- April 25, 2024
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Longtime Palm Coast Utility Division Environmental Specialist Brian Matthews has been named the Southeast Desalting Association’s Educator of the Decade.
The award recognizes his facilitation of training courses and contributions to educational materials and instructor development on the subject of membrane technologies, which allow the nano-filtration reverse osmosis system used at two of Palm Coast’s three water treatment plants, according to a city of Palm Coast news release.
“Brian has been instrumental in the success of SEDA’s operator certification program for over 14 years, he has provided insightful and productive discussions at the Board meetings,” SEDA President and Jupiter Assistant Director of Utilities Amanda Barnes said in the news release. “He is able to think outside of the box to promote SEDA’s training programs. His devotion to operator training is exceptional, and Palm Coast is very fortunate to have such a dedicated and fine leader on its staff,” she added.
Matthews was a chief operator of Water Treatment Plant 1 and helped design Water Treatment Plant 2 as an employee of ITT Corp. from 1979 to 1999, according to the release, then spent four years with Florida Water Services before becoming a city of Palm Coast employee in 2003.
As a city environmental specialist, he “coordinates regulatory compliance, laboratory services contract, conservation, capacity, growth, public records and permitting activities” for the Palm Coast Utility Division, according to the release.
“I am honored to have had the opportunity to participate in the SEDA organization to provide an educational resource for members of the membrane treatment community,” Matthews said in the press release. “I would like to thank my mentor, Stuart McClellan, one of the pioneers in the membrane industry, for the training he provided to me and then asking me to run for the SEDA Board of Directors to become the Membrane Operators Certification Committee Chair. He has had a great influence on my career.”
The Membrane Operators Certification Committee Chair has taught about 800 plant technicians, operators, lab analysts, regulators, utility managers and engineers about membrane technologies since 1997, according to the release, and is finalizing SEDA’s seventh edition of a textbook on membrane technology and reverse-osmosis systems.
SEDA also awarded Matthews with its Distinguished Service Award for his 14 years on its board of directors. His achievements were recognized with a presentation at the Palm Coast City’s Council’s July 15 business meeting.
