Solving Water: A Xylem Podcast

Adam Drakeley, Xylem Senior Applications Engineer and Simon Mathias, Xylem Global Product Manager of Dewatering Digital Solutions, share their experiences in preparing for and responding to historic flooding that took place in Liege, Belgium, in July 2021. Drakeley and Mathias discuss: Read the full case study: https://www.xylem.com/en-us/support/case-studies-white-papers/field-smart-technology-leads-life-saving-efforts-in-liege/ Learn more about Field Smart Technology: https://www.xylem.com/en-us/products--services/pumps-packaged-pump-systems/monitoring-control-equipment/remote-monitoring-control/cloud-based-supervision/field-smart-technology-fst/

Matt Tait, Xylem Regional Sales Manager for Western Canada, discusses the Canadian mining market, differences and similarities throughout the country, how service and digital solutions are changing customer approaches to projects and maintenance, and more. Learn more about Xylem mining solutions: https://www.xylem.com/mining

Michael Elliott, Xylem Service Center Manager based in Nashville, Tennessee, joins the show to share his experiences working with customers in aggregate mining and the role of water in applications including water supply to plants, pit dewatering, dust suppression and wheel washes. Elliot also discusses custom barge building for turbine pumps, unique challenges from the field, and the evolution and importance of safety standards in mining. Learn more at: https://www.xylem.com/en-us/solutions/mining-quarrying/mining/

Fred Kesich, owner and head of engineering of Pac Machine Co., shares the origins of his family-owned business and how they became a longtime Xylem partner and Flygt and Godwin distributor based in California. Kesich shares his experiences and insights on a variety of topics, including: Learn more about Pac Machine Co.: https://pacmachine.com/

Chris Settelmeyer of Pac Machine Co., a Xylem partner and Flygt and Godwin distributor headquartered in Sacramento, California, joins the show to give insight into his world serving customers in the Nevada mining, construction and municipal markets. Settelmeyer discusses weather-related impacts on those markets -- including flooding due to snow run-off -- and working with customers on projects ranging from dewatering flooded areas, bypassing, the unique challenges posed by underground mining operations, and how integration of the Flygt Bibo Alpha is offering customers next generation solutions. Learn more about Pac Machine Co.: https://pacmachine.com/

Allison Stroebele, Xylem Director of Sales and Service for Canada, joins host Amanda Holloway to explain her current role in managing Flygt and Godwin brands in the Canadian market, her career journey thus far, and her thoughts on the changing dynamics as a woman in the water industry and why it's a good space for women engineers. Stroebele shares her experience in helping pipeline owners better manage pipelines through condition assessment and management solutions with Pure Technologies, including SmartBall, which uses acoustic technology to help identify leaks. Holloway and Stroebele also discuss what it means to elevate services by tackling customer challenges with a mix of expertise, field support, system design and technology, and how water management partnerships allow customers to keep focus on their areas of expertise. Learn more about Xylem Service Solutions: https://www.xylem.com/en-us/products--services/services/

Greg Asselta, Global Product Manager for Flygt Dewatering, Infrastructure and Process, discusses his role at Xylem in supporting the industrial, construction and mining industries, highlights what customers should look for in a pump provider, and explains how the enduring value of partnerships is realized by understanding actual customer needs and building customized, outside-the-box solutions to meet them. Asselta also shares his thoughts on changes in the dewatering industry, how rental solutions have evolved over time, and why no two applications are the same, including recent project examples from the field. Learn more about Flygt: https://www.xylem.com/en-us/brands/flygt/

Jason Miller, Service Solutions Business Development Manager for Infrastructure at Xylem, joins the show to share his experience working with customers to update America's sewer systems, aging infrastructure and his work in the CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) market. Miller highlights stories from notable sewer bypass projects, how integrating electric pumps and automated systems brings municipalities confidence and comfort, and what municipalities and contractors should keep in mind when assessing and planning their next sewer project. Learn more: https://www.xylem.com/en-us/products--services/rental/sewer-bypass/

Mike Ivory, Xylem Director of Service Solutions and Business Development, joins host Amanda Holloway from CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas to talk about the aggregate and mining industry and the role of water, from nuisance water and process water to dust suppression and more. Ivory shares his take on the state of the aggregate industry, notably the focus on efficiency in mine water management, electric pumps and their environmental and bottom-line benefits, and ongoing adoption of digital technologies, such as remote monitoring, that offer peace of mind and data accessibility. Holloway and Ivory also discuss the difference between transactional customer relationships and Xylem's approach to service solutions, working hand-in-hand with customers with boots-on-the-ground support. Learn more at: https://xylem.com/mining

A pair of Bell & Gossett manufacturer's reps, Rob Grady, President & CEO of Mulcahy Company, and Eugene Mitchell, Principal of McNevin Company, join Solving Water to share their insights on a changing and fast-moving industry. Grady and Mitchell discuss: Learn more about Mulcahy: https://mulcahyco.com/ Learn more about McNevin: https://www.mcnevinco.com/

Dan Chudecke, Director of Business Development at Mulcahy, a Bell & Gossett manufacturer's rep, and First Vice Chair for the Membership Promotion Committee at ASHRAE, shares his unique wisdom and perspective on the ever-evolving state of the HVAC industry. Chudecke breaks down the differences between decarbonization and electrification, discusses the industry's overall progress towards Net Zero goals, and how requests from building owners and tenants are increasingly focused on efficient systems and building design. Chudecke also provides updates from ASHRAE, his focus on training and promotion of the industry to the next generation of professionals, and more. Learn more about Mulcahy: https://mulcahyco.com/

