as an implementation challenge more than a technology gap—and explains where the practical starting points are when the scope feels overwhelming.   Moving reuse forward when the technology already exists  Waterloop Solutions was founded to accelerate implementation: clarifying end-use quality, identifying post-treatment needs on the back end of existing plants, and building risk management plans that fit real operational and regulatory expectations. The conversation stays grounded in what slows projects down (time, permitting, funding, and public acceptance) and where progress can be made without reinventing the toolbox.  Centralized vs. decentralized: why "less regulated" can move faster  Europe's agricultural reuse regulation (noted as coming into effect in June 2023) created shared minimum requirements, but also uncertainty around permitting and responsibility at the local level. In contrast, decentralized reuse is described as an "early adopter" space—often driven by innovative building projects (gray water separation, rooftop rain capture) and, in some cases, easier implementation from scratch than retrofits.  What matters to industrial listeners: partnerships, autonomy, and distance  For industrial teams, Dr. Veronika points out opportunities for synergistic partnerships with municipalities and agriculture—balanced against the realities of infrastructure distance and cost. She also makes the case for industrial autonomy: decoupling from conventional sources through internal reuse to protect future production when municipal needs take precedence.  Communication and the "toilet to tap" problem  Public perception remains a stubborn barrier. Dr. Veronika calls out the long-lasting impact of "toilet to tap" framing and why first impressions can derail technically sound reuse projects.  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  03:58 - Trace Blackmore shares how "Pinks and Blues" questions get chosen—and where listeners can submit them  05:05 - Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   07:42 – Words of Water with James McDonald  11:47 – Meet Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva and why Trace invited her from LinkedIn insights  12:20 — Veronika's path: UMD → Colorado School of Mines → PhD at Technical University of Munich 15:40 — Why Waterloop Solutions started: progress is slow, but implementation support is missing  19:40 — Decentralized reuse: why interest is rising, and why it can be easier to implement in buildings  20:20 — EU agricultural reuse regulation (June 2023): minimum quality, crop types, and risk plan uncertainty  23:40 — Unique barriers by sector: municipal timelines, industrial ROI, and the difficulty of reaching farmers  33:20 — Lowest-hanging fruit: municipal reuse for street cleaning and parks; industrial autonomy via internal reuse  45:00 — Women and young professionals: visibility, role models, and why the sector's willingness to help matters  47:20 — Where to learn more: US EPA resources, EU work underway, and Australia as a reuse leader    Quotes "It's okay to ask questions."  "But actually, all the technology needed for it already exists."  "What I think is awesome in the US, for example, that you guys are really pursuing this direct potable reuse now."  "I think these are all valid options to have kind of in the water management portfolio on a local level and also on a regional level."    Connect with Dr. Veronika Zhiteneva Email: vzhiteneva@gowaterloop.com   Website: Home – Waterloop Solutions  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vzhiteneva/    Waterloop Solutions: Overview | LinkedIn    Guest Resources Mentioned   Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (Paperback)     European Commission's Water reuse: New EU rules to improve access to safe irrigation  Intermezzo Paperback – by Sally Rooney (Author)   Radical Candor: Fully Revised & Updated Edition: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott   US EPA State Water Reuse Resources  US EPA Water Reuse Information Library  US EPA's "A Framework for Permitting Innovation in the Wastewater Sector Report"  US Department of Energy's About the BuildingsNEXT Student Design Competition  The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)    Water Reuse Europe Policy and Regulations    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)   AWT Technical Training Seminars   Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses   Submit a Show Idea   The Rising Tide Mastermind    Words of Water with James McDonald  Today's definition is a device for removing condensate from a steam line without allowing the steam to escape.  Can you guess the word or phrase?       2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.     

