Van Potter
Van Potter has over thirty years of experience in the field of Organizational and Management Development. He has coached and trained leaders in City, County, State and Federal organizations, with a special emphasis on public works, utility and waterworks management and supervisory development. He has held human resource and training management positions in a number of nationally known public and private sector firms. He has a graduate degree in Education from Brigham Young University. Van has said, “I’m interested in the evolving understanding of human nature as it relates to achievement and productivity in organizations. Emotional intelligence has always been a critical factor in this field but we are only beginning to understand, apply and leverage it.” Van has been teaching business and management classes for the University of Utah and Utah State University for a number of years and has taught in the Public Utilities & Waterworks Management Institute since 2000.
Joe Kerschner
Joe has a diverse professional background that includes managing departments and programs in both the public and private sectors. His background includes six years of military service during which he served as an instructor at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory where he taught reactor plant operations, radiological control procedures and radiochemistry to Navy personnel. Following his military service, he has worn many hats within the water and wastewater field including the position of Laboratory/Safety/Training Director for CH2MHill in their contract operations department. In addition, he has held other supervisory positions as the Senior Chemist for the Central Coast Water Authority and Water Quality Supervisor at the Palmdale Water District in Southern California. Since 2006, he has served as President of the American Water College where he has directed the creation of training programs designed to help professionals in the water and wastewater field achieve their career goals. Under his leadership, American Water College has grown into the leading online training provider to the water and wastewater industry with student enrollment spanning 43 states. Joe has said, “Leadership in the area of workforce development is the key to taking a good organization and making it great.” Joe recently completed law school and received his Juris Doctor degree from Oak Brook College of Law and Government Policy.
Arthur D. Petrini
Art Petrini has over four decades of experience in the public works, public utilities and state regulatory fields. The first half of his career was in Connecticut where he worked for several localities managing water and wastewater utilities and for the Ct. State Department of Environmental Protection providing technical assistance to the POTWs. Since 1995, Art has worked in Virginia managing water, wastewater and solid waste authorities and a large public utility department for Henrico County. He has a graduate degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Connecticut and an associates degree in Business Management. Art is a registered professional engineer and has been Ct. certified for grade 4 wastewater collection system and wastewater treatment plant and for a Va. class 2 waste management facility operator. Over his career, he has held positions in local, state, regional and national water and wastewater organizations, including past president of the Ct. Water Pollution Abatement Association.
Art started his training experience in the wastewater field in 1975 under the EPA funded program “Train the Trainer” and subsequently taught the Sacramento State College Wastewater Treatment Operations Course to underprivileged youths. Art believes in continuous learning and has taken hundreds of development courses, and achieved his Level 5 certificate in the Henrico Leadership Development Program. He has direct experience leading utilities through a change process using the foundation of a team vision, constant communication and employee involvement.
Margie Hamner, CPLP, ACC
Margie Hamner is an experienced and passionate human resource professional, trainer and leadership coach with over 25 years of experience in private and public sector organizations. Her most recent position, before starting her own consulting business, was as the Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager for the Prince William County Service Authority where she managed the training program, staff and technical vendors. She also designed and conducted leadership training and provided leadership coaching for field and office supervisors and managers. The combination of her in depth knowledge and experience in the water and wastewater industry and her diverse human resource experience allows her to draw on real world situations when interacting with class participants.
Mrs. Hamner proudly provides her keen attention to detail, unique talents and genuine care to her clients in order to “make a difference.” She strives to bring clarity, communication and confidence to her clients through one-on-one coaching, group coaching and interactive training programs.
She has a bachelor degree from American University and is a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) and holds an ICF Professional Certified Coach (ACC) credential. She is also a member of the Association for Talent Development (ATD) and earned a Certified Performance and Learning Professional (CPLP) certification. Mrs. Hamner also serves as an adjunct instructor for the College of Southern Maryland.