Willie Whitfield has a lot to celebrate these days; from being freshly promoted to being on ESPN playing for Team DRC in The Basketball Tournament in a few short days, things are certainly exciting for him. FlowWest is proud to support our staff’s growth and all their achievements, which is why this month’s Go With the Flow features our Staff Web Developer, Willie Whitfield. Catch Willie & Team DRC play some fierce basketball on ESPN+ at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern on 07/21 - come cheer him on with us!
How did you get into the environmental services sector?
Landing in the environmental sector was just a matter of good luck, I suppose. But it was really just a combination of developing the technical skills at the right time, a desire to contribute something positive to the world and finding an organization where I believed in the people as well as their mission. Right place, right time!
What is/are some of your favorite project(s) going on currently?
I’ve had the chance to work on some really interesting projects since I’ve been a part of the FlowWest team. Most of my favorites were chosen after I learned about the impacts that made. For example, as many farmers already know, there are many costs to owning and maintaining a private water system. Consolidation can provide many benefits like increased resources and improved water quality. This information isn’t the most accessible so we developed this really cool web application that calculates the cost and visualizes the benefits of consolidating a smaller water system into a larger water system.
Basically- anytime we can successfully blend technology, design, and functionality in a way that benefits people in an ecological way, I see that as the ultimate win.
What hobbies do you have?
I have been playing basketball for a really long time, and I’m very passionate about it. In fact, I’m playing in a tournament that is airing on ESPN+ at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern on 07/21. TBT is an instant elimination tournament, so we keep playing until we lose a game. Our team could win $1,000,000 if we win!
Leading the team
Willie, along with his team DRC, is competing in The Basketball Tournament (TBT). TBT is a 64-team, single-elimination tournament for a million dollars. TBT 2023 will be the 10th anniversary of the tournament and will be played in eight different cities around the country this upcoming summer. Go Team DRC!
What was your biggest accomplishment in the last year, FlowWest-wise?
I’m not sure if I have a single biggest accomplishment, but I am very proud of the growth that I’ve made since I’ve been here. Transitioning into software development from teaching has been a challenge, so it’s been really cool to work on these massive projects and get and see features that I’ve built or designs that I imagined come to life. Every so often, when I write code that is pretty complex, I take a second to pat myself on the back and say “Aye dude, your brain did that!”
What is something that everyday people can do to help their local watershed?
The easiest way to make change is to look at our everyday lives. Here are what I feel are the three easiest ways to have positive effect on our local watershed:
Be mindful about water use: taking shorter showers, only running dishwasher on a full load, and using water efficient faucets are just a few ways people can conserve water
Dispose of chemicals properly: Never pour chemicals, prescription medicines, oil or paint into the drain or toilets. Check with your county’s household hazardous waste program to properly dispose of or recycle chemicals and keep them out of rivers and oceans.
Support stream restoration projects: sometimes residents have the opportunity to offer feedback or vote for restoration projects. Offering support this way let's community leaders know that their community cares about clean water and healthy rivers.
Where do you see the future of FlowWest?
I think the future is really bright for FlowWest. Our team is filled with highly skilled individuals, and I can confidently say that we do really great work; but what really makes us special are the actual people on our team. We take pride in the quality of our work and are passionate about making positive impacts in our environment and the people we share it with.
As the FlowWest team continues to grow, we will strengthen our capabilities, increase our knowledge and expand our reach so we can service communities in more areas. I’m truly excited to see the continuing growth of FlowWest.
