Ron Smith — Communication Builds Better Leaders (and Better Infrastructure)

Ron Smith — Communication Builds Better Leaders (and Better Infrastructure)

Communication is one of the most overlooked skills in the water and wastewater industry—and according to Ron Smith, it's the foundation of great leadership. In this episode of Utility Room Legends, John sits down with Ron Smith, Vice President of Distribution & Networks at Vortex Companies, to discuss leadership, innovation, trenchless technology, and the future of America's aging infrastructure. From building stronger teams to solving complex challenges through communication and education, this conversation offers valuable insights for anyone working in the industry. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and join us for more conversations with the people shaping the future of water and wastewater.

Antonio Flori – What Keeps Our Water Systems From Failing?

Antonio Flori, Corrosion Engineering Manager at Denver Water, joins Utility Room Legends for a fascinating conversation on the hidden side of water infrastructure. From starting as a teenage intern to leading corrosion strategy for one of the nation’s most respected utilities, Antonio shares his journey through the industry and what it takes to keep critical systems reliable for generations. We discuss aging infrastructure, water loss, corrosion prevention, material selection, rapid population growth, drought pressures, data center demand, and why long-term planning matters now more than ever. If you’ve ever turned on a faucet without thinking twice, this episode is about the people making sure that water is there when you need it.

Dave Donahue – Building Solutions, Not Just Products

In this episode, we sit down with Dave Donahue, Waterworks Market Manager at Fernco, to talk about the evolution of one of the most recognized names in the industry—and why it still matters today. Dave walks us through the history of Fernco, from its beginnings with a master plumber hand-making “donuts” in Detroit to becoming a global leader in flexible couplings. We get into what sets great manufacturers apart, why solving real problems in the field is everything, and how innovation actually happens in this industry. We also dive into Dave’s own journey—from construction to marketing to sales—and how he built momentum during COVID by thinking differently and meeting customers where they were. One of the most impactful parts of the conversation highlights Fernco’s “Sparks Program,” an initiative creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum—proof that great companies don’t just build products, they build people. This episode is about more than couplings. It’s about culture, innovation, and the responsibility we all have to keep pushing the industry forward.

Traver Hunter – Big Sky, Bigger Territory

From junior college baseball to scratch golf pro to 20 years in the waterworks trenches, Traver Hunter’s path into the industry is anything but ordinary. Based in Lewistown, Montana — “the snow hole,” as locals call it — Traver covers a territory where everything is two and a half hours away and cell service is optional. He shares how persistence (not polish) landed him his first big opportunity, what makes rural markets unique, and why relationships still carry weight in Big Sky Country. We talk growth in Bozeman, shipping realities in wide-open states, crawling 36-inch pipe under 20 feet of soil, and why you don’t come in hot to Montana. It’s a conversation about loyalty, change, infrastructure, and the kind of handshake culture that still exists — if you know how to navigate it.

Adam Newman – The Quiet Anchor: 22 Years of Steady Hands

We finally get the ever-steady Adam "Newman" into the Legends Chair. Starting as a 20-year-old part-time driver at RepMasters, he grinded through warehouse chaos—unloading brittle pipe in dirt yards and snow—to become the rock-solid voice on the other end of the phone for over two decades. Newman opens up (in his trademark low-key way) about company growth from Commerce City days to COVID madness, handling every kind of customer call, learning boilers on the fly, and why consistency beats flash every time. Family life, air fryer hacks, golf mishaps, and a few core memories (including one infamous chili incident) round out the conversation. If you've ever called RepMasters stressed and gotten that calm, "I've got this" response—this is the man behind it. Reserved, reliable, and a true legend.