Who is Helping You

In the office I enjoy always questioning why we do what we do. Just because something has always been on everyone’s standards and detail drawings doesn’t mean that it should still be there! I am blessed with a wonderful wife and four energetic boys. We have a small family raw milk dairy, raise chickens, beef, and have a large garden. We enjoy serving in our church. I especially enjoy seeing God working in the life of our family.

I am plagued with too many “good ideas” about things I could make or build, most of which my wife and coworkers tolerate more or less patiently. Most importantly, after several years of study, trial, error and perseverance, I have finally developed the skill of making a pretty good pie crust.

• Experience

• Lead Engineer (2003-2011)

  At Northwest Water Systems I have been responsible for overseeing the engineering department and helping develop a positive work environment that encourages creativity, professionalism, and the highest technical and ethical standards. Besides engineering, I have provides support to the management of over 400 water systems. This has required not only technical skills, but also excellent communication and interpersonal abilities as many of the challenges faced by water systems are more people based than facilities based. Northwest Water Systems, Inc.

  Research Consultant (2001)

  While working at the Center for Environmental Education, I was responsible for writing water quality reports; researching hydrologic, social and environmental river basin parameters, and completing data analysis. I was hired to write several water quality reports each month, which initially took five or more hours each to write. Since the reports were substantially similar each month, I developed a spreadsheet and report template that allowed the reports to be written in half an hour to an hour each.

  Faculty and Instruction (2001-2011)

  Through teaching a 300-level course in irrigation at WSU, I learned to work with students, helping them understand how to apply theoretical, practical, and hands-on aspects of irrigation. I enjoy presenting, therefore since then, I regularly present seminars on a variety of water related topics at industry conferences.

  Research Assistant (1998-2000)

  I created, designed, and completed a biological filter to treat off gasses from a dairy waste lagoon. This project was completed independently with very little assistance from my advisor or other researchers

  Missionary (2002-2003)

  While serving in Ecuador I was consulted in construction and water quality projects, audited and re-designed the accounting system, led Bible studies, supported the local church, and aided fellow missionaries in conflict management.

• Education

• Washington State University

  Biological Systems Engineering, Minors: Math, Spanish, Microbiology
  MS: Environmental Engineering

• Certifications

• P.E.,WDMII, CCS, BTO

  Position on the Department of Ecology’s Technical Advisory Group for Well Drilling

• Language

• Proficient in Spanish, having lived in Ecuador for eleven months.

My name is William (Bill) Bernier and I work for Northwest Water Systems. I design water delivery and water treatment for all sizes of potable water systems. The most enjoyable part of my job is helping people get clean, reliable drinking water for their homes and businesses. There is nothing more satisfying than finding a creative solution to a complex problem that was previously thought insurmountable.

When I am not working I enjoy reading and learning new things. I am an avid homebrewer and enjoy making sausage and smoked meats. I also enjoy hiking, beach combing, and clam digging, but most of my free time is spent keeping up with my wife and daughter.

• Experience

• • 4 years designing potable water systems and water treatment plants, considering hydraulic analysis, Local and State regulations, chemical interactions, installer limitations, and construction oversight.
  • 4 years experience in working with over 350 public water systems, including interaction with the public, operation and maintenance of systems, emergency response, construction oversight, and regulatory compliance.
  • Cross-Connection Control Manager for over 130 Group A Water Systems, implementing the 10 required elements.
  • 3 years operating and maintaining a package type steam boiler, and the repair of all equipment associated with an industrial laundry, including pumps, motors valves, electronics and electrical failures.
  • 6 years of increasing responsibility in steam propulsion plant operations for 3 different Navy nuclear reactors using manual testing and extensive evaluation, including mechanical, electrical, and micro-processing.
  • Qualified Leading Engineering Technician and Engine Room Supervisor. Responsible for the training and oversight of all system operators.
  • Area Manager for a food warehouse providing oversight for all operations and personnel.
  • Trained in fire fighting and damage control situations. Trained in job safety and hazard evaluation.
  • Experienced in generating and implementing operation and maintenance programs, issuing and tracking work orders, and writing effective reports.

• Education

• Naval Nuclear Power SchoolUnited States Navy1998

  Bachelor of Art Degree in HistoryThe Ohio State University1996

• Certifications

• • Certified Cross-Connection Control Specialist (#012338)
  • Certified Water Distribution Manager II (#012338)
  • Certified Backflow Assembly Tester (#B5343)
  • Certified Navy Nuclear Water Analyst and Steam Plant Supervisor
  • 2 Senior Director-level Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and 5 CEO-level Letters of Commendation for Superior Work Performance
  • Certified Quality Assurance Inspector and Ship’s Machinist

I am a generally curious guy whose impulse to learn has cost him a great deal of time and money in several of the finest educational institutions in Washington, and the UW. I was home schooled until high school, where I discovered that teachers would help me learn how things work, and that I didn’t have to sort it out all on my own, and I never looked back. I am the office geek, which is saying something in an office full of reasonably qualified geeks.

