2025 Nomination Period is Closed
This Award has been approved by the Water Environment Federation Collection Systems Committee as a way to recognize those who have contributed to the development and professionalism of the Collection System Industry on a national level. It is the desire of the Federation that each Member Association adopt this award, which would be given on the Member Association level.
GMS provides an opportunity to recognize individuals, and their company, for outstanding contributions to the collection systems field.
Current Golden Manhole Society Members include:
| Member Name | Organization | Year inducted |
| Lynn Garton | City of Scottsbluff | 2019 |
| Jerry Halsey | City of Norfolk | 2019 |
| Lyle Christensen | HDR (retired) | 2019 |
| Jim Theiler | City of Omaha | 2019 |
| Scott Aurit | HDR | 2019 |
| Lonnie Tucker | City of Norfolk | 2021 |
| Brian Kramer | City of Lincoln | 2021 |
| Mike Adair | People Service | 2021 |
| Jorge Rivero | City of Omaha | 2022 |
| Jennifer Morales | City of Omaha | 2022 |
| Fred Tustin | City of Grand Island | 2023 |
| Mike Mertz | City of Omaha (retired) | 2023 |
| Emily Holtzclaw | Jacobs | 2024 |
| Chris Koenig | HDR | 2024 |
The following criteria will be used to select a nominee for the award:
- Years of experience and significant participation in collection system field, including:
- Operations
- Maintenance
- Design
- Education
- Training
- Certification
- Management and Planning of Sewer Collection Systems
- Promoting collection systems safety.
- Outstanding efforts maintaining collection systems.
- Innovative modifications to equipment.
- Innovative solutions to problems.
- Promoting collection systems training.
- Involvement in promoting the professional recognition of the collection system field
- Papers or articles accepted by state, regional or national publications. Technical presentation at professional conferences
- Participation in the NWEA Collection Systems Committee (helpful, but not required)
We are asking you to please submit a nomination for individuals that you feel meet the criteria above. Collection Systems Committee leadership will review the nominations and any selected individuals, and their company, will be recognized at the 2023 Joint Fall Conference in Kearney, NE.
When providing the "Supporting Material" on the submittal form, please share nominee’s contributions to improving the wastewater and/or storm water collection system. Typical supporting material may include improving safety, training new crews , promoting professional recognition of collection systems, providing outstanding training, providing outstanding efforts in maintenance of sewers and equipment, making equipment innovations, upgrading collection systems to remove inflow and infiltration, covering emergency situations “beyond the call of duty”, improving efficiencies such as implementing and improving graphic information systems, involving the community through public relations, performing outstandingly and making significant accomplishments, etc. Please provide details such as percent of I&I reduction, dollars saved, reduction of sewer overflows, etc.
