Sydney joined the City of Loveland Utilities team two years ago and has since established herself as a forward-thinker and natural leader, consistently encouraging outreach and collaboration. She demonstrates a unique combination of technical competency, high-level communication skills, and infectious positivity. She has positively impacted many programs within our lab, from public outreach through LCRI initiatives and CCR development, to internal collaboration via her Continuous Improvement projects. These Continuous Improvement projects have directly increased efficiency in sampling and analysis, improved communication between lab groups, and encouraged all staff to think outside of the box when developing solutions. Furthermore, Sydney taught herself how to use the FlowCam to strengthen and expand our algal monitoring program and has attended trainings and conferences specifically to connect with other Flowcam users, reaching outside the lab to communicate, learn, and increase collaboration.  

Like many scientists, many of us in the lab tend to focus on our areas of expertise, often missing opportunities for engagement. Sydney bridges those gaps by facilitating communication across teams and connecting our work with the public. For example, she recently participated in the City Projects Fair, where she shared information with the public about the LCRI updates, how customers are affected, and how the quality of their drinking water is maintained. Our industry needs more people like her, who can effectively share the cool work happening in our labs, and encourage meaningful conversations around improvement, and she clearly excels and thrives in that role. Sydney is a joy to work with and motivates her peers with her leadership, enthusiasm, and passion for her work.