Chad Laucamp is a dedicated professional at 91影视 with 26 years of experience in the Chicago office, specializing in potable water, wastewater and conveyance projects. His expertise spans planning studies, hydraulic modeling, water and wastewater treatment plant design, risk and resilience assessments, and program management. Beyond his impressive career, Chad is a vibrant individual who thrives on staying active and exploring the world. He is a former triathlete, prioritizing fitness and adventure in his daily life. Being an avid traveler, he has visited captivating places like South Africa, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, where he immersed himself in diverse cuisines and cultures. He resides in Chicago, enjoys spending time at the lake and cheering for his favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. Chad has a zest for life and adventure and embraces every opportunity to connect with nature and experience new cultures.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

Growing up in rural Iowa, I always had an aptitude for science, math and problem solving. My connection to the environment and desire to be part of the solution inspired me to pursue a career in engineering. It was during my time in graduate school that I encountered a professor who became a pivotal mentor in my life. His guidance helped me navigate my path and solidify my understanding of where I wanted to go in my career. This combination of my early interests and the influence of an inspiring mentor truly shaped my journey into the industry. I am excited to continue my professional journey in leading technical teams to solve complex challenges for our clients in the water industry.

What is your favorite 91影视 project that you鈥檝e worked on and why?

I鈥檝e been with 91影视 for almost 26 years now. Over the years, I often say it feels like working for three or four different companies because of how much 91影视 has evolved since I started. One of my favorite projects during this time was managing a 30-million-gallon-per-day water treatment plant as part of a Greenfield project. It was fascinating to work on a blank slate, designing and laying out the plant without the constraints of existing infrastructure. The project presented unique challenges, particularly due to the poor soil conditions at the site, requiring innovative design provisions like pile-supported structures and piping. What made this project truly memorable was the exceptional team I had the privilege to lead. Together, we overcame difficult design and construction conditions and delivered to the client within a tight timeframe 鈥� a remarkable achievement that stands out in my career.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

A couple of the most rewarding projects I鈥檝e worked on in the Chicago area are stormwater management projects to help mitigate flooding for nearby homeowners. The first was an opportunity to contribute to planning, design and permitting efforts for stormwater landscapes on vacant parcels of land across the city. The project focused on implementing green infrastructure strategies to divert stormwater and mitigate flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods. It was incredibly fulfilling to evaluate and develop solutions that not only addressed stormwater management but also provided tangible community benefits. These strategies helped improve the quality of life for residents, particularly those who had been disproportionately affected by flooding. What made this project truly special was seeing the direct impact of our work 鈥� watching the solutions come to life and knowing they were making a difference in the lives of people in the community. It鈥檚 projects like these that remind me of the power of engineering to create meaningful change and improve resilience in urban environments.

The second project was a stormwater storage project that provided compensatory storage for the Corps of Engineers (COE) / Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Levee 37 project on the Des Plaines River. The project is in a large existing recreational park, and balancing the needs of the park with the needs for flood control was a critical aspect for project success. Recreational elements included four artificial turf baseball fields, concession building, bandshell, picnic pavilion, soccer fields located at the base of one of the shallow detention basins, approximately two miles of multi-use paths, two parking lots and extensive landscaping throughout the 100-acre park.

Share a piece of career advice.

In our fast-paced work environment, it’s crucial to set aside time each day for meaningful conversations with clients, colleagues or junior staff. Focus on sharing insights and learning something new about those you work with. These connections enhance professional relationships and foster personal growth.

No two career paths look the same. At 91影视, we have four main career paths for our people to explore. An employee鈥檚 unique career journey can cross paths at different points depending on what inspires them.

Check out how Chad Laucamp chose the path he鈥檚 on today.

The post People Spotlight: Meet Chad Laucamp appeared first on Blog.

With nearly one-third of operators expected to retire within the next five years, the sector faces a significant workforce transition just as aging infrastructure, regulatory complexity and public expectations continue to intensify. The challenge is no longer simply modernization 鈥� it is preserving the institutional knowledge that keeps essential systems operating safely and reliably.

For Cynthia Chemello, associate principal at 91影视, this convergence represents both risk and opportunity.

Her work focuses on helping utilities shift from siloed knowledge practices to an integrated, technology-enabled approach 鈥� reframing knowledge transfer as a strategic imperative that strengthens workforce continuity while advancing operational excellence.

A system under strain

The water sector operates within what Cynthia describes as a fragile knowledge ecosystem. For decades, utilities have depended on tenured professionals whose expertise lives in experience 鈥� troubleshooting equipment failures, navigating complex compliance requirements and responding to emergencies based on years of field insight.

As retirements accelerate, that expertise risks leaving with them.

At the same time, utilities function within fragmented digital environments. Systems such as supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), geographic information systems (GIS) and workforce platforms often operate independently, limiting their collective value. The result is a widening gap between institutional knowledge and the real-time demands placed on operations and engineering teams.

From documentation to transformation

Cynthia鈥檚 approach centers on a structured transformation framework that moves utilities beyond static documentation toward a living, integrated knowledge model.

The process begins with leadership articulating a clear vision tied to workforce sustainability and operational performance. Rather than reacting to retirements, utilities must define what knowledge continuity looks like in the future.

Next comes a realistic assessment of existing systems, workflows and organizational capabilities. By mapping current processes against future objectives, utilities can prioritize investments, mitigate risk and design modernization pathways grounded in operational reality. Importantly, frontline staff are engaged as essential contributors in shaping those pathways.

Digitization then becomes an enabler 鈥� not an added burden. Knowledge capture must be embedded directly into daily workflows to minimize disruption. Traditionally, gathering and integrating data from structured and unstructured sources has been prohibitively time-intensive and costly. AI now has the ability to significantly accelerate this process, synthesizing historical work orders, field notes and system data into usable intelligence at scale. When supported by intelligent integration, a centralized knowledge environment allows staff to retrieve relevant insights intuitively, without altering how they perform their work.

