Member Spotlight – Edward Davies

Eddie Davies got his start in Operations Challenge in 2013. In the competition, teams compete to earn the highest score in five different events. Each event is designed to test the diverse skills required for the operation and maintenance of water resource recovery facilities, collection systems, and laboratories.

f During a challenging first year as part of the team Ocean State Alliance, the Rhode Island team placed 4th overall in the regional Competition during the New England Water Environmental Association (NEWEA) spring meeting being outcompeted by neighboring states. Winners are determined by a weighted points system and the overall top three team were able to compete on the national level during the Water Environmental Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) which is held annually.

Being extremely competitive, Davies quickly showed his leadership and motivation to do better. Eddie has made it his responsibility to make sure the Rhode Island team was well prepared and primed to place and win the regional event every year since he started. Eddie would then compete on the team for the next 8 years before moving to coaching in 2022. He has not just helped the Rhode Island team with his coaching, but he also helped the Massachusetts team Mass Chaos along their journey. Eddie helped Mass Chaos place in the top 3 of Division 3 their first year at the national level!

In 2022, Eddie was awarded the Bobby Williams Competitive Spirit award at the WEFTEC National Ops Challenge Event. This award is given out to an individual who demonstrates Operations Challenge’s essential attributes of stewardship, discipline, and philanthropy. The Rhode Island team, as well as the Massachusetts and Connecticut teams, nominated him for this award because we all knew how important Operations Challenge is to Eddie’s career path in this industry. He inspired us all who do Operations Challenge to work our hardest and put out the best effort we possibly can. Without Eddie the Rhode Island Operations Challenge team would not be at the level it is today.

Davies currently serves as the superintendent and industrial pretreatment program coordinator of the Quonset Development Corporation’s wastewater treatment facility. He continuously demonstrates not only his leadership in the water industry but his dedication, commitment to excel, and ability to inspire others.