"Stay curious. And you only have one reputation. Guard it with your life." Hiring for judgment, not just rehearsed confidence   Industrial water treatment is full of decisions made with incomplete data—on sites, with customers, and inside the business. JD Roth (Managing Director and Co-owner of Guardian Chemicals) builds his hiring around that reality. His aim is straightforward: protect the team and the culture by selecting people who can think, collaborate, and lead under pressure. JD frames the organization as a group of people choosing to work toward a common goal: building a better future for communities, the environment, and staff. That priority shows how Guardian hires, who they keep, and what becomes a deal-breaker. If a candidate is misaligned with core values, JD is clear: performance elsewhere won't override that mismatch. The "Hiring Olympics" structure For a high-bandwidth, project-based role (their Graduate Business Analyst program), Guardian needed a way to evaluate many strong candidates without consuming 40–50 hours of team time. The result is a four-hour, multi-station day that includes: Core values interviews (two-person format) Competency interviews (horsepower and capability) An individual case study (primarily math/business-oriented) A collaborative case study (decision-making and team dynamics) The collaborative case study is the centerpiece. Candidates work with peers who are also competitors for limited roles, using real cases built around business decisions—often with imperfect or incomplete information—so the team can observe how candidates break down problems, delegate, support others, and present recommendations. How decisions get made afterward After candidates leave, the interview team convenes for a group decision. JD starts by looking for any "vetoes," especially around core values to fit (he references an EOS-style standard of meeting 5 out of 6 core values most of the time). From there, the team compares notes across competency, core values, and observed collaboration behaviors. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    02:20 – Trace Blackmore shares part of a real-world service routine and ongoing professional improvement  05:35 – Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   12:00 – Words of Water with James McDonald  13:52 – Fun Fact about 1903 from this day  14:28 – Interview with JD Roth, Managing Director and Co-Owner of Guardian Chemicals  15:20 - "A company is people"   19:00 – First solo site lesson: ask for help vs. pretend  25:10 – The GBA Program (Graduate Business Analyst)   27:50 – Hiring Olympics format + Efficiency  33:30 – "Ping pong balls in a jumbo jet" example  39:10 – Selection rules: Core values veto + EOS bar + Values list    Quotes  JD:"And if you've got great people and you take care of great people, they take care of your customers, and your customers take care of you."  JD: "There really isn't a company. There is just a whole bunch of people who have decided to work together towards a common goal."   Trace: "I can only imagine how empowered your team feels because they're so involved in this process and you're involving everybody"   Trace: "I love the fact that we're diving deeper into the most important thing, and that's protecting and enhancing our culture."    Connect with JD Roth Email: jdroth@guardianchem.ca  Website: http://www.guardianchem.ca/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-david-jd-roth-58714113/     Guest Resources Mentioned   Entrepreneurs' Organization   Verne Harnish 'Scaling Up'   About Verne Harnish   Harvard Business Review Case Studies    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  AWT Technical Training Seminars  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind  7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen. R. Covey  Fearless Pricing: Ignite Your Team, Own Your Value, and Command What You Deserve by Casey Brown   Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg   Charles Duhigg — "The science behind dramatically better conversations" (TEDxManchester)   12 Week Year Plan   457 2026: A New Year with New Intentions  Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business    Words of Water with James McDonald  Today's definition is an ion with a net positive charge, formed when an atom or molecule loses one or more electrons.  Can you guess the word or phrase?    2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

 Trace Blackmore opens 2026 with a practical reset: how to plan with urgency, sharpen the fundamentals that make troubleshooting easier, and use the tools around this podcast to keep your development moving all year. The 12-Week Year: urgency you can use Annual goals often feel "far away" until December forces focus. The 12-week year flips that dynamic by treating each quarter like a year—creating urgency sooner and giving you four chances to reset and improve. Trace walks through the structure: start with a vision (he uses a three-year example), then choose 3–5 tactical goals for the next 12 weeks, so you don't overload and quit. He also ties it to a water treatment reality: quarterly customer touchpoints are simply more productive than an annual "re-introduce everything" meeting.  Trace points listeners to planning support and easy on-ramps:  the book link: ScalingUpH2O.com/12weekyear  the planning guide PDF: ScalingUpH2O.com/12weekyearplan  and an Audible option (free month + free book mentioned in the transcript).  Mailbag: how the show is made—and what's changing  A listener asks how an episode goes from spark to air. Trace lays out the workflow: idea sourcing, research and pre-production, guest outreach, scheduling, outline creation, recording discipline, post-production with audio engineer Sean, then show notes, graphics, social posts, scheduling, and promotion. He also shares a key quality upgrade: guests now receive equipment prerequisites (including budget-friendly mic options) because the Scaling Up Nation can hear the difference.  On what's new for 2026, Trace shares a major personal commitment: he's pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration, including research, data collection, and defending a thesis—with an intent to involve listeners through future surveys.  