Donnie Bankston
Team Member since 10/25/10
Latest Achievement: Water Lab Analyst Certification
Before becoming a utility employee, Donnie was also a customer of the BGJWSC. “There’s a lot more to getting a glass of water than just turning on the faucet,” he said. “Being involved in the operation revealed to me how many people and processes go into the production of water for our consumption and for fire use.” (more…)
Josh Sikes
Team Member since February 14, 2008
Latest Achievement: Class A CDL License
Primarily working as an operator-in-training for the BGJWSC now, Josh started working with us as a construction team member laying sewer lines back in 2008. His background in electrical contracting in commercial construction made him a good fit in the construction and maintenance side of utility work. He joined the BGJWSC while looking to cut back on the travel time involved in seeking new construction projects. (more…)
Billy Ray Gibson, Jr.
Team Member since April 2012
Latest Achievement: Class III Wastewater Operator License
After spending over twenty years in commercial, marine and residential construction, including the installation of utilities as a contractor, Billy Ray Gibson, Jr. sought the opportunity to use his skills as a utility maintenance worker at the BGJWSC in early 2012. Billy attended a week long class in Waycross taught by the Georgia Rural Water Association late last year and began studying for a state board exam while performing daily plant maintenance work for the BGJWSC. (more…)
Spotlight on Blake Crews
Team Member since April 1, 2013
Latest Achievement: Class III Water Operator License
Having grown up in Valdosta, GA, and attended Valdosta State College there, Blake Crews followed a retail management path with Lowe’s. Pursuing his future wife to Brunswick to support her teaching job, he then sought a new career in utilities management. Now married and planting his family roots in Brunswick long-term, Blake has taken the initiative to achieve the career opportunities offered by the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water & Sewer Commission.
We’re proud to announce that within one year of employment with the BGJWSC, Blake has successfully attained the Class III Water Operators License. Following a 40 hour class taught at the Georgia Water & Wastewater Institute in Carrollton, GA, he prepared for the licensing exam by performing duties related to testing the quality of the water produced at our well sites and ensuring the safety of our primary product: clean drinking water.
Blake is supported by a team of operators that will assist him in his immediate goal of attaining the Class II, Class I and Lab Analyst licenses, along with Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Training. His supervisor, Water Production Superintendent Billy Simmons, had this to say about him:
Blake has been an asset to our staff from the beginning of his career. Blake has a can-do attitude and an eagerness to learn all he can about the path he has chosen. I look forward to helping him achieve his goals.
Editor’s Note – As a new permanent feature of our public service announcements posted here, we will be sharing our staff accomplishments with you on a regular basis. As we celebrate with them the achievements that they have made professionally, such as certification, licensing and college degree completion, we’d like to draw your attention to them.