Kevin Tobin - 2014 Fuller Award
Introduction
(Submitted by Glenn Dostal)This year's Fuller award winner has served nearly 30 years in the water service industry. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from UNL, he joined a Nebraska utility as a young, ready-to-learn engineer.
Four years later the utility promoted him to assistant to the director of water production
and pumping at the state's largest water treatment plant. He served in the role for a
year and was promoted to design engineer. Major projects included large pumping
stations and reservoir, standby pump improvements, and the conversion of the
water system to chloramine disinfectant.
In 1996, he was promoted to director of major water plant projects. He was responsible for overseeing the environmental impact statement and permitting process for the District's third water treatment facility, the Platte West Project, earning him the title "honorary lawyer." He's forgotten more about the American Burying Beetle, Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, Least Terns, Piping Plovers, Pallid Sturgeons, Bald Eagles, sub-irrigation, and private ponds than most of us will ever know.
He then oversaw the five-year design and construction process of the 100-million gallon per day plant. He was named superintendent in 2006, and the facility officially opened in the summer of 2008.
He also has a master's degree in Civil Engineering from UNL, earned his professional engineer certification in 1990 and holds a Water Operator I License with the State of Nebraska. He is certified in FEMA's National Incident Management System.
He is an active member of the Nebraska Section of the American Water Works Association, having served on numerous committee and officer positions, including Section Chair in 2008.
He and his wife Amy have three daughters, Mariah, Hannah, and Katie Jo. The family resides in Tekamah, Nebraska.
He enjoys golf, watching his daughters play softball and baking cheesecakes. This year's winner of the George Warren Fuller award is Kevin Tobin with Metropolitan Utilities District.
