As a retired firefighter, Chuck Hughes said people “cannot imagine” how important fire hydrant maintenance is for the job.
On Tuesday, Hughes, president and CEO of the Gary Chamber of Commerce, remembered that as he celebrated the opening of the $2.2 million Indiana American Water Training Center at the company’s Gary campus.
“On those below zero days, when firemen had to go in and save your life or your property, if a hydrant was frozen, that’s the difference between living and dying and preserving your property,” Hughes said. “But, it’s these folks who were in the middle, who were deicing the hydrants, winterizing them and making sure they were operable for firemen. From a public safety perspective, we can’t tell you how much we appreciate you.”
According to officials, the training center will provide a “dedicated, hands-on environment” for field, operational and safety skills development to provide water service. It’s designed as a mini-city, which according to the company, helps employees train in realistic, real-world scenarios in a controlled setting.
Ellis Dumas, chief of staff for the city of Gary, dressed in protective gear and opened a fire hydrant to support the opening of Indiana American Water’s new facility. Dumas said Tuesday that the company is one of many who are supporting the city’s growth, especially after an Aug. 11 derecho devastated the city.
“This ribbon cutting is just one of many since that storm that we were already planning and executing, that we were already investing in,” Dumas said. “Indiana American Water is a great corporate partner and has been since day one. They continue to say, ‘Not only are we here, but we’re here for the long run, and we’re going to make sure that the next generation is capable of investing and being a part of this community.’”
Indiana American Water President Barry Suits also emphasized the importance of a strong partnership between the city and company. The training center’s opening shows the company’s dedication to improving their work in the city and their investment in the community.
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“Today is about much more than opening a new training center,” Suits said. “It’s about investing in our people, strengthening the service we provide and creating new opportunities for the next generation. … This community is an important part of who we are, and we’re proud to continue investing here and support our employees and community.”
In addition to the training center, Indiana American Water recently completed a $23.5 million water main replacement program from Colfax Street to Broadway, Suits said.
The training center will also serve as the company’s Flow Forward program, which is a statewide workforce development initiative that connects students with career opportunities in water, wastewater, engineering, technology, operations and skilled trades. The program provides hands-on learning experiences and industry engagement.
Pete Morikis, executive director of GEO 21st Century Academy, said Tuesday that the school provides opportunities to help students understand career paths they might want to pursue after high school. Partnerships with companies like Indiana American help with that.
“This is just another chapter for them, another opportunity for them to learn and grow,” Morikis said. “It provides those skills that are essential for their success, and then down the road success for their families, providing them with a livelihood.”
Suits said it’s important for students to understand what Indiana American Water does because they might be interested in a later career with the company. He also said about 30 to 50% of the company’s employees can retire in the next 10 years, making it more important for the company to engage with students.
Athena Hall, 17-year-old senior student at the 21st Century Academy, said she found the Indiana American Water facility and work “very interesting,” and said it’s unlike anything she expected to see.
“I never imagined it to look like this,” Hall said. “In my imagination, we get water from a big tank, and it comes through a pipe, but I never knew it was all this underground work and all the materials that’s needed. It’s a pretty dangerous job.”
Hall said she’s now more interested in Indiana American Water’s work, but she wants to study business in college, and she’s interested in culinary. However, after seeing the work that Indiana American Water employees do, she has more appreciation for the industry.
Dexter Williams, another 17-year-old student at the 21st Century Academy, said he was interested in the company, especially after hearing in-depth presentations and details about the company and industry.
Williams said he’s interested in the work after spending the day at the Indiana American Water facility.
“I’m really thinking about going home and doing some research on this,” Williams said. “I want to see if it’s something I could go to school for because that could be another opportunity.”