SAGINAW, Mich. – Dedicated to the water and wastewater industry for more than half a century, Duperon regional sales manager Steve Aiken has been named recipient of the Michigan Water Environment Association (MWEA) Dan Wolz Clean Water Award for Environmental Excellence. As the highest MWEA honor, the award is reserved for individuals of admirable character who have demonstrated exemplary service to the MWEA and made distinctive contributions to the water environment field.
“I leaped headfirst into the wastewater sector in 1971 and have never looked back,” said Aiken. “People always talk about how important it is to love your job, but not everyone has that opportunity. I have, and it’s been such a rewarding experience both personally and professionally; my granddaughters are taking that same career path. I am truly humbled to receive this award and hope my commitment to clean water lives on through my family, as well as the talented colleagues that I’ve had the privilege to work alongside over the years – my water family.”
A prior president of MWEA and a longtime member of the Select Society for Sanitary Sludge Shovelers, Aiken has also remained active with both the local and national Water Environment Federation (WEF) chapters, where he received the Sheppard Award, Quarter Century Operator and Arthur Sidney Bedel Award. He was also recognized in 2017 with the MWEA Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Dan Wolz Clean Water Award for Environmental Excellence was presented today at the Leadership Celebration Luncheon as part of the 2023 MWEA Annual Conference. Attendees included Aiken, several members of his family and Duperon national sales manager Lorene Bruns.