This shifts knowledge transfer from a one-time documentation effort to a governed, strategic capability.

The role of human-centered AI

A defining theme of Cynthia鈥檚 work is the responsible use of artificial intelligence in water utilities.

Emerging technologies such as predictive analytics, digital twins and machine learning are transforming how water systems are monitored and maintained. Yet success depends on aligning innovation with real-world workstreams and operational needs.

By unifying fragmented systems through a governed, explainable AI framework, utilities can integrate SCADA alarms, CMMS histories, GIS layers, inspection findings and workforce data into a cohesive knowledge structure. This enables teams to surface lessons learned, identify patterns and receive contextual guidance in real time.

The impact is organizationally significant. Utilities can accelerate onboarding and training, reduce dependency on individual experts, improve predictive operations and maintenance planning, strengthen compliance reporting and support smarter capital decisions. Rather than replacing expertise, AI amplifies it 鈥� allowing seasoned professionals to transfer knowledge to the next generation through intelligent systems that preserve and contextualize experience.

A practical roadmap for implementation

Recognizing the operational sensitivity of public utilities, Cynthia outlines a phased transformation approach designed to minimize disruption while advancing modernization responsibly.

The roadmap prioritizes human-in-the-loop governance, transparent decision trails and alignment with regulatory requirements. It ensures modernization respects safety boundaries and public-sector accountability while still enabling innovation.

Through collaboration with utility partners and technology providers, 91影视 is exploring scalable, human-centered solutions that modernize operations while safeguarding institutional knowledge.

Strengthening the future of water

Water utilities stand at a critical juncture. Workforce transitions, infrastructure demands and regulatory pressures require a more intentional approach to knowledge continuity.

Cynthia Chemello鈥檚 leadership reframes knowledge transfer as a strategic asset 鈥� one that bridges generations of expertise and integrates technology responsibly into the operational fabric of utilities.

AI鈥檚 adaptive learning capability adds another dimension: it enables increasingly personalized knowledge exchange. By tailoring insights, recommendations and learning pathways to individual roles and experience levels, AI has the potential to transform employee engagement and elevate human capital development across organizations. Knowledge becomes not only preserved, but continuously evolving 鈥� strengthening both people and performance.

The path forward is clear. By institutionalizing knowledge capture, unifying fragmented systems and empowering staff with governed, AI-enabled tools, utilities can enhance resilience, safeguard service reliability and prepare confidently for the future.

The post Building resilient utilities through human-centered AI appeared first on Blog.

Leah Daniel, based in our Winnipeg, Manitoba office, has 12 years of experience focusing on collaborative delivery of large wastewater treatment projects. She holds a master鈥檚 degree in civil engineering from the University of Manitoba, which included completing her thesis in partnership with 91影视 on chemical phosphorus removal on an active wastewater treatment plant during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

Growing up on a lake that served as a drinking water source made me deeply aware of how essential clean, safe water is to everyday life 鈥� and how easily it can be impacted by human activity. That awareness led me to study water and wastewater treatment in university, with the goal of improving quality of life by expanding access to safe drinking water, particularly in underserved communities.

My shift into wastewater treatment was less intentional and more driven by practicality. When senior design projects were assigned, I was the only student in my class who could stomach handling cadaver waste, making me the lucky one chosen to design and operate a benchscale bioreactor to treat waste generated by the university鈥檚 cadaver lab. I quickly found myself loving the process 鈥� watching the biomass 鈥渂ugs鈥� grow, finetuning micronutrients to keep them healthy and seeing tangible treatment results. Once I joined 91影视, I was drawn to the field鈥檚 complex challenges and constant innovation, solidifying my passion for the wastewater industry.

What is your favorite 91影视 project that you鈥檝e worked on and why?

A career-defining project for me has been working on Winnipeg鈥檚 North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC) upgrade project. A real highlight for me has been being part of this project since day one and having the chance to watch it evolve over the past 10 years. When the project kicked off in 2016, I was early in my career and incredibly fortunate to work with many 91影视 colleagues with technical expertise across North America and build my network across the company.

Now, a decade later, both my role and the project itself have evolved significantly. Looking back at what we envisioned for the project 10 years ago really highlights how much it has changed, from originally being planned as a single large design-build project to now being delivered as three major ones, using a delivery method tailored to best serve each of them. It鈥檚 been incredibly rewarding to grow alongside this project, and to contribute to something that will serve the city, which I call home, well into the future.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

I have had the opportunity to serve as project manager on water and wastewater treatment projects for a remote community in northern Manitoba, an experience that brought me back to why I became a water and wastewater engineer in the first place. The community is accessible only by small plane, or for a few months each year by an ice road, creating unique logistical and operational challenges. Through upgrades to the community鈥檚 water treatment plant, including new ultrafiltration membranes and expansion to the treated water reservoirs, a long-term drinking water advisory was successfully lifted. Improvements to the wastewater treatment plant are ensuring all wastewater is treated to provincial and federal standards before being returned to the water body that serves as the community鈥檚 drinking water intake and is critical to its fish supply.

Share a piece of career advice.

Get out of the office whenever you can, especially early in your career. Spending time in the field lets you see how engineering designs are built, operated and maintained, which deepens your understanding far beyond drawings and calculations. Hearing firsthand about operational challenges helps identify small design changes that can make a meaningful impact over the lifecycle of a project. Those real-world lessons make you a better designer and help you connect your work to the people who use and rely on it.

The post People Spotlight: Meet Leah Daniel appeared first on Blog.