I was raised in the family trade, commercial painting. I painted around 100 houses and 5,000 apartment units and thousands of miles of woodwork paying for my education habit. These experiences have given me an appreciation of the need to “leave the paper” once in a while as an engineer and verify that what I am designing will actually work. Having seen too many projects come together with inoperable appliances, doors to nowhere, and other significant design flaws in construction, I have a strong awareness that the engineer needs to give the contractor enough information to get the job done right, while at the same time giving the contractor enough leeway to actually do the job.

I have two excessively smart children that keep me and my wife on their toes. My wife is a medical resident at Saint Peter Family Medical Center in Olympia and is on course to become a family physician in 2013. When I am not doing laundry, cleaning, or cooking, I am usually taking the kids out berry picking or showing them how to fix whatever is wrong with his car that day. I enjoy cooking, gardening, tinkering with cars, programming, running, soccer, star gazing, and problem solving. An amateur astronomer prior to having two children (whom he coerced his wife into naming after stars) I am impatiently awaiting the day when both the sky is clear and the kids are old enough to stay up until 2 am star gazing.

• Experience

• Northwest Water Systems, Inc.

  Engineering simple, maintainable, cost effective designs to meet the diverse needs of numerous small water systems.
  Assisting communities in understanding the financial commitments of a water system and how to achieve long term sustainable water service.
  Providing support for communities that are at high risk, underserved, or low income in leveraging available low interest loan or grant funding to maximum effect.
  developing new technologies to improve the health and safety our customers.

  OptimaERA, Inc.

  Provided the technical foundation to form a Internet Services Provider serving national and international workers at fish processing facilities in the Aleutian Chain of Alaska. Installed wireless networks and servers on a mobile processing platform, mountain sites, and on small islands.

  Developed high survivability remote sites with power supplies and communications links exceeding 99.8% reliability in an environment that routinely experiences hurricane force winds in blizzard conditions, requiring only annual maintenance for refueling.

  University of Washington, Graduate Research

  Developed a process reduce the cost and improve the reliability of storing cells for cancer treatment.

  Washington State University, NSF Funded Undergraduate Research

  Developed numerical simulations of specialized flows. Research directed toward developing electronic micro- and nano-pump technologies

  Teaching

  Given the opportunity to teach Heat Transfer, a 300 level engineering course while at the UW. He kept the students awake, occasionally laughing, and his class was able to score well against tests prepared by outside instructors.

  Tutored for non-traditional students in math, science, astronomy and engineering at the University of Idaho while at WSU.

• Education

• • M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington (2004-2006)
  • B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Washington State University (2002-2004)
  • B.S. Physics and Astronomy, The Evergreen State College, (1999-2002)

• Certifications

• E.I.T. Certified in June 2004, P.E. License anticipated in April 2013

My career has revolved around environmental concerns and natural resource management; extending that experience to planning issues for small water systems is a good fit. As an environmental compliance professional during the last decade, I have helped a wide range of clients successfully integrate development with conservation. My work-related interests include long-term planning, conservation and water quality issues. After living in Arizona and New Mexico for several years, I am enjoying the astonishing palette of green in western Washington and learning to understand the subtle difference between “showers” and “rain.”

• Experience

• Northwest Water Systems, Inc., Engineering Support / Planner

  February 2011 – present

  Preparation of Small Water System Management Programs including operational, administrative, and financial issues pertinent to water system management.
  Communication with water system clients and regulators at the state and county level.

  Marron and Associates, Inc. Environmental Project Manager

  Albuquerque, NM (2002 – 2010)

  Managed NEPA projects from inception to completion including budgets, technical staff, and reports related to NEPA compliance. Coordinated NEPA compliance activities with client, engineering consultants, government agencies, and general public. Prepared and reviewed NEPA documents including environmental assessments and categorical exclusions as well as supporting studies and reports.

  Pima County Dept. of Transportation, Environmental Specialist

  Tucson, AZ (1999-2001)

  Prepared and reviewed environmental assessments detailing potential environmental, social and economic impacts of proposed transportation projects. Identified mitigation measures for negative impacts where applicable.

  Pima County Dept of Environmental Quality, Senior Hydrologist

  Tucson, AZ (1994-1999)

  Participated in organizing and implementing Pima County’s Phase I NPDES municipal compliance program Organized and initiated stormwater and groundwater sampling activities

  US Forest Service Intermountain Research Station, Forester

  Moscow, ID (1988-1992)

  Assisted with erosion studies of sediment yield resulting from land disturbance. Managed soils laboratory, trained seasonal laboratory technicians.

• Education

• • M.S. Watershed Management, University of Arizona, 1994
  • B.S. Forest Resources Management, University of Idaho, 1988