Episode 80 – The Driller Newscast
Raising Industry Awareness for the Next Generation
This packed episode features an interview with Christina R. Ekhoff, executive director of the Virginia Water Well Association, who talks about the group’s training efforts and upcoming 75th anniversary, and ideas for appealing to a younger generation of workers.
“In an attempt to help identify not only what that younger generation looks like, but then to market to them or advertise to them, we realized very early on that there was a lack of awareness on what the industry was, especially when it came to the career side of it,” Ekhoff says. “So we’re trying to address that.”
Ekhoff describes how. We also get into detail on the implications of the recent final Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Improvement Rule. First, a reminder on trench safety.
This episode covers:
- Trenching safety
- Recent trench fatalities in the U.S.
- Trench protection systems and trench collapse
- The 2023 Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Improvement Rule
- How the updated Section 401 affects discharge to waters of the United States (WOTUS)
- Marketing drilling, groundwater careers to younger generations
- Using “vocational field trips” to expose young people to drilling fields
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Drilling expert Brock Yordy is a regular The Driller contributing writer. Send news tips and interview suggestions to questions@askbrock.com.
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Brock Yordy, Director of Industry Engagement for The Driller, is a third-generation driller and globally recognized subject matter expert who has written for The Driller since 2013. Driven by a passion for industry education and digital media, he anchors The Driller Newscast and hosts weekly podcasts for the trade. His technical authority is backed by decades of extreme fieldwork worldwide for organizations like Halliburton, SUEZ, and the U.S. Government. Dedicated to ensuring clean water for all and advancing equitable geothermal heating and cooling, Brock actively collaborates with states nationwide through The Developed Well Group and the Geothermal Drillers Association to shape policy, safety, and workforce training.
email: brock@thedriller.com | office: (269) 348-5156
