Water Well Journal

M ultiple milestones will be achieved in December when Jason House, LG, PG, becomes president of the National Ground Water Association. For just the second time in the Association's 74-year history, a member from the Scientists and Engineers Section will serve as president. House follows in the footsteps of Scott King, PG, P.Geo., LHG, who served in 2019. It will also mark the first time the Association has had back-to-back professional geologists as presidents. "Both being geologists, we had a common bond along with both being Chicago Blackhawks fans," says Brian Snelten, PG, current NGWA president and area manager for Layne Christensen, A Granite Company, in Aurora, Illinois. "Having been a consultant in my previous career, there was another commonality we shared. Both of our companies worked together on a project in Illinois, and he was great to work with." Snelten knew after seeing King make history as president that House possessed the ability and leadership skills to lead the Association. They spent time over the years discussing how they could make the four membership sections work together to advance NGWA. Those discussions have now become reality. "Jason's attention to detail on the board will serve him well to lead the Association," says Snelten, who will hand House the president's gavel at Groundwater Week 2022, December 6-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada. "His work on our financial and government affairs committees have helped him know the skills needed as a president to lead the board too on tough discussions and decisions." House, who is a practice leader of applied hydrogeology and senior principal at Woodard & Curran Inc. in Portland, Maine, brings a collaborative leadership style and unique experience working in a team environment from serving in the Army National Guard in the 1990s. His six years of military service were foundational to his life outlook which he brings to meetings where he has learned valuable lessons from past NGWA presidents and board mem- bers. He also hasn't been hesitant to seek out advice from King on a variety of issues. "His [King's] tremendous strength is his even nature and his ability to look at things holistically and in a detached man- ner and remove the emotion and look at it in a critical way," observes the 51-year-old House. "I think I've tried to learn that from him." Serving on the NGWA Scientists and Engineers Section Board of Directors since 2012, House and other section board members have been busy working to remedy the groundwater industry's top concerns: finding employees—particularly the younger generation—and properly training new hires, with the Drilling Basics Online learning platform. The platform, which debuted earlier this year through a collaboration with Oklahoma State University, was created to increase access to the basics of water well contracting and groundwater science. It aids in both the recruitment (outreach for education and career opportunities) and training dilemma with multiple levels of content developed by NGWA experts and volunteers who have dedicated their lives to the industry. "I've been involved with Drilling Basics from the early stages and currently am on the committee," says House, who sees it as one of his chief priorities in 2023. "I see that role continuing and potentially expanding a bit as new courses require development and as they come online." NGWA Board Director David Traut, MGWC, CVCLD, has witnessed firsthand House's laser-focused attention while A Servant Leader Jason House, LG, PG, will be just the second from the Scientists and Engineers Section to serve as NGWA president. By Mike Price facebook.com/WaterWellJournal WWJ November 2022 n 33 WATER WELL PERSONALITIES continues on page 34 House at a site inspection of a former mine site and field meeting in September 2022 in New Mexico.

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