Skills to build in 2026: foundation, communication, and technology  Trace's recommendations land in three buckets:  Strengthen fundamentals (chemistry, products, and the "why" behind test kits),  improve communication and relationship-building (including temperament-based communication concepts he references), and  Learn what's available in data and technology so you can show up to accounts better prepared—and avoid time-wasting return trips.  He closes with a direct action: browse the ScalingUpH2O.com events section and pick learning opportunities you can attend (especially those nearby), then build a 12-week plan that helps you justify bigger conferences by clearly stating what value you'll bring back.  Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps    02:38 - Welcome to 2026 and what this "first show of the year" is designed to do (reset, tools, and a mailbag).  07:30 – 12 Week Year Planning format  21:09 – Dive Into The Scaling UP! H2O Mailbag   30:54 – What Is New for 2026 for Trace Blackmore  38:05 – Words of Water with James  40:15 – Trace's Favorite Food  46:42 – What Are The Top 2 to 3 skills Water Treaters Should Focus On    Quotes "Now the reason I really like the 12-week year is because it puts the urgency of not having a full year of time, only having a smaller amount of time to work for you." "It also gives you 4 chances a year to reset and improve, not just one." "Everybody in water treatment should focus on developing skills around a solid foundation." "That leads me to my third skill that I want to talk to you about, and that's learning what's available to you when it comes to data and technology."    Connect with Scaling UP! H2O  Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea   LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/   YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind Audible  Book - The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months  12 Week Year Plan   Episode 100 The 100th One  Episode 117 The One With Temperament Expert, Kathleen Edelman Episode 179 Another One that Teaches Us to Communicate Better with Others  AWT – The Analyst - Library  I Said This, You Heard That 2nd Edition by Kathleen Edelman  HACH Water Analysis Handbook    Words of Water with James McDonald  Definition: Today's definition is the ratio of the dissolved solids in a system's circulating water to the dissolved solids in the makeup water. Can you guess the word or phrase?    2026 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

 A year-end recap is more than a highlight reel—it's a practical reset. In this New Year episode, Trace Blackmore walks through 2025 using a "12 Days of the Scaling Up Nation" format, tying together performance, community growth, listener engagement, and the sponsor support that keeps the podcast and its companion tools available at no cost.   Year-end by the numbers   Trace explains how he used to track every stat closely—and how that shifted into an unhealthy measure of self-worth—so the team now uses numbers as feedback, not validation. He notes the show released 56 brand-new episodes in 2025 (including the additional releases during Industrial Water Week) and explains why the data still matters: it helps confirm what the community is using, such as discussion guides and other tools, and what needs to be improved.  Most-downloaded episodes and what listeners leaned into  Trace shares the three most-downloaded episodes of 2025:  Episode 405 — cooling water innovation using treated wastewater  Episode 418 — maleic acid (with Mike Standish)  Episode 424 — chlorine dioxide (the most downloaded episode of the year)  Engagement that keeps learning moving  The episode highlights growth in the Scaling Up Nation across newsletter subscriptions, discussion guide downloads, and an expanding LinkedIn community.   Recognition, partners, and momentum into 2026  Trace acknowledges milestones including AWT naming Scaling Up H2O the official podcast of the Association of Water Technologies, and he thanks the sponsors who make the podcast's free content possible—19 sponsoring partners in 2025. The episode closes with a direct invitation for listeners to share what they want to learn next, who they want interviewed, and what stories could help the industry keep "raising the bar."  Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below.   Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:50 — Show open and New Year framing: a reset point for leaders and operators heading into 2026  03:10 — Why the retrospective exists: improve the next year and celebrate what the Scaling Up Nation achieved together  05:00 — The format revealed: "12 days" of highlights built from what happened in 2025  08:40 — The final 2025 "Water You Know" question: hydroxide ion formula—and the answer reveal  16:30 — The top three downloaded episodes of 2025  29:00 — Signature segments and field lessons: community participation, Detective H2O, and "quicker is not better    Quotes "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast." "It's not going to take somebody's job away because of AI, but somebody who knows AI or is familiar with AI over somebody that is not familiar with it and refuses anything with AI, that person will probably take that other person's job." "Lift others as you rise."    Connect with Scaling UP! H2O  Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea  LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/  YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O   Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind 405 Cooling Water Innovation: Harnessing Wastewater for Sustainability  418 Maleic Acid-Based Corrosion Inhibitors: Expanding the Water Treatment Toolbox with Mike Standish  424 Chlorine Dioxide Insights with Greg Simpson  420 Tapping Into Tech: How Ben Frieders Uses AI to Elevate Water Treatment Marketing   422 Inside the Association of Water Technologies with John Caloritis  423 Pushing the Boundaries: Jacob Deak on Innovating Water Treatment Systems   446 Leveraging the Culture Index for Business Success with Danielle Scimeca and Conor Parrish   447 Unlocking Team Potential with Culture Index with Randi Fargen  179 Another One that Teaches Us to Communicate Better with Others    Water You Know with James McDonald Question: What is the molecular formula for hydroxide ion?     2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.