Mike Barnett with Texas-based Oslin Nation, a Bell & Gossett manufacturer's rep, joins the show to share his insights on the state of the HVAC industry and the critical focus on searching for and educating the next generation of industry professionals. Barnett also shares his perspective on timely industry topics such as electrification, sustainability, and the ongoing process of integrating these initiatives on a project basis. Learn more about Oslin Nation: https://onco-tx.com/ Learn more about Bell & Gossett Manufacturer's Reps: https://www.xylem.com/en-us/brands/bell-gossett/our-manufacturers-reps/

Alan Jones, Xylem Senior Director of Product Management, and Mike Licastro, Xylem Training and Education Manager for Commercial Building Services and the Little Red Schoolhouse, join the show to discuss the release of their new co-authored white paper, "Building a Sustainable Future: Solving Modern Building Challenges with Hydronic Systems." Licastro and Jones share highlights and key takeaways from the paper, which explores the value of hydronics in the HVAC industry and ongoing efforts to prioritize sustainability, decarbonization and carbon emissions. They also highlight what's coming next in the industry and discuss the history of hydronics as a solution, and why it still remains the most sustainable option for an industry projected to grow by $1.3 billion by 2025. Jones and Licastro break down how regulations are playing a role in this growth, and the efficient products and technologies that will make a sustainable impact through smart system design. Download the white paper, "Building a Sustainable Future: Solving Modern Building Challenges with Hydronic Systems," and learn more about Building Better here: https://www.xylem.com/en-us/brands/bell-gossett/building-better/

Dave Flinton, Xylem Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Technology and Product Management Officer, returns to Solving Water to discuss the latest Xylem initiative in the commercial buildings market, Building Better. Led by the Bell & Gossett brand, Flinton explains the concept of Building Better and how Xylem and Bell & Gossett -- through focus areas such as sustainable product development and design, integration of digital technologies and partnerships with our manufacturer’s representatives -- are advancing hydronic solutions to drive sustainability in cities across North America. Flinton shares how these sustainability initiatives contribute to reducing carbon footprint and maximizing handprint for commercial buildings and gives a progress update from the Xylem Innovation Labs on their goal of bringing breakthrough technologies to market faster and more. Learn more about how Xylem and Bell & Gossett are Building Better: https://www.xylem.com/en-us/brands/bell-gossett/building-better/

The team from Pure Technologies, a Xylem brand, joins the show to discuss all things assessment services. Chris Kyea, Global Product Manager for Inline Leak Detection; Kate Zhao, Product Manager for Monitoring Solutions; Adrian Black, Director of Product Management for Assessment Services; and Eric Toffin, Global Product Manager for Inline Wall Inspection Platforms, break down pipeline management, condition assessment and the technologies helping utilities make repair decisions while keeping pipelines operational. The team shares solutions, such as SmartBall, that help pinpoint small leaks and allow utilities and industrial customers to do more with less through inspection, data analysis and more. Learn more about Pure Technologies: https://puretechltd.com/

Chris Thomson, Vertical Marketing Manager for Water Networks at Xylem, joins Solving Water to provide updates and highlight what's new from Sensus technologies and digital solutions for water, gas and electric customers. Recording at WEFTEC 2022, Thomson shares application examples from customers on how digital solutions are helping water utilities connect data outside of metering, including stormwater and wastewater information, and the importance of interpreting and communicating data both within utilities and throughout the communities they serve. Learn more: https://sensus.com/

Griffin Harrison, Product Security Leader at Xylem, joins the show to share the state of cybersecurity in the water sector. He reviews risks facing utilities and municipalities, and how preparedness through back-ups, practice of procedures and establishing partnerships can help operators get started on the path to anticipating and addressing challenges. Harrison also discusses the best questions for water professionals to ask to ensure they're prepared for cybersecurity issues, upcoming regulations and how those will shape the industry, and the continued value of adopting digital solutions in water. Learn more about Xylem's cybersecurity strategies and more: https://www.xylem.com/en-us/about-xylem/cybersecurity/

Ifetayo Venner, President of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and a Senior Vice President at Arcadis, joins host Amanda Holloway to share her ongoing journey in the water sector. Venner discusses how a background rooted in environmentalism led her to engineering and water, eventually leading to various roles within WEF. Venner shares the importance of getting involved in the water industry and her vision for WEF as its president, including: Venner also discusses the ongoing innovation and modernization of the industry; the consistent value of storytelling and spotlighting the people and progress in water; amplifying the partnership between WEF and Xylem, and more. Learn more about the Water Environment Federation and see how you can get involved: https://www.wef.org/

Charli Matthews, Founder & CEO of Empowering Brands, which includes Empowering Pumps & Equipment, Empowering Women in Industry, and the Empowering Industry Podcast (hosted by Matthews), sits down with Solving Water host Amanda Holloway at WEFTEC 2022 to discuss her trailblazing career, including: Explore the Empowering Industry Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/empowering-industry-podcast-a-production-of/id1506945879 Learn more about Empowering Women in Industry: https://www.empoweringwomeninindustry.com/ Visit Empowering Pumps & Equipment: https://empoweringpumps.com/

Austin Alexander, Xylem Vice President of Sustainability and Social Impact, joins the show to discuss a new Xylem paper released at WEFTEC 2022, Net Zero: The Race We All Win. With over 80 water and wastewater utilities already setting net-zero and climate-neutrality targets, Alexander explains the water industry's role as a leader on the frontlines of climate change, and what utilities can do today by incorporating goals and measurable targets into their planning to help begin the journey to decarbonization success. Alexander also shares progress from the latest version of Xylem's Sustainability Report, as well as continuing partnerships with NGOs and how Xylem is making an impact around the world through Watermark, its corporate social responsibility program. Learn more about Net Zero: The Race We All Win and read the paper: https://www.xylem.com/en-us/campaigns/net-zero/