The groundwater community is small, and as we interact with recruits, we have the opportunity to influence their involvement in promoting the betterment of our industry. No one does a better job at exciting and encouraging our next generation than Jeff Williams. I met Williams, MGWC, CVCLD, in 2008 on a drilling project with Baroid IDP. He hosted a learning session on best practices to shut an artesian well in Burlington, Vermont. Two weeks later, I left that project with a newfound passion for teaching and promoting our industry.
What has Williams been up to since I met him in 2008? Not too much. He’s just a past president of National Ground Water Association (NGWA), 2020 McEllhiney lecturer, a promoter of Covid-19 safety best practices, and owner of Spafford & Sons Well Drilling — a distinguished resume for any groundwater professional. Our conversation here is edited for space and clarity.