Staff members of the Lee County Public Service Authority (PSA) received state-wide awards during the 35th annual Virginia Rural Water Association (VRWA) Conference on Wednesday, April 17 at the historic Hotel Roanoke.

     Donna Sanders, who started work at the PSA in 2007, was named the Office Worker of the Year, and Wes Sutphin, who began his career with the PSA in 2006, was named the Wastewater Specialist of the Year. They received their accolades during the awards celebration held at the conclusion of VRWA’s annual conference, which set numerous records this year, including the most participants and vendors in the event’s history.

     Sanders currently serves as the Authority’s Human Resource Officer and Assistant Office Manager. According to her nomination letter, during her tenure with the PSA, she has “done it all” as far as office work is concerned, including answering phones, processing payments, establishing and executing bank drafts, processing payroll, working with retirement, insurance and more.

     “Donna brings a wealth of knowledge and experience into our office and many of our current staff members quickly point out just how much of an asset she is for them,” explained PSA Assistant Director Mike Brindle, who added that her work ethic is her biggest strength. “She is tenacious when assigned a task and you can rest assured it has been completed thoroughly and correctly because she simply will not stop until she is confident in the results.”

     Sanders’ true passion in life is her family. She has been married for 42 years to Arthur Sanders. Together they have two children, Brandi (Mullins) and Chad. They also have several grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. One of her favorite hobbies is photography, especially taking pictures of bears while driving around Cade’s Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

     “Receiving this award is such an honor,” stated Sanders. “I appreciate all the opportunities the PSA has afforded me, it has been a very rewarding place to work.”

     This is the second year in a row that a staff member of Lee County PSA has won the Office Worker of the Year award. At last year’s VRWA Conference, Kayla Townsend, who now serves as the Authority’s Office Manager, was also bestowed the honor.

     Townsend began her career in the water/wastewater field in October 2012 with the Scott County Public Service Authority. After spending the early parts of her days with Scott County PSA serving as a drive-thru clerk, she began to take more interest in other aspects of the utility’s operation, such as billing and working with meters, seeing those areas as an opportunity to turn a job into a career.

    Townsend joined the staff of Lee County PSA in September 2022, accepting a new challenge and bringing with her the knowledge and experience she had gained at Scott County PSA, turning the opportunity into an award winning one. “Being named Office Worker of the Year was such an honor,” she stated. “I am so thankful for the opportunities Lee County PSA has provided me, allowing me to advance my career with such a wonderful organization.”

     Away from the PSA, Townsend enjoys attending church, traveling, photography and spending time with her niece and nephews. She also loves to adventuring with her dogs, Bexley and Izzy.

     Sutphin began working in the wastewater field at the age of 17, while still attending school at Lee High School. According to his nomination letter, he became a full-time employee at Hickory Flats WWTP on February 1, 2004, working for a contractor service. Just a few short years later, in the fall of 2006, he came to Lee County PSA full-time, fulfilling a goal he had set for himself, becoming a licensed operator.

     Sutphin currently serves as the Chief Operator at the Hickory Flats plant as a Class II licensed operator, overseeing the staff and daily operations at the treatment facility.

     “Lee County PSA’s goal of utilizing technology in our operations has quickly been adopted by the entire staff, with Wes recently overseeing a major upgrade to the SCADA system at Hickory Flats that provides his staff with more control than ever before,” stated Brindle. “From better monitoring to remote operation and even Wi-Fi cameras overseeing the plant, Hickory Flats is being thrust into the future of wastewater and Wes is helping to guide the ship.”

    When not at the plant, Sutphin can often be found hanging out with his friends and family partaking in some of his favorite hobbies, grilling and cooking. He has two children, Dakota and Abigail. “This award means so much,” he explained. “I just thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity, and my family for pushing me to be the best I can be.”

     Also at the annual conference, Brindle was re-elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Rural Water Association, where he will serve another term as the Region I At-Large Director, one of nine members of the board that governs the association. Virginia Rural Water Association was founded in 1987 and is a private, non-profit association whose voting members are small municipal and rural water and wastewater systems across the state, and offers on-site technical and managerial assistance in a wide range of areas.