💧 H2O INTRO 👤 Meet Charles Moore, Water Maintenance Coordinator for the City of Columbus

Charles Moore thought his future would be on a football field, not in the water industry. But a simple piece of advice from his mother changed the course of his life: "Go work in the water industry. We'll always need water."

Today, Moore is focused on one of the biggest challenges facing utilities across the country: who will lead the workforce of tomorrow.

With many experienced operators, supervisors, and executives approaching retirement, Columbus is taking action before the knowledge gap becomes a crisis. The utility has launched apprenticeship programs, partnered with local high schools, expanded mentoring opportunities, and created pathways for employees to explore leadership roles and advance their careers.

Internally, shadowing, one-on-one coaching, and additional training are helping employees see opportunities they may not have considered. Externally, outreach efforts are introducing young people to the wide range of careers available in water—from field operations to leadership positions.

Moore believes workforce development isn't just about filling vacancies. It's about inspiring the next generation to see water as a meaningful career with purpose, stability, and impact.

His message is simple: talk to someone about water. The future of the industry may depend on it.

H2O INTRO is sponsored by Human Capital Solutions, Inc., an executive search, recruiting, and leadership advisory firm. Visit https://humancs.com/

Video Chapters

00:00 – From Football Dreams to Water
00:22 – Why Charles Chose the Water Industry
00:50 – The Succession Planning Challenge
01:10 – Building a High School Apprenticeship Pipeline
01:32 – Mentoring and Training Current Employees
01:55 – Inspiring the Next Water Workforce

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. Visit https://www.waterloop.org/

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