Laura Longa grew up in Miami and studied at Miami-Dade College and then Florida Gulf Coast University, where she received her degree in biology.
She was working as a receptionist at a motorcycle dealership; she didn’t know wastewater treatment as a career existed until a customer told her about it. A tour of the 5.0 mgd (design) Fiesta Village Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Fort Myers piqued her interest.
She was hired there as an operator-in-training, earned her Class A (highest) license in four years instead of the normal five, became an operator and is now assistant lead operator. She’s key in helping the plant produce reclaimed water for irrigation and deep well injection.
Her influences: I’m inspired by the people I work with. My supervisors, Zach Munoz and Eugene McCartney, push me to accomplish things, even if I’m not comfortable with them. Zach has 20 years of experience; Eugene essentially helped build the plant.
On the job: I file all our reports and paperwork, order supplies, write work orders, and help with personnel files. I help make sure the plant is running properly. I’m in charge when our lead operator isn’t here. I enjoy helping with plant tours for school and neighborhood groups.
What makes it exciting? Changing people’s perceptions about wastewater treatment. They generally don’t even think about it or want to deal with it. Or they think it’s dirty and smelly.
Sources of pride: When people take tours, they see that wastewater treatment is not what they thought it was. They learn that our processes and equipment are cared for and well-maintained.
Looking ahead: I like where I’m at. Years down the road I hope to still be doing what I’m doing. My goal is to become a lead operator, ideally here at Fiesta Village.
Advice to young professionals: Follow your teachers. Listen to them. Be a sponge. Not everything is in a book. You can learn by doing. The more you want to learn, the more you will learn. I learn from others, like our maintenance team, even though I don’t do what they do.
The boss’s view: Laura wants to learn everything she can, and she teaches others. She developed a high school course on wastewater. She is an important member of our team.
— Zach Munoz, Lead Operator
