RALEIGH, NC, DEC 10, 2019 -- The 2019 Sensus Reachsm Award winners were recognized for their work saving lives, improving their communities and leading the adoption of smart technologies for the water, gas and electric industries.
The 2019 Sensus Reach Award recipients include customers from Alliant Energy and Park City, distributors from Aqua-Metric and Ferguson Waterworks and Sensus employees. The winners are:
- Jason Christensen, water resources manager in Park City, Utah, led implementation of technology from multiple Xylem brands, including Sensus, Visenti and Wachs Water to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) and improve operational efficiency. This year alone, Park City reduced NRW by ten percent.
- Alex Schwenke, a service responder for Alliant Energy in Iowa, is honored for heroism within his service area. A Sensus smart meter alerted the utility to a power outage. Schwenke was dispatched and arrived first on the scene of a propane incident that collapsed a home and trapped the residents under rubble. He dialed 911 and helped rescue the couple.
- Chris Thirkettle, Aqua-Metric’s chairman of the board, is recognized for the many ways he has impacted his community. He consistently donates to help families with sick children in Southern California. Thirkettle also supported “Operation Appreciation” in Texas—an effort to feed tired and hungry utility crews working in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
- Rob Watson, an advanced metering infrastructure specialist at Ferguson Waterworks in both North Carolina and South Carolina, receives this award for putting customers first. Watson is a key partner to utilities and municipalities across the Carolinas as they migrate to digital communications. His customers trust him to provide the right solution for their organization.
- Jane Dunbar, a solution project manager at Sensus, led a large customer in their work with a new software application called the Daily Reads Solution. This new application reads consumption at the same time each day for the gas utility’s high volume customers.
- Paul Honchar, senior product manager at Sensus, is recognized for his role in the successful development and launch of the Sonix IQ residential gas meter. The recently released meter allows utilities to benefit from greater operational efficiency and cost savings with this compact, smart gas meter.
Winners received their awards during the annual Reach Conference which brings together utility thought leaders and industry experts across water, gas, electricity and lighting. The 2020 Xylem Reach Conference is scheduled for October 11-14 in Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more at sensus.com.
