2022 WWD Young Pros: Andria Hannegan, City of Sumner

About the author:

Bob Crossen is the senior managing editor for Water & Wastes Digest. Crossen can be reached at [email protected].

Compiled by Bob Crossen

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Name: Andria Hannegan

Age: 38

Education: BS Business Administration Management, Western Governors University (current student within program)

Company: City of Sumner, WA

Title: Pretreatment Coordinator

What is your greatest personal accomplishment to date?

Volunteer work in Himalayas.
Summiting Mt St Helens.
Raising two strong girls.

List some of your professional accomplishments.

Excelling in career without college degree, and working with water quality training associations as a volunteer and advocate.

What has been your most memorable project?

Copper BLM Study for Industry
Groundwater Monitoring and Benthic Macro Invertebrate Study at Superfund Site
Outreach and Education Initiative for Sewer District
Pretreatment Program Delegation project

What did you do before entering the water industry?

Right out of high school I began working as a volunteer for a non-profit called Youth with a Mission (YWAM). In 2005, I had an opportunity with this organization to work in Kalimpong, India for a year. While in India I worked with an American team distributing basic water treatment technology to local villages alongside a Dutch medical team who provided medical services.

I was part of the support team that traveled to villages to teach about the importance of clean water. I ultimately had the realization that the biggest difference between first and third world countries is the water and sewer infrastructure. This is when I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in the water quality field.

What was the biggest lesson you learned when you entered the water industry?

Having systems in place to monitor and communicate progress is a critical part of water utility management and pollution prevention efforts.

How do you expect your generation will influence the water industry?

Our generation is influencing the water industry by representing a more diverse and inclusive water sector workforce.

What are your aspirations for your water industry career?

My long term goal is to move to the Himalayas (Bhutan) to volunteer with water quality infrastructure development initiatives.

In what extracurricular work activities would you like to be (or are) involved in?

Through my involvement within various training associations I work as an advocate for professional training in the water sector in place of formal degree. I really enjoy opportunities to work within sewer related outreach and education efforts among residential communities.

What are you hobbies?

I enjoy backpacking, peak-bagging, reading, singing and dancing to show tunes with my Littles, and baking.

What is your hidden talent?

Decorating cakes. Playing the flute.

What volunteer work do you do?

I volunteer with the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center for the Pacific Northwest Pretreatment Workshop planning committee since 2014, and I have chaired this committee since 2017.

I have also volunteered with the Oregon Water Education Foundation (ORWEF) as the foundations President since 2016 to present. And I volunteer on the planning committee for the ORWEF Water Environment School (2014 to 2022). Lastly, I have chaired the City of Sumner's DEI Committee for two years.

In what ways are you involved in your local community outside professional work (organize fundraisers, youth group counselor, etc.)?

I am active within our PTA group, I volunteer as coach for rec league cheer, and fundraise for our local children's theater through cake decorating.

What are your passions?

Pollution prevention and awareness, watching sunrises and sunsets from high elevation, and neurodiversity awareness.

Describe a memorable moment with family or friends.

My mom and two daughters hiked Hawksbill Peak for a sunrise last summer. Watching the sunrise above Mt .Adams on my way up Mt. St Helens also makes the cut.